Pros: None
Cons: None
I call this knife my 'Robot Killer'.
I would like to start off by saying that there is a reason this knife is called the 'Tops Stryker Defender TOOL'! Anything with a point and a sharp edge can potentially be used as a weapon, but aside from that, the TSDT is simply not designed to be a close-quarters combat weapon and THAT IS OKAY! (This knife, however, is possibly the only knife I have ever seen that I would feel comfortable attempting to kill a robot or cyborg with.)DESIGN:The IAV Stryker is a family of 8-wheeled armored combat vehicles used in the United States Army. The 'TOPS Stryker Defender Tool' is specifically designed to meet the requirements of soldiers in the Stryker Brigade. For the most part it was built as a breaching tool. It needed to be small enough for use in tight spaces and light enough to be carried easily. It also needed to be rugged enough to hold up to hard use tasks like digging, prying, cutting and snapping wire. Perhaps the most impressive demand of the TSDT was that it needed to be capable of cutting through light armor and aircraft-grade aluminum. With a little elbow grease, I wouldn't put it past this knife to be more than capable of doing this. Bottom line, the TSDT is designed to cut your way into or out of just about anything - including some military vehicles.SPECS:- BladeThis knife comes with a 1/4" thick full-tang 1095 HC Steel blade with a traction coated finish. It is built to take a SERIOUS BEATING! It came to me with a utility edge, which I find to be a good thing. Sharpening this knife to a razor edge would kind of defeat the purpose.- HandleLinen or Canvas micarta is my personal favorite handle material for any knife. Its extremely rugged, its weather/ temperature resistant, it offers excellent grip wet or dry, and its extremely comfortable for long hard use.- Size & WeightTHIS KNIFE IS HEAVY!! Which is good considering what it's built for. At 10 1/4" OAL, it's a great size for any gear bag and not too intrusive to carry on your leg or M.O.L.L.E..- SheathEveryone always seems to complain about the sheath. Okay, it's not a custom-fit kydex sheath with a tech lock, but it is very functional. It's M.O.L.L.E. compatible and offers many different carry options. It has a good sized storage pocket on the front and I believe it has a kydex liner.MY PERSONAL USE:I carry my TSDT in my EDC Vehicle Gear Bag, which is always in my car. I like knowing I have a way to cut myself out of my own vehicle if I ever needed to in an emergency. I also use it for various construction or demolition type jobs.. If something needs to be torn down, dug up, or ripped through, I never hesitate to grab my Stryker.WHO SHOULDN'T BUY THIS KNIFE:- If you are looking for an outdoor-specific survival knife, I definitely think there are many better options out there for the price. - If you are looking for a tactical, combat or fighting knife, I WOULD NOT BUY THIS KNIFE as I've said. There are literally thousands of knives on the market designed for hand-to-hand combat and this is not one of them - regardless of what anyone tries to tell you.WHO SHOULD BUY THIS KNIFE:- If you're looking for any kind of reasonably sized breaching, entry or demolition tool, this knife absolutely fits the requirements. The 'Tops Stryker Defender' is an absolute beast of a blade and you will have it for the rest of your life. It is a tool and should be used as a tool. THIS IS THE KNIFE YOU USE FOR ALL THE STUFF YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO USE A KNIFE FOR!
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