Anatomy of Hype: Tom Brown Tracker knife Part 2

PART 2 of 2
Imbued with seemingly magical capabilities from the 2003 movie "The Hunted," the Tom Brown Tracker T1 has gain stunning popularity. Starring Tommy Lee Jones as good guy LT and Benicio Del Toro as the out-of-control killer Aaron, the movie showed several laughable sequences involving the Tracker knife. No doubt, the TBT was chosen for its unusual visual appeal and to half-heartedly separate The Hunted from its plot source, the much better Rambo: First Blood movie. That show had already used a more impressive (and effective) Gil Hibben bowie knife in similar fashion. But from The Hunted movie we are led to believe that Tom Brown Tracker is the preferred blade, over all others, by an elite and secret group of combat soldiers. We see it thrown with amazing speed basically blowing a hole through the receiving tree. We see it hacking a part government assassins with ease. We see it being carried in a ridiculous horizontal fashion by Aaron. We see being forged out of raw steel into the perfect killing blade. And thats what Tom Brown, a technical advisor to the movie, would have us believe: that the Tracker knife is the swiftest, most deadly blade out there. If this wasnt the case, why then would these elite and superbly skilled operatives choose it and actually manufacture it! Never mind they could have BOUGHT much better blades or simply armed themselves with a much more capable handgun to dispatch each other. Nope, the movie avoids such logic and marches on with absurdity born of foolish technical advisement and remains detached from reality in most of its sequences. In this two part series, Nutnfancy debunks the mystique and nonsense surrounding the overpriced, over-hyped, and overly heavy Tom Brown Tracker T1 knife. From its diminutive 6 ¼ thick blade, to its astounding 28 ounce weight, to its goofy, limited application grind, the Tom Brown Tracker will stack up poorly against other blades possessing better survival capability and combat efficiency. Its reputation is a house of cards. Admittedly the Tracker is a visually engaging knife with a good handle and probably good chopping capability but it cant escape its limitations (and apparently being overpriced as well). As a purely collectible knife, the Tracker is worthwhile. But as a fully capable wilderness or combat blade, the Tom Brown Tracker is very much sub par compared to many other far more capable designs. Surely some knife users that have bit off on the hype of the TBT (and bought it) will take offense to this truthful review but Nutnfancy will always cut through the crap for you the potential buyers wanting maximize money and capabilities.




Nutnfancy Likeability Scale: 2 out of 10

CLARIFICATION: At about 11:25 I talk about the TBTs poor chopping/hacking capabilities. I think it will CHOP well WITHIN its straight run of 3.5 of straight edge. Outside of that I think it will diminish in capability. My criticisms of this capability surround heavy duty chopping or hacking of something like a large standing, dead tree. I feel a larger survival blade with a bigger moment arm and swing would be superior.

Category:

Entertainment

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[maxlundstedt]

Speaking of hype, how 'bout a review on the new Bear Grylls knives?

[BRIKbushcraft]

@eveyone100 You do know this is not designed as a "Weapon" right? This is a pure wilderness tool. Also, while I like nutnfancy & support TNP, I have to say that this particular video is a mere waste of time. It's not based on any experiences nutn has personally had. I encourage everyone to get out and try what works for them instead of listening to your favorite Gear reviewer and bandwagoning with him/her. Talk is cheap

[Smith28Adventure]

14:53, LOL bloody love it!

[ElectricDetonator1]

any knife can be used effectively as a weapon if the user has the training to do so. i agree with many of your points, but even a kitchen knife can be used as an effective weapon.

[williamjpiano]

It really surprised me that it costs 200. Dollars just to get such a knife with limited utility and low end steel. This blade design totally fails as a combat knife. My 12 inch kukri weighs around the same, and that's a combat knife

[makeiteasyable]

it look so sharp for me

[spiceymeatballz]

i got this knife on ebay. man it looks cool but I really didn't like it... i paid so much money for not a hole lot!!! it was to heavy for its size. the movie try's to make it look like a fighting knife but that's a bunch of bull. also its hard to sharpen and loses its edge quickly. I prefer the bk2 or the esee 5

[spiderpeirce1]

so you say it would probably do this or that well, why dont you get some balistics gell or a pig carcas or something and actually test the knife, I am not saying whether or not it is a good knife all that I am saying is that your methods do not really work. Oh and by the way I could snap a 3/16 thick knife with my bare hands.

[Jesus1229]

You call that a knife??? THIS IS A KNIFE... LMAO!!!!!!!

[BigGameHunter91]

@sailortab70 But they portrayed it as a fighting knife. Thats what he is talking about

[kwb2792]

I think you are very knowledgeable about knives and gear, but in my opinion any blade that you carry on you, usually your edc is going to be your blade that you will use to protect yourself. This is usually is not a 10 inch blade sheath knife. I love large sheath knives but the public places i go i would get some funny looks if i had something that large on my belt, i prefer a smaller folder when when going into public and a larger knife when in the woods.

[CSGraves]

Jimmy Lile made the First Blood knife... I believe Hibben only started working on the Rambo franchise with the third film... not sure about the second movie though.