SOG Tigershark

S

socintel

Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Messages
500
Hi,

I recently purchased the SOG Tigershark on E-Bay for $100.when I first took it out of the box the first thing I noticed was how sharp this knife is and I mean SHARP!!!,then I checked out the sheath MAN :eek: is that thing tight nearly chopped my finger off. But, it would seem to losen up with time so I wouldn't be concerned about that, also their are some ruff edges that you might want to smooth out with some sand paper. The epoxy powder coating on the blade also would seem to wear off (in my opinion) just a little to easily (especialy on the high spots). The handle (kraton) is less durable than it's little brothers (the seal 2000 and seal pup) which have zytel handles, but I it is more comfortable and provides a more solid grip (which your going to need because this knife weighs over a pound :D ). From what I can see this knife is well worth the money :D

Well anyway I was just wondering if anybody has taken the time to field test a SOG
Tigershark, I mean realy abuse this thing, And what the general opinion of the quality,durability,and utility of this knife is? I am perticularly interested in its edge holding characteristics,And how easy it is to resharpen? Also what angle is the edge on this thing set to (I heard it was 20 degrees or so) also (Kinda a dumb question but what kind of edge is it? :confused: )??

thanks,
Socintel
 
Socintel,

$100 for a Tigershark ?? screamin' deal !!! Congrats on that score !!! And if this is your first SOG, I hope it makes you a SOG man forevermore.

I have an older Tigershark with the SK-5 carbon steel blade and will never ever get rid of it, absolutely my most favorite whacker and hacker and Tactical Tableware prime rib slicer.
SK-5 takes & holds an awesome hair-cutting razor edge. One day I decided to see how well it would chop through sizeable tree limbs.
Whack-Whack-Whack.... it was taking divots out of a 4" tree limb as well as any axe. Maybe a dozen hard whacks and the limb was severed.
It seemed way too easy so I tried it again on a different 4" limb, same result. I was quite amazed. And no hand shock at all, which is a good testament to it's weight and the Kraton handle. I was more than impressed then, and remain so today.

As for epoxy powder coating: I had a SOG Seal 2000 and it didn't take long at all to remove most of the powder coating from general use and sharpening and stropping. IMHO the coating is just there to "pretty-ize" while the knife is sitting on a display shelf. In my experience as a SEAL 2000 user the coating was trashed/gone in short order in those specific areas of rubbing/chopping. No biggie to me personally.

The Tigershark is the other SOG which always goes with me when I'm in the field. I've mentioned in other posts here at SOG Forum that my Tigershark has even chopped granite rocks, but I don't necessarily recommend that.....

Again, Congrats !! I think you'll like the Tigershark more and more and more.

Cheers,

Carl
 
Thanks for the post NEW PIG HUNTER,

Yes this is my first SOG, and for all practical reasons my first REAL knife (AS THIS IS A REAL KNIFE!!!).
And yes I am what I guess you call a "SOG man" :) ,And I'm sure that if it
weren't for my really tight budget I probably would go and buy every knife, and multi-tool they ever made or will make. :D
(O and don't worry I won't chop up any granite rocks with this thing :eek: ).

One question for anyone out their, what sharpener would you guys recommend
for this monster (please keep the tight budget in mind :( )?
 
Socintel,

Welcome to the Madness !!

I started out with the SOG Bowie and SEAL 2000, my first real knives. Then the Madness took hold. And now I have 5 SOG's, all fixed blades. I had two other SOG's but pals needed 'em real bad, you know how it goes.


I'm one of those severely sharpening-challenged guys and tried stones and ceramics and diamonds.... I just don't have the knack with those things. But I discovered a method, so here's my now most-favorite works-every-time sharpening method.
I bought a $5 plastic thingie sharpener at W_mart. You know the kind, you hold it in your hand and drag it down the blade. It looks like this, I don't know the brand name without looking at it:
http://www.outdoor-knives.com/Pix/4180115.jpg
Anyway, it uses carbide cutters. I clamp it in the vise and drag the blade through the cutters. I've done it with a couple of Kabars and the chips just roll off the blade. It would seem the blade edge is being re-profiled, which means I really messed it up with the stones. Just the plastic thingie by itself does a fine job of putting sharp on blade.
Then I get serious and use a homemade leather strop. I glued a piece of leather (fuzzy side up) onto a mouse pad, then duct-taped the pad to the workbench. I rub green micro-fine honing compound into the leather then strop like crazy.
I tell ya, that does the sharpening job for me. I've even been crazy enough to do it to my Randall, and this budget-minded method works even for me.

Cheers,

Carl
 
Thanks again New Pig Hunter,

While I don't think I can bring myself to actually RE-PROFILE :eek: the edge
The leather strop idea sounds like a good idea. Anyone have any suggestions
as to where I can buy one (remember budget is tight :( )? Also How about the
tri-angle shapemaker by spyderco I can probably afford to burn 50-60 Bucks
at the absolute most,I just dont know if it is capable of sharpening such a large
knife.
As for the "$5 plastic thingie sharpener at W_mart" my knife has serrations
will that work? :confused:
I dont Believe that your SK-5 carbon steel tigershark
has serrations :confused:.

Thanks Again for the advice.
 
I'm one of those simple folks who searches for the simplest/cheapest/easiest route to success and the $5 plastic thingie is the "perfect" solution, in combo with my homemade strop.
-- but.... it doesn't do serrations, and fortunately my SK-5 Tigershark has no serrations.
-- since I was only worried about "sharp" I didn't worry about a re-profile...
-- but I did darn near hyperventilate into hypoxia just before dragging my Randall across the plastic thingie. I'm feeling much better now.
-- and $50-$60 for a spyderco system ... heck, that's enough to get me another SOG... that I can then make reasonably sharp.


As for Strops and such:

I'd suggest searching around in the General Forum for sharpening topics:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=715

also, here is a Forum dedicated to all-things sharp, with lots and lots of great info:
http://www.knifeforums.com/ubbthreads/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=UBB10

and of course: www.Google.com will find "everything" about strops and stropping.

Also, this place will drive you (and your pocketbook) crazy with all the choices available:
www.handamerican.com

If that isn't enough:
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?page=32984

OK, OK, if you really really want the Mother Lode of "sharp" then grab your Visa, fasten your seat belt, and hold on really tight:
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?page=43072


Cheers and Happy SOG,

Carl
 
Thank you once again New Pig Hunter,

The info you provided answered all my questions :) :) :) :) .

thank you,
socintel
 
oh, one last "toy" which is a "necessity" with a strop: honing compound.

on my homemade strop I use this stuff:
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?page=32984

I just rub it in, then strop away. After a while, I'll take a wire brush and scrub the strop to clean it off and re-roughen the leather, then reapply the green stuff. Does the job for me.

Cheers,

Carl
 
thank you again ;) New pig hunter, If you keep giving advice your going to wear out my keyboard :D :D

thanks a million,
socintel
 
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