SOG or Cold Steel

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bigeard09

Joined
Sep 8, 2016
Messages
284
Hello all, Need a bit advice here . I have narrowed my next choice of combat style fighting knives down to two different makes and models , but need some definite advice on both .The two models in question are the SOG Bowie 2 with leather handle (or the Tech model with krayton handle) , and the Cold Steel Outdoorsman (San Mai) ? Ok to be honest I doubt any of them will ever see hard use as such other than a few bushcrafting weekends with light use and more of a collectors piece these days . But from a pure practical and materials point of view which would you choose and why , taking also into account the steels used in their manufacture . It would be interesting if any of the members have used these when in the Military and if so how did they stand up to rougher treatment . Any other comments regarding each knives good or bad points will be appreciated .
Thanks all
 
Not sure why you would choose a "combat style fighting knife" for "a few bushcrafting weekends with light use?" If you truly need a knife for bushcrafting, there are far better designs than the typical combat-style Bowie. That's kind of like buying a hammer because you have some screws that need tightening.
 
IMHO, one of the premier combat blades is the Cold Steel Tiapan. Not as good of a utility blade as a single edge, though.
 
Both are owned by GSM now, so no advantage there in terms of customer support if you end up needing it. For bushcraft and collectibility, I would go with the San Mai Outdoorsman. But if you're set on bowie style, the 2.0 with leather handle certainly checks that box.
 
Smithhammer said:
Not sure why you would choose a "combat style fighting knife" for "a few bushcrafting weekends with light use?" If you truly need a knife for bushcrafting, there are far better designs than the typical combat-style Bowie. That's kind of like buying a hammer because you have some screws that need tightening.
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No my friend , I am not buying it specifically for a few bushcrafting weekends as I have plenty of other more practical knives for that as I have been doing this on and off for 55 years + including as a combat survival instructor with the British Army . I am also a collector of various style knives etc some of which I will no doubt pass on to my Grandson when the time comes . I just liked the look of SOG knives going back to the late 1970s and was only looking at a few similar style models .
 
bigeard09 said:
No my friend , I am not buying it specifically for a few bushcrafting weekends as I have plenty of other more practical knives for that as I have been doing this on and off for 55 years + including as a combat survival instructor with the British Army . I am also a collector of various style knives etc some of which I will no doubt pass on to my Grandson when the time comes . I just liked the look of SOG knives going back to the late 1970s and was only looking at a few similar style models .
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Thanks for the clarification, though that's a little different than what you said above. If you can track down an older SOG, that would be my vote.
 
if you've been into bushcraft for many decades, you already know this, but standard answer for what you want to use it for? Get a Mora. Seriously, they are still for some reason, seriously underrated knives. They may not be as cool looking, but you will get every penny's worth (and then some) of value out of them. They are tough, sharpen up to a razor edge super easy, and cost about as much as a fast food meal. But out of the two you listed, I would go Cold Steel over SOG any day.
 
tknife said:
if you've been into bushcraft for many decades, you already know this, but standard answer for what you want to use it for? Get a Mora. Seriously, they are still for some reason, seriously underrated knives. They may not be as cool looking, but you will get every penny's worth (and then some) of value out of them. They are tough, sharpen up to a razor edge super easy, and cost about as much as a fast food meal. But out of the two you listed, I would go Cold Steel over SOG any day.
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Totally agree with you regarding Mora knives making excellent bushcraft knives for a very cheap price and have recomended them to many people in the past as a great alternative to many overpriced knives out there but as you say they are not as cool looking .
 
Alberta Ed said:
The SOG has AUS-8 steel, the Outdoorsman uses VG-10, IMHO a step up from AUS-8, and also a better grip. Hard to beat Kraton in the cold or wet.
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Agree with you regarding the better VG-10 steel which Ive no doubt can take some punishment . I was watch an American guy on a youtube channel who does some quite impressive destruction tests and I have to say the SOG knives tested seemed to hold up well in such extreme conditions .
 
As a matter of confusion guys , can anyone confirm for me if the SOG Tech Bowie and the SOG Recon 2.0 are one and the same knife ???
Thanks .
 
bigeard09 said:
As a matter of confusion guys , can anyone confirm for me if the SOG Tech Bowie and the SOG Recon 2.0 are one and the same knife ???
Thanks .
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No, the Recon has a differently shaped blade. The Tech Bowie and the Bowie 2.0 are basically the same knife, with a different handle material and sheath. The Tech comes with a 'kydex' sheath and the 2.0 with a leather sheath.
 
I would have to put in a strong vote for Cold Steel. Within the realm of using them as what would be considered "a hard use knife" I have never had a failure or even a problem.

I use them often in rotation with my other big knives or use on a construction site. It's what I do. So every day they go to work they get used for a lot more than slicing a lime for margaritas or cutting that pesky thread that pops up on a new shirt every once in awhile.

I am up to about six of their larger knives including the king of ugly (but the hardest worker) the SR1. I also have the Ultimate Hunter, American Lawman, the AD10, and one smaller one I do not carry.

When I go out hiking and spending time outdoors the American Lawman is my choice. It is incredibly sturdy, extremely light, and it's actually a good slicer!

I have other friends that I have put to the Cold Steel line that are looking for strength over beauty. They have bought small fixed blades up to the large ones and no one yet has been disappointed. That says a lot; they all use the snot out of their knives, not necessarily for cutting things.
 
tknife said:
if you've been into bushcraft for many decades, you already know this, but standard answer for what you want to use it for? Get a Mora. Seriously, they are still for some reason, seriously underrated knives. They may not be as cool looking, but you will get every penny's worth (and then some) of value out of them. They are tough, sharpen up to a razor edge super easy, and cost about as much as a fast food meal. But out of the two you listed, I would go Cold Steel over SOG any day.
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This. This is the answer.
 
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