Sog Pentagon Aus6 or 440A?

[TaranScorp]

Was the Pentagon made out of two different steels? And if so how can you tell which one my Pentagon is made out of? Also which is preferred by you guys and gals.

Thanks

[Ferrous Wheel]

AUS 6 or 440A? I have looked @ a score of sites that list it as both, some have the leather sheath, some the kydex, one even said "kydex leather" sheath.

Price seems to differ between models, too.

Any help appeciated....

Keith

[wildmanh]

The SOG Pentagon and Mini Pentagon are both made from AUS6 steel. The mini Pentagon is poweder coated where as the Pentagon has a satin finish. Both come from SOG with Kydex sheaths. There specs are listed below and can be found on SOGS web site under fixed blades: http://www.sogknives.com/fixed.htm


Mini Pentagon Specs:

Blade 3.5" x .125"
Overall Length 7.75"
Weight 3 oz
Steel AUS6 Stainless (Powder Coated), Rc 55-57
Price $59.95
Kydex Sheath


Pentagon Specs:

Blade 5" x .160"
Overall Length 9.75"
Weight 5.8 oz.
Steel AUS 6 Stainless, Rc. 56-57
Handle Kraton
Sheath Kydex
Price $104.95

Here are pics of each one (not to scale). Pentagon on the left and Mini on the right.



Hope that helps.

Heber

[Ron Andersen]

400 steals are manufactured in the United States. AUS steals are manufactured in Japan. There are certain 400 steels that are close enough to AUS steels that some manufacturers/distributors have considered them the same. I even think that the Japanese manufacturer made certain of their AUS steels to resemble/compete with the 400 steels. I believe that the comparison between Tylenol and Generic "Tylenols" applies here. The generic manufacturers could not make their medicine with the exactly same chemical makeup, so they varied their mix slightly and market it as a "Generic Tylenol." About 15 years ago, the AUS steels were virtually unknown here in the US and since a number of US knife companies had their knives made in Japan and imported them here, they made the decision to use the 400 series names that the US market was most familiar. SOG was one of these companies. After the AUS steels became well-known & respected in the US marketplace (I don't know...maybe about five years ago), the knife manufacturers who followed this practice began to change their marketing material to reflect the AUS steel actually used in their knives.

At SOG, the following steels where interchanged in the above stated manner:

• 440A = AUS6
• 440C = AUS8

I hope this was helpful and informative.

[Ferrous Wheel]

Yessir, Thanks bunches!

Question on the Leather vs. kydex sheaths...is this a question of when the knife was made? I note sites listing both types of sheath. Are SOG sheaths available seperately (i.e, have leather sheath, want kydex sheath...)?

Keith

[Ron Andersen]

Leather sheaths came originally and were changed to Kydex about five years ago. A couple of SOG's knives use a hybrid leather/kydex sheath (the Field Knife and Field Pup...not sure off-hand if any other have converted), but I'm fairly certain both the Pentagon and Mini Pentagon are both currently using Kydex sheaths. SOG does have a retail sales department (888-SOG-BEST or retail@sogknives.com) that sells all their knives, any current product accessory, a few older generation or alternate accessories, and Factory Seconds.

SOG's website is usually about 99.9% accurate and up-to-date (just an occasional typo and a product/accessory change that hasn't yet trickled down to the marketing department). In my tenure at SOG, I was litterally made the changes right to the website and reviewed just about every piece of marketing that was published (even though I was the Customer Service Manager, not the marketing representative).

Dealers/Distributors are a different story. The number of mistakes and plain-old-just-weird information I've seen has been significant. I'm sure they have the best of intentions, but I've talked to many of their owners or other primary employees and their specific product knowledge is actually quite poor. I don't attribute this to anything except that there is simply too may knife manufacturers and too many knives for one person to have a really good grasp of the steel type, blade length, sheath type, lock type, grind type, etc. of all the knives they carry/represent.

[Ferrous Wheel]

Cool. How did that pay? I'm a professional/technical writer, with lotsa graphics and HTML exp, and I've been primarily inn the COmputer and Med Tech industures. I recently began thinking of pursuing a career with my lifelong interest in knifes and such. Any pointers fer a guy looking to write for the industry?

Keith

[Ron Andersen]

Hey Keith,

"How'd it pay?" OK...I'd say average to average low for market value of the position I held (and positions throughout the company).

If you looking to write in this industry, know your stuff and either get your way into a marketing position at a major knife manufacturer or knife periodical.

Best of luck.

[Ferrous Wheel]

I'll check it out.


Keith

[wildmanh]

If either of you two are interested in either of those knives, I sugest you pick them up. They are really cool! My Mini Pentagon has been with me for 4 years now and is still going strong.

[Ferrous Wheel]

yeah..worked a trade recently for a full size Pentagon, wanted one since the 90's!

Woo hoo!

Keith

[wildmanh]

Originally Posted by Ferrous Wheel

yeah..worked a trade recently for a full size Pentagon, wanted one since the 90's!

Woo hoo!

Keith

Keith, I'm glad you were able to get your hands on one. They sure are cool! Have you had a chance to put it to use yet?

Heber

[Robbie Roberson]

Just don't cut Veggies with it !

Robbie Roberson

[Ferrous Wheel]

yes, lightly. cutting nothing more than cardboard and thin plastic. it has a very fine tip!

It is quite sharp, and the older leather hi-ride clip on sheath is really well made. I don't think the two previous owners ever used or carried it, so it's quite minty!

Keith