Structural Integrity of SOG Seal Pup Elite Handle?

[Angus McGunnigle]

I think you'd be fine if you get some sand paper, a medium and a fine grit and just round off the top part, make it more comfortable but keep the slight flare like:

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I understood what you were asking in your first post and I think you should go for it. Tale your time, don’t breathe the stuff and round off that top guard a bit. It will probably make this knife you like thta much better for you.

 

[Fixall]

I've done this. I have used a Seal Pup as a bush knife in the past , and although it's not a bushcraft-type knife it did everything I needed it to. I sanded down the hump like the previous poster did. Note it won't lock well into the plastic molded sheath after, if that's what you have. Take a little at a time and sand it smooth. You can't put material back , so test it till you're happy with it.
I use much higher-end bush knives nowadays , but the seal pup is a good knife and can take fairly heavy use.
Never had a problem with the FRN handle.

If I knew then, what I know now (not that I know much), I probably wouldn't spend the money on the Seal Pup again... But I think I could have done a lot worse. It's definitely not a bad knife. I'll be sure to take it slow when I'm sanding it. I actually have the nylon sheath, but I don't like it all that much. It tends to ding the blade when it's inserted and removed too often.

I don't see sanding that upper guard down to be a problem in terms of the integrity of the handle. (But it's your knife and you take the risk.) I'd slip in into a vise and use an electric sander myself and do it slowly. I bought one of the Seal Pup Elites when it first came out thinking the extra steel thickness would make it stronger for woods use. I used it for a couple years and it gradually made its way into my dormant knife pile. Currently, it has come out of that "pile" and I've carried it a couple times in the woods in the last 6 months. This is why I don't sell my older knives. Might use it.....

I have two sheaths for mine (kydex and leather). I always felt that the weak point with that knife design was the plastic handle as it just does not feel good in the hand. But SOG's design parameters (for cost point) pretty much dictated the plastic handle. It works very well overall as far as I'm concerned.

The old Field Pup was really a nice knife for the money and using. SOG claimed it was a pilot survival knife which I can see as a possible application since it is light, strong, and sharp. I own one and have owned a couple as that was one of the first knives that I would pick up and give as gifts to nephews. It was only lacking in the sheath department, but the sheath was certainly usable/serviceable. I'd take it over a typical Mora any day of the week.

If I don't go all the way down to the metal, I think the knife is going to be fine structurally. I'll probably sand it by hand though since I planned on sanding down my Opinel anyways (and I for sure want to do that by hand). How do you like the leather sheath for your Seal Pup? I know I don't like the nylon... And I've heard a few negative things about the Kydex. Seems like leather is the last option, lol.

I freaking love the Field Pup (and so does my fiance)! I really wish I would have picked up another one or two for myself before they switched from AUS8 to 7Cr17Mov... Although I imagine the steel isn't that much of a downgrade depending on SOG's heat treatment.

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I understood what you were asking in your first post and I think you should go for it. Tale your time, don’t breathe the stuff and round off that top guard a bit. It will probably make this knife you like thta much better for you.

I'm definitely gonna go for it this weekend. Picked up sandpaper and a mask earlier today.

 

[22-rimfire]

If I knew then, what I know now (not that I know much), I probably wouldn't spend the money on the Seal Pup again... But I think I could have done a lot worse. It's definitely not a bad knife. I'll be sure to take it slow when I'm sanding it. I actually have the nylon sheath, but I don't like it all that much. It tends to ding the blade when it's inserted and removed too often.

I freaking love the Field Pup (and so does my fiance)! I really wish I would have picked up another one or two for myself before they switched from AUS8 to 7Cr17Mov... Although I imagine the steel isn't that much of a downgrade depending on SOG's heat treatment.

At this point, I wouldn't buy the Seal Pup Elite either, but I've had quite a few knives since (have a lot more to compare basically). When I first joined BF in 2005, I was really into SOG stuff and I like the bowie blade shape. (Have a couple Randall's gotten prior to the SP Elite, but I wasn't going to beat them up like I might the SP Elite. The leather sheath is okay, but I tend to mostly use the kydex as it is sitting in the kydex sheath and I don't look for the leather. I bought it with the kydex and SOG sent me the other sheath. Have quite a few of their knives. I gravitated away from SOG about the time they were moving to Chinese production. With the Seal Pup Elite, frankly, I am willing to spend more on what I think is a better knife. Now, the Field Pup.... have to say I like it as well. In my opinion, it is hard to beat for what it is... sure you could have better steel. But it sharpens easy and feels good in the hand.

Good luck with your project.