TOPS ALRTXL-03 Knife

This is my 5th Tops knife (and I also own their Crash Axe) and all their knives are awesome. I like the smaller blades that are easier and legal to carry with me daily. I also have the ALRT and the ALRT XL05 did not disappoint. I use the ALRT as a neck knife and the XL model hangs off my front belt loop using the included snap link. This method might not be the best for concealment but it is super acceable to get to even in a seated position. I added my own paracord lanyard to mine to personalize it and get better purchase on it. The blade came razor sharp from the factory. The 1095 steel may not be super crazy special steel but it does the job and is easy to re-sharpen. A lot of knife and cutting power for it's size and price. Highly recommend it!

I bought the ALRT XL from TOPS as an everyday carry neck knife. I have been carrying this small knife every day since it arrived. Since wearing the ALRT, I can honestly say that I have used it for one thing or another every day for a multitude of tasks. This blade fits well in my hand and is comfortable to use. The large hole in the tang behind the blade enhances the grip but otherwise seems to be just a design element. I tried placing my finger through the hole but could not find a comfortable way to make it work.

This is very similar to a small kiridashi except the blade has a slight belly to the edge. The steel stock is very sturdy and is securely held by the sheath so carrying with the hilt down is not a problem. Like all TOPS knives, edge retention is very good and sharpening is an easy task.

It is a really cool little knife and I like it a lot. However, I felt that it is a bit heavy for pocket carry. It is well constructed and came pretty sharp for such a little knife. I decided that it would stay in my work bag. I don't use it much but I like to have something on hand for those rougher task than what you should be doing with a pocket knife.