desert dagger

[SIRGALANT]

i was just wondering how does the desert dagger stand up to serious cutting work? it seems to me that once it goes blunt there wouldn`t be much meat to resharpen it.

[Chris@SOG]

SIRGALANT

I would suggest checking out the new Daggert 1 & 2. They will be available in a couple months. The new Daggerts are 25% thicker than the Desert Dagger and should alleviate your concerns about resharpening. They have plenty of meat on the blade for resharpening and feel really good in your hand. Yes I am a little biased but they are really cool knives.

http://www.sogknives.com/Fixed-Blades/daggert/D25.htm

Chris

[SIRGALANT]

i`m afraid that doesnt answer my question . i already own the desert dagger , and couldnt afford a daggert even i could find 1 for sale in perth.

[Robbie Roberson]

Sirgalant,
I don't know of any documented cutting history on this knife so this question probably can't be answered.

You are probably right as to the resharpening, most dagger styles I have ever seen are very limited in the resharpening area because of exactly what you mentioned, especially since the shape of the blade pretty well says "Thrust me".

I think this applies to almost all daggers I have evere seen with the exception of a few. Hope this helps.

Robbie Roberson

[Ron Andersen]

Originally Posted by SIRGALANT

i was just wondering how does the desert dagger stand up to serious cutting work? it seems to me that once it goes blunt there wouldn`t be much meat to resharpen it.

Let me take a "stab" (pun warning) at this.

1. The DD is made of AUS6 and very well heat treated. So, that puts the steel in the range of being fair/good (not great) and gives it a boost upward over competing steels due to the heat treat. That will make its edge retention pretty fair...but nowhere near the "excellent" that upper-end steels will provide. It will need sharpening more often than knives of better quality. I've seen many, many, many SOG knives that have been used hard, often, and sometimes abused (of varying steels...but since AUS6 is one of SOG's most common, I've certainly seen a large share with that steel). Their AUS6 stands up to regular use very well and takes abuse with grace. If you read here in the SOG Forum from people who use this steel, you'll find a lot of users who are very pleased with its performance.
2. The blade thickness of the DD is the same as the Government (and a number of other SOG blades). If I remember correctly, the DD has a slight outward roll to the grind, so there should be "meat" there for continued sharpening. Again, if I remember correctly, the Government has a flat grind, providing the DD little more "meat."
3. Actually sharpening the DD could pose a little bit of a challenge. For a pro who uses either a whet stone or the professional method of using belt grinders, it should pose only little problems, concerning themselves only with following the grind lines and getting the double-edged tip right. For those who use a "sharpening system" that clamps down the blade, there will be significant problems. Since I don't sharpen my own knives, I can't comment on whether it is truly impossible to apply the clamp. But from what I understand, if it can be done, it would be a significant hurdle to overcome. First and foremost, I always recommend SOG's knives to be sharpened by the factory (at least periodically, to get the edge reprofiled). I understand, though, that SIRGALANT is from Australia, making this quite difficult and not cost effective. If I were he and were not a professional sharpener, I'd look for a local person/business who knows exactly what they're doing and has the right equipment. Always look at knives they've sharpened to see the quality of their work...those knives are what your knife will likely resemble when its done. Warning, always remember that people who claim they know what they're doing (relative to sharpening), VERY OFTEN DON'T! I can't tell you the number of knives I've seen that had just been sharpened by a "pro." Yuck...they've sucked!

I hope this has been helpful and has answered your question.

[SIRGALANT]

hey ron , thankyou very much 4 your reply. i appreciate it . you have reassured me. any help on finding out how i can send any of my 5 sog knives (including the dd) would be appreciated as i have a flash 2 as a daily carry and have NEVER sharpened a knife in my 19 years of excistence.

[Ron Andersen]

Originally Posted by SIRGALANT

... any help on finding out how i can send any of my 5 sog knives (including the dd) would be appreciated as i have a flash 2 as a daily carry and have NEVER sharpened a knife in my 19 years of excistence.

If I understand you correctly, you are inquiring about the proceedures for returning your SOG knives back to SOG for sharpening? If so, here's the instructions (then following the link to the warranty page for return instructions).

[SIRGALANT]

yeah cheers

[stevekt]

Any photos of the Daggert 1 & 2?

Would Beatrix Kiddo approve of the new design?

[SIRGALANT]

mate just look on the website. or i have a 2005 catalogue due to recently purchasing a trident folder.i Every Day Carry a flash 2 . i have a ; trident folder , flash 2 , desert dagger , government agent , seal pup , mini pentagon , over 100 other fully practical modern knives , 3 machetes and 8 swords . i put uma thurmans character in KILL BILL to shame

[Stockman]

SIRGALANT,
If you need help in sharpening your cutlery or want to learn how to do it for yourself, let me know and I will sharpen them for you and show you what tools you need and how to do it. Been sharpening my own knives for over 20 years and have no problems getting them sharper than they come new in box. Cost you a couple of beers.

[SIRGALANT]

thanks for the offer mate . when my knives need sharpening i will consider it. what part of W.A are you in? sog knives are real expensive over here hey?

[Stockman]

I live in the City, Hay St.
All knives are expensive in Perth, not only SOG's. I buy all my gear online, mostly direct from the US, works out less than half the price.
A tip on sharpening - don't let them get too blunt. Your knives that you use daily should be touched up regulary, they will last longer and serve you better.

[SIRGALANT]

i live in beechboro i`m such a regular customer atwellington surplus i get 10 per cent discount. i also daily carry a 4" tanto balded CRKT m16. which sharpening system would you recommend? i have a variety of functional knives with a variety of different blade steels.

[Stockman]

M16 is chisel ground, I also have a M16-14D given to me by a friend who is working in Iraq, who bought it for me from a US military shop over there.
Different blade grinds, chisel, v grinds, convex or flat ground all need to be treated differently when sharpened.
The M16, as it is a straight blade, is easy to sharpen freehand, a flat stone and a strop will keep it razor sharp - you only need to sharpen one side and remove the burr on the other. Not my favourite grind, but good for heavy work.
Different steels are all sharpened the same way - generaly speaking. The better steels that hold an edge longer will take more work to bring back to a sharp edge when dulled. Spyderco ( sorry SOG Forum ) make a good sharpening tool, the 204 sharpmaker, a great touch up tool to keep a shaving sharp edge. You can also make your own strop for a less than $20 that will keep your knives razor sharp.
Beechboro, Im a born and breed Dianella/ Morley boy but live in the city now, about 5 minutes walk from Wellington surplus. They would need to give me more than 10% off to buy their old stock knives.
What else you got, I feel guilty here as I don't own a Sog - but always looking.

[SIRGALANT]

several muela , gerber chameleon 3 , i have a muela tornado and all 3 of the other muela "tactical" knives , ontario air force , ontario machete , cold steel machete , gerber guardian (camouflaged model) 2 CRKT stiff kisses , about 10 different lots of throwing knives , a black KA BAR with leather sheath , cold steel para edge , couple of el cheapo diving knives , just the usual. how about you? whats your daily carry? the knife laws over here are ridiculous ay? i got a SAK or two , a lot of cheap folders that i use as trash knives , stuff like that. switch blades are legal but S.A.T knives are not , so i have 2 SOG S.A.T knives
i used to have a leatherman wave but that got stolen.

[Stockman]

Daily carry at the moment is a Swamp Rat Rat Trap, well was my edc, but just posted it across the country to another forum member who wants to do a review on it. Have quite a few Spydies, my two favorites from this manufacturer are the Calypso Jr and the Chinook II. A Benchmade 710HS finds a bit of carry time as well as a BM210. Have a couple of AlMars and a few Busse and Swamp Rat fixed blades. A custom fillet knife on the way from an Aus maker David Brodziak, lots of quality kitchen knives and a few other bits and pieces from Cold Steel and CRKT. Leatherman Waves and Charges come and go through my hands, keep on giving them away to friends, family or my staff.
Like the concept of Robbies revolving SOG, a realy cool concept, and one I will pick up when the opportunity arrises.

[Robbie Roberson]

Stockman, glad you like the Revolver, it is made well and performs well.

I really enjoy showing the knife to people for the first time, they are usually very surprised at how it works.

Sounds like you have a very nice collection of knives .


Robbie Roberson

[SIRGALANT]

yeah you should buy a flash 2 graphite like i got. pretty cool . i used to have a wave until it got stolen. most people think i`m pyscho for collecting knives , don`t you just hate that mentality from the non-knifing public?

[Robbie Roberson]

SIRGALANT, I do have a graphite Flash II

I'm trying to cut back a little on collecting.............

Robbie Roberson