DART
Field operators, a.k.a. the quiet professionals, trust the DART.
Availability: Available To Order
Direct Action Rescue Tool
Trace Rinaldi did his homework on this piece, interviewing numerous field operators, particularly snipers and HRT members (Hostage Rescue Team). He is a well-known knife designer and gun enthusiast who worked overtime preparing the prototypes of this tool. The DART's well thought out design has been executed in 5160 steel, and with its recurved belly and down tilted blade, it makes chopping in closed areas very easy with economy of movement and energy. The DART has been and presently is, actively used by the special operations community, with noteworthy success. Particularly in Europe and now here in the USA and Canada, a valuable asset for the quiet professionals as well as those that get out and mix it up.
Knife Type | Fixed Blade |
---|---|
Overall Length | 12.75" |
Blade Length | 7.00" |
Cutting Edge | 6.50" |
Blade Thickness | 0.190" |
Blade Steel | 5160 RC 56-58 |
Blade Finish | Black Traction Coating |
Handle Material | Black Linen Micarta |
Knife Weight | 15.2 oz |
Sheath Included | Yes |
Sheath Material | Black Ballistic Nylon |
Sheath Clip | Molle Backing |
Designer | Trace Rinaldi |
- Should have bought sooner!!!
- Just received this beauty today and wow TOPS is on point with outdoor craftsmanship, Thank you everyone at Tops for wonderful service and outstanding knives!!! (Posted on 5/24/2018)
- Use for intended purpose
- I've done some minor chopping on hiking trips, and cut some other items including food with it. Have not used it as heavily as some of my other knives, but it went from an edge that I was afraid to run my fingers along to one I couldn't care less about touching. But I'm not upset about it, in my mind this was meant to be a chopper and not a surgical knife. Center of balance is around where the top of the handle ends and the bottom of the blade starts, so you have to grip almost near the end to get some good chopping action in. If the devs of this knife see this I want to suggest a wider pommel section to prevent the blade from slipping out during chopping, but maybe that would create hot spots so I don't know. I have not done any hard stabbing tests, but just trying by "dry fire" it's not difficult to slip my index finger past the "hilt" section of the blade. Again in my opinion this was meant to be a chopper so I'm not upset about it, but maybe extending the hilt and like I said the pommel thing would make it more versatile since the center of balance is so far back. When you're holding it the blade may not seem big, but it is actually huge when attached to molle gear or hung off belt especially with the factory sheath. As you can see in the pictures there's 2 velcro straps around the handle, in my opinion that's too much redundancy. Also for those who open beer bottles with knives, don't do it with this knife because it fucks up the coating big time. Lubrication is crucial! I live near the coast, I left it untouched for a while and the un-coated cutting surface rusted.Other than that I am happy with this purchase, looking forward to see if and any changes at all happen to this knife. (Posted on 11/1/2016)