Evaluation: Stroup Knives Mini and TU-2

An excellent knife is taken into account by many to be the muse of a great survival plan. Greater than only a software, a handcrafted knife tells a narrative – not simply of the blade’s meant use, however of the crafter and their life expertise. It was this story that introduced us to Stroup Knives. Chris Stroup is a medically-retired veteran of a specialised JSOC unit, who formalized his knife-making journey together with his spouse in 2017. Since then, Chris has made a degree of target-recruiting navy and regulation enforcement veterans on the lookout for each a commerce and a goal. From wounded Inexperienced Berets to retired Police Officers, the machines in Stroup’s store are manned by of us who’ve devoted their lives to the service of others. Their catalog is simple and easy-to-navigate, their blade designs easy and rugged. We obtained the possibility to look at two of their fashions – the Mini and the TU-2.

Stroup Knives Mini

The Mini is good for every day put on, whether or not you’re spending a day on the path or within the store or round city. The three-inch, 5/32-thickness blade is well-sized for family chores and small discipline duties however in any other case unassuming and never burdensome on the belt.

Above: A measurement comparability between the Stroup TU-2 (prime) and the Mini (backside). Each characteristic Kydex sheaths with Tek Lok belt clips.

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Talking of which, the Mini’s sheath incorporates a Tek Lok belt clip oriented for horizontal carry, which is good for small-of-back or forward-of-hip put on. With an total size of 6.75 inches, there isn’t a complete ton of grip area. For these with smaller palms, it can probably fill that “Goldilocks” measurement for a carry fastened blade. However should you’ve obtained catcher’s gloves for palms, likelihood is this will likely be a three-finger knife for you.

Stroup Knives TU-2

On the opposite finish of finish of the spectrum is the Tactical Use sequence. We additionally obtained an opportunity to check out the TU-2, which incorporates a bigger 4.5-inch-long, 3/16-inch-thick blade. At 8.75 inches total, the TU-2 might be not a every day carry blade for many of us. It does, nevertheless, make an amazing normal goal discipline knife. We used the vertically oriented Tek Lok clip to mount our TU-2 on the waist strap of our Stone Glacier Avail pack, which presently will get used a few times per week for summer season hikes or highway marches. On this position its slim, unobtrusive, and simply accessible.

Above: The TU-2 mounted on the waist belt of a Stone Glacier Avail backpack.

Options and Choices

All Stroup blades are 1095 carbon metal, flat floor, acid etched and rock tumbled. The darkish, uneven charcoal coloration and roughed-up texture on the flat surfaces give these knives an artisan, hand-hewn really feel. The G10 grip scales, accessible in a wide range of colours, are additionally reduce with a scalloped stone-like texture. The general aesthetic of those knives appears to convey the historic relationship mankind has with edged instruments, trying like they may have been dug up from the gravesite of a Viking warrior. Which is suitable given the many years (if not centuries) of collective deployment and avenue time of the Stroup Knives employees.

Maybe one of the best a part of all is the pricing. Handmade knives with good-looking styling are sometimes priced in a variety that’s stretching in the direction of 4 figures. However Stroup Knives are instruments, made for use and made to be accessible for buy. The Mini is available in at $145 with the bigger TU-2 coming in a little bit greater at $220, each of that are very aggressive, given the handcrafted development and monetary help going instantly into veterans’ pockets. Additionally they not too long ago introduced a line of axes in addition to a collaboration knife with Justin Melnick of the TV sequence “SEAL Group”. Gross sales of this knife will profit the Particular Operations Wounded Warriors charity.

If any of Stroup Knives’ choices occur to suit your knife wants, they’re actually a simple firm to help – providing cheap laborious use blades hand constructed by navy and regulation enforcement veterans. Take a look at their web site should you assume you want a Stroup knife in your package.

Written by Tom Marshall