I only now learned that sometime in 2017, SOG changed from Taiwan production to China production. I was very surprised as after SOG ended Seki Japan production in 2006 and went to Taiwan, only their lowest end products were made in China.
But the Seal Pup has been around since 1995 and has seen a lot of US military use, even the later Taiwan versions. Will they still be used in SEALS BUDS being made in China? Kind of
a weird thought when the Chinese PLA Navy trains with the USN as the designated enemy.
More to earth, I checked out a Youtube destruction test and the only two significant differences between the older Taiwan version and newer China version seems to
be the noticably shallower serrations. The other is that the sheath snap on the Taiwan knife is metal as has always been while the China one is plastic.
The newer Seal Pup appears to have a decent heat treated Aus8, although I suppose that "could" be 8Cr13MoV.
I will be giving the Chinese Seal Pup a try as I can not seem to find the Taiwan ones anymore, To think I used to own the Seki one and the Taiwan made Elite in the past...lol.
MADE IN TAIWAN SEAL PUP (In production since 2006)
MADE IN CHINA SEAL PUP: (Note the serrations- In production since 2017)
Difference - courtesy Mayor Fuglycool -Youtube.
Updating this youtube video, the SOG logo on both the blade and handle on Taiwan models became the same as on the China one shown,
Sheath Snap Difference, Taiwan metal snap on left, China Plastic on right. The China sheath is 1/4" wider than the Taiwan sheath.
There are reviews stating that the plastic snap is both hard to open with one hand, and difficult to snap close, and several reports of the snap simply breaking.
This appears to be a clear drop in both material and quality.
In Conclusion, if you can find a Seki Seal Pup, great. If not find a Taiwan one like on the left. Best to avoid the China one on tje right.
But the Seal Pup has been around since 1995 and has seen a lot of US military use, even the later Taiwan versions. Will they still be used in SEALS BUDS being made in China? Kind of
a weird thought when the Chinese PLA Navy trains with the USN as the designated enemy.
More to earth, I checked out a Youtube destruction test and the only two significant differences between the older Taiwan version and newer China version seems to
be the noticably shallower serrations. The other is that the sheath snap on the Taiwan knife is metal as has always been while the China one is plastic.
The newer Seal Pup appears to have a decent heat treated Aus8, although I suppose that "could" be 8Cr13MoV.
I will be giving the Chinese Seal Pup a try as I can not seem to find the Taiwan ones anymore, To think I used to own the Seki one and the Taiwan made Elite in the past...lol.
MADE IN TAIWAN SEAL PUP (In production since 2006)
MADE IN CHINA SEAL PUP: (Note the serrations- In production since 2017)
Difference - courtesy Mayor Fuglycool -Youtube.
Sheath Snap Difference, Taiwan metal snap on left, China Plastic on right. The China sheath is 1/4" wider than the Taiwan sheath.
There are reviews stating that the plastic snap is both hard to open with one hand, and difficult to snap close, and several reports of the snap simply breaking.
This appears to be a clear drop in both material and quality.
In Conclusion, if you can find a Seki Seal Pup, great. If not find a Taiwan one like on the left. Best to avoid the China one on tje right.
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