During my years in the martial arts, I have trained with karambits and liked the feel of the karambit-style handle. Although it has a history in agriculture, its adaptation in the martial arts is how it is best known. The curved blade is ideal for slicing but not so much for bushcrafting and general field utility. However, I felt the shape of the handle and the ring had excellent application in the field.
So, I set out to design a karambit-style, ring-handled knife with a drop point blade profile for better field application. Likewise, by adapting the general angle of a karambit, the grip still excels in combative use. In addition, it remains very comfortable in the hand, while providing excellent retention.
Part of the initial intent behind the C.U.T. (Combat Utility Tool) 4.0 was a well-rounded option for duty-bound personnel. This was the reason behind the oversized ring. It is not for flipping the knife, but for working with gloved hands for faster access. Also, it works well to hang the knife from your pinky, so you can easily switch between working with the knife and your hands during field projects.
Similarly, the aggressive tip provides maximum penetration during combat, allowing the C.U.T. 4.0 to penetrate body armor and heavy clothing. Likewise, in the field, it is useful for drilling during bushcrafting tasks.
Perhaps the best compliment I can receive comes from service members and law enforcement professionals who tell me it is part of their loadout. It is an honor to know that it has seen extensive use over the years in its intended manner.
Although it was designed for combat and field utility, the C.U.T. 4.0 has gained huge popularity in the EDC space.
TOPS Knives C.U.T. 4.0 Specs
Knife Type: Fixed Blade
Overall Length: 8.50″
Blade Length: 4.25″
Cutting Edge: 4.00″
Blade Thickness: 0.190″
Blade Steel: 1095 RC 56-58
Blade Finish: Black Traction Coating
Handle Material: Tan Canvas Micarta
Handle Style: Dragonfly Tread
Knife Weight: 6.3oz
Weight w/ Sheath: 9.0oz
Sheath Included: Yes
Sheath Material: Black Kydex
Sheath Clip: Beta Loop
Purchase: https://www.topsknives.com/c-u-t-4-0
The C.U.T. 4.0 was Voted Best New Fixed Blade for EDC 2016, in KnifeNews.com’s Dealers’ Choice Awards.
Media
Over the years, the C.U.T. 4.0 has been featured on YouTube on numerous occasions. Whether desktop out-of-the-box overviews or full field reviews, there are some great videos by some top content creators.
Written Reviews
I am honored at the level of press the C.U.T. 4.0 has received over the years. Below is a listing of many of the mentions and reviews in the media since its release in 2016.
Personal Defense World Release
BEST NEW FIXED BLADE FOR EDC 2016: Meet the Contenders
TOPS C.U.T. 4.0 Voted Best New Fixed Blade for EDC 2016
Design
You can see from my original drawing that the design didn’t change much from inception to production. The biggest change was the name, which went through a few iterations before TOPS Knives General Manager, Craig Powell, came up with C.U.T. 4.0. The name encapsulated the knife’s entire purpose in a simple way and was adopted immediately.
Once I completed the sketch on graph paper, I imported it into Adobe Illustrator and created the digital drawing. This allowed me to make any necessary tweaks and export it as a CAD file. You can see the first name change (made before sending to TOPS). However, this name was trademarked, and we went with C.U.T. 4.0.
TOPS Knives Founder, Mike Fuller, immediately liked the design and asked that I try some different patterns on the scales. After playing with different ideas, I sent him the design below, and we used it. This was the beginning of the “Dragonfly” pattern that is seen on other TOPS knives today. A fact that I am very proud of.
