A knife and a tomahawk (hawk) are two essential tools for woods camping. The knife is a versatile tool that can be used for cutting, carving, slicing, skinning, and many other tasks. Correspondingly, a hawk is a type of axe that can be used for chopping, splitting, hammering, and throwing. Together, they can help campers build a shelter, start a fire, hunt for food, and defend themselves from wild animals or foes. Let’s take a look at a dynamic bushcraft duo from TOPS Knives.
Bushcraft Done Right with TOPS Knives
Woodcraft: A Legend Redesigned
The TOPS Knives Woodcraft Fixed Blade is a truly exceptional knife that combines classic design with cutting-edge features. Drawing inspiration from the legendary Marble’s Woodcraft, this knife pattern has been around for more than a century. It continues to be a popular choice among hunters, campers, and woodcrafters alike.
Crafted from premium 1095 high-carbon steel, it boasts a 4.38-inch blade that is tough and durable. The Midnight Bronze Cerakote finish further enhances its longevity by protecting against corrosion and wear. This knife is easy to carry, at 8.75 inches long, and weighing just 7 ounces, which won’t weigh you down on your adventures.
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The handle is equally impressive. Crafted from tan canvas Micarta with black canvas Micarta inserts that give the appearance of bolsters. The knife also features stainless steel Torx screws and brass holes for lanyards, lashing, or hanging. To ensure maximum protection, the knife has a leather sheath and a belt loop for easy carrying.
This knife is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a timeless design with a modern twist. Proudly made in the USA, it is backed by TOPS’ lifetime warranty, giving you peace of mind that you are investing in a high-quality, long-lasting tool.
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Bushcrafting In the Woods
When it comes to field tests, I enjoy venturing into the woods and practicing woodcraft by making campfires. During my outings, I brought along the TOPS Woodcraft Knife to test its performance as a modern version of a traditional woods tool.
I immediately noticed the knife’s comfortable handle scales that filled my hand nicely. Despite weighing 7 ounces, it felt well-balanced. Without delay, I whittled feather sticks for the campfire, which is always an excellent way to test its sharpness and performance on dry wood. The knife carved and whittled well, creating shavings perfect for igniting with a Ferro rod.
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I conducted a series of tests on hard Maple using various notches. These included a locking notch, saddle notch, seven-notch, and root stripper—all commonly used in woodcraft. During this process, I discovered that the section just above the thumb jimping provided a secure and safe location for my left thumb to assist in the cut.
It should be noted that the blade begins to taper significantly beyond this flattened area and may be uncomfortable for push cuts. While it’s true that these tasks are easier to perform on green softwood, such a test would be less effective.
The Right Tools for the Job
Woodcraft involves utilizing specific tools, such as a saw, hatchet, or tomahawk, and a knife. In my recent woodcraft project, I opted to use a compact folding saw to acquire a green piece of witch hazel that was about the thickness of my thumb. This piece was intended for use in crafting tent stakes and potholders.
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Thanks to the thin, flat grind of the Woodcraft, this task was relatively straightforward. I used a small baton to assist with stop cuts and shear cutting to ensure the wood was suitably shaped. Ultimately, this enabled me to craft a tent stake chiseled to perfection.
The Midnight Bronze Cerakote finish showed no wear despite batoning into wood, slicing acidic veggies, deboning chicken, and lots of crafting. Midnight Bronze is a classy color and one I hope TOPS will use more often.
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I found that the cowboy-style leather sheath for my knife was quite reliable in performance. However, I did notice that the closure strap would get cut slightly whenever I removed the knife from the sheath unless I was careful. I appreciate that the knife sits just above the belt while in the sheath. This prevents any discomfort or poking in the ribs when sitting or turning.
Typically, it’s wise to have a sturdy, weighty chopping and splitting tool to accompany a fixed-blade sheath knife when venturing into the woods, particularly during winter. The TOPS Knives Woodcraft would pair nicely with a heavier option of your choosing. However, a specific, substantial tool fits the bill and pairs ideally like fine wine!
TOPS Knives Ucon Hawk
Throughout the years, hawks and hatchets have consistently proven their usefulness in various tasks. They are particularly effective in splitting small pieces of wood, chopping branches, limbs, and even small trees if needed.
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Hatchets are incredibly helpful in clearing a country road of debris if you forgot your chainsaw. Some individuals even prefer hatchets over large chopping knives. The Ucon Hawk hatchet was created to meet these demands.
The Ucon Hawk is part of the contemporary breed of hawks/hatchets built from a single piece of steel. As a result, it boasts exceptional durability. The renowned 1095 High Carbon Steel differential heat treatment method employed by TOPS Knives ensures that the tool is robust and retains its sharpness for a long time.
The handle scales are fashioned from a new material that blends layers of G10 and rubber to deliver maximum grip and durability. In addition, the tang segment that bridges the handle and the bit is rounded. This allows users to choke up for precise cuts.
This multipurpose hawk is versatile enough to perform most duties of a hatchet and some of those of a knife. It is accompanied by a 2-piece leather sheath that guarantees safe transportation in a pack, vehicle, haversack, or canoe.
Winter Camp with TOPS Knives
Cold weather and winter camping generally demand different tools—Ucon Hawk to the rescue.
Converting larger wood into smaller wood is essential to survive a winter camp in comfort. This process begins with chopping, focusing on downed maple as the primary target. Several logs were obtained from a blown-over tree, ranging from bicep to leg-thickness. Despite being bone dry inside, these logs are still covered with a layer of snow and ice, making the task more challenging.
The Ucon Hawk, which measures 15 inches in length, was used to chop through seasoned maple and then split it. Although the thickest part of the tool is only ¼ inch thick, it was still able to penetrate deeply. However, it did not have much splitting potential. To finish the job on larger diameter wood, a beater stick was used as a mallet or baton.
The real work begins after splitting the wood down to various thicknesses, including wrist-thick, broomstick-thick, finger-thick, pencil-thick, and matchstick-thick pieces.
As the Ucon Hawk was being retired for the night, I couldn’t resist checking the edge to see how it held up. It was perfect. I made sure to prepare enough firewood for the night and morning fire for the wood stove. Then, I left the TOPS Ucon Hawk out in the snow and sleet.
Extreme Winter
After a snowstorm that produced 24 inches of snow, I uncovered the Ucon Hawk, which had been buried for a week. It was as immobile as Han Solo encased in carbonite. However, it was ready to be used after tapping it on a log. There were only a few spots of rust on the cutting edge after removing the sheath. It was gone in no time after using it to chop and split.
I had to dig out my camp using gloves and a pie tin as a shovel. I managed to dig almost down to the dirt, but the surface beneath me had become slick and icy. The Ucon Hawk came in handy as I used the hammer poll to break the slippery ice and compacted snow to loosen it up for removal.
I discovered two frozen oak chunks after clearing the fireplace of the frozen ashes from previous fires. So, I used the TOPS Ucon Hawk and mallet to split them. I planned to use them as a base for the fire I needed to melt the snow around me, boil water for coffee, and cook food over the resulting coals. I was impressed with the ease of splitting I could accomplish with the Ucon Hawk.
Next, I chopped some hardwood wedges for large splitting tasks. This required a heavy baton to maximize the energy it lacked, like a heavier weight and wedge shape of a traditional hatchet, axe, and hawk.
The Ucon Hawk hatchet is a reliable and indispensable tool that will indeed become your collection’s most frequently used chopper.
The TOPS Knives Bushcrafting Dream Team
The TOPS Knives Ucon Hawk and Woodcraft knife make an excellent pair for any wilderness woods adventure. Both are durable, versatile, and highly functional tools that will serve you well.
Whether hiking, camping, or exploring the great outdoors, these knives will surely be an indispensable part of your gear collection. So, if you’re looking for a reliable and high-quality set of knives for your next adventure, check out the TOPS Knives Ucon Hawk and Woodcraft knife!
TOPS Knives Woodcraft Specs
| Overall Length | 8.75 inches |
| Blade Length | 4.38 inches |
| Cutting Edge | 4.38 inches |
| Blade Thickness | 0.190 inches |
| Blade Steel | 1095 RC 56-58 |
| Blade Finish | Midnight Bronze Cerakote |
| Handle Material | Tan Canvas/Black Canvas Micarta |
| Knife Weight | 7.0 ounces |
| Weight w/Sheath | 10.70 ounces |
| Sheath | Brown Leather |
| Designer | Marble’s |
| Made in | USA |
| MSRP | $190.00 |
TOPS Knives Ucon Hawk Specs
| Knife Type | Fixed Blade, Axe |
| Overall Length | 15.00 Inches |
| Blade Length | 4.87 Inches |
| Cutting Edge | 4.87 Inches |
| Blade Thickness | 0.250 Inches |
| Blade Steel | 1095 RC 56-58 |
| Blade Finish | Tumble Finish |
| Handle Material | Orange/Black SureTouch G10 |
| Hawk Weight | 31.1oz |
| Weight w/Sheath | 35.6 Ounces |
| Sheath Material | Black Leather |
| Sheath Clip | Belt Loop |
| Designer | Leo Espinoza |
| MSRP | $350.00 |
