TOPS TSK: "Featherweight Survivor" by Nutnfancy

The TOPS TSK is a compact, tough, very lightweight, and seemingly capable stainless steel survival blade. My first POU would not be a "steak knife" as this knife has a stout, thick blade. That means it slices crudely in many materials. The 440C steel starts at .017" thickness and tapers towards the tip. From the box the TSK is adequately sharp but its angle is abrupt for my cutting tasks and a shallower angle seemed appropriate to help it slice better. So after some work on the Edge Pro Apex, the TSK cuts better in all tasks (including cardboard and batoning). I prefer this shallower 21º grind and it should serve well in most roles. I would prefer another steel to the 440C choice as it's hard to get it razor sharp (154CM, VG10, AUS8 preferred) and keep it there. It offers good (but not excellent) rust resistence and edge holding. The leaf blade is an excellent all-purpose shape and it has a strong tip that held up in medium temperature batoning. The blade is full flat ground, it is marked "Ontario USA" (under the handle), and the tang is ¾ long. This tang length is ideal and will work fine for the POUs discussed; don't believe the group think that you always need a full tang knife (that would add unneeded weight here too). Not discussed are the serrated versions of the TSK but of course the PE is always preferred for easier edge maintenance. I'm not sure the "Black Traction Coating" is needed on the stainless blade but it does look good and it held up well. It also provided more drag in my cardboard cutting (shown). The milled grey green Micarta handle slabs are superb: the fit tightly together thus exposing no steel. They create a comfortable handle that's well rounded, warm to the touch, and looks good. These handle slabs are easily removeable and they have aggressive handle jimping that works. The handle coloration and black blade provide striking looks. No lanyard hole is provided but I would never put on this blade anyhow. The handle is on the short side but entirely appropriate in this compact utility/survival/LBE/food preparation blade. The Kydex sheath is perfectly excecuted and its presence is a big surprise at this price point for a US-made blade. It shows perfectly formed lines and has ideal retention. It attaches with a rotational spring clip that worked surprisingly well in tests. Tradtional bushcrafters may not prefer the TSK dude to its steel choice, blade geometry, and short handle. But in many of the discussed POUS, the TOPS Tactical Steak Knife will excel. For a deploying soldier it would make a very useful and always-carried gift. For its very reasonable price it respresents amazing value for a super lightweight and tough American made stainless fixed blade. /////////////////Nutnfancy Likability Scale: 8.5 out of 10 (price, weight considered, after re-edging; if VG-10 with shallower grind: 10 out of 10)/////////////Music licensed to TNP from Jason Shaw