Review: TOPS Ontario XL Hunter
Right up there with the Kepharts and the Nessmucks, I count the Old Hickory butcher knife as an absolute classic design. Who knows how many millions have been made, and the amount of cutting these tools have collectively done over the last century is unfathomable. That’s why the TOPS Ontario XL Hunter first debuted; I knew I had to get my hands on one. The tagline “Old Hickory Geometry, New TOPS Toughness” was exactly what drew me in. An Old Hickory with slightly thicker stock, a tough handle, and a durable coating seemed like the perfect all-rounder, and spoiler alert, I was right.
Before we dive in, let's back up a bit. What we consider a “modern” butcher knife is heavily inspired by very similar tools in the frontier area. These “scalpers” or trade knives were relied on for everything from hunting and food prep to camp chores and self-defense. There’s a reason every grandmother I knew growing up in Appalachia had at least one Old Hickory in their drawer.
Now TOPS and Ontario have brought this design into a new era with the collaborative XL Hunter. This version measures in at 10.25 inches with a length of 5.5 inches. The 1095 blade is 0.150 inches thick, so a bit thicker than the Old Hickory model it draws inspiration from, but it still maintains excellent cutting geometry. The blade is ceraktoed and so far batoning, fire prep, cooking, and general use have barely left a mark. This example is cerakoted Sniper Grey, and TOPS also offers a nice Midnight Bronze. The micarta handles are grippy and secure with just a bit of contour. This package is rounded out with a quality leather sheath that’s well conditioned. A summer rain on a recent trip just rolled off with zero effect on the sheath.
I’ve been using this knife in camp, in the kitchen, and in the backyard for a couple of months now. It quickly became one of my favorite production knives of all time. I tend to thin the transition behind the primary edge on most knives, but I haven’t touched the XL Hunter’s factory geometry beyond stropping a bit. Through feathers for firestarting, food prep, batoning, and even a bit of light chopping it's performed great.
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I tend to carry a small fixed blade as a neck knife, a hatchet or axe, and maybe a saw on most bushcraft trips or when I’m truck camping, but this pair with a saw, and maybe a Swiss Army Knife, can handle everything I need to do. I have a backpacking trip planned for this winter on one of the highest peaks in the Blue Ridge, and I expect the group will have a big fire and do lots of cooking, and I’m already planning on taking the Hunter XL paired with a Silky saw to handle fire duty and anything else I expect to encounter on this undoubtedly chilly trip.
While it sounds a bit cliché, I can’t help but say that the Hunter XL is bound to be a modern classic. The design is beyond time-tested, and TOPS and Ontario’s changes are all welcome and thoughtful updates. I can easily recommend this knife to anyone who’s a fan of the classic butcher knife pattern, and that extends to anyone looking for a well-balanced design with a neutral handle and great general-use blade shape. Without a doubt, it will continue to make appearances in content here on the Georgia Bushcraft blog with upcoming trip reports and more.
