TOPS EI Pionero Review

The EI Pionero by TOPS Knives is a fixed-blade knife made in collaboration with the knife designer Ed Calderon, a counter narcotics expert who worked in Mexico until he moved to the US where he works as an educator in urban survival. He designed the TOPS EI Pionero knife with functionality and versatility in mind. It is designed as a practical and tactical knife.

TOPS EI Pionero is a 7.63” fixed-blade knife with a blade length of 3.38” with a tumbled finish 1095HC steel blade. The handle is a tan Micarta 4.25” long with a finger divot. It comes with black Kydex belt sheath and weighs 2.90 ounces.

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TOPS EI pionero came in a plastic bag with a product barcode with the knife secured inside the sheath, a Made in USA tag, a dog tag, and TOPS Knives certificate of manufacturing and authenticity. It helps put the brand apart from any counterfeits, so you can be sure it is authentic.

When the knife was unpacked, it revealed a thing of fine craftsmanship. It is a small and thin knife, yet versatile and durable. The knife’s tumbled finish was great, and the tan canvas Micarta handle felt incredibly smooth and comfortable in the hand. The finger divot is helpful in maneuvering the knife in various directions, which makes it perfect for self-defense.

The black Kydex sheath is easy to use, and with the metal clip, easy to mount in various positions. It is very user-friendly, high-quality and easy to maintain. It locks the blade securely inside and harnesses well.

The knife turned out to be exactly what was anticipated, and left positive first impressions.

The blade of EI Pionero is 3.38” long with a blade thickness of 0.06” and a cutting edge of 3.13”. It is made of 1095 high carbon steel with a standard blade style, flat grind, plain edge and stonewash finish. It has a Rockwell hardness of 56-58, which makes the knife durable and has exceptional cutting performance. The 1095 steel also has resilient edge retention and highly regarded in the knife community. Its robust nature allows for vigorous use and would not chip easily, even though it looks thin and small. That makes it ideal for heavy-duty tasks and outdoor adventures. With proper care and maintenance, it can last for years.

The tumbled finish of TOPS EI Pionero provides a non-reflective surface, making it ideal for covert self-defense. It also adds to the knife’s visual appeal at the same time. It also helps protect the blade from wear and corrosion, ensuring longevity and performance, especially under harsh conditions.

The blade profile of EI Pionero makes it look a lot like a standard kitchen knife, and can be used as such. It offers top-end maximum sharpness and edge retention, so it can be used for EDC and kitchen purposes. It is also resilient enough to baton through wood or other rough material. That makes EI Pionero stand out, as you cannot do that with a standard folding knife.

While the 1095 is not stainless steel, you can expect excellent performance at a reasonable price.

The blade of EI Pionero is 3.38” long with a blade thickness of 0.06” and a cutting edge of 3.13”. It is made of 1095 high carbon steel with a standard blade style, flat grind, plain edge and stonewash finish. It has a Rockwell hardness of 56-58, which makes the knife durable and has exceptional cutting performance. The 1095 steel also has resilient edge retention and highly regarded in the knife community. Its robust nature allows for vigorous use and would not chip easily, even though it looks thin and small. That makes it ideal for heavy-duty tasks and outdoor adventures. With proper care and maintenance, it can last for years.

The tumbled finish of TOPS EI Pionero provides a non-reflective surface, making it ideal for covert self-defense. It also adds to the knife’s visual appeal at the same time. It also helps protect the blade from wear and corrosion, ensuring longevity and performance, especially under harsh conditions.

The blade profile of EI Pionero makes it look a lot like a standard kitchen knife, and can be used as such. It offers top-end maximum sharpness and edge retention, so it can be used for EDC and kitchen purposes. It is also resilient enough to baton through wood or other rough material. That makes EI Pionero stand out, as you cannot do that with a standard folding knife.

While the 1095 is not stainless steel, you can expect excellent performance at a reasonable price.

The TOPS EI Pionero comes with a black Kydex sheath with belt and techno lock. It has drain holes in it that makes it easy to wash and harness. The size of the sheath exactly matches the shape of the knife and locks the blade securely inside, going as deep as the tip of the handle’s spine. Kydex is a thermoplastic material widely acclaimed for its resistance to impact, chemicals and wear. It is also strong, durable, and versatile, capable of usage for years.

The techno lock enables you to secure it onto your belt, making it easy to carry. The lock is a multi-position spring steel clip that allows various carry configurations, enabling the user to adapt the sheath as per their use.

The Kydex sheath provides excellent retention and ensures that the EI Pionero secures in place during rigorous activities. That makes the knife an excellent choice for outdoor enthusiasts, survivalists and tactical professionals alike.

We tested the knife right out of the box, starting with preparing a fish after a fishing trip. The knife turned out to be a winner. It helped process the fish with extreme precision. The handle design is comfortable however you hold it: fist, reverse, or pinch grip.

The blade stock thickness makes it very slicey. It is thin with a small width and lightweight, which also makes the knife work fast.

When used a bushcraft or self-defense knife, it is easy to retrieve and put back in the sheath. You can easily carry it every day. The techno lock also makes it very compatible with any kind of belt or the strap of a backpack.

When it comes to camping, it is the perfect camping gear to carry on your camping trip. You can use it to cut ropes, opening packets, food preparation, fishing, and virtually everything you will need on a camping adventure.

The knife has a concealed design that you can carry anywhere from the city to a town. It is also perfect for making hobo gadgets such as penny stove, and the sharp and pointy tip allows detailed work.

The EI Pionero comes with a belted metal clip to attach the knife to your belt or pocket very conveniently. You can also take the metal clip lock off and replace it with a Kevlar lanyard. It attaches to the belt loop and the last eyelet/hole on the sheath. Then, all you have to do is pull the sheath up and out of the pocket to deploy the knife. The Kevlar lanyard can also be used as an improvised saw for wood or plastic.

The sheath is also lightweight and very slim, and conceals well in the pocket. It adds very little bulk to the package.

TOPS EI Pionero and Brakimo are both fixed-blade knives with 1095HC blade and Micarta scales. However, Brakimo is larger than EI Pionero at 10” long with a drop point, scandi grind and satin finish.

Despite their differences, both are tactical knives excellent for use as bushcraft knives and survival gear. Brakimo also comes with a black belted Kydex sheath that is easy to carry and maintain. But it does not have the techno lock like the EI Pionero does. It is manufactured by Joe Flower and costs $145.75, only slightly more costly than EI Pionero. Both the knives can also withstand batoning and have strong and versatile blade profiles.

You can buy either of these knives, as both are great. But EI Pionero is better for self-defense.

Lionsteel M4 is also a fixed-knife with a tan Micarta handle. However, it comes with Bohler M390 blade and leather sheath. It is 8” long with a drop point and high flat grind. Its blade is wider than EI Pionero, but is excellent for camping, hiking, and EDC tasks. It is designed by Michele Pensato in Italy and weighs 4.83 ounces.

It is just as resilient as TOPS EI Pionero and great in the field. The sheath of M4 is made of brown leather and comes with a belt. It is just as easy to carry and maneuver, but has different features than EI Pionero’s Kydex sheath. But it performs really well in the field, is able to cut wooden sticks, strike through paper, and create feather sticks. It is also strong enough to withstand batoning. It costs $134.55, falling in the same price range as EI Pionero. So both the knives are equally good in features and performance, but M4 offers more functions like creating feather sticks and striking ferro rods.

TOPS EI Pionero is a versatile and resilient knife offering excellent edge retention, cutting ability, ergonomic impact and easy to carry capabilities. It is the perfect knife for outdoor activities and self-defense. You can maneuver it in various directions and can even remove the metal clip on the sheath to replace with a Kevlar lanyard and use the belt to carry it in your pocket. It is discreet, lightweight, and easy to retrieve and put back. It will be a great addition to outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, and survival tasks.

When compared with other similar knives such as TOPS Brakimo and Lionsteel M4, all the three knives fell in the same price category and perform well as bushcraft and self-defense knives.