SOG Bowie.I'm looking for user oponions

[savagesicslayer]

I've had my eye on the SOG Bowie for some time but I was wondering what difference there is between the SOG Bowie and say the classic KA-BAR?Carbon steel ( I see most are SS these days),stacked leather handle,solid metal pommel,leather sheath all there in both knives.
So what makes them a classic?

 

[t1mpani]

They are very different knives. While neither is what I'd call a masterful utility knife, the Kabar comes closer than the SOG. The Kabar has significantly more belly in its edge and a larger handle. They're both saber ground, and while the SOG is saber-hollow and the Kabar is saber-flat, the SOG's stock thickness is so much greater than the Kabar's that its edge is still thicker in spite of the grind, and then rapidly thickens as it moves towards the blade flats. This extreme grind really limits its cutting capabilities. It can be made very sharp, of course, and shave arm hair and make shallow cuts all day, but when cutting more deeply into mediums where the whole width of the blade is inside the cut, the effort it'll take to pull through the rest of the cut will increase hugely.

So, not as good a utility knife. But---it was never meant as one! It is a fighter, and in that regard it easily (in my opinion) surpasses the Kabar, as it has a much more effective piercing point, better guard, more neutral balance (although heavier) and--in my hand--a much more easily indexing grip. It's stronger than the Kabar due to the much thicker stock, and the point is more easily guided in a stab than the steep up-sweep that a Kabar has.

So, you just have to decide what you want. What makes them classic is that they're old designs, and you can buy one and have something just like (or very similar to) what G.I.s, Marines, Spec-Ops etc. have carried into combat. The other point of comparison is, obviously, price. The fit and finish on the SOG is much higher, and all the examples I've seen have had extremely clean and even grinds. The Kabar is still what it was originally created to be: a reasonably inexpensive "jack of all trades, master of none" tool, and perhaps won't make you wince as much when you get that first big scratch in it. Of course, once scratched, you'll be able to enjoy either of them significantly more.

So yes, some features in common, some not so much. You can cut with a SOG, and you can fight with a Kabar. If you like it, get it--life's too short.

 

[savagesicslayer]

I already have a few Ka-Bar knives.I carried a classic marine corp leather handled one for years.I'm interested in knives from different eras.The Ka-bar's hayday was WW2 The sog would be the Vietnam war era.I was more curious to see if they were built roughly the same.

 

[t1mpani]

Well, they're both stock removal, stacked leather handles over hidden stick tangs. The SOG's pommel is threaded and soldered, instead of pinned/peened like the Kabar.

 

[Mistwalker]

Well, they're both stock removal, stacked leather handles over hidden stick tangs. The SOG's pommel is threaded and soldered, instead of pinned/peened like the Kabar.

I have a SOG Bowie (pics below) that I have carried for about ten years as my EDC fixed blade, although it is seldom the only blade available as I am constantly testing others it is the one constant. I have batoned firewood with it more than once or twice, carried it through every type of weather imagineable. I have cut vurtualy every type of material with it, used it to make cooking sticks, and carve game and fowl in camp. I've used it to drive shelter stakes, crack Walnuts and even as a steak knife at the table on more than one occasion. The epoxied leather washer handle is very comfortable, hasn't shrank, The soldered hand guard is a big plus over most commercial fixed blades. I love this knife ! By the way the pommel (at least on mine) is not soldered so you can remove the spanner nut and add a tightening shim if you need to.

this one just taken

earlier pics in different situations and configurations

some of the reasons I like it

 

[missin_hobo]

One of the biggest deterrents in my purchasing either a Kabar or a SOG Bowie (to which I am partial) is that I've heard the leather handles can rot if not rigorously upkept. Is there any truth to this?
(Nice knife, mistwalker - used and still capable, still beautiful - the kind of knife I want to own someday!)

 

[Mistwalker]

One of the biggest deterrents in my purchasing either a Kabar or a SOG Bowie (to which I am partial) is that I've heard the leather handles can rot if not rigorously upkept. Is there any truth to this?
(Nice knife, mistwalker - used and still capable, still beautiful - the kind of knife I want to own someday!)

Thanks, I love this knife. As to your question.....this knife is ten years old and goes pretty much everywhere I go. I live a great deal of my life in the woods hiking, doing research, and taking pictures. I hike through the fog and rain, and I spend a lot of time around rivers and creeks. I live in a temperate rain forest. I have never done anything to that knife other than sharpen, clean the rust off the the pommel and handguard (occasionally)and washed in water, sometimes dishwater. It has never been submerged for an extended period of time but submerged some times. Now...look at the first pic that I took right before my first post in this thread and tell me what you think.

I've had Ka-Bars also...several of them, they are damn fine knives but I personally like the heavier blade and tang of the SOG, it has a slightly shorter blade than a Ka-Bar but when it comes to chopping it is like having a heavier knife in a smaller package, especially if you have the thong around your wrist and hold on to the pommel. And it has been my experience that the handguards on the leather Ka-Bars always loosen up and rattle a bit over time with or without maintenance.

 

[missin_hobo]

That tears it...I'll be owning a Super Bowie before the year is out. I'm usually a fan of the larger - and therefore more badass - bowie knives, but as t1mpani said, life's just too short.

 

[cabala]

I've had my eye on the SOG Bowie for some time but I was wondering what difference there is between the SOG Bowie and say the classic KA-BAR?Carbon steel ( I see most are SS these days),stacked leather handle,solid metal pommel,leather sheath all there in both knives.
So what makes them a classic?

As utility blade Ka Bar is maybe better choice ( Next Gen with plastic sheaths ).

 

[IVANKERLEY]

One of the biggest deterrents in my purchasing either a Kabar or a SOG Bowie (to which I am partial) is that I've heard the leather handles can rot if not rigorously upkept. Is there any truth to this?
(Nice knife, mistwalker - used and still capable, still beautiful - the kind of knife I want to own someday!)

i have a WW2 Cattagaurus 225Q with stacked leather handle that i got on flea-bay and its rock solid, if knives could talk it would probably have some stories
i wouldnt let that be any kind of deal breaker, IMHO
I dont have experience with either the kabar or the SOG but a classic Kabar is on my short list and te SOG is looking good too
good luck
ivan

 

[Mistwalker]

i have a WW2 Cattagaurus 225Q with stacked leather handle that i got on flea-bay and its rock solid, if knives could talk it would probably have some stories
i wouldnt let that be any kind of deal breaker, IMHO
I dont have experience with either the kabar or the SOG but a classic Kabar is on my short list and te SOG is looking good too
good luck
ivan

I had a Cattaraugus Commando that I bought at a swap shop once. The blade cleaned up good, sharpened very nicely, and the outer surface of the leather was a little worn and pitted but as a whole the knife was very solid. I had to make a new sheath for it because the original was dryrotted and no longer field worthy. Because he liked it so much, I gave it to my Grandfather who was a WW II veteran who took his basic at Fort Benning when Benning was just a "tent city" and had seen some carried by others during the war, said he'd always wanted one so I gave it to him thinking he had a better appreciation of the knife than I did. His eyes sure lit up when I gave it to him.

 

[IVANKERLEY]

I had a Cattaraugus Commando that I bought at a swap shop once. The blade cleaned up good, sharpened very nicely, and the outer surface of the leather was a little worn and pitted but as a whole the knife was very solid. I had to make a new sheath for it because the original was dryrotted and no longer field worthy. Because he liked it so much, I gave it to my Grandfather who was a WW II veteran who took his basic at Fort Benning when Benning was just a "tent city" and had seen some carried by others during the war, said he'd always wanted one so I gave it to him thinking he had a better appreciation of the knife than I did. His eyes sure lit up when I gave it to him.

Great Story! I know i love mine, bought it on a whim last year best 29 bucks ive spent in a while Ya know i actually quit obsessing over getting a Kabar when i got the 225Q We'll see how long i keep that up
ivan

 

[Brad "the butcher"]

between the sog and kabar for bush use go with the kabar 1271 over the classic, it's an inch longer and a little wider with the kraton handle. Better for chopping and the edge has a continuous curve to facilitate drawcuts.

 

[Mistwalker]

That tears it...I'll be owning a Super Bowie before the year is out. I'm usually a fan of the larger - and therefore more badass - bowie knives, but as t1mpani said, life's just too short.

Ever hauled a HUGE Bowie through the bush for a week? They're great if on an ATV, a horse, or in a jeep or something, but darned annoying after a while on your hip I think.

 

[D R E]

I already have a few Ka-Bar knives.I carried a classic marine corp leather handled one for years.I'm interested in knives from different eras.The Ka-bar's hayday was WW2 The sog would be the Vietnam war era.I was more curious to see if they were built roughly the same.

If you want to be period accurate, the Camillus marked "kabar" was carried more often in the field by SOG members than the 6" SOG knife. While not alot of overly positive things were said about the sterile SOG knife, the kabar and the pilot knife were pretty much standard issue with SOG teams.

Another often mentioned blade was the Gerber Mark II or the Buck 119 for that matter. The Mark II was not as good for utility as the Buck but served its intended purpose quite well.

 

[Horn Dog]

MLT 3 of SOG operated from NKP Thailand. I was with the 56th SOW (Air Commando) in support of their mission. I saw a few custom style bowies similar to the SOG bowie carried by the 5th SF guys, but most of us did indeed carry Camillus Pilot Survival knives or the Ka-Bar style 7" blade knife. But that was in 67 and 68. Things might have changed later on.

 

[Mistwalker]

As utility blade Ka Bar is maybe better choice ( Next Gen with plastic sheaths ).

I can't knock Ka-Bars at all. I have carried them on many "adventures" and have been pleased with the performance of all of them. So far my favorite is the D2 Extreme, partially because I also really love the sheath it came in, but mainly because it has been my experience that the handles and hand guards of the "next generation models" do not loosen like those of their leather handled counterparts, and it had a black blade rather than grey which has held up and really held an edge, and I love the thong hole on the pommel. This happens to be a prerequisite on a knife if I have to put it there myself. When my nephew was about to deploy to Iraq with his unit, 1st chem, I gave him this one knowing what his proximity to the combat would be. I knew he'd be cutting a lot of camo netting and such and the serrations would help if he had to keep moving so much he didn't have a lot of time for resharpening, and that he may well need it in combat. I personally switched to SOG as my edc knife because I love the traditional leather handle for feel in the hand, I love the craftsmanship with which they build their knives and I am rough on knives so I love the heavier blade and tang that SOG offers.

 

[The Mastiff]

The original Sterile vietnam era knives were made from SK4. The older commercial company SOG's were SK5 ( kind of like 1095 for SK4, and 1084 for SK5)

The new one is AUS8A isn't it? I bought one and found it well made, very pretty. I got rid of it though as I don't really like aus8 in those type knives.

It is a nice knife though. Personally I'd look around for an older carbon steel SOG. I've got one of the SK5 Tigersharks and it's a real hoss.

If I'm not mistaken the Bowies are made of as thick, or even thicker stock than the 9 inch bladed tigershark. It's a tough knife, with real bluing.

The AUS8 version just wasn't the same for me. Joe

 

[Mistwalker]

The original Sterile vietnam era knives were made from SK4. The older commercial company SOG's were SK5 ( kind of like 1095 for SK4, and 1084 for SK5)

The new one is AUS8A isn't it? I bought one and found it well made, very pretty. I got rid of it though as I don't really like aus8 in those type knives.

It is a nice knife though. Personally I'd look around for an older carbon steel SOG. I've got one of the SK5 Tigersharks and it's a real hoss.

If I'm not mistaken the Bowies are made of as thick, or even thicker stock than the 9 inch bladed tigershark. It's a tough knife, with real bluing.

The AUS8 version just wasn't the same for me. Joe

I've had mine for a while, it's one of the ones made in Seki, I suppose it is of the SK5. It is very near to being 7mm thick. It's a good heavy blade that has served very well.

 

[The Mastiff]

It is very near to being 7mm thick. It's a good heavy blade that has served very well

I was reading somewhere that it almost has a case hardened effect ( probably not proper term). The inside is softer than the surface making it very , very tough, in addition to the thick stock, and reinforced tip. That knife could easily last a few lifetimes of hard use with basic care. I love the old Seki made Sog carbon steel knives. My SK5 Tigershark is one of the knives that I've never even entertained the idea of selling or trading it away.

The new one is very well made. The grinds are superb, finish excellent on mine. I just balk at the idea of a heavy duty knife made of 8A.

I'm sure it will hold up very well, but the new one just wasn't for me. Joe