SOGs Underwater

G

ghost squire

Joined
Feb 1, 2004
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360
I asked a similar question in the general forum, but I now have my heart set on a SOG. Basically the second I layed eyes on the knife Sarah Connor used to carve "No Fate" in the table in T2, I knew I had to have it :D

So my question is, how well will the SOG Bowie (blued blade and leather handle), Daggert 2 and Tech Bowie stand up to repeated salt and fresh water immersion?

The handle of the Bowie is supposedly resin impregnated, does this set it apart from the Ka-Bar as far as water repellency?

In Vietnam SOG operatives supposedly had their sheaths and leather handles treated to prevent jungle rot... Is there any way to do this now?

My second concern is, how soon will I have to care for the steel after immersion and removal from saltwater, on all three? Will water seep into gaps between blade and handle etc. (there are massive gaps in the Ka-Bar, are there on a SOG?)

I plan on eventually getting all three and using them heavily, and getting two of the SOG Bowie, so I can preserve one :)

Oh and what about the SCUBA/Demo bowie? It was designed for use underwater right?
 
I don't own any of the above, but I would guess that the tech bowie or daggert 2 would be your best bet. The SOG S1 bowie is made of SK-5 (a high carbon content steel) and will probably rust like crazy. Also the leather handle will not hold up as good as the kraton handle of the tech bowie and daggert 2.
 
Personally, I wouldn't take any leather handle knife into the salt water on purpose. There are much better knife choices for salt water and much cheaper as well. As nutz_about_knives said the SEAL series would be a great choice.

If i recall, I read somewhere the original SOG Leather handle bowies didn't fair to well in the moist climate they were in and were dicontinued for field use but in turn were awarded for completing some form of Spec op training.

Cheers,

Guard....
 
Yes...SOG's leather handled knives and leather sheaths will do fine underwater if a short life expectancy is acceptable.

If you wish to keep it for awhile and keep it in good condition, NO...keep it out of the water.
 
I own a Seal 2000 and a Tech Bowie and both knives appear to be very tight where the blade meets the handle. On the Seal, the handle completely encases the tang. So the only point of entry for water is again where the handle meets the blade. I recently aquired a Tech Bowie with satin finished blade. The handle is held in place with a sort of bolt on the top, which apparently requires a special tool to tighten etc... Over all it appears to be a very tight at all seams, but with the bolt on top of the handle I assume it would allow for another point of entry for water. I am not aware of SOG sealing any of that to prevent water from getting in. I don't usually get my knives really wet, and I've never had the opportunity to use them in a salt water environment. But from what you are discribing, I would look at the Seal series. Just my opinion.
 
first choice for me would be the SEAL 2000..... no regular maintenance to speak of.

but I wouldn't hesitate to take my Bowie for a swim. The blade will definitely rust, no doubt about it, so a fresh-water hose-down would be advisable after a session in the sea, and a dry-off.
as for the handle, I've had my Bowie long enough to really scuff up the handle. Way back a few months ago several of us were talking about handle maintenance, so I decided to soak mine in Neatsfoot oil.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=328108
I haven't taken an opportunity to go swimming with the Bowie, but I reckon a regular program of Neatsfoot oil'ing will keep the leather handle in good shape.

Cheers,

Carl
 
The SOG leather handles are resin impregnated...so they are already well positioned to do as well as leather can in harsh environments. I'm unaware of Carl's Neatsfoot oil, but certainly trust Carl and know he knows what he's talking about. Additional help is always a good thing.

My biggest concern with "assembled" handles is the mass amounts of moisture that gets "inside" then handle, under the leather washers (and other materials like micarta, kraton, etc.)...especially if it's salt water. One cannot adequately rinse that out, so...well you can figure it out. Bad things happen under there and will adversely effect both the steel and the leather (or whatever). Over time, that can't be a good thing.
 
You're right Ron....I wouldn't want to jab my blade into something and the blade breaks off because of the rusted steel inside the handle and the blade come flying at me. (Touch wood!) :rolleyes:
 
After a few days the Neatsfoot oil "slippery" goes away, I simply leave the Bowie on the workbench. I also wipe it with a rag.

Ron and all are 100% correct: there will be moisture migration to the inside. That's a basic law of physics.... not sure which one, but the huge body of empirical evidence is irrefutable.

As for rates of rust formation and resultant degradation of SK-5 material properties and Bowie mechanical properties, well, like anything else just don't let things sit too long. You're better off with a freshwater hose-down than letting the Bowie remain salt-encrusted.
I predict it would take years and years to see any serious degradation, even in the oxygen-starved environment betwixt leather and steel. Yeh, it'll rust and pit somewhat, but you won't be losing 50% of the steel overnight.

AND if you are really nervous about it, why, a very reasonable course of action to avoid problems is to buy a new SOG Bowie every year !! And we'all know that buying a new knife at least once a year feeds the need !!

Cheers,

Carl
 
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