SOG Seal Knife 2000

G

Gator

Joined
Jun 19, 1999
Messages
80
Anybody checked this baby out? Looks to be a pretty sweet knife, if SOG has again lived up to their reputation as a quality cutlery manufacturer. Here's some info from www.knifecenter.com

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"SEAL KNIFE 2000" ( SOG-37 )

The knife evaluation program used to determine the validate of this knife to be the official knife of the Navy SEALs included the following tests: Tip breaking strength, blade breaking toughness, sharpness and edge retention, handle twist off limits, two week salt water immersion tests, gasoline and acetylene torch resistance, chopping, hammering, prying, penetration, cutting of 6 different types of rope and nylon line, low noise and reflectivity evaluation, plus an intense hands on competition in the field.
The SOG SEAL Knife-2000 is perhaps the most anxiously awaited and dramatically new fixed blade to come along in years, and it's now available for the civilian market without any changes. You can be assured on this amazing knife that the SEALS have done their homework...so you don't have to.

THE SEAL TEAM 2000 FEATURES:

A) 440A STAINLESS STEEL 7" GRAY POWDER COATED BLADE, 1 1/2" OF SERRATIONS ON BACK PART ON BOTTOM OF BLADE, Rockwell 57-58 degrees.
B) 12 1/4" OVERALL LENGTH AND WEIGHS 12.7 OUNCES WITH POLYMER HANDLE.
C)Now With KYDEX® SHEATH

SOG 37 SEAL Knife with Kydex Sheath

Retail $184.00__________ Your Price $123.95

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Hmm . . . looks great. Here are my two major questions:

1)Is 440A really the right steel choice for this knife. while I am not exactly sure on it's qualities, there seem to be many other knife and tool steels with excellent properties, and all have their strong points. Any reason this steel is head-and-shoulders above the rest?

2)Rockwell 57-58 is plenty hard. The question here is: even if I'm only a weekend warrior, will the serrations on the blade cause a great reduction in blade strength?

Some other points I'm pondering--is the blade thick and wide enough? I can't tell from the picture--I haven't found the information yet. SOG's website is, well, "Under Construction." It was last updated September 9. There isn't anything there. If anyone can point me to a website or review, I'd appreciate it.

Other than that, I'll take your general reflections and opinions. Thought they're really two very different knives, I'm considering pre-empting a Fallkniven A1
(or S-1) purchase for this knife. Suprisingly, price is comprable.

As usual, I expect you all to be one step ahead of me on this. You usually are.

Thanks,
Gator


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Knives--you love 'em, you hate 'em. Depends which end you're on.
 
My experiance with a SEAL 2K have been great. I gave one to my brother for a b-day gift last Oct. He loves it. Cleaned his deer with it (though I wouldn't recommend it!), fixes snares and traps with it, carries it everywhere (except at school-he is a junior in h.s.)
He loves it.
440A is a decent steel, good rust resistance, IMO. Not as good as others, but good enough. SOG's heat treat seems well done. It is a big knife, heavier than my ATAK and does a decent job chopping. The grip is rough on the hand, but I actually like it. No guard for the fingers so watch out! My brother has already had a "oww, I slipped" accident.
Overall, for the price, excellent blade. You can find them for under a hundred new if you know where to look. Try Discount Knives or International knife directory for retailors...
Horse
 
This was the first fixed blade I bought. And sold a long time ago.

It is a very sturdy knife, attractive shape, excellent grind job. 440A is the right choice, as this is a knife designed to be used in a salt water environment. But edgeholding is pretty lousy. I think this is a knife specifically designed for maritime military use, as there are better choices out there for dry land type environments.

Unfortunatly SOG likes to used 440A on some of their dry land use knives as well. They really should use something else, like A2.



[This message has been edited by tallwingedgoat (edited 13 December 1999).]
 
I've only handled a 2000, but I have the smaller version of the Seal Knife 2000, the Seal Pup. Not my most expensive, or technologically advanced, or prettiest. But it is one of my favorites and has been a darn reliable companion since it I got it a few years ago. I have neglected the hell out of it, and have never had problems with rust (even after usage in saltwater). Hold's an relatively well for a stainless steel (better than most 440a IMO - thank the SEKI heat treatment). 440a is a good choice if you don't want to worry much about corrosion. Other than that, I think most other commonly used cutlery steels (e.g., ATS-34, 440C, Carbon V) generally hold an edge better. Take a look at the steel FAQ here in the forums. In regards to the serration (at least on the sealpup), it does not appear to compromise the blade strength at all. The Sealpup is smaller, however, so it might be a little different on the 2000. I haven't found the serrations particularly uselful (at times even annoying because of the shorter blade). Blade thickness on the 2000 seems fair, and the knife is heavier than it looks when you handle it (maybe due to it being "blade-heavy"). If the Sealpup is any indication, the 2000 should be one of the most maintenance free knives you will ever see (partially due to the teflon coating), easy to sharpen, and darn reliable. The only thing I don't particularly care for is the handle. It's light, and for lack of a better explanation, it feels cheap and starts hurting the hand if you chop for a little while. The material isn't bad, I just don't like the feel. Also, the kydex sheath (at least for the sealpup) seems a little too tight. When comparing it to the A1, I'd have to say the S1/A1's handle and overall "feel" is better. VG-10 should hold a significantly better edge, with 440a having better rust resistance (I think - I haven't had too much experience with VG-10, though it seems like ATS-34 but holds an edge better and is much more rust resistant). Both the 2000 and A1 or S1 (more the Sealpup's size I think) are very good, close to maintenance free knives. Neither lines need much babying, if at all, when you are out in the woods or where ever. However, I'd give the nod more to Fallkniven (once they get kydex sheaths), because of the better feel and better steel. If you need usage on the water for long periods of time, the SOG seal line will probably be a little better at resisting corrosion. Sorry for being so long winded. I have the tendancy to explain too much on "paper"

Felix
 
I have owned one for 2yrs. I love it! I carried this summer while Backpacking in the Smokey Mountains! While it probably gave me a false sense of confidence (We always stay in the most bear populated areas in the Forest) It definitely felt good to have at midnight when you could barely see you're hand in front of you face! It cuts like a charm and works well as a chopper and if needed it makes a great hammer due to its weight! It is a little heavy, but i wouldn't go back without it! My Surefire 9Z and Sog 2000 got me through the night, without losing much sleep.

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Matt
If you are not living on the edge, then you are taking up to much room!
AKTI member# A000233
NKCA member# 33662

 
Gator - I have a SOG Seal 2000 which I like fine, and used once on a camping trip where it did basic (chop, whittle, punch open a can when the lame can-opener broke) chores well. But - and who can't relate to this - the thrill is gone, new knives call . . . I'll part with it for $80 plus shipping, if you're interested just email me. FF
 
I haven't owned one, so I'm not particularly qualified to comment, but looking at the posts above, and from handling one myself, I say, don't buy it. 440A, even with a good heat treat, is still pretty poor compared to many other steels available in the SOG price range, and the handle is terrible. Note that one person above commented on his brother cutting his hand, and everyone said the handle was uncomfortable. For the hundred bucks, you can get lots better knives -- think about just about anything by Cold Steel, for example, and you will be getting a knife with a more comfortable handle and steel that holds an edge better. There's no excuse for a knifemaker making a knife with an uncomfortable, unsafe handle, which is what SOG has done.
 
Does Sog know their is other steels beside 440A? They would have good knives if they found out about the other steels they could use.I would 10 times have aus-8 than 440A.

Ray

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Ray
 
Don't be too impressed on winning the SEAL trial thing. The actual knife that won the SEAL trials was, according to several insiders, made from 440C. This one is 440A.

It's a reasonable knife, though for me the guard is a bit small, and the handle really uncomfortable. For the price, I'd look somewhere else. But depending on what you're doing, it might handle your jobs fine.

Joe
 
I wasn't too impressed with the ones I've messed with, and to tell you the truth, I prefer the CS-SRK, but, like many knives, it will get the job done.

Spark

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
I have to say that I have found the handle quite comfortable for the limited use it's had (see above). I wouldn't want to stab a tree with it, because of the minimal guard, but stabbing softer objects shouldn't be a problem . . . ? The checkering and finger-grooves, along with the fact that the handle is pretty thick, make it fairly secure in the hand, while the rounded edges of the handle lessen "hot-spots." It's not a good a chopper as a kukri, or a Busse Basic, or a CS trailmaster, but it's smaller, lighter, and a much better "fighter." Plus the blade is plenty thick and sturdy for prying. Mine has an ok cordura sheath -- while the kydex sheath is stronger it is also much bulkier. It may not be the best steel, but it is serviceable; much like the contestants who DON'T win Miss USA (who may not be the bestest but they ain't no dogs neither) the SOG is a pretty good piece of work.

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The beatings will continue until morale improves.
 
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