Stingray Mino and spec elite II

S

srmd22

Joined
Oct 19, 2009
Messages
112
Does anyone have any experience with these knife? A search didn't turn up much. Looks pretty cool, and I am pondering adding one or both to my collection. It would be my first SOG.

The Mino is very pretty, sort of a gentlemans folder-- kind of pricey.

sogstingraymino.jpg


The spec is a big-@ssed knife, and can be found for around $100.

sogspeceliteii.jpg


I guess these models have been around for awhile, but they don't seem too popular, at least going by forum activity. Is there a silent owner population out there, for either model?
 
I had a Spec Elite II, the one with the 5.5" blade. I love the blade shape on it, and the Arc lock, but it sure needs to have stiffer steel liners on the inside. Except for that it is a nice knife, and you may find that it is stiff enough for you, as I'm really anal about such things!:eek::)

Have not had the Stingray, but I did have the Architech w/red bone. This is a bit larger with a 3.5" blade instead of the 3.0" blade on the Stingray, and about $100 higher in price. It was a very nice knife, well made and very dressy, just not worth the $300 price tag it has, at least in my opinion, yours could differ as it really depends on how well you like the knife. If you really like it then it's worth it to you! At the time it was just too small for my liking, but now it would probably fit with the smaller knives I've begun to collect. I imagine the Stingray would be the same in a smaller package.
 
I've got the Spec Elite I and I love that knife. I don't carry it all that much anymore b/c it's dropped out of my edc rotation. But I really, really like the design. It keeps an edge for a long time. Locks up tight.

As far as these forums go, I think the Spec Elite gets dragged down b/c it has SOG attached to it (which I can't blame people for holding that against it).
 
Why the anti-sog sentiment? Must be from before the collecting buy bit me (which was pretty recently).
 
The negative sentiment comes from knives that are too expensive for what you get. They don't use the best steels, but they generally charge a lot for their knives. There's also been a lot of complaints about fit & finish that I've seen (although not on the Spec Elite line).
 
There's a sub-forum here for SOG, under "Manufacturers". It may help you out.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=729

SOG uses alot of AUS-8 as blade steels. It's not a prima donna steel but they're heat treat on it is quite good.

If possible, try and handle what you like before you buy. Most of all, get what you are happy with.

Gibby

PS: Personally, I think the Mino Paper Stingray will have quite good collector value. Also, the Vulcan series seems to have many satisfied customers.
 
I own several SOG folders and I have no negative feelings about these knives at all based on my experiences with them. They are all in my rotation and a Spec-Elite is usually out for a big folder. A friend has put his through all knids of uses while big game hunting and though it shows the wear it has performed well for him.
 
the pentagon and spec elite series are made with seki japan vg10

i carry my spec elite 1 often, the elite series is very underrated
 
I think I may go for the spec elite, since I don't have a folder that size in my collection. That is probably as big a folder as I would want, even though I know there are some other biggies. I decided if were to get the stingray, it would be the carbon fiber inlay, or the blue one (not sure what material), rather then the mino paper. But I will probably pass on that one, since there are so many "gentleman's" folders to choose from.
 
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