Is this Japanese steel?

O

ObliviousFool

Joined
Feb 25, 2010
Messages
19
Listing says origin japan, but does not show a picture with the seki japan stamp.

Can any SOG experts tell if this is Japanese steel without seeing better pictures? Are there any known recon fakes? I've seen some desert dagger fakes before.

I contacted the seller, but never got a response. Feedback is really great, but I've noticed at least two of these for sale, with one being listed right after another was sold, which seems a little odd because I thought recons were not that available.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-SOG-MILITAR...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5192a7d616

Thanks for looking.
 
Last edited:
In the listing it says it's make of SK-5 high carbon steel. That means it was made in Seki. Unless he's flat out selling a cheap clone, it looks legit to me. Like Robbie said, wait for a response from the seller. Frankly, if a seller can't take the time to answer my questions, I don't know that they're worthy of my business.
 
Thanks for the info. The seller did finally get back to me and confirmed it is seki stamped. I got a little suspicious when I noticed he had multiples for sale, and I have seen desert daggers before with a non-soldered cross guard that were actually stamped seki japan, but Chris confirmed the cross guard made them absolutely fake.

So just curious, what other SOG fakes have people seen out there?
 
Can I ask a question? I'm not trying to start a flame war, or instigate anything whatsoever.

Is this knife really worth $300?

Apparently it's HRC is 57-58, with a carbon content of .78%, with a significant amount of sulfur, and epoxied construction (not full tang).
So what drives the price of this knife?

Thanks for the response! :)
 
somber said:
Can I ask a question? I'm not trying to start a flame war, or instigate anything whatsoever.

Is this knife really worth $300?

Apparently it's HRC is 57-58, with a carbon content of .78%, with a significant amount of sulfur, and epoxied construction (not full tang).
So what drives the price of this knife?

Thanks for the response! :)
Click to expand...


Personally, I think its a beautiful knife. Guess its not as functional as others, but for some reason I'm attracted to SOGs and this one is near the top of my list.

Also, this page lists MSRP at $310, which I understand is above the price it actually sold for when you could buy it, but the fact that it and all the seki knives are hard to find, I'd say 300 is about right.

http://www.sogknivescollectors.com/reconbow.php
 
Last edited:
But a lot of SOG's, in general, use steels like AUS8, yet charge $200, and while this is MSRP (and no one really pays MSRP), why do they ask this much for their knives when the materials aren't necessarily comparable to $200, to even sub-$200 knives.

Scarcity is a definite influence in price, of course.

I hope you get it, though, I know the feeling of wanting something that's on the top of your list and it being within grasp.
 
somber said:
But a lot of SOG's, in general, use steels like AUS8, yet charge $200, and while this is MSRP (and no one really pays MSRP), why do they ask this much for their knives when the materials aren't necessarily comparable to $200, to even sub-$200 knives.

Scarcity is a definite influence in price, of course.

I hope you get it, though, I know the feeling of wanting something that's on the top of your list and it being within grasp.
Click to expand...

What's your favorite bowie?
 
ObliviousFool said:
What's your favorite bowie?
Click to expand...

I do not generally like Bowie styled blades, actually. :eek:

I really like Persian blades, which are similar except they don't have the clip point of a bowie, or that massive swedge that drops the point lower than the spine. My favorite is this:

4459991219_a469f38eb0.jpg


But my grail is [was, it has since sold] a Damascus version of the same blade.
 
somber said:
Can I ask a question? I'm not trying to start a flame war, or instigate anything whatsoever.

Is this knife really worth $300?

Apparently it's HRC is 57-58, with a carbon content of .78%, with a significant amount of sulfur, and epoxied construction (not full tang).
So what drives the price of this knife?

Thanks for the response! :)
Click to expand...

What do you mean by "not full tang?" It's been my understanding that it is a full hidden tang with epoxied leather washers for the handle. Clearly it's not a full exposed tang (like a Busse, Ranger, ESEE etc), but other than a few specific recent SOG models, pretty much all of their fixed blades have been full tang.

As for the price, supply and demand. The supply is low and will never increase (since this knife is no longer made).

Oh, concerning other fake SOG's, I've seen one or two fake Seal 2000's on the web. I think they were on a Chinese site which listed these knives as having no serrations, and having a completely black (not that teflon looking stuff) coating. They were pretty clearly fake, though.
 
By full tang I mean that the construction is one piece, the handles are pinned to the tang, not epoxied, like this:

4327775489_3f43777c75.jpg


The prices I'm referring to are even the current models, SOG folders are, for the most part, priced equal with Benchmade, Spyderco, the higher Kershaws, and in some cases, just a bit short of a CRK Sebenza, but the materials, I feel, are not equal with these competitors (AUS8 vs S30V). Am I mistaken? I hope not, SOG is a company that makes some great looking knives.
 
somber said:
By full tang I mean that the construction is one piece, the handles are pinned to the tang, not epoxied, like this:

4327775489_3f43777c75.jpg


The prices I'm referring to are even the current models, SOG folders are, for the most part, priced equal with Benchmade, Spyderco, the higher Kershaws, and in some cases, just a bit short of a CRK Sebenza, but the materials, I feel, are not equal with these competitors (AUS8 vs S30V). Am I mistaken? I hope not, SOG is a company that makes some great looking knives.
Click to expand...

Forgot about this thread!

As for the tang, I've never had a problem with full hidden tangs on any knives I own. The only reason I see a full exposed tang like in your picture, as being better is if the handle is going to take some beatings. As for the epoxy, it's my understanding that the leather washers are epoxied together and held on to the tang of the knife with that nut/butt cap.

Now for the prices. Get away from SOG's site and the prices drastically drop. For example, I got a Vulcan for about $75 less than SOG's listed price. At that price, I find it very comparable to any similar Benchmade or Kershaw.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top