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UKKEN

UKKEN

Joined
Feb 2, 2005
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31
Hello All

This is my first post in this section but there may be some of you here who know me from other sections and forums.

I wonder if one of you gentlemen could help? :confused:

I found one of my older knives in a drawer today. It was given to me as a gift by an old friend who is unfortunately no longer alive. So I had some great recollections whilst cleaning and sharpening it. I have owned it for about 13 or 14 years, how old it was when it was given to me I have no idea.

Is it a SOG? It only has "440 STAINLESS" on the blade. It has had some heavy use but is still in great shape with only very slight sideways movement of the blade.

Any help would be apprecioated. :)

Cheers, Ken
 

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This knife has me really confused, it has the handle of a tomcat II and a blade shape similar to the SOG teamleader. Either I never heard of this knife, or it is a different manufacturer and not made by SOG. Maybe it is an older model developed before my "knife days".:confused:

Sorry I could not be of more help.:(
 
I did some more searching and it looks like it might be a SOG stingray. The only thing that I find weird is that it does not say SOG on it. because all the pictures I can find of it say SOG on the blade.

Here is a pic of the stingray:
sogstingray15ds.jpg
 
It looks more like the S-94, Tomcat II, but yours may be a very early non-SOG stamped. :confused:

http://web.archive.org/web/20021119203241/sogknives.com/images2/SOGimages/TomcatCL.jpg

http://web.archive.org/web/20010902033809/www.sogknives.com/tomcat.htm

Not for sure, but it does look like it, I handled one of these a while back and it is a monster........ :eek:

The sheath even looks like the ones that come with all the bigger folding SOGs. It could be a non "SOG" stamped.... :eek:. Ron Andersen might know if a few were made without the SOG stamp, (must have been) if he don't know then Spencer Frazer would know I'm pretty sure.



Robbie Roberson. ;)
 
I think Robbie is right. But the knife he posted the links too must be an older version of the Tomcat II. Because I went to the SOG website and the picture they show of the S-94 Tomcat II looks like this:

s94open2fo.jpg


I am so confused.:confused::rolleyes:
 
Socintel, I could be wrong, but I think the earlier models did not have thumbstuds, just a nail nick. It takes a few moments for the page to load, but when the archived page loads, it shows the letter/numbers S-94 at the top left of page.

They actually have a couple of these at Smoky knife works I looked at but don't know the number they use and it did not show on their web pages.

I think you were right from the first answer you gave, the one he has is just not stamped SOG.

Robbie Roberson :)
 
Thank you all for your help.

I know knives pretty well and this one in my opinion is far too well made to be a fake. Everything about it from its fit, finish and edge holding screams out quality.

I was told in another forum that SOG did not use 440 steel in their knives, this is why I am slightly in doubt as to its originality.

I contacted my friend’s widow who tells me he bought it from a very reputable dealer in the Lake District (UK).

Regards, Ken
 
To me that knife really looks like an original Tomcat with out markings. I do not know that SOG ever produced them with out markings but everything points to the Tomcat. That is my best guess from looking at the images provided.

Chris
 
My first good knife was a SOG Tomcat, and I bought it in 1993. It looked just like that, but instead of 440 on it it was marked 440C and the SOG logo was stamped on the other side. There was just a nail nick like the one in your photo. I don't know if yours is a SOG or not, but if it isn't it is a failthfull copy. There is a possibility that they didn't fully mark yours. It really looks just like my old one. Brings back some memories here too. Good luck with it.
 
USAFSP said:
I bought it in 1993.
Click to expand...
As I recall, SOG brought out the Tom Cat in 2001 and won the Blade "Overall Knive of the Year " award for their efforts. I bought mine early in 2002 and still use it today. I keep mine on the webbing of my survival/first aid kit, which I alway keep in the truck. Its reassuring to know that I always have a good, heavy duty knife available. The only difference between mine and the one in the picture is that mine is AUS6 not 440. To the best of my knowledge, SOG never sold a Tom Cat in 440.

Blue Orca
 
The only difference between mine and the one in the picture is that mine is AUS6 not 440. To the best of my knowledge, SOG never sold a Tom Cat in 440.
Click to expand...
Just wanted to mention that Aus 6 is almost exactly the same as 440a.;)
 
Well, let me try to offer my "expert" opinion (why didn't anyone "call" me?).

First of all, I should probably say that I've handled hundreds of Tomcats over the years and have a very good feel for what they look and feel like.

In my opinion, this is very likely an original SOG S4 Tomcat. With the exception of the markings, it looks perfect in every respect (blade grinds, thumbnail notch, bolsters, liners, lock bar, Kraton slabs, lanyard hole, nylon pouch). Though, without holding it or getting a closer look, I cannot know for sure.

I don't have a "good" explanation for the markings (or lack of markings). If it is genuine, I'd guess that it was not stamped and was missed in quality control. Though I've seen a couple SOG knives in circulation which didn't receive their stamps, I have to say that I've never seen a Tomcat like that.

SOG did make some "sterile" knife models (specifically the Bowie and Trident), but I've never heard that the Tomcat was offered that way. By "sterile," SOG didn't use the term in the specific sense of having no markings whatsoever, but rather were void of the company logo.

The Tomcat received the 1988 Blade Magazine Knife of the Year award.

Here is a picture of the Tomcat from one of SOG's brochures from their more early years. It shows markings that are missing from UKKEN's knife.



This is a thumbnailed image, so click on it for a larger view. Also, to see the complete brochure, check it out here (it's the two rather "big" files).

Since I don't frequent this forum, someone should email me if I'm needed for anything else.

Hope I've been of assistance here.

Take care.
 
Ron, I did not call because I honestly did not think too, and I probably would not have because I hate to bother you.

But now that you posted what you know, thanks, I agree and think your right on. I think he has a real one.

Robbie Roberson :D
 
Hi,
I have 2 pics that may help on this anyone want me to email them to host for me.
Pete
 
OK, I'm confused......

I don't think Pete's knife is the same knife as Ukken's ??

Pete's knife has "Taiwan" on the blade, Ukken's doesn't.

Cheers,

Carl
 
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