SOG SEAL TEAM ELITE vs SOG SEAL 2000 review.

ashtxsniper

ashtxsniper

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Oct 28, 2006
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I have just recently acquired the SOG SEAL TEAM ELITE and thought maybe you guys would like a comparison of it next to a SOG SEAL 2000. When I first received the knife in the mail I was slightly disappointed but I figured I would give it time to grow on me. 20 minutes later was all it took. I really like this knife.

Changes made to create the SOG SEAL TEAM ELITE from the SOG SEAL 2000

1. Hollow saber grind instead of flat saber grind of the seal 2000. - Pro's - It re-profiles way easier than the Seal 2000 and slices way better due to the new grind. Con's - It makes the blade weaker than the Seal 2000 as much more steel was removed with this grind.

2. AUS8 steel instead of AUS6 steel. - Pro's - the Seal Team Elite seems to acquire and hold a much better edge than a Seal 2000. Con's - I am willing to bet that the AUS8 is not as corrosion resistant as the AUS6

3. Black TiNi blade coating - Pro's - It looks cool and it doesn't create as much drag as the grey coating. Con's - It is not as durable as the grey coating on the Seal 2000.

4. Made in Taiwan instead of Japan. - Pro's - none I hate to support this country. Con's - supporting countries other than our own.

5. Handle is shorter with exposed tang. - Handle is made of the same zytel as the Seal 2000 but is has a smaller diameter is more oval shaped unlike the more square handled Seal 2000. It has deeper finger grooves and much more aggressive finger grooves. Pro's - It fits the hand way better and is much less likely to slip out of your hand than the seal 2000. The exposed tang also comes in handy for hammering. Con's - The handle is about 1/4" shorter than the seal 2000's but is doesn't make much of a difference.

6. Blade shape has been changes. - The blade has more belly than the Seal 2000's and its new design makes it a much better slicer. The blade is not as wide where it enters the handle as the Seal 2000's. Pro's - The blade is lighter and and also allows you to use the unsharpened par of the blade as a finger choil. The new design takes the Seal Team Elite to a whole new level of slicing capability. Con's - The blade of the Seal Team elite and the knife as a whole is not as strong of a design as the Seal 2000 and will most likely fail before the Seal 2000 would.

7. Spine Rasp - The Seal Team Elite has spine what is called a spine rasp on the back. The only good thing is when you are choking up on the blade the rasp give the thumb much better grip. Other than that they are basically useless.

8. Longer cutting surface - The Seal Team Elite has about 1/2" longer cutting surface but it also has about 1/2" more serrations on the blade so the PE part of the blade is the same as before but the SE part is 1/2" longer.

9. Sheath - The sheath is made very well and looks like it will take a lot of abuse. The only downside is I know the velcro retention strap will not last as long as the old style snap retention strap.

Final Thoughts - If you are looking for a diving knife or a hard abuse military knife the SOG SEAL 2000 is the better choice for you. If you are going to be using this knife for field/survival work the SEAL TEAM ELITE is way better.
The Seal Team Elite is much noticeably lighter and is way more comfortable in the hand. I have been torn on which knife I like better. As hours pass I am liking the Seal Team Elite better and better than the Seal 2000. I hope this helps some of you. I will continue this later hopefully with more info and pictures stay tuned.

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Nice review. I like the way you listed all the pros and cons for each point. Thanks for your feedback.
 
I'm still hoping that a version without serrations and the rasps will be brought out.
 
You might want to check out the Mission MPK. I do believe this knife was just adopted by the Navy Seals and in fact it blew away a SOG during a knife competition.
Lycosa
 
Lycosa said:
You might want to check out the Mission MPK. I do believe this knife was just adopted by the Navy Seals and in fact it blew away a SOG during a knife competition.
Lycosa
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The Mission MPK is a good knife but it also costs considerably more than the SOG. Besides, the Seal Team Elite looks cooler :p I'm in love with the design
 
"...the Seal Team Elite looks cooler...." - johnu2
So true!
Chris@SOG, shouldn't there be a sharpened and fully functional "false edge" placed on the SOG SEAL TEAM ELITE to make it Combat elite ready?
 
Nice review! I had just recived my seal team elite yesterday ,all I can say is wow!!!
the grip and balance when you maneuver this knife is just something you have to feel for your self to realy appreciate the improvements sog has made.
the blade design with more cutting surface(very nice), and the rasp does not have all that much drag to it ,its made for notching I like it, it works! I have two seal pup elite's
one satin finish the rasp is pretty sharp,and one with blk tini coating the rasp is not as sharp.(maybe cuz of the coating) but still the seal team elite rasp is a bit different I think it fits the knife well .I'm sure some people won't like it because of the rasp,All I can
say to them is find a place that has one and put it in your hand. I think it's a worthy knife.
 
Thanks for the review. I have a SEAL 2000 that I really like. Sounds like I also need to get the Elite.
 
exidor said:
Nice review! I had just recived my seal team elite yesterday ,all I can say is wow!!!
the grip and balance when you maneuver this knife is just something you have to feel for your self to realy appreciate the improvements sog has made.
the blade design with more cutting surface(very nice), and the rasp does not have all that much drag to it ,its made for notching I like it, it works! I have two seal pup elite's
one satin finish the rasp is pretty sharp,and one with blk tini coating the rasp is not as sharp.(maybe cuz of the coating) but still the seal team elite rasp is a bit different I think it fits the knife well .I'm sure some people won't like it because of the rasp,All I can
say to them is find a place that has one and put it in your hand. I think it's a worthy knife.
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Yeah I would have to agree it looks Ok when you read about it or look at the pictures but when you hold it in your hand is when it snags you and make you buy it. It a really good feeling knife in the hand. I hope Sog will do the same thing to the Tigershark next year. If they do I will be in for 4 of them.
 
Thanks for the review. I was interested in getting one, but it has to be either "USA" or "Japan" for me.
 
Another vote for a version of the Elite without serrations and no rasp. It never fails that when a production company comes out with a new model it comes up short for me and then becomes a compromise. I like everthing else but do not want serrations, etc.

Seems simple enough, one version with serrations, one without. Gerber should do this with the LMF II and SOG with the SEAL Elite. Oh well, I guess that is why we are forced to go elsewhere.

Bravo to SOG with what they did with the PUP Elite series. Many more options - thats good! Again, the one version I would like to have they don't make but could. No serrations, no rasp, but have the gray coated blade like the original SEAL 2000.
 
would that comparison also be valid for the old seki Tech 1 w 6 " blade vs new seal tech?
 
ashtxsniper said:
I agree thats why you need a Tigershark and a Tigershark elite.
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For sure! If I ever find a good tigershark for a nice price I will surely pick it up. I personally don't care for the Tigershark 2nd editions though, I really dislike that guard and you can put on and take off, it just seems cheap. I don't know from experience though, maybe that isn't the case.
 
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