SOG Seal Knife - How good is it?

WadeF

WadeF

Joined
Apr 12, 2000
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I've had fun reading some of the recent topics about fixed blade knives batonning through logs, etc. So I'm wondering how good some of my fixed blades really are and how much abuse they'd really take. I picked up a SOG Seal Knife from a friend who offered it to me for cheap. Looking up some specs it's AUS6. Has anyone ever used one of these knives hard? How would it hope up for splitting wood?

I'm still going to get myself a Swamp Rat Camp Tramp or Battle Rat one of these days. :) I also have a Gerber BMF and an original SOG Tiger Shark. I don't know if I can bring myself to use either of those as they are becoming more collectable in a way. Back in the day when I was a young lad and didn't know as much about knives I thought they were the cream of the crop. Now I wonder how they'd really hold up.
 
I'm interested to see some of these reponses myself. Is your knife an older one I believe they are now using 440A for the Seal Knife? Personally I wouldn't buy a SS fixed blade to use, I prefer 1095 or that stuff Camillus uses in the Beckers. It'd be cool to see how a Seal holds up. Also if you don't mind my adding this question, anyone have any experience with TOPS knives, some of thier designs look cool and I like 1095, but think they may be overpriced for 1095? It would be interesting especially to see a comparo between the Sog Seal (AUS-6 or 440A?, a Becker C/U 7 (?), a Ka-Bar (1095), and a TOPS Steel Eagle (1095):D
 
Yeah, it sounds like for hard work people like non-stainless. The Seal knife is probably stainless so it can be used in wet environments, including salt water. So is this knife really officially issued to Navy Seals?
 
I could be wrong but I don't believe there is a real "official" seal knife. Just like there's no "official" issue watch (but that's another issue). I believe the military still issues the Ka-Bar and they have the option to buy a knife of their choosing to use if they wish. Also, depending on who you believe Cold Steels claims in their proof video that their SRK is official issue at BUDS, so who really knows :confused:
 
WadeF said:
Yeah, it sounds like for hard work people like non-stainless. The Seal knife is probably stainless so it can be used in wet environments, including salt water. So is this knife really officially issued to Navy Seals?
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Nope.

Issue is by units. Most infantry units get issued bayonets, some people get issued multi-tools or BMs. It all depends on your commander.
 
Wade,

I have the SEAL PUP. Its one of the best knives I have ever used. Last year I was deer hunting and shot my deer. I have a very nice BUCK knife that is made just to skinning and dressing out game. Well it went south on me very fast. I then had to use my PUP, and it never lost its edge. I take it eveywhere I go. But as far as splitting wood, I really don't know. But it will wittle for a very long time before it needs to be sharpened again. I even made a custom leather sheath for it to go along with the one Jammie Briggs will make for my new Roger Linger WSK when I get it.

Jeff
 
I have always liked the AUS steels, compared to other stainless ones. Never touched AUS-10 yet, but have used a couple of blades made from the other two.

One of the Marines out here has a Seal Pup and it is a nice small knife. The grip is a little small for my hands, but it does a good job at stuff like cutting through ropes, cardboard, and such.

The Seal Knife is thick and does not have a very wide blade. If I was going to get something for splitting wood and such, I would go with a bowie-type blade.

I am definitely not a fan of 1095. Maybe I have just gotten all rotten ones, but that steel seems brittle for a non-stainless. I've always done better with something like A-2, M-2, or 5160.

I have the old Gerber BMF. That is just a great knife and it has always performed well, even when I had to push it hard. Shows you what 440A can do when heat treated correctly. I do keep a pretty steep angle on the edge, like 30, so that it does not require sharpening too often.
 
I have heard about a big SEAL knife test that was won by the SOG model. Where can we see the results of this test? I am curious as to how the other knives did.
 
Cliff Stump has a review of the SOG Seal 2000 on his site. It did not do well. I have one from my pre-BF days, but would buy a Becker BK-7 instead now.
 
Badmovies, when done properly 1095 is one of the strongest steels available and much cheaper to use than the ones you mention. The tradeoff is POOR edge holding, some companies try to make up for this by overhardening 1095, which can make for unfortunately very brittle knives. I use Ka-Bars (the brand name, not just the design) and despite poor edgeholding the knives are very TOUGH, I've heard Camillus and TOPS do a great job with 1095, but I've heard Ontario has some QC issues, so it often depends on the company, the heat treat, etc.
 
Hmmm, you might have a point there about the Ka-Bars. I will say that I am pretty sure all three that I have had fail were the Ontario ones, which are called "Marine Corps Fighting Knife" officially (trademark issues, I would bet). That could be a critical difference.

And, wow, are you ever right about 1095s terrible wear resistance. Saw that firsthand with several knives used to destroy sandbags. A brand name Ka-Bar was so blunted you could saw on your arm and not hurt yourself. Others, Ontarios, were likewise blunted.
 
That's the main reason I switched to a Becker 7, it uses 0170-6C, which is roughly as tough as 1095 (some claim its not as ultimatley tough but I have as yet pushed it hard enough to hurt it and I've been rough with this knife), but with better wear resistance (better, but not NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERENT) primary reason I switched was the Becker is flat ground, steel didn't really make much of a difference to me, and I really can't see much difference in the two other than the Becker's better wear resistance. And I LIKE the Becker handles (many don't). Also, like 1095, 0170-6C is easy to sharpen, I'd be hesitant to buy a hard SS knife for field use in the event I ever had to sharpen it with a file (freehand) in the woods. I can do allright with this stuff and 1095, I know I'd just end up ruining a SS knife without a sharpening kit or contraption of some kind :)
 
By the way, another reason I bought a Becker 7 was reading how it faired against higher priced competition on Cliff Stamp's website. Some on here say his tests aren't scientific, but I don't really care, it's nice to know that you have a knife that is tough enough to chop concrete blocks in the event you ever needed it too :D . His reviews are also why I want to purchase a Chris Reeve Project I and a MPK-Ti, eventually, keep those knife abusing reviews coming.:) BTW it's also amazing to see just how poorly some overhyped and overpriced products do when really hammered on.
 
Spydiefan04 said:
...I believe the military still issues the Ka-Bar and they have the option to buy a knife of their choosing to use if they wish. :
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Not sure it really matters, but at my last military law briefing, soldiers are not allowed to use "personal owned" weapons only authorized and issued weapons. Further, weapons need to be approved via Geneva...this just means nothing specicifically designed to blind or paralyze. Basically numerous knife designs are submitted and just added to the list....since they have no specific "blinding" or "paralyzing" or "torchering" ability unique to the knife itself.
 
I've done a fair bit of seedling chopping, and throwing with a Pup. It was the available knife when I needed one. I had to grip it towards the back of the handle a bit, but my Bowie was at home. It also hit rock a bunch when throwing, and held up well.It then cut up some tomatoes afterwards. It's also kinda pretty to look at.
 
I own a Pup and I have been very happy with it. I have had it for about five years and beat on it pretty good at work. I have it attached to my pack and it's best feature is that it is small. I wouldn't use it to split wood though and the handle is pretty small.

I also have a TOPs Tom Brown Tracker. I use it pretty hard even though it was pricey. They say that it is guaranteed to hold up and Tops says that they will replace it as long as it is not abused. It comes with an instruction manual that shows you how to split wood with it and cut fencing with it so odds are what I do with it will not be considered abuse.

I bought the knife because it was in "The Hunted". Pretty ridiculous reason but it has done well. It is pretty heavy though. (I am looking for a PUK because it was in "tears of the sun" ,my purchasing is effected by the media I guess.)

I also have a Becker Tac Tool that I beat the snot out of at my job. It has gone through more doors than my battering ram. I don't know much about steels however if the thing get's F-d up I have no problem pissin' a bitch to the manufacturer in order to get it fixed or replaced.
 
LSkylizard said:
Not sure it really matters, but at my last military law briefing, soldiers are not allowed to use "personal owned" weapons only authorized and issued weapons.
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That only counts IF it is intended and used as a weapon. If it can be chalked up as a tool, it usually doesn't matter unless the CO has an issue with it. Your large fixed blades are going to cause some grief but 5in or less and any folder/multi tool isn't going to raise any concern. YMMV

Been beating the crap out of a CS SRK lately and have been rather impressed. It replaced a Ka-bar that has seen better days that replaced a AF survival knife before that. It was either the SRK, another Ka-bar(this time the short 5in version), another AF knife, SOG pup, or another Becker(still have it just don't pack it much), or a Gerber Iraqi Freedom fixed blade that the BX had. They had the SRK too and I so I decided to try'er out. So far, not bad.
 
Funny you should ask - just started abuse my seal 2000 about a week ago. :D

After sitting in the drawer for quite a while i went back to the unused knife in the name of bordem. I chopped down and felled a tree with it, and also cut down a HUGE pampus grass bush with it.

The real damage came though when trying to chop the root. A few hits later on some well disguised stones and it's a little worse for ware :(

Would put some pics on here but not sure how to!
 
MaxStatic said:
That only counts IF it is intended and used as a weapon...
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Agreed. Thus "personal owned weapons" are not allowed (to include . Hand tools, etc...) . In any event, I have not seen any soldiers recently charged with war crimes for carrying personal weapons but...it is a "war crime" to do so. I have seen and heard of soldiers getting into trouble with the US military legal system because someone filed against them for carrying a personal weapon...usually a personal revenge type issue. None the less, you carry a personal weapon and you place yourself in a compromised position.

LSkylizard
 
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