SOG Super Bowie...Or?

C

Confederate

Joined
Sep 5, 2005
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I'm getting ready to shell out $140 for a SOG Super Bowie because it's a beautiful knife with a 7.5-inch Ti-Ni polished blade. I've read some exceedingly good things about the knife, which weighs 17.4 ounces, but I wonder how the knife stacks up to, say, a Ka-Bar Large Heavy Bowie?

If you own the SOG, I'm particularly interested in your views. I have the Tech Bowie and am impressed that the weight is dispensed for chopping, while the Ka-Bar isn't. I also understand that SOG's AUS-8 stainless is exceptionally treated, but I'd still like to hear some reviews.

Of particular interest are the epoxied leather washers on the SOG. Are they completely waterproof? Or will weather eventually seep through?

What are your views and recommendations?
 
Maybe I'm a steel snob, but any AUS-8 knife I've ever carried required resharpening after every moderate to hard use, and somehow magically dulled without much heavy use over time. When compared to my experiences with VG-10, VG-1, 1095, and especially S30V, it falls very short. If I'm putting a knife to good use, I'd expect at most to only need to sharpen/touch up at the end of the day rather than after every use.
 
Thanks for the replies. I've had bad experiences with the Boker Magnum knives, most of which I can't get very sharp. Boker has crummy 440 steel treatment. Cold Steel, on the other hand, has outstanding heat treat, and their 440A steel was exceptional.

As for AUS8, that's my concern with the SOG. And $140 seems a lot to pay for an AUS8 knife. But if the SOG has the same great heat treat that CS has, I might spring for it.

Admittedly, I'm buying this knife mostly as a safe queen, but I'd like it to be a decent knife in the event I ever needed to press it into service. I've got an SOG Agency and the polished Ti-Ni finish makes it one of the most beautiful knives in my collection. As a combat/defensive knife, I know I could press it into service easily and effectively; but AUS8 is an almost perfect defensive steel in that it gets viciously sharp and is easy to resharpen. For a survival knife, though, AUS8 is probably not the best choice. But the Super Bowie's gotten great reviews from people who own them. I'm just looking to see if there are any negative experiences with the knife, and I certainly don't want one I have to sharpen several times a day. The weight and balance of the knife makes the Super Bowie a natural chopper, but like the Agency it's a beautiful knife.
 
I have a SOG super Bowie and it is super, classic and beautiful. As a safe queen with bite it works. If you don't want a safe queen consider the Scrapyard 711 or the Ontario sp45.
 
I have the Super Bowie and love it, I must admit that I didn't hold SOG in the highest regard BUT after using their Tech Bowie and beating the snot out of their Seal Pup Elite at my office every week (after buying the Seal Pup Elite on a whim) I must say that I'm very impressed.

I bought the Super Bowie after reading a great review (w/great photos) on these boards and since I've always liked that look I felt it was worth giving the knife a shot. Since then, I've used it on several camping trips with my sons and it chops great and holds its edge better than I ever expected after getting use to buying knives made of higher end steel. Very impressive, big knife.

I have somewhat larger hands and LOVE the larger format of the SOG Super Bowie...I may never become a fan of their folders but at least when it comes to their Tech Bowie, Pup Elite and especially the Super Bowie, I'm a huge fan.

Best of luck!
 
SOG or black bird i like aus 8 but the black bird uses 154cm whcih is way better i have both and like both but for cutting more heavy stuff edge last and for easy sharpening go with the black bird
 
Thank you all for your replies! Just curious about the handle, though. It has leather washers, but those on the knives shown in the links above seem like they've become significantly darker. What's up with that?

I'd prefer the Kraton handle on the Super Bowie.
 
Confederate said:
Thank you all for your replies! Just curious about the handle, though. It has leather washers, but those on the knives shown in the links above seem like they've become significantly darker. What's up with that?

I'd prefer the Kraton handle on the Super Bowie.
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I can't speak to what others have done but with mine when it arrived I coated the leather handle with a leather conditioner (from the Frye boot company) that does darken the leather just a tad but also protects it even more from moisture. The handle appeared a bit dry right out of the box (especially around the edges) and the leather conditioner made the leather look a lot richer with a deeper color.


I've never used the knife under water but it has gotten wet from pouring rain on several occasions and the water does nothing but bubble up on the handle. It makes a very, very nice camp knife and the AUS8 holds up FAR better than I expected and for me has preformed just a well as my older Carbon V Trail Master's and Recon Scouts.
 
Hmmm...that surprises me. I thought the epoxy SOG used would have kept leather conditioners from reaching the leather. The photos in other posts show the leather washers to be much darker. I wish the Super Bowie was available with a Kraton handle. I have a Tech Bowie and really like the handle. Anyway, I just ordered a Super Bowie for $133 (including shipping), and am looking forward to seeing what the TiNi black finish is like. I hope it's like the polished black finish found on the Agency.

On the Tech Bowie, I was disappointed to find that SOG had downgraded its TiNi finish from the deep polished black to a cheaper TiNi finish that wasn't nearly as attractive as the first Tech Bowies. The Agency's black TiNi finish is phenomenal. It's the most beautiful knife I own.
 
I would check out BK&T BK-7, BK-9 and also the Ontario Spec-Plus line, SP-10, SP-49, SP-51, SP-53, SP-47 ---NOTE, those are all sabre grinds. There are also full flat grinds of all those same blades, SP-46, SP-48, SP-50, SP-52. All the ones i listed are Made in America. The sheaths are probably not.
 
When I was looking for a medium sized bowie I went for a blackjack model 14, now its my most used fixed blade.
 
Personally I like the leather handle and it feels great in hand and there was nothing "wrong" with my leather handle it just looked a bit dry to me and the leather conditioner made it look better. I have two Bark River Teddy's (1 w/fuller 1 w/o) with leather handles and both of them also looked better after using a leather conditioner on them...not saying it was necessary just that they all looked better and appeared to be better protected afterward.

IF you like the somewhat smaller format Tech Bowie's as I do I'm certain you'll LOVE the Super Bowie. I do like the handle on the Tech Bowie's but "to me" the leather handle of the Super Bowie looks and feels nicer...obviously your opinion my differ.

Best of luck!
 
Thank you. Yes, I saw it and it appeared to do an exceptional job in the wild. To me it indicates that AUS8A, when properly treated, is very underrated. I've found that Cold Steel does an exceptional job heat treating all of their steels. Critics can moan and groan and point out that CS has farmed out their knives to other manufacturers. Big deal. As long as CS has control over quality, their knives will remain great for the price. (Even their 440A was easy to sharpen and remained sharp as long as some companies' AUS8 knives!)

I think these SOG Bowies are overpriced, but the quality of their AUS8 is apparently superb. Its Tech Bowie is a fine knife, but the blade is only 6.4 inches, and it's heavy for its size. This makes it an outstanding mini-chopper, but in the great outdoors, it may be too small for an effective wilderness knife. The Super Bowie most likely is a better choice, being a little more than an inch longer, but weight also is an issue and I'm anxious to heft it. I have an Ontario Marine Raider, and it's an amazing knife. But hauling it is another matter entirely.
 
I just got my Super Bowie, and though I like the quality the handle is far too large (fat) for my taste. I'd much rather have the grip smaller and made with Kraton. The blades of the Super and Tech Bowies are superb, very sharp with the famous SOG scorpion tip. The workmanship of the knives also is very high. I have no doubt but that they're excellent products. For serious outdoor use, though, I'd most likely take the Ontario Marine Raider over the Super Bowie. The Super Bowie and the Agency will most likely stay in my safe, while the Tech Bowie may see some use.

They're gorgeous knives.
 
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RemyKaze said:
Maybe I'm a steel snob, but any AUS-8 knife I've ever carried required resharpening after every moderate to hard use, and somehow magically dulled without much heavy use over time. When compared to my experiences with VG-10, VG-1, 1095, and especially S30V, it falls very short. If I'm putting a knife to good use, I'd expect at most to only need to sharpen/touch up at the end of the day rather than after every use.
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I agree. However, I carry it for protection against dogs in my mountain neighborhood. I only need it to work that one time. I own one, and love it. AUS8 is a mid grade steel that if heat treated properly will last a very long time. Some harder steels will require professional sharpening which is not available in my local area. I see nothing wrong with owning, and carrying more than one edged instrument. Ranger training taught me this: two is one, one is none.
 
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