TOPS River Rat: A Small Backup Knife Built to Work Hard

The short version: The TOPS Knives River Rat is a compact fixed blade with a 2.75-inch 154CM blade and a chunky G10 handle, and Athlon Outdoors' tester found it a capable backup knife for outdoor use.

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At first look the River Rat seems oddly proportioned: the stubby blade is short and the handle is the dominant feature, sticking out roughly three inches from its Kydex sheath. In hand, that thick full-tang G10 grip turned out to be the point. The reviewer reported that all four fingers fit around it, the rounded edges felt smooth, and the sharply cut jimping on the spine gave his thumb a grippy rest he rated the best he has used.

The blade is .130 inch thick, so you can lean into a cut without worrying about it giving out. In testing it whittled a branch down into a pile of tinder in a few seconds, and the reviewer felt it could have chopped through the branch if needed. The sheath earned praise too. Its metal belt clip has a lower lip that acts as a second catch, making it harder for brush to pull the knife loose, and it works for cross-draw carry or on a pack strap.

The review is clear that this is not meant to be your main outdoor knife. It is pitched as a backup that is quick to reach and holds up in bad weather. At an MSRP of $220, it is a considered purchase rather than a casual one.

Key specs

• Blade steel: 154CM, RC 58-60, cryo treated
• Blade length: 2.75"
• Overall length: 6.63"
• Weight: 3.90 oz
• Handle: black G10, full tang
• Sheath: black Kydex with metal belt clip
• MSRP: $220

Summary by GunWinner based on reporting by Athlon Outdoors. Deal links are affiliate links; GunWinner may earn a commission. Prices change quickly, so confirm at checkout.