To use or not to use: Sog Trident II

[guitardemon]

So I picked up a Sog Trident a few months back and ive been afraide to use it. What is the durrability like on these guys? Has anybody had a tip break? Its such a nice looking knife I would hate to break it.

 

[Vaako]

Depends on what you're planning on doing with (or to) your Trident. SOGs are made out of quality steel and are well tempered. But any knife can be broken through abuse.

IIRC, the original SOG S1 (the Trident is the stainless steel version of it) was designed for the US Special Forces in Vietnam as a fighter/ sentry killer, hence the long and wicked point. If you're planning on digging gravel with it, chipping through concrete blocks, or slamming the point through car doors (probably the best example of "duhhh" knife abuse), I can guarrantee you'll eventually succeed in breaking it or completely ruining the edge.

Btw. A lot of normal usage will also scratch or smear the Trident's beautiful stainless finish. You're going to have to ask yourself if you are going to freak out when the inevitable scratches start appearing, too. They might even happen through "sheath wear", even if you never use the knife once.

This is why some eBay sellers are so careful to say "has never been stored in the sheath".

 

[Grime]

What do you want to use it for?

Personally, if I had one, Id only use it for combat, and practice with it.. get a feel for it - as its a combat knife after all... Or if you’re out in the wild, maybe use it to fend off a savage wolf.. you know..

For garden work or whatever, Id use something like a CS bushman... Because they’re so cheap and you dont feel bad if you scratch it up... I have one for just that reason…

 

[Ron Andersen]

So I picked up a Sog Trident a few months back and ive been afraide to use it. What is the durrability like on these guys? Has anybody had a tip break? Its such a nice looking knife I would hate to break it.

If you want it as a "collector's knife," don't use it.

The "Trident II" is very similar to the older Trident model in materials and construction. Though I've never handled, used, or talked with someone who has used the "II," I can comment on the older model.

I can PROMISE you that the knife performs at the highest levels! Having managed SOG's consumer services & warranty department for 6 years, I can tell you that I've never seen a broken tip/blade that was not attributed to a factory defect (and I only remember a couple of those). I've seen dozens and dozen of Tridents returned to SOG for sharpening/refurbishing which had seen serious field use! Besides typical scuffs and scraps (which gives a knife "character"), every one of them showed no problems due to harsh use.

The knife ROCKS as a "user." My only recommendation is to be cautious of the handle...it can be slippery when using the knife aggressively and/or under adverse conditions. The use of grippy gloves will completely eliminate this concern.

Unless manufacturing quality of the Trident II differs (which I doubt to any noticeable measure), its results should mirror my comments.

 

[SIRGALANT]

the way i see it ; i have the original trident bowie and i have the trident bowie 2 (s2b) i`d carve up my s2b before destroying a classic such as my s2 (i`d never use my s2)

 

[vjb.knife]

Although it's design is not really well suited to any average daily task, besides knife fighting I don't see any reason to not use one of the newer Taiwan models. As said earliler I would not use an older Seki made version (which I recently bought another of) because I think they will have some degree of collectibility. The newer Taiwan models are not that expensive so go out and test it. I would be interested in how well it hold up to some rigorous tasks, so if you do use it hard let us know how it does.

Vince

 

[Karl5]

So I picked up a Sog Trident a few months back and ive been afraide to use it. What is the durrability like on these guys? Has anybody had a tip break? Its such a nice looking knife I would hate to break it.

Sounds to me like you bought it to use it rather than collect it.
So my vote is - Use it!!!!

/ Karl

 

[SIRGALANT]

Although it's design is not really well suited to any average daily task, besides knife fighting I don't see any reason to not use one of the newer Taiwan models. As said earliler I would not use an older Seki made version (which I recently bought another of) because I think they will have some degree of collectibility. The newer Taiwan models are not that expensive so go out and test it. I would be interested in how well it hold up to some rigorous tasks, so if you do use it hard let us know how it does.

Vince

my view exactly