I hate how they still call it Tom Brown Tracker. He didn’t design it he just stole the design from Robb Russon.

The fat part of the blade is made for skinning. The hook area right where the fat part meets the straight part can be used as a gut hook. The straight narrow blade is used as a scraper. I love skinning deer with mine with the wide blade it makes it super quick and I have the weight to hack through bone quick. This knife does a hell of alot more than chop wood.. which is nice to have since you don't just go into the woods to chop wood and start fires. This thing even cuts wire which is great for trap lines. If you want something to chop, split and splinter wood then buy a 60 dollar husq axe .

Are you here to sweep me LT??

You should check out the 10 page user manual that comes with this knife from TOPS. You can download it from their website. Explains the drawknife and saw back, wire breaker, pot lifter and the different reads. I love mine, but find it a pain to sharpen and definitely has a learning curve with it. Awesome review again as always.

Best fair review of this knife on the web I've watched so far

Brown is an Indian, Christian, expert tracker AND outdoorsman....nobody's fool. Great knife....

I remember when my Camillus was pretty much the state of the art for bush work. I sure wish that I would have had this knife in my primitive camping hay day. By just looking at the Tom Brown knife I know that for me this would be all that I would have ever needed. It sure would have allowed more time for drinking cowboy coffee and enjoying my surroundings.

One of the best TBT reviews on YT. Seeing someone actually using the knife is always a plus rather than some jackwagon doing a "on screeen" review. As said in the video its a Wilderness Mutil-Tool and once you really understand what that means you'll understand the genius behind it. It is meant to be complemented with the scout tracker and certainly isn't meant for everyone and it also requires time and effort into mastering how to use it. Has anyone seen the video of the guy making tracker curls? You think he picked up the knife that day and was able to do that? No way. If I was a go light freeze at night type of guy I wouldn't want this in my pack either. You know Ed Lombi made the first tracker knives and then Dave Beck. After Dave beck these things were no where to be found for years. Then comes a long the movie hunted and TB gets Chip McConnell to make the "movie" version. Now we have what Mike Fullers team (TOPS) makes and that is the TBT-1. Folks it cracks me up because this knife pre dates the birth of many of the jack wagons making reviews on it. Nice review right here folks if your considering getting one. Want more understanding losen the purse strings and go to the Tracker School..... of course you don't need this knife but you'll earn respect for what it can do.

When you kill with your hands, there is a reverence.

I absolutely LOVE your videos. They are straight forward, objective and insightful. Two minor things: I noticed that when chopping, you were using (making contact with) the part of the blade designed for feathers sticking and delicate work. The front blade is designed for the chopping and when you made contact with it, the wood gets completely obliterated. Second point and completely unrelated: when will you do a review of the Blackheart Gunner 10? I would like your perspective. I would also like your perspective on the Tom Brown Tracker 4. Thanks and again, LOVE your reviews. Thanks for putting things out there and being consistent and reliable.

For those of you that are looking for another look for your old tracker. You can send it back to Tops and get the Mountain Grips, you can also have them but serrations on the knife. I'm going to do serrations on the bottom half of the knife.

Great Vid !! You know me - I have such a massive collection of all types of blades , but no tracker . So many folks have asked me over the last year if I had one - and they always recommend the Tom Brown. So before I drop the big bucks on the TB , I paid less than $70 for a handmade Bobcat tracker . ( the reason why I bought that is because there were a couple of reviewers that said “ it’s just as good as the TB - if not Better ). Well that is a bold statement!! So I want to see for myself . The Bobcat line , for me , have yet to disappoint. Will be doing a video soon . ( should be arriving today so I’m pretty stoked ). Stay safe as always 🤠

My son purchased one of the Beck knives, after working for me, for a summer, and he paid about a grand for it ...... we spent the next few years before he left for college stress testing it. It never failed us .... It was a long time in coming, but I finally managed to get enough money together to get a TOPS Tracker for myself. That was five years ago (I believe), and it and the Scout are the mainstays of my camp tools and EDC items. I also use the pair of them around the house, and even as kitchen knives, no real complaints about either one yet. The only thing I did after getting it was to re-cut the cutting surfaces, but I do that with every blade I own. For my money, a lot of the problems associated with this knife, seem to originate on the handle side of things. They either don't know how to use a blade to begin with; they believe the hype which comes with ANY signature blade, or they have a Hollyweird expectation of what they can accomplish with it. As far as I'm concerned, it's a pretty damned good knife. By the way, I like your style, you seem to try keeping things neutral and let the blade speak for itself.

You do great reviews brother

Enjoyed your review. Seen a lot on this knife; probably 10 reviews so far. Yours was objective and fair.

I have one of those little knock-offs that cost me about 20 bucks. It looks identical except for it's not quite as thick. I did some modifications on it myself. And I had to tighten the handle down when I got it. Other than that it's a hell of a knife. I got it to see if I would like to design before I blew $300 on the real thing. However I've been using it for about three years and I'm not worried about spending over 300 on the real thing. I thought this would be made of Cheaper metal or maybe it wouldn't be tempered right. But I've done some downright destructive things with it and it hasn't bent or broken the tip. It takes a lot to get it to lose its Edge. The back of the knife is for more than just notching. I Ground out my first Notch like the original because what it's used for is removing Lids from pans or picking up pans. And the round part of the back is not for your thumb it is for processing skins. I can skin a squirrel with mine with no problem or I can whack limbs off of trees with one blow. Usually 1-1 1/2 in anyway. I bought a leather sheath for about 20 bucks that came with a sharpening stone and a small rod for edging your blade. It also has a holder for my firesteel. It works so good why would I waste 300 and whatever to get the original? It's a good knife but they are way too proud of it. I like mine and so far it's done everything I wanted it to. Also my knife does not have the handle issue that he described.

WHAT? Wait......I thought everyone was supposed to automatically hate the TBT! LOL. THANK YOU for the honest review with demo's of it's use as opposed to sycophantic yes man negative reviews with no practical demos. I personally love this design as it IS very practical and useful as long as you understand what it is designed for and how to use it.

Do not watch this if your thinking about buying a Tom brown tracker! I dont blame the maker of this video he actualy did a pretty fair review but he didn't know the way it was meant to be used and this video shows the wrong way. Do your research on the knife and it's intended purpose before making a final decision it is actualy a great knife when used correctly but that doesn't mean it's perfect. I just hate seeing all the ignorant comments because of people not knowing how to actualy use this amazing knife. It was developed by someone with a lot of experience out in the field and has a multitude of uses that weren't shown in this video. It's easy to hate when you see the knife being used incorrectly. I love this knife and when it is used right it really can be a 1 tool option for any situation out in the woods. If you do buy this though I recommend a small folding whitling set for really fine work not that this can't do it, it's just a heavy bladed knife which can be cumbersome but please don't let this review temp you away from this knife it is actualy a very well made and respectable 1 tool option.

As others have said here, this is a much more 'balanced' review of the Tracker. No preconceived prejudices - just a "let's see what it'll do" attitude. And while this probably wouldn't be my first choice for a bush or camp knife, it's certainly not as bad as some have painted it. Bravo, sir!

Good honest review. That's why your channel is one of my favorites. Great job.

Thats a very unique looking blade. I like it. Thanks for the review bro.

Nice review. I just got my Tops Condor Alert in the other day. Talk about a good knife design and just plain bad ass! The other big knife I have is the Schf9, and the Condor Alert dwarfs this knife in size and is an amazing chopper. It batons like a beast! Handle is comfortable as well. For me, it was comfortable enough to carve feather sticks and quite a few of them. Its almost like a BOB on steroids!!

I've recently bought a Boker Tracker, and it's absolutely fantastic,, much better than the Tops version imho..

Thanks for the video. I think this would be a good piece of kit to have as a backup in a situation where you break an axe or hatchet handle or snap off the blade on your TOPS Bob, Mora, etc. since this knife can do all of these tasks "pretty well". At 1/4 inches thick it should be pretty indestructible. Field sharpening would be a little trickier than a more traditional blade shape though such as a drop point, spear point, clip point, etc.

en cuanto a la sierra que tiene, por lo que vi, me gusta mas la que trae el tracker de la marca Argentina Yarara...corta mucho mas a simple vista, lo probe ayer y corto muy bien, mas rápido que este, según vi.

If you read the tom brown guide it explains you should be holding the knife by the rear of the handle for chopping jobs. Not full or near full purchase.

Very good unbiased review. I like the Tracker as a single tool option. But as you say if you have the time and luxury to choose, three specialist tools would provide a better solution :)

The kydex sheath that comes with it is a POS. It barely keeps the knife from falling out. I threw it away immediately. The upgraded kydex sheath with nylon cover from TOPS of also a badly designed POS. I know because i stupidly bought one. I should've spent the money on a handmade leather sheath from Hedgehog leather works. As far as the knife, its kind of a novelty. Just get a decent mid sized clipped point knife and a hatchet.

Jack of all, master of none I believe is the slogan. I got to hold one today and it seems like a good quality blade, the heft and solidness of the look made me like it instantly, plus the feel of it in the hand felt good almost natural. Had I the money I probably would have bought it right then.

Very good understanding for me.. Nice review.. Probably the best.. Thanks. Good luck. B.

Little history on this. Tom brown was asked if he had one tool to survive what would he use. He didn't have an answer. Then he made this. It's, just like the video says, a jack of all trades. Real survivalist, Tom brown included, prefer a small set of more specialized tools. Better chance of survival

great vid. so I have seen the measurements on tops website also, and I believe they are measuring the radius of the curved edge and length from the tip of the "hook" to the ricasso, not strait line from the tip. also noticed when chopping, your working to hard with this knife, shorter swing, more wrist swivel, and contact with the blade forward onto the round of the chopping edge, not near the skinning hook, you will see a marked difference in the performance, oh and check out the PDF manual from tops.

No one ever discusses sharpening these Trackers. 1/4" thick with a short grind height and bizarre curves on the cutting edge makes for a true nightmare that's near impossible to get a razor edge on without a huge fight.

It's interesting to me because of it's relation to the movie, 'The Hunted', and I have read Tom Brown's books. Yet no matter how much understanding I have of it's design, I also find it "too busy" and prefer the simpler single, continuous edge of most blades such as the Schrade SCHF9 or one of the Ontario's, CRKT's or a "Colhane" modified machete.

Super informative overview! Thanks a lot 💪👌

28 ounces! I could bring a Fiskars X7, a Mora, and a folding saw that add up to less weight, less money, and work better for one task at a time. Sharpened brick.

Awesome video! As it was told, this vid showed me the ways of using this tool. Advantages, disadvantages- all of it shown in action.. I don' t like videos taken in one view, just talking and talking about stuff .. good job!

I prefer to delimb Big branches with a heavy knife. You can do it with an axe but a heavy knife will have more real estate to get the job done quickly. Beyond that it will probably baton smaller things well. I like heavy blades for throwing too. It’s fun

Aaron if I missed it then disregard but can you review the Tops Skullcrusher XL? Thanks

Better than nutnfancy did. At least you HAVE the knife. He reviewed a movie lol. Thx for the info

Another great review! Thank you! What was the smaller blade you put up to compare blade size early in the video? Have you done a review on that as well? Would you recommend it? Thanks again for all your efforts! Love this channel!

Aaron thank you so much for posting this. People will roll their eyes when I say this but I bought two of them, one in black and one in desert tan. I'm just very hesitant to use them because they look like show pieces, especially the desert tan, it's beautiful. You've given me some incentive to get out there and start scratching the finish off the black one. Sad to say I don't see the desert tan going any further than a display case. Oh one other thing, see if you can borrow a Tops Armageddon and put it through the paces. I'll bet it becomes your number one chopper. Mike in South Jersey

Its not a typo lol. They separated them, Blade they count as the curved front which is 4 1/4", The Draw knife portion is 2 1/8". Yes confusing, don't know why they wanted to separate them,

I really enjoyed the review of the knife and it has really helped me deciding on weather I should get it or not I would have to say the best review because you weren't 1 sided about it any way thanks again for the great review

I've got the TBT, I think it's a fun piece to have in my collection and it's not a "hopeless" wilderness blade, but while I'm sure it made sense to someone, that someone isn't me... Maybe it's decades in the bush doing things "my way", but IMO it makes a lot of compromises trying to be "all things" and it's possibly one of the most over-hyped knives around. Surprisingly, the Schrade SCHF28 "thing" is a MUCH more usable knife, a better chopper (on par with the OKC GenII SP52 that I think get's overlooked) and a hell of a deal. No, it's not made anywhere NEAR as well as the TBT (Tops makes SUCH a nice knife even if I don't like a lot of their individual designs) and the blade steel is "only" 8CR13mov (although this stuff's held up in my hands to a level I never thought it would) but for the pricce and the work it can do it's something to look at for guys wanting something closer to a "one tool option" (I can't genetically carry only one knife but...) and IMO it's a super High-value knife that has some interesting and useful features... Thanks for another great review mate, well done as usual.

Great video! Tops Tom Brown Tracker is offered in two sizes. You have I think the T-1 (I have one too), and they have the slightly smaller T-2 as well. The specs you have may be for the T-2, not the T-1. Love my T-1. Also, Tops provides free lifetime sharpening on this knife.

I'm looking to get a mid-size TBT because I've always loved the shape and I'm not a big guy (5'-6" 160 lbs). I liked your honest review, thanks!

This is one of the better reviews I've seen on the TBT. I've never liked it for all the obvious reasons. However after this video, I can see where it could be a useful tool. They do have smaller versions that would help with that heft. I may have to give one a shot. Thx for the review Gid.

a Say Heah Aaron and I thought my RatWeiler was heavy at 19.048 oz. Actually it is, But yet it's a Stout chopper with on mine a 7 3/4" blade. Yeah, I love my choils, so I can add on my RMD or my Rodent Solution and still have them sort of match. I'm thinking of getting the Trapper Blade put on a Hollow Handle, Using the Aparro method of marrying the blade and the handle. The blade will have screw teeth and the handle will have the female treads and then they screw together and a strong epoxy will solidify and help the strenght and so the blade won't ubscrew. Should be interesting.

You probably looked at the TBT mini, which is about an inch shorter (blade-wise), so that is likely where you saw it say "4.25" inches.

Nice review. You didn't mention why the forward notch on the spine is larger than the others... I'm not going to say what it's for, because I want you and the viewers to do their research...

I like thick knives, but then again I like most knives. But this one is not for me. The price point makes sure of that. I want to thank you for taking the time to review this product, and for your thoughts and opinion on this overkill of a knife.

Very nice review! I thonk to make some for this knife too, but I don´t need it now, you did it pretty well! One think, if you change the first edge (the stright one, after handle) shape - more "ease" angle flat, than the knife will serv much more better for small tasks. I did it, "on my knee (don´t have any workshop now)", it isn´t that nice but +50% of usableness and comfort.

Hmmm - I could carry the TB Tracker that weighs 28 ounces or I could carry a BK-15, small Schrade axe with ferro rod, Silky saw Pocketboy and my Spyderco Para 3 lite for a total of 26 ounces. That's a tuff choice.

I think the middle size version is a better option. I love the idea of trucker as it looks different than traditional knives.

I actually had the opportunity to use this knife a few months ago. Canadian winter is a great time to test the mettle of you and your knife in northern Ontario. All I can say is that the knife performed very average to below average. Just my honest opinion. Also pretty expensive for a poorly designed hunk of 1095.

Now that's how you do a field review.

great review..in your opinion is it worth the 200$ price.. always wanted one its seems to be a knife that people either really love or really hate, thanks for your feedback bro

I'm interested in the Fox Israeli Tracker knife. It looks like the best design for a tracker.

Nice review! I've been looking for this blade for quite some time and this review made it even stronger option for me 👍🏻

There are a few TOPS knives that I would love to get a hold of and the Tom Brown Tracker is one of them. The TOPS BOB is another one and the TOPS SXB is the other one.

It's a knatchet

I had this knife in the 90s. Pulls your pants down.heavy. but a beast !

Very nice video. I owned and enjoyed this knife for years. Very durable and still going strong. One thing that caught my attention is the chest pack you were wearing. Who makes it and where might I find one? Thanks again for the video, keep them coming.

Love your videos keep up the good work but for me I chose the t2 and the t4 and I love them both

For a long, long time I was drooling over this knife. Now I have a small aresnal (just got me a cold steel asegi short warspear and 1917 cutlass, Ka-Bar warthog, another morakniv, a custom d2-steel Kyotoshi Tanabe karambit, and a Fox 479 karambit in the past 40 days....ahh, the benefits of having cancer and having people think you might die...they start buying you bucket-list gifts...now alls I need is a Spyderco P'kal... :P ) Anyway.... The Ka-Bar warthog is the closesst blade I can think of when it comes to the general function a Tom Brown tracker is supposed to have as both an all-survival-all-terrain bushcrafter (supposedly) AND a thrower, a hacking knife, and a tactical fighting blade. I think with what I know right now, with the money, the steel, the design, etc. I'd take a Ka-Bar Warthog (full size) vs the Tom Brown tracker full-size. I don't think it';s a bad blade though....just, not this magical thing we saw in "The hunted" I also would take my karambits for using the exact same style of MBC-combat they used in "The Hunted" over a Tom Brown Tracker!

It is a proven design (shout out to the Tracker Packers).The learning curve to get the most out of this knife is pretty steep and the weight is insane for it's size IMO.

Nice knife. But I stay with my Bk2. Great review.

I think people don't really get that, that knife is not a survivalist knife in the modern sense of it. It's based off a Skinner, it's ment more for a hunter than a Bear Grylls fan.

How easy is it to sharpen the Tom Brown Tracker, I find a long straight saber grind blade baton's best for me, too, but this knife is so unique, I find it interesting.

It is not the same movie knife Benicio Del Toro used, was more pointed and smaller He had a more tactical design

Good review. But you left out one vital statistic; how the weight of the blade would be offset by how much it lightens you wallet! It depends on your point of review and what you like but after breaking an expensive knife I am weary of putting all my eggs on one basket anymore ... Two is one and one is none ... and I can't cost justify this one for what it does. Beside I rather have to say "Honey I lost my Mora" that "Honey you know that loan I took for the Tom Brown ....well we just lost the collateral..."

Say Heah Aaron. My Fox Trekker Utility Camp and Sniper Knife is similar and a scalled down version of your Tom Brown Trakkwr but more refined because the concave area on the edge slices pretty good, and for a 6" blade its pretty good.,,.p

Say Heah Aaron. Once I get caught up with my Custom's. I think I will have a Hollow Handle Tom Brown Tracker copy knife made. I got a person that makes some very strong knives with Hollow Handles.,,.

where do I get a Tom brown Tracker at? I really like the design of this knife. what will it cost both in purchace and Shipping and handling?

This is the best video review of this knife. This will probably be the last knife I buy due to its high price and my desire for an all around knife for a variety of functions. I also have the Ka-bar BK2. How do you think that knife compares to the Tom Brown in terms of all around functionality?

Sir which Tops Tracker is the mid size? I know T1 is huge! T4 is mini! So what's the sizes of T2 & T3? I'm looking for the perfect size! Thanks in advance!

I know This is an older vid, but it's the best so far. what is your opinion vs the BOB? I have a BOB but want the tracker

My tracker has also become one of my favourite blades to show to people because of the coolness factor, but after I got my DART I seldom carry it...found the DART chops better and excels at most other tasks as well

I like the Hill People Kit bag. Man that knife looks heavy. I rather prefer more UL knives with a hawk or hatchet but it's always great to see videos of people using stuff outside. Thumbs up and Subscribing.

TOPS charging $240 for that knife is laughable. My economics keeps me from throwing away 200 extra dollars on it.

Notice the Skull Crusher that is inspired by this knife has disappeared in disgrace? This knife/tool/axe should join the skull crusher in the smelting furnace. 28 oz. you can buy 4-5 14” machete that’s only 24 oz. ea. I hear good things about the clones that are $40.

Lol speaking of the Junglas, did you ever get TKC g10 scales for it? Bought some for mine and I think it's more comfortable than the Becker handle.

Very fair video. I own one but I own many knives. It is not my go to knife. I prefer carrying 2 knives. A bushcraft knife and a BK7.

I know you compared it to the ESEE Junglas and 5. The 5 is almost a pound lighter and even the Junglas is lighter. But for the weight, is this REALLY any better than the Junglas? I'd love to give this knife a fair shake like you did, but my wallet says no. Movie shenanigans aside, I'm curious if Tom Brown actually used or is still using his. Oddly enough, I have yet to come across even a photo or video of him using his "perfect" knife. I'd really love to see him use it to its fullest.

Looking at the design of this thing it screams "novelty" at me. Can such a design stand the test of time? Will it be the next Bowie knife? I'm dubious, but we shall see.

Hey Aaron, you should really check out the tops kodiak jac. It is a really sweet blade. It is only 113 bucks on blade hq!

Really need to try the Condor Alert by Tops. Hell of a knife. Seems to be a damn good woods craft type of blade. Difficult to use a ferro rod on it, but this knife can be a very good survival knife.

that's why they said 4 1/4" on knife, draw knife is 2-3"= 6+"

Jack of all trades, master of one... I give it points for chopping at that weight. No batoning? Thanks to James for the loan, and you for the review.

I think I wanna get into hiking and tracking more, along with hunting. I have a Ka-Bar USMC. I figure if it was good enough for the Marines in WW2, it’s plenty good for me.

I like it, I wonder how it would fare in reality as a combat/tactical knife vs what we see in the movie The hunted. Would it be good ? Good review thx

I gave the video a thumbs up for presentation but the TBT is definitely not for me. Like you I don't do this 'one tool does it all' thing and bring two knives. But even if they dropped me in the bush somewhere I would choose a Hultafors GK over this one.

Have you thought of testing the $14.99 Tracker clones on Amazon head to head with the Tops?

you make me want to buy knives i hate. i previously looked at the tbt with disgust but after seeing your video i can see it capabilities and merits i think it would be cool to own.

Aaron, I think the 4.25" measurement is for the curved belly portion of the blade. (The chopping portion). They are probably measuring the actual cutting edge length (i.e. Distance of circumference)

I have to get it and see for my self

Did this knife have a different handle color back then? It's a light blueish color on their site.

I liked the review I seen what the the knife can do . I want the tracker knife even more now.

When Dave Canterbury told me the Top Knives were Deferentially Tempered, it made sence to me why their more expensive, generally 1095 doesn't rock my boat, or fries my fries, but when you throw in a deferential temper, blip blap blam, that hits the spot, I think Top's should emphasize that, Deferential Temper, it does wonders to the 1095 steel, of all the Top's Knives, the Tracker is it, and the Anaconda, if it's still made, Ron Hood was a great one.