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HomeSurvivalTracker Knife

The Tracker Knife

Designed by Tom Brown Jr.

This website has no official or informal connection to the Tracker School or Tom Brown Jr. whatsoever

 

The Tracker Knife was designed by Tom Brown Jr. to be an all-purpose survival knife.

The genesis of the Tracker Knife began during an interview between Tom Brown Jr. and a journalist over twenty years ago. In the course of the interview, the reporter asked Tom which knife he considered to be the best for survival. Tom thought about it for a minute and responded that the perfect survival knife did not yet exist. "Why not?" the interviewer asked. "Because I have not yet designed it," replied Tom. The journalist challenged Tom with the statement, "That is one knife I would love to see." Tom decided he would love to see it too.

Seven years and dozens of prototypes later, the basic design of the Tracker Knife was set. Tom looked for a quality manufacturer and chose Ed Lombi to hand make the first versions. Ed made the knives for several years until he decided to pursue other interests. Tom found another manufacturer in Dave Beck. Several refinements were added as Dave began manufacturing the Tracker. After ten years or so, Dave also retired from making the Tracker. For a couple of years the knife was again unavailable.

In 2001, Tom began working as a technical consultant and writer on a feature film being directed by Billy Friedkin and starring Tommy Lee Jones and Benecio Del Torro. The film is titled "The Hunted" and is based loosely on an episode of Tom's life. The Tracker Knife is carried and used by the antagonist, played by Benecio.

Tom began searching for a company that could make the Tracker in sufficient numbers to meet the demand anticipated as this knife gains in notoriety. Tom chose Mike Fuller and TOPS USA, the leading manufacturer of tactical knives that are favored by US Special Operations forces. TOPS has created a work of art that will serve its function as a true survival tool. As the TOPS slogan says, "One Life, One Knife."

 

The NEW Tracker Knife is made by TOPS Knives, and is available from them via their website.

Very similar designs are available from Red Scorpion Six and Horan Knives.

 

 

ORIGINAL TRACKER KNIFE DESIGN

The original design of the Tracker Knife is featured in an article in The Tracker magazine in 1982. CLICK HERE.

 
 

TRACKER KNIFE SHEATHS

 
The older Tracker knives (pre-TOPS) came with a nice leather sheath. Unfortunately, the new ones made by TOPS do not. A couple of people are making leather sheaths for the knife.
   
 

Mike Bartol

Mike Bartol has created high quality leather sheaths for the Tracker Knife.

For more info CLICK HERE.

 

 

Hedgehog Leatherworks
http://www.hedgehogleatherworks.com/

 

 

TRACKER KNIFE HANDLES

Tracker Knife handles - by Kfir Mendel - handcrafted wood handles for the Tracker Knife. For more info CLICK HERE.

 

 

For more material by and about Tom Brown Jr. and the Tracker School visit the Tracker Trail website.