A wise man once said: Never be caught in a life or death situation without your knife. It could be your last line of defense or your first line of survival. Whether you’re being deployed to a foreign land, or you are in need a professional level tool for your adventures in the deep backwoods, the Hazen Legion 6.0 from TOPS Knives is a force to be reckoned with.
On Performance and Design…
Spend just a little bit of time on the ol’ google machine and you’ll quickly determine that the definition of “tactical knife” is one of the most expansive knife categories around. For the purposes of this review we’ll avoid the definition debate of “tactical knives”. However, we will suggest that in our opinion, a tactical knife should be a viable and trustworthy combat knife, able to go with you behind enemy lines, capable of transitioning into a multi-tool that you can deploy during a family camping trip, or depend upon when heading into the untamed wilderness.
Enter the Hazen Legion 6.0. Designed with tactical intentions, this knife is a serious workhorse ready to perform flawlessly in any, and all conditions. Due to high demand for his hand-made knives, Mark Hazen reached out to TOPS Knives to produce the popular Legion model in larger quantities. The result is an American made blade that retains the precision of a Hazen original that is fast in the hand and can truly walk the walk.
Whether you’re in a tactical situation or a survival scenario in the outdoors, there is no time for malfunctions or mistakes, so every facet of the full-tang 6.7” blade was carefully considered. 1095 carbon steel was chosen for its strength, hardness and easy ability to maintain in the field. The sleek dynamic lines of the Legion offer a straightforward, trustworthy design. Devoid of excessive and unnecessary gimmicks, this knife offers a long slender blade that gives plenty of real estate for slashing cuts, and a swedged tip that enhances penetrating strength.
Not that you’ll ever be able to slow the Legion 6.0 down to really examine it, but once you do, you’ll see it features a large 6″ cutting edge with a saber grind. A sandblasted finish not only ensures low reflectivity but that adds to the overall aesthetic allure of this knife. Despite its blade to handle ratio, the Legion 6.0 still feels well-balanced, leaving you with a swift acting blade that flows with a level of grace seemingly unwarranted for such a powerful tool.
True, the Legion 6.0 is categorized as a tactical design, but this blade still has plenty of practical uses back at camp when the worlds of chores and chaos collide. Admittedly, some outdoor enthusiasts will find the 6.7” blade (11.59″ overall length) more real estate than they may need – but remember this is designed as a tactical tool, not a bushcraft or back country specific blade. That being said, this seems a good time to remind our readers of the following truism: a large blade can do everything that a small blade can, but a small blade can not perform the role of a large blade. Towards those ends, the length of the Legion 6.0 allows the outdoor user to split with greater confidence than a smaller blade, and it provides a better chopping tool thereby eliminating the need for a billhook or machete.
Whatever purpose you set your knife to, ergonomics is undoubtedly one of the most important aspects of the design. Without getting too technical, knife ergonomics are simply this: The knife must feel comfortable in your hand. Now, we’ll get a little more technical. It must feel comfortable when you use it and handle it under stress – no pinch points, sharp corners or unnatural feel to the handle.
Moreover, it must feel that way in both a forward grip (blade coming out of the top of your closed fist) and in a reverse grip (blade coming out the bottom of your closed fist). Towards those ends, the semi-hilt design crafted from Black Linen Micarta feels comfortable at all times, in all positions. The semi-hilt design also ensures a confident pull and quick release from the kydex sheath. A notched thumb ramp and deep finger guard aide in a secure fit which is a necessity for any knife designed for tactical or survival purposes.
Like most TOPS knives, the Legion 6.0 can be customized with a textured “Rocky Mountain Tread” handle for additional grip. The package is topped off with a durable kydex sheath which will serve you well whether it’s dragged through the mud, submerged in salt water, or exposed to muggy rain forest environments. As an added bonus, Tops also includes their heavy duty plastic emergency whistle, a reliable partner that has been field tested to 126db.
Bottom Line…
Your knife selection should always be the culmination of carefully evaluated options and features weighed against the intended purpose and use of the blade. For those seeking a full tang carbon blade designed with tactical intentions, the Hazen Legion 6.0 from Tops Knives is one knife that won’t run from a fight.
*Gumption Gear Review received the product samples featured in this review from Tops Knives at no cost, and receives no monetary compensation for this or any related review. The items featured were provided solely in return for our honest views and opinions.