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what is so good ablut knifes from seki japan?
- Thread starter sogflash
- Start date
wildmanh
Part time Leather Bender/Sheath maker
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2000
- Messages
- 7,764
SOG knows how to heat treat AUS6 and AUS8 really well so the knives they make from those are considered really good. SOG's AUS6 in sum circles is as if not more highly regarded then Buck and their 420HC. IMO if a SOG knife with AUS6 steel has the right edge angle and courseness or fineness (depending on application) it holds that edge quite well. My Mini Pentagon is one mean slicer that holds it's edge as well as some other companies AUS8 (IMO).
As for Seki Japan vs Taiwan, I have no clue. I have Camping/tactical gear from the USA and Taiwan and Korea and some of the over seas stuff is better then my domestic stuff. And the reverse is also true. I know that China can produce good knives, and hate to see production move from one place to another especially when it's USA or Japan to China but if the quality is still there, I don't complain so loudly.
As an example, I have a 1st gen (one of the first ever made) SOG Seal Revolver with Kydex sheath from the summer of 2003. I also have a China made Hunter Revolver from last spring. The molded handle is a lot better on the new knife then the old one. I've only used my hunter Revolvers knife blade in the kitchen but so far it seems to be holding up as well as the Seal. The saw cuts dang good, if not better then the old saw. That could be because the Seal has seen 9 years of use and the Hunter only 1. The old sheaths IMO were pretty good, could use some mods but they work and work well. The new sheaths are functional at best. Great for storing the knife in your knife case/drawer or tackle box but not great for wearing. I hope to use the Hunter Revolver a ton this Spring summer and fall. After I feel it's gotten a good enough work out I'll post my thoughts in it's own thread.
A good thing about the Revolver knives moving to china and getting a new sheath is that the price went down. I can't remember exactly what they sold for, I think around $100. Now they are going for less then $50. I got mine on sale for $30 shipped last year. Paid $75 + shipping for the Seal on sale in 2003. Big difference there. And so far with limited use, I can't tell a difference in edge holding performance. Nicer handle for sure!! For me if production moves to China the price must go down. In the Revolvers case they did. If another good sale pops up from one of my favorite deals with free shipping I may just get another Seal Revolver.
If production moves from Japan to Taiwan and the price doesn't drop, I'm not as concerned because again I trust Taiwan a lot. If if production moves to another country and the price goes up I get upset or if it move to china and sthe price stays the same. Though sometimes a move doesn't mean lower cunsumer prices because sometimes the material cost went up forcing the move if the company still wanted to make some money and not raise the price. For the most part for me, move to china means lower cost. Hope that wasn't to off topic.
Honestly I wish SOG would go back to their roots making a small assortment of interesting and unique knives. But thats for another thread.
Heber
As for Seki Japan vs Taiwan, I have no clue. I have Camping/tactical gear from the USA and Taiwan and Korea and some of the over seas stuff is better then my domestic stuff. And the reverse is also true. I know that China can produce good knives, and hate to see production move from one place to another especially when it's USA or Japan to China but if the quality is still there, I don't complain so loudly.
As an example, I have a 1st gen (one of the first ever made) SOG Seal Revolver with Kydex sheath from the summer of 2003. I also have a China made Hunter Revolver from last spring. The molded handle is a lot better on the new knife then the old one. I've only used my hunter Revolvers knife blade in the kitchen but so far it seems to be holding up as well as the Seal. The saw cuts dang good, if not better then the old saw. That could be because the Seal has seen 9 years of use and the Hunter only 1. The old sheaths IMO were pretty good, could use some mods but they work and work well. The new sheaths are functional at best. Great for storing the knife in your knife case/drawer or tackle box but not great for wearing. I hope to use the Hunter Revolver a ton this Spring summer and fall. After I feel it's gotten a good enough work out I'll post my thoughts in it's own thread.
A good thing about the Revolver knives moving to china and getting a new sheath is that the price went down. I can't remember exactly what they sold for, I think around $100. Now they are going for less then $50. I got mine on sale for $30 shipped last year. Paid $75 + shipping for the Seal on sale in 2003. Big difference there. And so far with limited use, I can't tell a difference in edge holding performance. Nicer handle for sure!! For me if production moves to China the price must go down. In the Revolvers case they did. If another good sale pops up from one of my favorite deals with free shipping I may just get another Seal Revolver.
If production moves from Japan to Taiwan and the price doesn't drop, I'm not as concerned because again I trust Taiwan a lot. If if production moves to another country and the price goes up I get upset or if it move to china and sthe price stays the same. Though sometimes a move doesn't mean lower cunsumer prices because sometimes the material cost went up forcing the move if the company still wanted to make some money and not raise the price. For the most part for me, move to china means lower cost. Hope that wasn't to off topic.
Honestly I wish SOG would go back to their roots making a small assortment of interesting and unique knives. But thats for another thread.
Heber
For me, although technically on paper, the knives from Seki and Taiwan aren't much different, the styling of the knives from Seki appeals more. For folders from SOG, I have several from Seki, a couple China ones, and have handled a few "assembled in the USA." The Seki ones are by far (IMO) better quality than the rest. In fact, despite my bit of ranting about SOG's 2012 knives, I just received a new Pendulum today (made in Seki), and I love it. Also, the only folders SOG makes in VG10 are made in Seki. Anyway, this is all my opinion, for what it's worth!
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2003
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- 4,807
Are any of the knives with the seal label made in america or Japan anymore? There are now so many versions of the seal in different steels made in different countries I can't keep track.
I know when they were new I almost bought one I think they were AUS? Instead I bought the recondo, but I wish I had gotten the seal instead.
I know when they were new I almost bought one I think they were AUS? Instead I bought the recondo, but I wish I had gotten the seal instead.
- Joined
- May 25, 2005
- Messages
- 560
I have had two Seki Cut knoves, they are extremly sharp from the maker and they stay that way.
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2003
- Messages
- 20,205
I own several SOG knives, mostly purchased some years ago, and have been happy with them. But I didn't know SOG "made" knives any more than Cold Steel "makes" knives.
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2011
- Messages
- 516
What's a Seki discussion without VG-10? SOG uses it in a few knives like the Visionary and the Pentagon Elite. Great stuff.
I forgot the name but i have the "government issue" powder coated seki sog that was actually navy devgru issue. i got it in 2002ish and it looks like its been through a few battles but in the last 10 yrs its consistently been the go to knife for anything and everything. for I've broken small pry bars and then used it to pry open doors even a car door once which did brake the tip. I've skinned/cleaned w it and i sharpen it maybe 3 times a yr. i think sog has really screwed up but back in the day they had it together.