Pat’s Product Review: SOG Knives – SEAL Knife 2000 & SEAL Pup
SOG Knives makes some of the best cutlery around, bar none! I’ve been using their knives for many years, and have never been let down by any of ’em, including their multi-tools. My youngest daughter, who is a Combat Medic in the US Army, carries a SOG folding knife everyday – that says a lot! I’ve had several SurvivalBlog readers write and ask me to do a review on the SOG Seal Team and SOG SEAL Pup
The SOG SEAL Knife 2000 has been discontinued, and was replaced by the SEAL Team Knife, it’s basically the same knife, with a few exceptions, one being that the blade shape is slightly different. I don’t have the new SEAL Team Knife on-hand, so I can only report on the older model, the SEAL Knife 2000.
Now, there has been several “official” SEAL knives made over the years, by a number of different companies and custom knife makers. However, if memory serves me correctly, SOG was the first commercial knife company to be awarded a contract for an “official” SEAL knife. Bids went out, with specifications for a fixed blade knife for the US Navy SEALs. Some of the requirements were: tip breaking stress, blade breaking limit, sharpness, edge retention, hand twist off force, two week salt water immersion tests, gasoline and acetylene torch resistance, chopping, hammering, prying, penetration tests, cutting six different types of rope and line, plus an intense hands-on competition in the field. SOG Knives won the competition against all comers, including some custom make knives.
Anyone who is even slightly familiar with the US Navy SEALs know these guys are the best-of-the-best in Spec Ops. Their training is extremely difficult and demanding, very few candidates make it through the first two weeks of training, to be sure. The SEALs also demand the very best in everything, including weapons and equipment. These guys can be out on a recon or patrol for weeks at a time, with very little in the way of support, so they demand weapons and equipment that won’t fail, period.
The SOG SEAL Knife 2000 has a 7″ blade made out of AUS 8 stainless steel – one of my favorites. The knife is 10.3 oz, making it light enough for close combat and heavy enough for many everyday tasks and chores. The handle material is some type of black synthetic called GRN, and it’s super-tough to be sure. The knife comes with a black Nylon sheath, however an optional Kydex sheath is available as well. The handle material has finger grooves on the bottom for a sure grip under all sorts of conditions. Normally, I don’t like this feature, as the grooves always seem to be in the wrong place for my fingers, on the SOG SEAL knife, the grooves are in the proper place. There is also a lanyard hole on the butt of the handle, which is a must-have feature when working in and around water – where the SEALs operate. The blade has a soft powder coating on it for a non-reflective look, again, something that is necessary when working in the dark.
I’ve had my sample SEAL Knife 2000 for several years now, and I’ve put it through all manner of tests around my meager homestead. I’ve used the knife for cutting chores, as well as digging – which is was not really designed for. The blade holds an edge a good long time, even when subjected to digging. The knife is fast in the hand, which makes it a good choice for close quarters combat work.
Needless to say, I couldn’t possibly duplicate all the tests the SEALs subjected the knife to during their testing. However, over many years, I’ve given my sample a good work out, and it has held-up to everything I’ve thrown at it. About the only “damage” to the knife has been scratching the powder coating on the blade – no big deal!
The late Col. Rex Applegate, who employed me for about three years told me that during WWII, the OSS did a lot of research into what makes a good combat knife. One of the requirements was that the knife had to have a blade of at least 6″ in length, in order to stab through heavy clothing and reach vital organs. The full size SEAL knife easily meets that requirement with it’s 7″ blade.
The blade is also partially serrated on the SEAL knife, and that’s a good feature if you have to cut a lot of rope or poly cord, as the serrations really rip through even slick and wet rope or poly cord. The blade holds an edge a good long time, and one of the things I like about AUS 8 stainless steel is that, it’s easy to re-sharpen. What’s not to like here?
The new SEAL Team Knife is just now coming on the market, and it retails for $160.50 and that’s a good price for a knife this tough. [JWR Adds: And it is already available at discounted price under $100, through Amazon.com and a few online knife dealers.] If it’s good enough for the US Navy SEALs, then it’s good enough for anything you or I can throw at it.
Now, this may come as a surprise to you – I know it did to me. I was told by SOGs marketing guy, Chris Cashbaugh, that the SOG SEAL Pup fixed blade knife is actually more popular with the US Navy SEALs than the full-sized knife is. It is also a better seller to civilians than the full-sized knife, as well. As I’m sure you know, a knife is used as a tool more than it is used as a weapon, and the smaller SEAL Pup seems to fill the bill nicely.
With a 4.75″ blade made out of AUS 6 stainless steel, it’s about the right size for most everyday chores that the SEALs or anyone else can throw at it. While I would prefer to see the SEAL Pup make out of slightly tougher AUS 8 stainless steel, the AUS 6 seems to hold up very well, in my tests.
The handle, like it’s big brother, is made out of black GRN synthetic and has finger grooves as well as a lanyard hole. The blade is powder coated, giving it a non-reflective finish. A Nylon sheath comes with the SEAL Pup, and you can also get the optional Kydex sheath if you want for a few bucks more. The knife weighs in at 5.4 oz and the blade is partially serrated. Retail is $98.50, again a good buy in my book.
I’ve also has my SEAL Pup sample for quite a few years, and to be honest, I’ve used it more than the it’s big brother – go figure? Actually, for many everyday tasks and chores, the smaller SEAL Pup just works better than the bigger knife does. The bigger knife is, without a doubt, better for close combat, chopping and slashing applications. But the smaller “Pup” makes easier work of everyday chores.
I honestly wish I could report something negative about either the SEAL Knife 2000 or the SEAL Pup knife, but there’s nothing wrong with either of these knives. SOG makes some very fine knives and tools.
Some folks I know are totally turned-off when they see “Made in Taiwan” on the blade of any knife. Look, manufacturers can contract for whatever quality they want, from Taiwan. If you want a crummy $5 knife, they will make one for you, and you’ll have a piece of junk. If you want some of the best knives around, and I consider the full-sized SEAL knife and the Pup, as some of the best, then that’s what the factories in Taiwan will produce for you. I have no problem with any knife being made any place in the world, and I can care less what’s marked on the blade, so long as the knife is of good quality. Sure, I like to see “Made in the USA” marked any products just as much as the other guy does. However, I believe if either of these knives were produced in the USA, the cost would probably be at least a third more to double the retail asking price. Again, what is stamped on the blade as to where the knife is made is not crucial. SOG simply doesn’t make and sell junk!
So, if you’re in the market for a knife that won’t let you down, then take a close look at the SOG SEAL and Pup fixed blade knives. You could do a lot worse, but I don’t know if you’d do a lot better, just by spending more of your hard-earned dollars. If these knives are good enough for the US Navy SEALs, then they are good enough for me (and you). – Pat Cascio, SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor