TOPS Lil Chete 250th Anniversary Fixed Blade Knife TPLLCH250, 8.38″ 1095 Carbon Steel Blade, Green Canvas Micarta Handle

TOPS president and designer Leo Espinoza built the El Chete with one thought in mind — chopping. The Lil Chete takes that same philosophy and puts it in a form more users can actually carry. The TPLLCH250 is the 250th Anniversary edition, a commemorative version that marks the milestone with green canvas Micarta handles and a blade built to the same hard-use standard as the knife that started the Chete series. This is not a shelf piece dressed up with a commemorative stamp. It is a working knife with a meaningful story behind it, built to the same TOPS standard that has made them one of the most trusted names in American-made fixed blades since 1998. The heart of the Lil Chete is a full quarter-inch thick 1095 carbon steel blade — 8.38 inches long with a 7.88-inch cutting edge. That geometry is what separates a real chopper from a knife that pretends to be one. The mass and momentum of the thick stock means every swing bites harder into wood. The high grind and wide blade profile split cleanly while still clearing chips fast. TOPS heat treats the 1095 to RC 56-58, a hardness range that prioritizes toughness and field repairability over maximum edge retention — exactly what you want in a hard-use outdoor blade that may need to be touched up in the field without a strop. At 21.3 ounces the Lil Chete is substantial but not unwieldy — balanced for extended chopping sessions without fatigue. The green canvas Micarta handle is well-contoured and long enough to support multiple grip positions — a genuine consideration on a blade designed for repeated heavy swings. Micarta is impervious to moisture, temperature changes, and hard use in a way natural handle materials never are. The knife ships with a black Kydex sheath fitted with a leather dangler for belt or pack carry. Overall length is 13.88 inches. Weight with sheath is 29.1 ounces. Made in the USA by TOPS Knives in Twin Falls, Idaho. Knifeworks is an authorized TOPS dealer and your purchase is backed by TOPS’ manufacturer warranty. • 250th Anniversary edition — TPLLCH250, commemorative limited variant • Designer: Leo Espinoza — TOPS president and El Chete series originator • Blade: 8.38″ 1095 carbon steel, 0.25″ thick, high grind, wide chopper profile • Cutting edge: 7.88″ | Blade hardness: RC 56-58 • Built to chop — mass and momentum for hard field use, fire prep, and brush clearing • Handle: Green canvas Micarta — moisture-proof, long, well-contoured for multiple grip positions • Sheath: Black Kydex with leather dangler for belt or pack carry • Overall length: 13.88″ | Knife weight: 21.3 oz | Weight with sheath: 29.1 oz • Made in USA by TOPS Knives, Twin Falls, Idaho

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