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Comment by Charlie Smith on January 20, 2014 at 15:43

I know what the divot's for, but I'm used to having a notch, like on my fire board. I remember you could rummage for enough change in the ashtray to get to the big city and make it back. Cigarettes were about the same in price. I'd love to get a Gouch knife but his waiting list begins after the dark end of 2014. We're having a blast of cold front coming through-N. Maryland. I mat do some testing in my garage. Shop hard for the TOP BOB knives. I've seen the prices vary $75 for those bad boys. Se ya.

Comment by Howard P Reynolds on January 20, 2014 at 14:05

Charlie,

The divot in the handle is for bow drill fire starting.  You put the top of the bow drill stick in the divot as a secure place while working the bow drill.  Hunting for a rock with a divot in it or another piece of wood in which you have to carve a divot takes more time.  I have the BROSBLM - same knife, but black (grey) linen Micarta handles.  Bought it a month or so ago.

It's been a bit cold to do any extensive testing, but with a blade length of 4.5" it is minimally adequate for batoning firewood.  Any wood branch larger than 2" dia. will be more difficult to split since there won't be much of the front of the knife sticking out to hit with the baton.

Feedback:  I would be interested in your field test.  I'll get out there when it warms up.  I got this knife to see if I was missing something about 1095 steel.  The cheapest price I could find for the B.O.B. knives was $100., and in one of the SHOT Show videos, I think it was TOPS that had a series of "Tactical" blades for which they want $200.+

I'm getting to be old as dirt, and can remember $.35/gal gasoline, and there were 1095 knives available when gasoline was $.35/gal.  Now, while I regularly use an Internet inflation calculator to keep my mind tuned to reality, so I can see that a $25. knife in 1967 would cost me $175.00 today, it is difficult for my mind to accept that 1095 is worth $200.- $300. today when there are other steels (stainless) that can be had for about the same money - heat-treat and all.

For example, the Gough knife for which you gave us the link, is selling his hand crafted A2 knife, that he beat the hell out of, for $300.

Comment by Charlie Smith on January 20, 2014 at 12:56

Bought a few TOPS B.O.B knives. the tom brown tracker, large and small, the Tops Knives BROS01 B.O.B (why they put a divot in the handle for fire starting I'll never know. It's missing the notch) and the 200 covert fixed blade. Going out next week end to field test. Any feed back?

In Memoriam Comment by Robert Burris on January 5, 2014 at 15:13

I bought a fixed blade knife from our own, Alex Noot. He made the knife out of an old rasp. It came out great. It's a fine knife. He is a part timer, that makes one knife at a time.

Comment by Howard P Reynolds on January 5, 2014 at 14:48

I know that a lot of guys don't like the destruction tests.  Many think they are too extreme, and not practical for what most people put their knives through, but I figure that the knife to have is the one that passes these tests that Gough, and others do/did.  For example, knives are not meant to pry with the tip, but in a pinch, you'll do it.  Save yourself some aggravation and buy a knife that can survive multiple abuses, even if you don't think you would ever abuse a knife like this.  In a tough spot, you'll do most anything.  To his credit, Gough didn't tell us which knives failed the tests or some folks would be hopping mad.  Here are the top three from his tests:

1. CPM-3V

2. A-2

3. O-1

Comment by Howard P Reynolds on January 5, 2014 at 14:30

Jan,

That is the same problem I had with the Kydex sheath from Survive Knives - the knife sits too high on the belt.  Fortunately, Guy Seiferd at Survive Knives now offers a drop-down solution (Dangler Belt Loop).

Comment by Howard P Reynolds on January 5, 2014 at 14:24

Charlie,

Thanks for the link.  I watched the videos about hand making the first knife, and the knife sharpness and destruction tests.  Gough did a great job of finding the best steel for his blades.  I noticed that CPM-3V was #1 in the tests - same as the Survive Knives steel.  https://www.surviveknives.com/ although he ultimately chose A-2.

Also, he made the extreme choice to baton the knives through walnut, against the grain, with a hammer, and all the blades survived.  I can't think of anybody who would recommend batoning with a hammer! - Not that he recommends it, but he did it in his tests.  And a crowbar on the side of the blade edge is another over-the-top test - but some knives survived it!

Comment by Clint Thompson on January 4, 2014 at 16:57

I too have not heard of this knife brand.  There are hundreds of knife makers who punch out one knife at a time.  The picture below depicts and well and standard designed knife.  If you buy one let us know how it works out.

Comment by Jan Carter on January 4, 2014 at 15:21

Charlie, I like the look of it and see a good number of uses for it.  as they say good all around design

When it see it on the belt however I have to wonder about the length of the handle.  It appears that either that person is as short as I am or the knife would extend the entire length of my torso LOL

Comment by Charlie Smith on January 4, 2014 at 14:52

A PIC OF GOUCH KNIVES

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