The real SOG's

[K man]

Hi all!
I recently became intrested in the Vietnam era SOG knives made for Special Forces. Not the "SOG Specialty Knives" made today, but the 6 inch and 7 inch gun blued Bowie blades and stacked leather handles used by Special Forces in Cambodia and other top secret missions during the Vietnam war.
I am looking for all the information that I can find, but good info is few and far between. The best article I have read is in the August addition of Blade Magazine. It said that these knives were designed by Ben Baker and ordered by CISO through various suppliers. One of the only know makers of these SOG knives was Japan Sword Co. Because many were sterile, it is hard to say who else made them.
Does anyone have any good info on the SOG's? Are there any collectors out there? Does this look like a real SOG:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=714296683

Thanks!

 

[Bobby B]

Hard to tell, but the sheath looks almost exactly like my SOG Specialty Knives Bowie sheath. Even to where the logo sits on the sheath and blade...

If you do a search in the SOG forum, there was an article that Ron linked to regarding these knives.

Hope this helps!
Rob

 

[HotSwat]

Wow, now that's a bowie. Awesome pic. SOG is where it's at. I rarly have more than a hundred to spend on a knife but if did, OOOHHHWWWEEE one of these vietnam era SOGs would high on my list

 

[K man]

Yup, the knife on Ebay is not an authentic Vietnam era SOG.
Does ron know anything about the history of the SOG ("Studies and Observations Group"- a branch of the Special Forces) because as far as I know, SOG Specialty Knives has nothing to do with the Original knives made for the SOG's.
Authentic Vietnam era SOG knives run from $2,000-$4,000 depending on condition.

 

[Bobby B]

The SOG Specialty Knives' Bowie is a very authentic reproduction of the original Bowies. It is made of SK-5 carbon steel, and patterned after the originals. I am told that Spencer Frazier (Mr. SOG Specialty Knives) has or had access to an original or two... The main visual difference I can see is the shallower finger grooves. They are an AWESOME knife, and certainly less expensive and easier to come by! Drop by the SOG forum, and take a look at the other 2 in the series.
Drop Ron@SOG a line, and he can fill you in on more info.
Rob

 

[frank k]

check this out:
http://www.beckscutlery.com/CISO-SF-SOG.htm

 

[Melvin-Purvis]

And this without looking at 'any' of the pictures; mind you, 'any' of the pictures...

I recently had a great conversation with Randall dealer extrordinare, Mr. Tom Clinton, about spotting 'fake' or counterfeit RMK's...

Now, Tom has been around the block a few times, a published author, and a collector of SOG style knives...Tom told me a story of an advanced collectors that had just purchased 11 'old' original SOG knives for $10,000...

Of these 11, in Tom's opinion, only 1 was a legitimate SOG knife!

As it's been said here before, this style of knife is one of, if not the most often, copied and counterfeited of the 'rare' knives around.

I would humbly suggest that any potential buyer get the knife in question properly authenticated prior to purchase; or.....'Caveat Emptor'...

Mel

 

[Ron Andersen]

Here's a link to the article Rob referenced above. It is a historical piece written by Ben Baker (the designer of the 6" & 7" Vietnam SOG bowies) to clear up misconceptions and fables about these knives. Please email me if you have any question I can answer; but when it comes to the Vietnam originals, there are others who would be better sources.

The eBay knife linked does appear to be ours (though it is hard to tell from the pictures).

 

[theoldawg]

K Man - You may want to check out two books by John Plaster, Major, USAR (Ret.), U.S. Army Special Forces:

SOG - A Photo History so the Secret Wars - Paladin Press Hardback -
Coffee table size & expensive;

SOG - The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam - Hardback & paperback editions available.

Great background on SOG operations - "SOG'S Preferred Combat Knives"
covered on pages 162 & 163 of the Photo History book.

Both are well worth the read if you are interested in covert operations.

You might also want to check out a copy of Mike Silvey's book, "Knives of the United States Military in Vietnam".

John

 

[Bobby B]

Attaching a better picture than the one I just threw in to illustrate a point... (pardon the pun! )

Click for full size pic

 

[bruce]

If I were going back into the field again, I'd rather take one of the newer SOG Specialty Knives bowies than a Vietnam era SOG knife. I think they are better made with better materials.

Bruce Woodbury

 

[FEATHERSTONE]

Whats the edge holding ability on the SOG,it doesnt look like a chopper but what about cutting,just curious,do they have a thick edge or a nice acute edge.

 

[TheSkinwalkeR]

I was herculining the bed of my new truck this weekend. (For those unfamiliar it is a polyurethane coating with rubber particals that is much like the popular rhino-lining for trucks and off-road vehicles) Amongst my tools I brought my SOG SEAL-PUP to help scrape off excess and cut the finer details of the masking. When I finally was prepared to apply the coating I couldnt get the dern can open. I tried the paint can opener and a huge blade screwdriver to pry it open but the polyurethane had fused the lid on tight. In my frustration, my determination to get the thing open, I snatched up my Seal-pup and drove it tip first into the seperation of the lid and can. Then I took the large blade screwdiver and used the handle to hammer the knife into the can. Finally I was in, but not to a point I could fit my brush and rollers in or stir the thick globby substance. So I jammed the pup in and pryed twisted and cut the lid into some pretty nasty shards of twisted metal. Now, I dont usually do this with knives but I got this knife for a great deal and designated it as my "beater" so I had no qualms. I by no means cut the entire lid off but I did decimate it to the point I could rip it off with pliers. End of story and to make my point, the knife was still cutting great for the rest of the chore, none of the edge had rolled and it is as good as new, save for some scratches in the coating and a little herculiner on the spine after some passes with the Sharpmaker. That SEAL pup is AUS-6, a steel that gets a bad rap on these boards for poor edge holding....I think I witnesses first hand that if it is done right it is a fine cutlery steel. My SK-5 Recon Bowie I have yet to sharpen but it out-cuts all my other fixed blades save for the BG-42 field knife.....and yes, I have other knives than SOG.


The history of the SOG operations in Vietnam have always facinated me ever since I was watching Apocolypse Now and I heard the line "Are you Capt. Willard assigned to SOG?" Maybe not a true or even accurate story but it got me interested.

 

[K man]

TheSkinwalkeR- I also became interested in the SOGs because I love Vietnam war movies. Apocolypse Now, Platoon, Deer Hunter, ect.
I traded for a seal pup because I loved the great bowie blade shape. I have not had a chance to use it hard yet, but my fixed blades usually see the hardest use out of all my knives.