In case you are on the lookout for a flexible and dependable instrument that may deal with numerous duties, from kitchen prep to out of doors adventures, look no additional than a paring knife. This easy but environment friendly knife design has been a staple in kitchens worldwide for many years, and for good motive. Its compact measurement and sharp blade make it a wonderful alternative for precision cuts, peeling, and coring vegetables and fruit. Nonetheless, the usefulness of a paring knife continues past the kitchen.
Its light-weight design and skinny edge make it a perfect instrument for out of doors lovers, hunters, and butchers. Let’s dive into the advantages of utilizing a paring knife for numerous utility to camp craft duties and canopy The TOPS Knives El Pionero, a singular collaboration between a famend safety advisor and a top-tier knife producer, leading to a flexible and progressive fixed-blade knife design.
Señor Calderon
Ed Calderon is a safety advisor and coach specializing in Mexican prison tradition and its affect on private safety. He’s the founding father of Ed’s Manifesto, a platform the place he shares his insights and experiences from his former profession as a police officer in Tijuana, Mexico. Ed can be a frequent visitor on podcasts and media retailers, the place he discusses matters corresponding to cartel violence, kidnapping, human trafficking, and survival expertise. He’s recognized for his experience and authenticity within the private safety area that has come out of Mexico.
Above: The TOPS El Pionero is product of excessive carbon 1095 metal with a Tumble End for sturdiness.
TOPS Collaboration
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Previously few years, Ed Calderon had the possibility to conduct one in every of his most acclaimed coaching programs on the TOPS Knives facility. Throughout his keep, he was invited to be a visitor on TOPS Each day Grind (podcast), the place he conversed about edged instruments and weapons with Leo, the president of TOPS. One of many dialogue matters was a possible collaboration between the 2 to create a singular knife design that will be each useful and progressive.
After a lot brainstorming, Ed and Leo agreed {that a} paring knife could be the proper design base. The knife’s simplicity and flexibility make it one of the crucial frequent knife varieties worldwide, and it might even be an important place to begin for personalization. Thus, the concept for El Pionero was born. It is a knife that blends performance with magnificence, and it is designed to be a dependable instrument for on a regular basis use.
Above: The TOPS El Pionero has a black Kydex sheath and a Multi-Place Spring Metal clip for versatile carry.
Undercover Paring Knife
The El Pionero Knife is a flexible, dependable fastened blade designed for out of doors lovers, butchers, and people searching for a dependable self-defense instrument. With an total size of seven.63 inches, this knife packs a punch with its 3.38-inch blade size and a leading edge of three.13 inches. The blade thickness of 0.090 inches ensures that the knife can simply deal with difficult duties.
The El Pionero options TOPS’ staple metal, excessive carbon 1095 with an RC 56-58, and a Tumble End, making it a sturdy and long-lasting instrument that may face up to harsh situations. The Tan Canvas Micarta deal with scales present a cushty grip and distinctive sturdiness, making certain the knife stays firmly in your hand throughout use.
The graphic on the El Pionero is a skeleton sample engraved on the micarta scales. The deal with sample is designed to reinforce the aesthetics and grip of the knife and replicate its tactical and sensible nature. The skeleton sample can be a signature of Ed Calderon.
Above: Tan canvas Micarta scales provide a safe grip. The finger divot is his signature approach realized from his mom.
Weighing in at solely 2.9 ounces, the El Pionero is without doubt one of the lightest knives that TOPS makes. With the included black Kydex sheath and Multi-Place Spring Metal clip, the knife weighs in at 4.1 ounces, making it simple to hold with you on any journey.
The knife has many different options that Ed has discovered to be helpful on knives all through his expertise. The finger divot is a signature of his that he initially realized from his mom and is designed to make it simple to know the place the sting is oriented primarily based on the place that divot is felt. It additionally helps when extracting a knife that has been stabbed into one thing and could also be considerably caught. The false edge aids in penetrating as nicely. The Kydex sheath is low profile and simply customizable by the tip consumer to be worn in a number of configurations.
Above: The TOPS Knives El Pionero Knife includes a 3.38-inch, 0.090-inch thick blade, it is a wonderful alternative for out of doors lovers and people searching for self-defense choices.
Tactical Meets Sensible
I obtained the knife simply in time to {photograph} and take to the woods for some preliminary duties earlier than the massive journey coming down the pipe. I used to be rigging up tarps for camp and performing some camp crafts requiring reducing 550 paracord and making a hearth.
These seemingly mundane duties can reveal loads a few piece of drugs, particularly a knife. I used to be curious to see how the knife would carry out and the way nicely it might keep on my individual throughout a number of hikes and on my upcoming worldwide journey.
The primary check I carried out was to see how nicely it may shave hair off my arm. Folks ought to know two issues about TOPS Knives: they all the time have hair-popping, depraved sharp edges, and so they’ve mastered 1095 carbon metal!
Within the Northeast Woods, I cut up firewood with a heavier reducing instrument and used finger-to-thumb diameter items to make tinder by means of feather sticks. I favor a 3-inch to three.5-inch blade for camp crafts. The El Pionero sliced wooden like a lightsaber, simply making skinny, curly feathers. I’m a fan of constructing my very own tinder, so making feathers that can take a spark is important, particularly for my subsequent journey into the Amazon Rainforest!
Above: Pineapples had been sliced within the jungle with the El Pionero over a number of days. The blade remained sharp regardless of the cruel jungle ground because the reducing board.
Jungle Companion
The primary real-world check for the El Pionero was slicing pineapple alongside the path within the jungle. Naturally, the skinny, sharp blade was completely as much as the duty. I didn’t hassle cleansing the surplus juice off the knife. Ultimately, the buildup of all issues gunky and the humidity would take their toll.
Hearth preparation within the jungle is a communal activity. I like being answerable for the small parts like skinny twigs and feather sticks, which are sometimes missed. Since this was a visit with college students, I needed to set a superb instance of how a lot of the small prep is required. These little issues—there’s nothing greater. I needed to indicate off my El Pionero and the way worthwhile a small paring-style knife might be in a long-blade tradition. As anticipated, it made good curls, the likes of which might make Mors Kochanski proud.
Above: Cleansing animals for meals is routine within the jungle, as is utilizing reducing instruments. The El Pionero skinned this boa constrictor, which fed 12 folks.
Whereas getting ready the bottom and the encompassing space for my camp, one in every of our dependable native guides referred to as my identify repeatedly. They noticed a red-tailed boa within the creek and handed it to me. The entire camp knew that we’d get pleasure from a feast the next day.
We had procured two dwell chickens together with the boa, which might even be grilled for the feast. For skinning and reducing the boa, we used the El Pionero, which was additionally used for numerous different functions like getting ready fireplace, reducing cords, and carving spoons out of palm. Regardless of its a number of makes use of, the knife remained razor-sharp and did an important job skinning the powerful serpent into manageable items.
After one rooster was dispatched, I wasted no time defeathering it whereas it was nonetheless heat. Then, I cleaned the jungle chook utilizing the knife in an inverted place, choking up on the backbone towards the knife’s level. After the chook was cleaned, it obtained a fast dunk within the river earlier than the butchering. The El Pionero was good for quartering the jungle chook for the swamp grill.
Above: The El Pionero is snug in a reverse thumb-supported grip and a reverse edge in grip type.
Aftermath
The El Pionero knife is ideal for out of doors actions, butchering, and self-defense. Its light-weight design and sturdiness make it excellent for any out of doors fanatic or skilled.
I carried the El Pionero confidently clipped on my pocket and inverted on my belt. The clip held up nicely. As anticipated, the deal with provided a safe grip even when moist from animal fats and blood. The 1095 carbon blade remained sharp with a good quantity of floor rust and the beginning of a promising patina. The atmosphere alone is harsh on gear and other people alike—simple doesn’t dwell within the jungle!
Above: TOPS El Pionero wanting nicely used after a visit to the Jungle
Conclusion
The success of this mission showcases the facility of teamwork and creativity. The knife underwent a number of design iterations earlier than reaching the proper stability of type and performance. The end result is a sturdy, sensible, and aesthetically pleasing knife that embodies innovation and practicality. It is a testomony to the abilities and dedication of Ed Calderon and the staff at TOPS Knives.
El Pionero Specs
- General Size: 7.63 inches
- Blade Size: 3.38 inches
- Reducing Edge: 3.13 inches
- Blade Thickness: 0.090 inches
- Blade Metal: 1095 RC 56-58
- Blade End: Tumble End
- Deal with Materials: Tan Canvas Micarta
- Knife Weight: 2.9 ounces
- Weight w/ Sheath: 4.1 ounces
- Sheath: Black Kydex
- Sheath Clip: Multi-Place Spring Metal
- Designer: Ed Calderon
- Made within the USA
- MSRP: $220.00
Supply
www.topsknives.com
In regards to the Writer
Adventurer, author, photographer, and survival teacher for Randall’s Journey & Coaching, Reuben has spent most of his life climbing and backpacking by way of the wildernesses of the world. He has traveled overseas in excessive environments and seeks out primitive survival strategies, development, and makes use of of knives and edged instruments. Reuben has printed many articles on survival, knife and power use, and woodcraft. He stays a lifetime scholar of survival!
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Editor’s Be aware: This text has been modified from its unique model for the net.
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