TOPS Knives Alaskan Harpoon Survival Knife 6-3/4 inch 1095 Carbon Steel Blade, Micarta Handles, Nylon Sheath

Twinstick
Western NY State

Nov 13, 2011

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Sheath/Scabbard

Just got this knife. EXCELLENT knife. It has 3 choils w/3 hand positions. Factory jimping on handle & blade works great, as does the thumb ramp. I made my own bow drill divots in the handle-it should have had them. 1/4" thick hard use knife. Came sharp but i sharpened it more. Still sliced paper & hair after batoning, feather sticking & carving. Sheath---not so much. Mine has 2 retention straps & still falls out of sheath if inverted & shaken 2x VERY lightly. IMHO---FAIL. I will get a custom sheath anyways-so no big deal to me, but maybe to others. Glad i bought it. It is so functional & ergonomically correct for a multi-purpose outdoor hard-use blade.

Q
Ri

Jan 09, 2018

Pros: None

Cons: None

Excellent blade

Love it

Roger D. E.
Washington, Wv

Feb 28, 2012

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Nice

Daryl I.
Denver, Colorado

May 18, 2011

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Sheath/Scabbard

TOPS Knives Alaskan Harpoon 12" Overall Micarta Handle Nylon Sheath

This is a tool I carry each time I am out in the wild, usually weekly. The weight gives that feeling of strength when used for chopping. Blade maintains a good edge and is well balanced with the handle providing a non-slip grip. Scabbard is adequate with and additional pocket for sharpener and folder. Edge needs work to sharpen out of the box.

Jeff L
New England

Feb 09, 2018

Pros: Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Sheath/Scabbard

I love it

This knife arrived promptly. I promptly took it outside and batoned some wood just to see how it would go. It went well. this knife is a hoss, and I am confident it will serve me well for some time. I dont love the sheath. However that is a common grip about Tops Knives and not at all specific to the Alaskan Harpoon. Im happy with the purchase and I would recommend this knife to anyone who is looking for a workhorse.

Birdy
Estonian

Dec 13, 2018

Pros: Overall Quality, Blade Material, Materials, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Sheath/Scabbard

Durable

By profession I am a forester, so first time I went out and used it to cut some trees and remove bark over 1 to 2 month period. I was expecting to have tip bent or coating scratched, but even after reasonably long period I just covered it with oil and cleaned with a rag. It surprised me even after I sharpened it. Knife could easily be maintained, only problem I had was the shed which was made out of good materials, but way too big, even for 1.90 tall man like me. Every way I could use it in rough conditions I did and at every turn it exceeded my expectations. No other knife has earned 10/10 like this.

James
Pa

Oct 13, 2022

Pros: None

Cons: None

Great knife, sheath, not so much.

Having just got this knife, I can't provide any feedback on actual usage yet, but a few initial observations that I hope some may find useful. The blade as it comes from the maker is scalpel sharp, and I ain't kidding !. One of the things that attracted me was the multitude of grip positions, and indeed I believe they will really enhance the usefulness and the versatility of the Harpoon compared to some other very good knives I already own. Only a little compromise in grip comfort in exchange for the several grip options. Well done, Tops ! The sheath is a disappointment. Without the retaining straps, the blade is not well retained and can fall out by its own weight. While there are two retaining straps, they are secured only by velcro, which I despise. Given time, velcro always seems to collect dirt and detritus and loses its retention "sticky" badly. The straps ABSOLUTELY need snaps, or alternatively a custom sheath. A shame since even more budget knives I own came with sheaths superior to this one.

James
Green Lane, Pa

Jun 13, 2023

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Blade Material, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Overall Quality, Sheath/Scabbard

An update to my earlier review.

In general, I still like this knife a lot. As previously mentioned, the sheath comes up a bit short and that criticism still holds. Now, after some time using the knife, generally in light to medium duty primarily around camp, I am findinng tat for me , the jimping on the back of the handle ( NOT the back of the blade ) becomes uncomfortable very quickly. If using gloves it is acceptable, and the handle is actually more comfortable than I initially believed. Without gloves, it severely limits the amount of work I can use the knife for before it becomes quite painful. In heavy usage I believe it could cause an open wound, and my hands, while not calloused, are not particularly "delicate" either. This could be a situation unique to my hand size or shape, but potential buyers might be well advised to consider this factor. I put this as a con under overall quality, which is otherwise excellent.

Sky
tex

Dec 13, 2011

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Blade Material

Cons: Sheath/Scabbard

SPOT on

I bowhunt/kayak the Texas riverbottoms where the feral hogs are big and the alligators eat them, and I typically carry two knives. The Alaskan is the perfect large tool/hard use knife. I flattened the cutting angle profile a little with a diamond stick sharpener and the knife takes a wicked edge. I also tossed the sheath and made a leather one, a must for this big blade. It's a bit expensive but extremely tough so I won't hold back in putting it to work. The Alaskan is the knife to have when the going gets tough.