Why is the desert dagger so light?

[corwise]

I bought a desert dagger a few years back, and have always been curious as to why it's so light. Obviously a dagger isn't designed for going out in the woods/survival situation, but I was surprised when I recieved the box in the mail and actually pulled the knife out of the sheath. I'm by no means a knife expert and am curious as the the art/science for making the knife in such a style. Anyone given this knife any hard use? How'd it hold up?

 

[GIRLYmann]

Its light because it has a grip made of kraton and not some metal alloy?
The Desert Dagger is balanced up with a flat rounded edge steel disk pommel, aka "the hammer".
Weight for a dagger should lie in the palm.
I suppose you have already read Col Rex Applegate's manual?

 

[corwise]

Can't say I've read that, I'll have to pick it up. Is it a full tang knife, or is the handle not solid all the way through? Picking it up I just don't get the warm fuzzy that I could stab something with it and expect it not to break. Compared to other SOG knives, the Recon for example, which you can just feel is a solid piece of knifemaking. *shrug* I've never had to stab anything, and just comparing it to other daggers (Gerber Mark I/II for example), just curious if there was a reason. I found one web site where a guy stated that it was for "super martial arts," but he was such a mall ninja I didn't quite trust his opinion.

 

[Chris@SOG]

The Desert Dagger has a full tang that goes all the way through the handle to the end where the butt cap is attached. You really should see no problem stabbing anything with it. I was able to dig up a picture of what the tang would look like. This picture is of the Trident but the DD uses the same design.

In comparison to the Recon Bowie, the steel used in the Recon blade is about 40% thicker, and .75" longer. Also, the Recon has a large sculpted brass cross guard compared to the thin flat stainless one on the Desert Dagger. This would account for much of the weight difference in the two knives.

The two knives were actually made in the same factory and share the same quality construction. If you have any other questions please let me know.

 

[corwise]

Chris, thanks for the words and the pic. I'm not doubting the quality of the knife at all, it's well constructed, everythings tight, no complaints. I guess it's more of a philosiphy question. I've used plenty of knives in the woods, but while I have several daggers, I'm not 100% sure what/why daggers are constructed in the way that they are.