SOG Team Leader Survivor

[mrappraisit]

That does look like the FFG would make it a good slicer, and the saw back looks really agressive, it certainly worked on that dried bamboo. Is that handle molded FRN? Good review, enjoy your new knife.

 

[Mistwalker]

What's it like when you're using the saw?
Those bumps on the top and bottom, just behind the blade (I forget what it's called) look like they'd chew your hands up pretty badly...and the handle material pattern looks like it might add to the misery.

I like their saw pattern, it's just about identical to the one in a SAK.

Good so see somebody putting thought into a knife blade designed around a saw and not: "Okay...blade's done...how do we stick a saw on it?"

It's not as bad as you first think, The grooves aren't as sharp as they appear and with the grip I used my hand really didn't come into "hard-contact" with them anyway.

The saw is much like the saw on a Swiss Tool I used to have (I loved that saw!) only a larger version of it. I don't see this knife becoming an edc under "normal" circumstances but it definitely has a place in my gear.

I don't get it, what's the point of having a 4.5" saw?

Actually the saw is only 3.5" long. While it would obviously not be very efficient for cutting fire wood, it is actually good for a lot of things in different environments. Off the top of my head in a wilderness environment it would be great for creating the 'V" notch in a fire board, making the square ends of notches for trap triggers, making quick expedient notches in poles while lashing them together for shelter or "furniture", and notches in shafts when making improvised tools and weapons. In an urbanized environment it would work for cutting PVC pipe, holes in Vinyl, fiberglass, drywall, light sheet metal or plywood, perhaps even Plexiglas. And all of that while preserving the primary edge.

 

[Mistwalker]

That does look like the FFG would make it a good slicer, and the saw back looks really agressive, it certainly worked on that dried bamboo. Is that handle molded FRN? Good review, enjoy your new knife.

Thanks, glad you're enjoying the review. I am assuming the grind will make it a great slicer...I have more to do with it yet. The handle scales are molded Zytel.

 

[Bushman5]

I don't get it, what's the point of having a 4.5" saw?

to saw small wood, ie clearing shooting galleries. It was originally designed for soldiers, not bushcrafters.

 

[tholiver]

Good review!
As sharp as the old Aitor saws? cool!
The first time i handled one of those old Aitors in a shop just touching the saw drew blood from my finger,lol!
Still part of me wishes SOG would make one without the saw in the same price range.

 

[TheGame]

That is neat, and actual saw on a knife. That is something that looks like it would be more helpful than not :thumbup:

 

[Fonly]

That is neat, and actual saw on a knife. That is something that looks like it would be more helpful than not :thumbup:

plus they left a good portion on the tip for batonning!

oooooooh, what did I start???:thumbup:

 

[Mistwalker]

Good review!
As sharp as the old Aitor saws? cool!
The first time i handled one of those old Aitors in a shop just touching the saw drew blood from my finger,lol!
Still part of me wishes SOG would make one without the saw in the same price range.

Thanks, glad you're liking it. I still need to get out more with it.

I was thinking the same thing the last time i looked it up on their site. I first thought they made both models in either steel.

That is neat, and actual saw on a knife. That is something that looks like it would be more helpful than not :thumbup:

I can see it being useful in several circumstances.

plus they left a good portion on the tip for batonning!

oooooooh, what did I start???:thumbup:

I was thinking so too, that section works really good with a firesteel too.


But what is it about this place that when so many people see a hornets nest they immediately start looking for their slingshots?
.
.
.
.

 

[Fonly]

But what is it about this place that when so many people see a hornets nest they immediately start looking for their slingshots?

Haha,

For what its worth, what do you think the teeth would do to a fairly form fitting kydex, I would like to carry one of those, but im not a fan of leather.

 

[sicily02]

Great pics and review. Just awesome that is U.S. made and still with in a desent price range. I am with ya on the battoning part who cares if you chew it up just get another one but if you used just a 2" batton it would still take a long time to chew through it lol.
That is a neat knife Mistwalker, Thanks for sharing your review on it.

Bryan

 

[Mistwalker]

Haha,

For what its worth, what do you think the teeth would do to a fairly form fitting kydex, I would like to carry one of those, but im not a fan of leather.

I think it would do alright in a kydex that didn't fit too tightly, I know I'd love to have one. Would be nice to have a thin sheath for discrete or cold weather carry.

Great pics and review. Just awesome that is U.S. made and still with in a desent price range. I am with ya on the battoning part who cares if you chew it up just get another one but if you used just a 2" batton it would still take a long time to chew through it lol.
That is a neat knife Mistwalker, Thanks for sharing your review on it.

Bryan

Thanks Bryan. It is definitely a very interesting knife with great potential.

Yep, my thoughts exactly.

I have been surprised by just how little surprise there has been about it being US made. It's the first US made SOG I've ever had and only the second one I've ever seen with the first one being a Powerlock I saw at Lowe's the night before I got this one.

 

[pimpnugget]

i heard that c20v was 52100

 

[Mistwalker]

I need to look it up because I know nothing at all about the concept of powder metallurgy.

 

[Mistwalker]

Got the Team Leader outside today to check it out a little further. I did some batoning of seasoned Hickory, some cutting and sawing in some dry green bamboo, and a little whittling on some dead pine....oh and before all that I cut up an apple for my youngest...I think she likes my knife use better than anyone else here.

This is a piece of bamboo I whittled and sawed on. The knife stopped just short of cutting all the way through in just one cut but this bamboo has been drying for a few weeks so it's pretty tough. Thew saw cut through it in about seven seconds.

This is a section of seasoned Hickory about 2 inches by 18 inches and was pretty tough...it took some pretty hard licks to make the initial split. I quartered it and the Team Leader handled it just fine with no ill effects at all.

Then I did a little whittling. I meant to do more but the sun was going down and the mosquitoes started getting to me....I am so looking forward to cold weather!

 

[lsheldon]

The SOG factory is about 10 miles south of me in Lynnwood WA. All of thier knives are US made. Doesn't surprise me a bit.

Les.

Am the only one who is surprised that it is US made?

 

[Mistwalker]

Ok...this post...

The SOG factory is about 10 miles south of me in Lynnwood WA. All of thier knives are US made. Doesn't surprise me a bit.

Les.

sort of stalled me on my next post...

and by the way ummm...no...no they're not...and I have a few threads here with pics that prove it.

but I think my intended post still applies so here goes...


I really don't mean to offend anyone here at all but I'm really confused. Am I really the only one who thinks this is great?


In all honesty, after all the negative talk about supporting foreign economies, swedges, choils, hollow grinds, cheap steels, stick tangs, molded handles, sharpened pry bars, and what have you, I really expected more of a positive response to this knife.

So let me summarize this.....SOG makes, in my opinion anyway, and honest to goodness all weather "survival"/ Bushcraft knife (depending on the model) That has a full tang, no swedge, no choil, replaceable/customizable handle scales, has a great tip and a drop point, is light enough at 7 ounces as to be no burden at all to carry...



has a flat grind and slices like a chef's knife...

Ok, so yes it chops only marginally better than my paring knife I'll admit but it slices great thin slivers for fuzzies and I suck at this just ask Joe and Rick and anybody else that knows me because I've never given a rats @$$ if my fuzzies stayed on the stick or not... until recently as long as they caught a spark was all I cared about and all that mattered for my methods in my areas.

It has a razor sharp, really well thought out functional saw on the spine of one model and a flat spine on the other (no swedge on either)

Works really well with a firesteel

Can be batoned through some very hard, knotty, seasoned Hickory...

yet sustained no damage to the spine....

and... not to seem like a hypocrite here as I've liked SOG knives since the first Bowie I bought...it's U.S. made and still within their normal price range.

Is it the perfect knife for everyone? Obviously not. But am I just late in finding this thing? For if so few see that there is enough good here to warrant an "atta-boy" for the guys at SOG, and reason enough to say thanks for listening to the input in hopes of continuing such progress... then it is no wonder knife companies continue to make knives people don't like. How can they know what to make if people are always so quick to say what they don't like but don't offer a positive response when they actually listen and try.

The only way this knife could possibly get any better for me and still fill the niche I've got it in would be if the handle scales were micarta (and just a hair thicker) and if it had a pommel plate like the SBT. So I for one say thank you to the guys at SOG and hope this is to be a continuing trend.

Brian

 

[philbro]

Thanks for the great review Mistwalker. I've been looking for a knife with a good saw back for quite some time. I'm trying to lighten my load whilst in the woods, by not having to carry a saw. Its just a pity that its not an inch or 2 longer, then I might not have to carry an axe as well.
I like to carry my SOG mini pentagon when I'm kayaking & diving & it hasn't let me down yet, so it looks like I'd better start saving for the team leader as good knives are 50-70% more expensive in the UK than the US

 

[Mistwalker]

Thanks for the great review Mistwalker. I've been looking for a knife with a good saw back for quite some time. I'm trying to lighten my load whilst in the woods, by not having to carry a saw. Its just a pity that its not an inch or 2 longer, then I might not have to carry an axe as well.
I like to carry my SOG mini pentagon when I'm kayaking & diving & it hasn't let me down yet, so it looks like I'd better start saving for the team leader as good knives are 50-70% more expensive in the UK than the US

Thanks Phil, I'm glad you liked the review. This knife amazed me really because out of the box I could have sworn I was holding an aluminum knife.

I really hope they will make a larger (longer) version of it with a thicker blade and a thicker point that would be awesome.

I've already heard how expensive knives are in the U.K.

 

[wildmanh]

I've been interested in the new Team leader since it was first annouced a year or so ago. It has the same handle as the Field knife but IMO a better blade shape. Got to handle one in a store recently and I agree, much lighter then I expected. Handle is comfortable but again I agree it could be a little thicker.

Was thinking it would be nice to have an AUS-8 version with no saw back but since it has the same saw as the Sela Revolver it's actually really nice. Sold my SOG Field knife to justify getting a Team Leader or Team Leader Surviver and think I will as soon as I have more money saved up.

Thanks for the review, you've helped me deside to get one. :thumbup:

Heber

 

[Mistwalker]

Thanks Heber,

Glad you liked the review. I was really impressed by how well it held up to be so light! It was almost as if I was driving a sharpened piece of plastic through a hard seasoned hickory limb, the more i drove it through it the more amazed I was by what I was seeing. I don't know that I would try to baton it through anything bigger or harder...unless I had to. To be completely honest I wasn't at all sure it would handle what I did but suspected it might after previous workings with SOG AUS-8. Just what I've done with it shows me that it is a totally awesome addition to my kit!