First off, thank you to Heinnie Haynes for a superb delivery over the Easter weekend and fantastic service.
It was two years ago I stumbled across the Tops Tom Brown Tracker and searching for one brought me to HH, as it was not in stock at that time, I ordered something else and haven't stopped since.
Finally, the planets aligned, the knife was in stock, and my Wife wasn't going to kill me if I got it.
Well, what can I say other than the build quality is phenomenal, the heft is reassuring, and the design is iconic. I've already put it through its paces with some basic bushcraft tasks, from fire prep to peg making, it's comfortable in hand and capable.
I understand the Tracker blade style is a love-it-or-hate-it proposition, I fall firmly in the former category but there are two tiny niggles that are stopping me from giving it 5 stars.
First of these is the sheath, its firm fitting, an easy draw, soundly secure... so what is the issue? the mounting clips are permanently attached to the right-hand side of the sheath. Meaning other than a rear horizontal belt mount, no other option will result in me drawing it in a reverse grip, with my right hand and there are cheaper knives available that offer more flexible mounting options.
Secondly, Tops proudly state that the blade is 101% hand finished, and the factory edge while functionally sharp, snagged at various points on paper cut tests. Now I have practiced much over the last few years of both sharpening and stropping, and the blade did not need to be sharpened, merely stropped for a few mins. After this the edge was hair-popping sharp, perhaps my expectations were too high regarding the hand finishing of the edge, but I do feel when you are paying the price asked for this knife, I expected better.
All in all, I have every confidence this knife will last, the "Jack of all trades" Tracker blade design appeals to me on both a form and functionality level, and after two years of indecision, I am so happy to add this to my collection.
