My initial (meaning its been out of the box five minutes and I'm working so I'm not playing with it) thoughts ...

GOOD

+ The handle is very comfortable and sized appropriately.
+ The visual and tactile quality is apparent. This is a very nice knife.
+ The gimping is very secure.
+ The blade is thick enough to eliminate fear of normal use breakage.
+ The blade grind looks outstanding.
+ The sheath has zero rattle and extremely solid lock up.
+ The ferro rod is nice. All of the reviews I read or watched showed a "triad" contraption wherein three small rods were stuffed in the aluminum cap (ferro, mag, and something else). Many people complained about this so it looks like TOPS listened. I'm very happy its just a big thick ferro rod.

NEUTRAL

o The sheath looks crudely made. Like something a first time kydex bender would produce, but it is STOUT and SECURE so this is a minor quibble.
o The blade may be thicker than optimal for a knife designed as a "bushcrafter".
o The handle to blade proportions are not aesthetically appealing.

BAD

- This is a heavy knife.
- The sheath has an attached belt clip and the paperwork says it voids the warranty if you remove it.
- The entire knife is covered in some sort of preservative that smells weird.


JYD #123 The great one formerly known as Architect.

I am now a fictional British television police officer (currently a Detective Sgt) at Thames Valley Station. My governor is Detective Inspector Fred Thursday and it’s 1969.