- Joined
- Apr 3, 2010
- Messages
- 955
Ok first my disclaimer. I am new with knives but am learning fast!!! Really fast. So over the past 2 days of hiking I figured I would carry my new Sog Seal Pup Elite as well as slip my favorite Multi-Tool LM Wave in the secondary pouch of the SOG sheath.
Strapped the sheath to my belt. First thing I noticed is the sheath is light and is very versatile...it mounts nice and secure but lets not forget the knife is light itself so it doesnt really prove much. The Pup fits fairly securely in the sheath and I noticed a plastic liner where the blade fits to protect it, I am not certain if the liner is kydex..I doubt it. However the liner a great way to protect the sheath as well as make it more rigid, I found to be a little of a downfall because you have to look at the sheath to make sure you get the blade back in right. Also, the draw is high since it is a small blade and a small sheath when on your belt drawing the blade out was a little tough, I had a windproof vest on that goes below my belt line, unless you have your shirt tucked in drawing this is something to get use to...this goes for replacing the blade back into the sheath. Basically you can not lower the sheaths belt mounting without some additional straps. But overall, I really do like the sheath quite a bit!
Batonning wood...my seal pup elite has serration...first mistake! I started to baton some ground logs. Not certain what the wood was but this was tough! The logs were less than 4". But what happens is the serration making batonning these logs a pain!! They do not go into the log as easy as the front part of the blade that is non-serrated. So once again, non-serrated would be better!!! I did several logs I found throughout my 2 days of hiking. Some green logs, some on the ground, etc. It was just fair at batonning. I tried to be reasonable in my expectation and not exceeding the blades batonning length. I did have some blade chipping...not terrible and only in two spots but this was after the first day.
Next was chopping...once again serration!!! I hate them at this point!!!!! Chopping was fair ok piss poor at best for this knife...for one I didnt expected much. Yeah, I know it is short and light but it was still terrible...once again serrations, I believe to blame.
Notching using the back side was nice but I did not need that function for I was not building a shelter that would require notching for paracord assembly. And so on.
Handle...is tough!!! But not the most comfortable, I am 50/50 on the handle comfort. It is small, so if you have big hands this might not fit you well. Also, as a test, I dunked my hands in a stream to see how I could hold onto the pup and chop, cut and slash. It was average. Using it for long periods would get you hot spots. Plus I recommend a lanyard. since it is light and the handle is very hard it can slip.
Next was slashing my way through small random thorn branches, not too many branches at all...but there were numerous small pacthes of coverage to cut back a small path....the experience was crap!!! Ok it is no machete nor did I expect it to be. But it couldnt even slash through it at all. barely even cutting them when it did. This really goes over this knifes ability. It is not designed for it but it wouldnt even really cut the branches at all! But still it should cut something. Might need to be sharpened. And yet again I feel the serrations is the issue.
Shaving some tinder was difficult because once again the damn serrations!!! The serrations are in the ideal spot for better control and leverage! Not that serration would be located some where else...ha!
I do really like how tough this knife is...prying...really no worries! It is thick enough to take the force! I pry a few 4" logs apart. No issues.
Overall I really dont hate this knife as much as I hate a serration knife. However if this wasn't serrated it still wouldnt be on my short list. The handle and combat cut really dont make it ideal for camping or really survival..but you could certainly make do with it. I think also it could be a few more ounces. Yeah I know carrying light in a pack situation is necessary but being too light can really kill a knife's performance. With a blade length of nearly 5" it should be a little more in the weight department. But Once again I think this is a combat first knife and a survival second. Serration for cutting a fuselage, the grind and shape lend it to more combat.
This is really my first involved knife experience that was completely solo. My expectation were not high in some of the uses I was doing...they exceeded the knifes practical design. But I figured I would try it out anyway. The best thing is to be realistic of the knifes capability. But I have read so many reviews and videos and no one really tests the knife out. So many people love it without really detailing its use. But lets also remember my disclaimer. My skills arent up to anything worth admitting to nor is my knowledge. So forgive my lack of both. Once again, I am also using the knife in ways it might not be fully intended for. If I am missing something here, dont hold back guys..feel free to educate me. I am all ears. But that is my initial experience and fairly green review of it. I posted this over at Knifetests.com also...just want to get more feedback to make sure I am not missing something with this SOG. The more you know the better you are.
Strapped the sheath to my belt. First thing I noticed is the sheath is light and is very versatile...it mounts nice and secure but lets not forget the knife is light itself so it doesnt really prove much. The Pup fits fairly securely in the sheath and I noticed a plastic liner where the blade fits to protect it, I am not certain if the liner is kydex..I doubt it. However the liner a great way to protect the sheath as well as make it more rigid, I found to be a little of a downfall because you have to look at the sheath to make sure you get the blade back in right. Also, the draw is high since it is a small blade and a small sheath when on your belt drawing the blade out was a little tough, I had a windproof vest on that goes below my belt line, unless you have your shirt tucked in drawing this is something to get use to...this goes for replacing the blade back into the sheath. Basically you can not lower the sheaths belt mounting without some additional straps. But overall, I really do like the sheath quite a bit!
Batonning wood...my seal pup elite has serration...first mistake! I started to baton some ground logs. Not certain what the wood was but this was tough! The logs were less than 4". But what happens is the serration making batonning these logs a pain!! They do not go into the log as easy as the front part of the blade that is non-serrated. So once again, non-serrated would be better!!! I did several logs I found throughout my 2 days of hiking. Some green logs, some on the ground, etc. It was just fair at batonning. I tried to be reasonable in my expectation and not exceeding the blades batonning length. I did have some blade chipping...not terrible and only in two spots but this was after the first day.
Next was chopping...once again serration!!! I hate them at this point!!!!! Chopping was fair ok piss poor at best for this knife...for one I didnt expected much. Yeah, I know it is short and light but it was still terrible...once again serrations, I believe to blame.
Notching using the back side was nice but I did not need that function for I was not building a shelter that would require notching for paracord assembly. And so on.
Handle...is tough!!! But not the most comfortable, I am 50/50 on the handle comfort. It is small, so if you have big hands this might not fit you well. Also, as a test, I dunked my hands in a stream to see how I could hold onto the pup and chop, cut and slash. It was average. Using it for long periods would get you hot spots. Plus I recommend a lanyard. since it is light and the handle is very hard it can slip.
Next was slashing my way through small random thorn branches, not too many branches at all...but there were numerous small pacthes of coverage to cut back a small path....the experience was crap!!! Ok it is no machete nor did I expect it to be. But it couldnt even slash through it at all. barely even cutting them when it did. This really goes over this knifes ability. It is not designed for it but it wouldnt even really cut the branches at all! But still it should cut something. Might need to be sharpened. And yet again I feel the serrations is the issue.
Shaving some tinder was difficult because once again the damn serrations!!! The serrations are in the ideal spot for better control and leverage! Not that serration would be located some where else...ha!
I do really like how tough this knife is...prying...really no worries! It is thick enough to take the force! I pry a few 4" logs apart. No issues.
Overall I really dont hate this knife as much as I hate a serration knife. However if this wasn't serrated it still wouldnt be on my short list. The handle and combat cut really dont make it ideal for camping or really survival..but you could certainly make do with it. I think also it could be a few more ounces. Yeah I know carrying light in a pack situation is necessary but being too light can really kill a knife's performance. With a blade length of nearly 5" it should be a little more in the weight department. But Once again I think this is a combat first knife and a survival second. Serration for cutting a fuselage, the grind and shape lend it to more combat.
This is really my first involved knife experience that was completely solo. My expectation were not high in some of the uses I was doing...they exceeded the knifes practical design. But I figured I would try it out anyway. The best thing is to be realistic of the knifes capability. But I have read so many reviews and videos and no one really tests the knife out. So many people love it without really detailing its use. But lets also remember my disclaimer. My skills arent up to anything worth admitting to nor is my knowledge. So forgive my lack of both. Once again, I am also using the knife in ways it might not be fully intended for. If I am missing something here, dont hold back guys..feel free to educate me. I am all ears. But that is my initial experience and fairly green review of it. I posted this over at Knifetests.com also...just want to get more feedback to make sure I am not missing something with this SOG. The more you know the better you are.