Scuba Demo delema

blindref

blindref

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Jan 15, 2003
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Just a line to you all,what do you all think of the scuba demo,Does it get put in the collection or do you work it,Please tell me what you guys think of it,(DO you like it or hate it):)
 
I 'solved' the problem by getting two.

I had my first one and I loved it so much and used to always be holding it caressing it and all... (sad I know:confused: :( )

always wanted to use it but it is soooo nice :grumpy: :grumpy:

I struggled with the issue and then just thought 'bugger eating food or paying bills' and I got another one as well and now I am content.

Really depends on whether your a collector or a user, I consider myself a user mostly but I have a couple of pieces that are collection pieces.
 
Thanks fellas for coming back to me.I would love to be a user but being British i guess i'll have to be content to be a collector.Our knive laws are so tight it's nasty,Thanks Mr blair where not all bloody mad.I'm not sure what the laws are in the rest of europe,And Austrailia but they can't be as stupid as good old GB.:confused:
 
I must confess, mine sits there looking pretty...:( I too take it out and admire and photograph it...
It sure is nice...:D :cool:
 
"And Austrailia but they can't be as stupid as good old GB."

I think GB is the only place with laws nearly as bad as Australia.
No double edged knives. No balis. Cannot carry a knife for any reason unless you have an absolute need for it do function in your job. No even allowed to carry Multi-tools though most offiers do not care they can confiscate :(

Australian Law redefines stupid as far as I am concerned.

I feel that as long as I am not breaking the law or giving the police a reason to search me, then carrying a knife need not be a problem.

Please to not expect the officer to see that the same way though.
 
You can make it beyond a conversation piece by following the procedures for finishing a blade surface, making the top edge a cutting edge, washing off the water based finish on the handle with something more practical (even an oil based shoe polish will be an improvement). While on the handle, washing it lightly with a sponge and soapy water will give a "salty" look.
 
A scuba/Demo was ment to be used. a few years ago my local dealer had a Serial numbered (#17 I believe) Hand made Damascus Scuba/Demo for sale. They were asking $750.00. If I had that kind of cash it would have come home with me and that weekend I would have taken it camping. Sure it's nice piece of art but it's also a great user. :D

Leather handles don't bother me. I actually like them. Get them wet, wash them off, dry, then treat if you want to.

Heber
 
I confess I don't use mine for what I originally intended to, but I have given it some light use. Those serrations really do work well as a saw. Gone through a few small limbs with them.

Lagarto
 
Oh, I should also had that taking off the thin layer of protection on the brass will cause it tarnish and looks cool with a washed out handle as mentioned above. Yes, you can use it right of the box but I sort of disagree with the 5 stars this knife seems to be getting. SOG is cutting manufacturing costs by not completely finishing the blade and slapping some water based finish on the handle of an advertised diving knife (well sort of). They even have a disclaimer that it is not meant to be used extensively for diving for a reason.

Note: Although SOG has reproduced this Vietnam War era knife according to the original specs, use of the SCUBA/Demo as a diving knife will greatly reduce the longevity of the leather washer handle.
Click to expand...

SOG sells this knife from their website for over $300 and sells seconds for over $200. You can find these knives from several retailers on Ebay for approx. $160+ and bid for less than $150.

Nevertheless, the core of this knife is excellent. You can take it out of the box and throw in the dirt, take it hiking, and so forth. You're not going to break it with that Seki blade. But I wouldn't take it in harm's way without some personal loving care put into it. As for diving, sure a few times to give it a used looked and then it becomes a conversation piece. Take it diving extensively and the leather will fail. It was its weakness to begin with. That is why they made less than 40. Nobody that mattered probably liked them. You can get a new Randall Made diving knife for about the same price SOG is charging. And you can be sure Randall won't have any disclaimers about how to use it. The SOG Scuba/Demo is a good knife. But it can be made into a great knife. I'm going to assume, based on the price, that the SOG Recon Bowie is of the same manufactured quality as the SOG Scuba/Demo if the blade is also from Seki Japan and not Taiwan like other selected SOG knives.

BTW, has anyone actually seen a picture of the only original one left? What knife did the Naval Advisory Detachment use to replace the original Scuba/Demo?

Interesting review from a curious tactical level: http://www.borelliconsulting.com/evals/knives/sogscubademo.htm
 
a new Randall dive knife for the price of a SOG ?? I personally don´t think so .....
-- Nordic Knives shows a new Randall Model 16 Dive Knife for $455.

anyway, price and pricing being what they are, I am of the (occasionally humble) opinion that all my SOG fixed blades are a heck of a bargain when I look at what is out there.

As for a "dive knife" ..... last year I scored an as-new SOG Seal 2000 for $50. If/when it wears out/gets broken/gets lost, I will be much money-ahead compared to any Randall, new or used.
AND the Seal 2000 does everything I want it to ..... as does my Randall Model 1 with stacked leather washer handle.

I have no concerns and/or problems with any of my SOG knives ..... except that they don´t get enough use.

Cheers,

Carl
 
New Pig Hunter said:
a new Randall dive knife for the price of a SOG ?? I personally don´t think so .....
-- Nordic Knives shows a new Randall Model 16 Dive Knife for $455.

anyway, price and pricing being what they are, I am of the (occasionally humble) opinion that all my SOG fixed blades are a heck of a bargain when I look at what is out there.

As for a "dive knife" ..... last year I scored an as-new SOG Seal 2000 for $50. If/when it wears out/gets broken/gets lost, I will be much money-ahead compared to any Randall, new or used.
AND the Seal 2000 does everything I want it to ..... as does my Randall Model 1 with stacked leather washer handle.

I have no concerns and/or problems with any of my SOG knives ..... except that they don´t get enough use.

Cheers,

Carl
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You guys need to look at Randall's price list. You're looking at dealers that have already ordered from Randall and selling them at a premium for those that can't wait on the list. SOG is advertising $310 for the Scuba/Demo as well as the Recon Bowie. Randall has their Model 1 advertised at $320 and their Model 16 at $360. If you want a Randall today you will pay on the average $100 more through a dealer. If you don't order your SOG Scuba/Demo or Recon Bowie from the factory you can expect to pay about half the price. I'm referring that SOG is giving at least the appearance of quality by overpricing and actually selling these knives from the factory for about the same price you can order a Randall from their own factory. So why is SOG dealers doing the exact opposite as Randall Dealers? (1) The Randall is a superior knife and most people are willing to pay $100 too much to get one now through a dealer, and (2) SOG dealers can't sell their knives for the factory price because most people are not going to pay $150 too much for one. Why is the SOG factory pricing their knives from the factory for about the same price Randall is advertising their own factory? It only makes sense as a marketing strategy. The subterfuge of SOG selling their knives so high from the factory gives the appearance that it is in the same class as something like a Randall. They are not in the same class. They are not even in the same country. Literally. SOG won't have their blades made in the USA. They farm it out to cheap labor overseas. I don't know why SOG wants to look like a unique knife maker. Unless, they produce something that can be very useful produced under an umbrella of slight-of-hand marketing. I see my SOG Scuba/Demo for what it is. A very well made knife that was produced cheaply and can be had cheaply for a knife of this quality but there is room for improvement.
 
Randall is a heck of a knife ..... AND last time I checked it is a 4-year wait when you order direct from Randall.

SOG for me.

Cheers,

Carl
 
New Pig Hunter said:
Randall is a heck of a knife ..... AND last time I checked it is a 4-year wait when you order direct from Randall.

SOG for me.

Cheers,

Carl
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Yep:) And thanks to Homeland Security, The Armed Forces, SWAT Teams, SEAL Teams, SF, Speical Ops, and Private Security Contractors the wait on Randall fighting knives is now six years! Better to pay the extra $100 or so for Randall if you are any kind of a hurry.

I'm still sanding on my SOG Scuba/Demo Seki blade. Working on 400 grit now (dry then wet). Then 600. I'm dusting it off with a high speed blue Nyalox wheel between each grit. Gives me something to sand against and don't want a glossy tactical knife no more than a blade that gets dried up blood & guts in those little tiny grooves and scratches.:barf: The bottom edge of the spear point got a little more slope from the center of the blade to the bottom edge now and the top blade to the serration will get an edge and the serration will get sharpened as well. But that will be later. The 20th Anniversary logo disappeared after the 220 grit sanding.:grumpy: Like I mentioned above I'm taking off the protective coating on the brass so it will tarnish for aesthetic reasons. I'll probably just treat the leather handle with saddle soap and oil. It's a good knife and for the price you can can get a couple and modify one to your liking. :thumbup:
 
6 years for a Randall ..... amazing.

Nice mods you are adding.

I use lots of Neatsfoot Oil on the leather handle, letting it soak in. After a few days the "greasy" goes away.

Cheers,

Carl
 
Using aluminum foil I made a not-tall open-top container and set the entire knife inside. I dribbled some Neatsfoot Oil on the handle and spread it around, then let it soak in. After several days of dribblings and soakings ......
The container was simply to keep the Oil from spreading out over my workbench.

Cheers,

Carl
 
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