What significant difference between Seal Pup and Seal Pup Elite (both AUS-8/Taiwan)?

[Inazone]

I bought a new Seal Pup a couple years back, and a used Seal Pup Elite here on the Exchange a couple weeks ago. I was under the impression that the Elite was a little larger/longer, but it doesn't seem to be. Other than the jimping on the Elite's spine, different blade coating and different sheaths, is there anything else of importance to distinguish one from the other? The only reason I ask is because, from time to time, I see the "regular" version described as junk or otherwise inferior, and am curious is if there is some history if it being sub-par.

 

[GIRLYmann]

http://www.sogknives.com/blog/comparioson-with-seal-pup-versions.html

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/526461-Seal-Pup-vs-Seal-Pup-Elite

 

[Inazone]

Thanks. I found my explanation in that old thread here:

In order to meet increasing demand for the SEAL Pup knife we have started dual sourcing that model from both Japan and Taiwan. Both versions of the knife have the same lifetime warranty and are produced to the highest standards of SOG and the elite Special Forces community. Actually the secondary sourced SEAL Pup is very similar to a SEAL Pup Elite with out the spine rasp. It has the revised handle, thicker steel stock, and AUS-8 stainless steel. This explains the differences between the version I took pictures of and the version you have. To this date there has been a limited number of those produced.

 

[ostanley99]

I thought the standard version was only available in AUS 6. I was wondering though why the box mine came in said AUS 8 though. Here's a pic of it because I'm wondering if it's really the AUS 8 model:

 

[KenHash]

Yes that's a Taiwan made SP in Aus8.
The original Seal Pups were made in Aus6 by Kinryu of Seki Japan, and they ended in 2006/2007.