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TOPS First Release of 2016 Built for Combat

February 15, 2016

The Hazen Legion 6.0, TOPS’ first new blade of 2016 is about to ship. The knife is designed by custom maker Mark Hazen to be a soldier’s blade – capable in utility tasks but made for combat, with a slender 6″ blade of 1095 high carbon steel. Like all TOPS knives, it is made at their in-house manufacturing facilities, and finished by hand.

Mark Hazen has been making knives since 1976, when he was driven to make his first custom knife after being unable to afford to buy one.  He briefly retired in 2007, but was ‘re-enlisted’ back into knifemaking service in 2013 with a call from Colonel Jack Tobin, president of The Special Forces Association at Fort Bragg.  Tobin had seen one of Hazen’s combat knives at an estate auction, and thought it would be perfect for his personnel. Since that time, Hazen has been applying his old world craftsmanship to more modern designs, including his Legion model. Hazen couldn’t meet the demand for the design on his own, so according to TOPS, “[He] reached out to TOPS to produce the Legion model in larger quantities. Needless to say TOPS was happy to oblige.”

Headquartered in the Rocky Mountains of Idaho, TOPS makes mostly fixed blades. Their diversity and volume of output is almost overwhelming – they make everything from simple drop point hunting blades to oversized tactical machetes. For fans of fixed blades, TOPS’ lineup is like a buffet.

The Hazen Legion 6.0 is available for purchase now directly from TOPS, “and through authorized dealers shortly thereafter,” according to TOPS.

Knife featured in image: Hazen Legion 6.0

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