Wild Pig Hunting With a Knife

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TOPS Deadly Wild Pig Hunter
7.6 Inches of Death

When I received my sample of the TOPS Wild Pig Hunter and held it in my hand, I felt like I had found a long lost friend. This feeling was something strange for a knife. Yet the feeling persisted causing me to return to examining this “Wild Pig Hunter”. Holding this knife in my hand I found the balance to be near perfect. The 7.5 inch blade is what I call an elongated drop-point design. The handle is right at 4.5 inches long which I like as it fits the overall design of this fixed blade knife.

The model name of this knife is “Wild Pig Hunter” which gives one visions of running through brush and swamps chasing wild pigs with the intent to leap upon their backs and dispatch them with a single stabbing blow. Crazy as this sounds, there are pig hunts wherein the hunters use dogs to chase and corner really mad 200 to 300 pound wild pig. The dogs all take a section of the pig to take them down to the ground. The hunter then jumps into the squealing, growling and swirling mix and stabs the pig in the jugular vein for the “coup de grace” meaning “stroke of mercy.”

: TOPS Wild Pig Hunter

: Handle detail

: Blade detail

: Blade tip

: Sheathed

I can see what the designer Leo Espinoza was going for. The Wild Pig Hunter has a needle sharp point at the end of the blade. The unique design starts with 0.250 or ¼ inch 1095 high carbon steel, my favorite, and at the center of the blade gradually tappers down to the point. At the top from the hilt for one inch, the blade retains the 0.250 inch steel then for the next six inches is shaped down to 0.125 or 1/8 inch for the gradually tapering to the point. What does all this mean? This long needle point blade retains considerable strength from one end to the other. I also saw the heat treating line along the edge of the sharp blade. In the light it looks like a shadow running the full length including the point.

The green canvas Micarta handle has the “Rocky Mountain Tread” which guarantees a positive grip when using the knife getting it muddy and bloody. My sample came with a long 550 olive green cord in the base of the handle. There is another long 550 olive green cord in the tip of the all brown leather USA made sheath. I do like this sheath. The sheath is made of vegetable tanned tough steer hide….my favorite flavor.

The TOPS Wild Pig Hunter does remind me of a long lost old friend. Days after receiving my sample it dawned on me what I saw in this very deadly, zombie eradication knife. The design and spirit of the Wild Pig Hunter reminds me of a shorter bayonet from wars past. In fact this knife could be considered a shorter version of the old Navel Dirks. The Wild Pig Hunter could be used as a slashing and chopping weapon as well as stabbing. Another observation would be this blade resembles a spear point possibly used by the Persians two thousand years ago. The TOPS Wild Pig Hunter has just an amazing design.

Conclusion

The TOPS Wild Pig Hunter is an extremely well designed large fix blade knife. I can see the practical use of going all Warrior on a wild pig with this weapon. I can see practical use in the arenas of flying metal and blowing sand. I can see this knife being carried while hunting in areas where there are big furry balls of hair, teeth and claws rumbling around looking to make a Scooby Snack out of you. Backpackers and survivalists should consider the TOPS Wild Pig Hunter fix blade knife as their new best trail buddy. TOPS knives and tools are the best you can buy. You can pay more but you can’t buy better.