Tops Knives California Cobra Full Tang Fixed Blade- Black Traction Coating Blade Finish- Black Kydex Sheath w/Multi-Position Spring Steel Clip

Perfect

Really wanted to like this,own several Tops Knives and they are all Excellent tools! I wanted to carry this horizontally (Scout) the clip it comes with has a hole pattern that is not symmetrical (same distance) making this impossible to just rotate the clip 90 degrees to allow horizontal carry. When you try to do this you end up with one hole properly aligned and the other only having half a hole??? It’s a lousy setup. You can drill your own holes or use an aftermarket clip like UtiliClip but if they just made the $2 clip with asymmetrical hole pattern it would work. I contacted Tops and while they were very nice, have not heard back from them with a solution?? The Blade itself is a very nice piece and would hate to be on the receiving end of it. I will probably just drill it myself and move on.

I’ve had this since 2020 and seriously love everything about the blade, but it’s sheath clip just needs to be easily adjustable for each person’s use and needs a couple adjustable retention screws. I want THAT and will pay for it if TOPS reads this. (My clip and its screws went missing a couple years ago after messing with it a 1000 times so I finally screwed on a little knob to pop off the sheath while pulling it from a pocket for now)… Have mercy TOPS

The Cali Cobra was the first Tops knife I ever bought and they are now my go-to brand when it comes to small tactical fixed blades. Their variety and selection is phenomenal. When there is a fixed blade from another company that catches my eye nowadays, I often end up looking into a Tops version that is available and get the Tops knife instead, that is how much I like their blades and have not been disappointed as of yet. If you are a fan of the Spyderco P'kal and/or the Shivworks Clinch Pick, then I think this is definitely worth looking into.Right off the bat, I feel comfortable in saying that the design of the California Cobra is geared toward more advanced knife handlers. I am not saying you need to be an expert or cannot learn the techniques, but if you are familiar with terms like "reverse-edge, reverse-grip, karambit, etc." then you at least have a baseline to work off of and prevent hurting yourself. With that being said, the different ways you can carry and draw this knife is fantastic. I initially carried this knife on my right hip or my appendix, but have recently begun carrying the Cali Cobra behind my left hip and draw in reverse grip to do some stitching if I were to ever find myself clinched up fighting over my primary.

Maxim cool factor, the knife/sheath drawing style from the bottom design and that vicious point very effective for getting off the bottom or creating life saving space. Great quality is critical so you don’t have a tip breaking off in a self defense scenario. Carry positions are one o’clock and eight o’clock for right handed.Eight o’clock carry is my preference. A right handed person can naturally easily reach there left hand behind there left hip.

The knife blade and design on this are absolutely phenomenal. The sheath needs work, it is loose to the point the knife will fall out. You can heat the sheath and press it back to hold fairly well. The clip is the other issue I had with this knife it isn’t movable, and the angels it’s fixed to aren’t good natural draw positions in my opinion. I changed to pull dots and they work much better. Overall very good self defense weapon, well made , just need sheath work.

Handle a little small 4 my hand. But I have Gorilla Paws. As far as quality absolutely no-one beats TOPS. PAY ATTENTION to handle size !! Measure your palm !

The knife is well made but the sheath that it comes in doesn’t hold it in retention to well . Found the blade angle awkward in the hand and a little to big for what I wanted it for .