TOPS has another new knife on the market this month, the I Stick Mini. TOPS historians will know that this one is a shrunk-down version of a popular push dagger model from the fixed blade maker.
While their portfolio is lush and diverse, TOPS has always maintained an interest in tactical pieces. Whether the term is being used in a civilian self-defense, or military/first responder sense, TOPS’s predilections for beefy designs with stalwart stock and generally rugged materials fit those needs like a fingerless glove. Thus over the years the company has turned out fighting knives, concealable self-defense knives, extreme condition workhorses, and more specialized tactical pieces like karambits, gladii, and, yes, push daggers.
Which brings us to the I Stick, a large push dagger model that has been doing the rounds for years now. We have to imagine that, as with any well-received model, there were fans looking for the same thing in a different size. And so, the I Stick Mini addresses that need, with a 2.75-inch blade compared to the original’s 3.13 inches – that’s per edge, too, as the I Stick Mini, like its big brother, has a true dagger grind with two live edges. And, again like big brother, the blade steel is 1075 – an even more impact-resistant recipe than the more common 1095.
On paper, the difference in size between the Mini and the Original I Stick may not seem like much, but it actually shifts the piece’s feel entirely. The handle has not just been shrunk down, but redrawn entirely and rendered much more compact. All of this means that the I Stick Mini weighs about half as much as the full size, tipping the scales at 6.8 oz. compared to 12.6 oz. A Kydex belt sheath is included for convenient and low profile belt carry.
The I Stick Mini is available now.
Knife in Featured Image: TOPS I Stick Mini
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