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TOPSKnives.comThe sheath houses the
Rapid Strike tightly until
ready for use. Credit:
TOPS KnivesAt over 8 inches long,
it is a large knife but
because it is so slim, it
carries like something
smaller. Credit: TOPS
KnivesThere is also jimping that starts on
the blade spine and goes all the way
around the perimeter of the handle. In
the hand, the recessed jimping around
the handle is barely perceptible, yet it
really adds to the overall grippy feeling.
It also contributes to the handsome
appearance of the Rapid Strike.TOPS opted for 154CM steel for the
knife, which is a high-carbon stainless
steel. It is somewhat corrosion-resistant
while not being a complete pain to
sharpen. The blade is 4.13 inches long
and arrives hair-popping sharp with a
needle point.For those who truly watch the weight of
their EDC load out, the included Kydex
sheath adds 1.5 ounces, bringing the
total package to 4.6 ounces. The sheath
has a metal clip for attaching to a belt,
which can be removed via two small
screws. The sheath also has multiple
attachment points, should you wish
to lash it on a pack or elsewhere. The
belt clip is my only real gripe about the
Rapid Strike. TOPS uses an adjustable
clip on some of their Kydex sheaths,
allowing the user to rotate the knife to
where it is most comfortable to draw. I
wish they’d have gone that route here,
as well. As confi gured, the Rapid Strike
is carried vertically. There is enough
play, though, where if the belt is thin,
the knife can be tilted a bit.The knife indexes perfectly when drawn
from the sheath. It naturally falls right
into a combat grip, so the user doesn’t
need to fumble with it before putting
it to use. And again, the knife is just
lightning quick in the hand.Real World Use
I carried the Rapid Strike for several
days to get a feel for the comfort andTOPS Options
Because TOPS Knives realizes that not all people are the same, or have the
same tastes/needs, they o er a small array of custom options to select when
choosing one of their knives, allowing you to make your knife your own.Serrations: Some people like serrations and some don’t. TOPS Knives
doesn't have many knives in their line that come standard with serrations, but
due to their function for specifi c tasks they have their place. For this reason,
TOPS Knives o ers serrations as an option, for an additional small fee.Camo Finish: Some people are satisfi ed with the regular black traction
coating that comes on most TOPS knives, but for those that like to be
di erent, you can opt for a camo pattern added to your coating, for an
additional small fee. The coating is not available for all knives in their line,
such as the Rapid Strike, because this is only a variant of their traction
coating. So, if you purchase a knife with the Black River Wash or the Tumble
Finish, you will not be able to select the camo fi nish as an option.Rocky Mountain Tread: Some people like just a little more grip on their
grip. This is where the Rocky Mountain Tread option comes in. As with the
other two options, there is an additional small fee, but it provides quite a bit
more traction to the grip by scalloping out grooves throughout the handle
scales for less slippage.All of the di erent options o ered by TOPS Knives go a long way to help
ensure that you have the knife you want, the way you want it. However, make
sure that it is how you want it because the order cannot be canceled once
the knife has been customized. So, if you have the opportunity, I recommend
fi nding a dealer or a friend — or come to a trade show that TOPS is attending
— and check out the di erent options fi rsthand before ordering.42 KNIVES ILLUSTRATED • JULY/AUGUST 2019 knivesillustrated.com.
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