Seal 2000 (Seki) vs Seal Team Elite (Taiwan)

[ml100]

SOG, are you going the right way?
Let's do a short review of the Seal 2000, seki made and the Seal Team Elite, made in Taiwan.

Chopping

Well, while both were not primarily made for chopping, they both do the job.
The bulkier handle of the Seal 2000 feels better for this and gives more control. The Seal 2000 is heavier too, so you get more bang for chopping.
The handle of the Seal Team Elite is more aggressively textured, which gives you a perfect, secure grip. However, when chopping you better wear gloves, or you palm will suffer.
Overall: Both are not bad for chopping, but the Seal 2000 is certainly the better choice here.

 

[ml100]

Tip stability.
Simple test: I stabbed both knves in some dry hard wood and forced them out laterally.

First of all, no breakage. However, a second look revealed a significant bending of the tip of the Seal 2000.

The Seal Team Elite did perform with no bending. So I repeated the test for the Seal Team Elite more forcefully. The result was a minor deviation of the tip. Both tips could be reestablished by simply repeating the test in the opposite direction.

The Seal Team Elite clearly appeared to be thougher here.
Should they bend at all?
Keep in mind, these were designed as fighters, with pointy thin tips for penetration.

 

[ml100]

BTW: penetration.

I tried to stabb the tips of the knives through an iron sheet, which worked well. However, the tip of the Seal 2000 was a bit blunt afterwards.
The tip of the Seal Team Elite kept stable, even after repeating the test.

Both knives are equally good for making feathersticks.

Overall:
The Seal team Elite is lighter (hollow grind vs flat gind on the Seal 2000), the handle is thinner (which I prefer, except for chopping), the grip is perfect, the steel is stronger. Both knives were shaving sharp in the beginning. Edge retention was good with both knives, with the Seal Team Elite being significantly better.
The Seal Team Elite is for sure the better fighter, and in my opinion the better overall knife.
Except for chopping it outperformed the Seal 2000.

 

[dl351]

Good review!

I guess for me, I still like the Seal 2000 blade shape better. I may just have to find a retail store that has the Seal Team Elite so I can hold it and see what I think.

Again, good review!

 

[dberry]

I am with the team elite. They are both great knives though.

 

[Falcor]

Many thanks ML100 - very helpful to me

 

[DennisStrickland]

mi100 thanks for the report & the great pics. i believe i'll stick with the ka-bar.
dennis

 

[ml100]

and how does this all compare to a Glock knife?
Took my Glock knife today on the same trail as the SOGs recently.
As all Glock knives, mine came as well unfinished from the factory: dull and with a blunt tip. But after doing the necessary home work, how does it perform compared to the two SOGs above.
Chopping: Well the Glock is light, so chopping is possible, but efficency is modest.
Tip stability: I stabbed the Glock in the same piece of wood as the SOGs, however, no matter how hard I tried, after forcing it out laterally the tip just stayed staight.
Penetration: I pushed the Glock through the same iron sheet, the tip remained unimpressed.
Edge retention: HRC is only 55 on the glock, however I felt that edge retention was better on the Glock than on the Seal 2000, but not as good as the Seal Team Elite
Is it a good fighter? Well, that's what it was designed for.

After all, the Glock is cheap, but solid as a rock. It has a hidden tang, but I couldn't break it even after wedging it between two logs and stepping on the handle.

Conclusion: In Glock we trust.:thumbup:

 

[ml100]

Good review!

I guess for me, I still like the Seal 2000 blade shape better. I may just have to find a retail store that has the Seal Team Elite so I can hold it and see what I think.

Again, good review!

I agree, the Seal 2000 has the nicer shape, the Seal Team Elite design has a bit of a mall ninja blade to me.

 

[Wunderbar]

Great review. The Elite is AUS-8A and the 2000 is AUS-6A correct?

 

[ml100]

Great review. The Elite is AUS-8A and the 2000 is AUS-6A correct?

correct.

 

[Maniacal Pete]

I agree, the Seal 2000 has the nicer shape, the Seal Team Elite design has a bit of a mall ninja blade to me.

I've got a Seal Team Elite (along with about 30 other knives). I bought it, sold it, then missed it and bought another. It's a great knife.

 

[Ravaillac]

Tip stability.
Both tips could be reestablished by simply repeating the test in the opposite direction.

They both went into plastic deformation, which means they got permanently weakened even if you were able to flex them back.

That said bending is always better than breaking.