In 2017, TOPS Knives introduced the El Chete. Penned by renowned blade designer, knife-maker, and TOPS president Leo Espinoza, the El Chete emerged during a period that saw cleaver-inspired knives massively spiking in popularity. So, with its cleaver-meets-machete silhouette — and a quarter-inch blade stock that could more than back up the look — the El Chete quickly became one of TOPS’ best-selling models. Now, eight years after it debuted, the American knife brand has announced that it’s taken the cleaver-machete hybrid and scaled it down by two-thirds in order to create the El Chete Mini — a more compact fixed blade version of the silhouette that’s now capable of taking on both outdoor and everyday carry applications.
An Unexpected Xmas Gift
The creation of the El Chete Mini wasn’t just a result of its full-sized predecessor’s popularity, and if anything was more of a happy accident. Around the holidays, TOPS routinely produces in-house gifts and knickknacks for staff, and friends and family. One year, the company made a wooden Christmas ornament consisting of a scaled-down El Chete machete. On top of simply being a cool ornament, several recipients of this item couldn’t help but notice that a small version of the machete would actually make for a pretty solid fixed blade knife. And after making initial prototypes, TOPS was sold on the idea and green-lit the Mini-spec El Chete for production.
Scaled Down But Still Formidable
The El Chete Mini spans 8.75” in total — meaning it’s 2/3rds or 66.66% smaller than the original. Despite its smaller size, you still get a lot of usable blades, with the thing clocking in at 5.50”. This full-tang construction has been brought to life in 1095 carbon steel that’s been rated at 56 to 58 HRC for hardness on the Rockwell scale. And, while the El Chete Mini may be 66% smaller than the full-sized model, its blade stock is only around 25% thinner — at 0.19” versus the original’s 0.25” stock — which allows the smaller variant to still easily stand up to hard-use tasks.
Something To Grip & Somewhere To Put It
The cleaver-inspired full-tang 1095 blade has been sandwiched between a set of grippy, textured canvas Micarta scales. On top of featuring a bow drill divot, the handle also sports a massive notch separating the carrier’s trigger and middle fingers, as well as a notch below the pinky to further bolster grip — and to provide a bit of extra leverage for chopping tasks. Just like the original El Chete, the El Chete Mini ships with a black, custom-fitted hard KYDEX sheath, however, unlike the full-sized model — which can only be carried on a belt loop — the Mini variant comes with a clip that can be oriented vertically or horizontally (i.e. allowing for regular belt carry or scout carry).
A Still-Customizable Cutting Tool
Just like the original, the new El Chete Mini can be upgraded via several available options, including a camo blade finish, blade serrations, or a Rocky Mountain Tread pattern on the Micarta scales. Each of these options are then bestowed upon the fixed blade in a made-to-order capacity. The entire thing is also made right here in America, too.
Why We Love It
Though it is subjective, we’d argue there’s just something incredibly cool about the cleaver-inspired design of the El Chete. And as much as we love how it looks, there’s absolutely no getting around the fact that it, like any other full-sized machete, doesn’t really lend itself to daily carrying — or even backpacking. By maintaining the exact original design and simply scaling it down — while still maintaining a more-than-healthy blade stock thickness — the El Chete Mini is much more portable and lightweight while still being a pretty proficient cutting and chopping tool. It also features TOPS’ usual brand of top-notch craftsmanship and build quality, which we also thoroughly appreciate.
Spec Sheet
Brand: TOPS Knives
Model: El Chete Mini
Overall Length: 8.75″
Blade Length: 5.50″
Blade Thickness: 0.190″
Blade Steel: 1095
Handle Material: Micarta
Sheath: KYDEX
Weight: 5.4oz (or 7.5oz w/ sheath)
Manufacturing Origin: USA
Pricing& Availability
The TOPS Knives El Chete Mini Knife is available now, with pricing set at $185.
Recap
TOPS Knives El Chete Mini Knife
TOPS Knives takes one of its best-selling full-sized machetes and hits it with the shrink ray, giving way to an identical fixed blade that’s 66% smaller, making it ideal for both outdoor and EDC use.
