SOG Seal Pup

spydercomil said:
If you have handled it and like it, Idon't see what all the debate is about. I had one and it was good, but then i got a fallkniven a1 and didn't really need it anymore. It will serve you well, just consider the fact that you could always save a little more for a fallkniven f1.
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I have both the FK A1 and the Sos Seal Pup. They're different knives, you can't really say the A1 is always better than the Seal Pup. For a light camping trip the Seal pup is better, lightweight and thiner blade for food preparation. Of course this is just my opinion. For having fun the A1 is much better :D
 
The Nighthawk did good at knifetests.com. The RC4 did well too. They put an awesome edge on the RC4. Mine was razor sharp and stayed sharp while I tested it. The Sog I had was also pretty good not quite as good but still impressed...I just completely and utterly hated the handled. It was far too hard and slick. I tested out in late fall, weather was in the 30s. I did some batonning, the serration seemed to effect it and hitting the front of the blade I could feel a good amount of shock through the hard handle. I had a gerber LMFII out that day as well, it batoned far better with none of the shock. I was never able to use the knife (for I didnt have it that long) in the heat where I could see how a hot and sweaty hand would do with the zytel handle. Zytel is very hard but pretty durable. I didnt hate the Sog, I would have probably liked it much better if I had just gotten the plain edge but I still didnt like the tactical blade design either.

The Sog uses an AUS8A steel, it has never been viewed as a great steel. I dont know why every blade I have had has done extremely well. They do tend to dull faster than my 1095. I know many have said it can chip or snap for it will not give as much as say a 1095 (I have seen two of my 1095 blades bend and bend back during batoning when I was certain they would snap). I havent really pushed AUS8A like I have 1095. So I cant say it is good or bad.

As I stated for 23 bucks more, you get the mother of all warranties from ESEE, this in my opinion is worth skipping a night or two of beer drinking to get. But one person mention the handle on the RC4...it is smaller. Someone that has a large to extra large hand will not like the RC4 handle. For a Medium-large hand it is fine. If you get the RC4 I recommend the Canvas Micarta handle. The Linen is what I had and it was ok when I compared it to my RC5 which was Canvas Micarta it was a lot nicer of a grip! Micarta takes an absolute beating and doesnt show the wear like Zytel will. Just my .02. I am not a fan boy either for if you would have told me you were looking for a under 5" camping knife that you could skin with I would have told you an Fallkniven F1...Handle is IMHO substantially nicer and more comfortable then both and the convex edge performs a lot better. But the F1 is a little under 2x the cost of the Sog Seal Pup but I certainly think it is 2x better! I have also had massive success with the VG-10 steel. I have beat the daylights out of my Fallknivens...more than any other knife I own and it has held up extremely well!
 
You can get a Nighthawk with a satin finish 5" blade. I had one and sold it. Probably end up with another one. The handle on the NH is one of the best factory handles, IMO. I've had the 5" and and the 6" and they are both stout blades. Bucks heat treat on the 420HC makes a somewhat mediocre steel (composition wise) perform like a much better steel would. I think the edge bevel on the NH is a bit thick, once I thinned them out they worked very well.

I think Buck should do a special run of the NH in 1095, O1, D2 or some other carbon tool steel. Flat grind or saber grind the blade preferably (I can live with the hollow grind though), do it in each style of blade and I'd buy one of each.
 
I just got my S.O.G. Seal Pup Elite, I use to knock it, until I got one and used it, It's not as good as my Skookum, or my John Bradley Finest Camp Knife, or even my Bravo 1 in the 3v, but I respect it a lot more then I use to, I guess you have to own one and use it, and you will see for the buck's it's a very good knife, yes for bushcraft too, a knife, not a chopper or a batoner, but you can do some light batoning with it, yes I like mine.
 
I gave mine to a friend after accumulating a lot of better fixed blades. Handle and I did not get along.
 
I'll agree with those who recommended the ESEE for the purpose stated i.e. light camping and hunting use.

I have bought several SOG and ESEE knives.

At some point I bought a SEAL Pup and I like that knife A LOT.

I would none the less rather break out a ESEE3 or 4 for camping and hunting.
 
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A Mora 511 is $9; less than a 12 pack of long necks do yourself a favor and pick one up as a beater on top of whatever you get. The way it starts to look better the more you use it might surprise you ;)
 
I you liked the handle of the Seal Pup get it I have had three ,still have one. People will knock them but there is nothing wrong with them a decent little knife ,maybe a bit too pointy. I would love a plain edge but they are much less common. I have the ESEE4 and it is a nice knife but heavy and the handle is small.
 
If you can stretch your budget to $120, get a Scrapyard 411/511 and a sheath. I have both and can safely say it is ten times the knife that the Pup is. The same goes for equivalent ESEEs. Buy right, buy once IMO.
 
I own a lot of knives. But I must tell you I bleed Esee now. Also my boys and even the wife have Esee izula 2 knives. I still have a Sog seal pup and actually really like the knife. However it hardly sees any sunlight anymore. If that's the knife you choose I would not get the serrated blade like I have. They do have it in a plain blade model that would be more useful in everyday use. Take a look at www.eseeknives.com before you buy.
 
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