Customer Reviews

SOG Specialty Knives & Tools E37T-K Seal Pup Elite Knife with Kydex Sheath, Black TiNi

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

MY OWN MEASUREMENTS:
12 & 1/4" sheathed (with belt loop and retainer plate)
10" sheathed (without belt loop and retainer plate)
9 & 3/8" knife Overall
4 & 13/16" exposed blade
4 & 1/4" sharpened blade
3/16" blade thickness
5.7oz knife
1.3oz Kydex sheath (without belt loop and retainer plate)


---PROS:---

LIGHTWEIGHT - After months of searching for a lightweight, solid, fixed-blade for backpacking, I finally decided on the SOG Seal Pup Elite with Kydex Sheath, mainly for it's compact 9 & 3/8" overall length and an incredibly lightweight 5.7oz. Since I plan on lashing the knife to my pack (and because it fits so securely in the sheath) I've removed the belt-loop and retainer plate from the sheath, leaving me with a total mounted weight of 7.0oz! Backpackers rejoice!

SHARP & DURABLE - Mine came sharp enough to shave with right out of the box (honestly, I did it - I'll post a pic), as well as easily slice through paper without tearing it. That classifies as razor sharp in my book! Not to mention the serrations, which cut me right out of the box after little more than a light brush alongside them. To the reviewer who said "looks awsome [sic] but is dull..." I ask, "Have you even handled this knife?" It is DEFINITELY NOT dull out of the box. But even if it were, so what?! All knives need to be sharpened from time to time, and yes, sometimes out of the box; you wouldn't throw a $160 knife away just because it dulled would you? You're not paying for a sharp sharp blade, you're paying for a well designed, high quality blade YOU keep sharp. With the Seal Pup Elite and it's AUS-8 steel specially cryogenic treated by SOG, you're getting proven steel with excellent edge holding capability.

The edge itself features SOG's original Bowie design with plenty of belly, distributing the workload along the long, sweeping edge. The blade's starts at 3/16" thick, making it nearly indestructible; I've jammed this knife tip-first into hardwood over and over again and so far the tip is just fine. I've used it to chip down 2" diameter branches and baton 4" thick firewood for kindling and the edge is still sharp. I've left it out in the dew all night and, partly thanks to the Titanium Nitride coating, I have yet to see a spot of rust. durable? Check.

GREAT HANDLE - Solid feel in your hand, lightweight, grippy, durable. Compared to the original, non-Elite version, the Elite's handle is slightly longer with more curve around the pinky. The balance point is right at the index finger so it feels very maneuverable. Pictures will do a better job of showing the texture molded into the Zytel than I could do describing it, but overall just know that it has an impressive grippiness to it considering how slick untextured Zytel is. If you've never felt Zytel before, you'll be at how light and yet how durable it is; its incredibly hard, harder than any plastic I've ever dealt with, and yet still not brittle. They say it's basically a mix of nylon an fiberglass. Whatever it is, it's unbreakable. Lanyard hole is a plus, but I don't use it.

SHEATH - The sheath is basically made of three easily separable parts: the Kydex sheath itself, the retainer strap plate, and the Velcro belt loop. With the retainer plate and belt loop removed, this sheath is crazy stealth - lighter and more compact than pretty much any other survival knife OEM sheath out there and perfect for backpacking. It's poked full of mounting options, can be mounted in pretty much any direction, and the knife locks in tightly with no rattle. Basically, the sheath is molded around the shape of the knife and hilt, and the hilt tapers slightly away from the blade. When you pull the knife out, the sheath hast to expand a little bit to let the larger end of the hilt pass through, providing retention even when mounted tip-up with the retention strap removed. There's no need to press a release mechanism, but under certain circumstances (without the retainer) it might shake loose. I chose to go the extra mile and glue the expanding part of the case together, tightening up the sheath's hold on the hilt. It's secure enough to run with confidently while mounted upside down. Oh, and there's also a quick-access cord cutting slot notched into the sheath, but it's lame, so I'm saving that for the "Cons" section of this review.

GO ELITE! - I had the opportunity to handle the standard (non Elite) version of the Seal Pup before making my final decision, and BELIEVE ME, it's worth spending the extra few dollars for the Elite. Better sheath, better handle, better steel (AUS-8 over AUS-6), longer blade/shorter choil, and the spine rasp [which I don't particularly find any need for whatsoever, but it's nice to know that, should I ever need "notch" wood, they're there... Mainly though, they just look cool ;) ]

VALUE - As I'm writing this review, Amazon is selling this knife with the Kydex sheath for $73 (down from $130 MSRP). For what you're getting here this is an outstanding deal!


---CONS / LIMITATIONS:---

LIMITED HACKING/BATONING ABILITY - a 5.7oz knife with a 5" blade is a great compromise where larger knifes are just too heavy and bulky to bring along, but with the saving in weight and length you also lose sheering and hacking ability. With the Seal Pup Elite, you probably won't find it *practical* to hack through branches thicker than 2 inches diameter or baton through logs thicker than 5" diameter (extra 3/4" gained by not going straight through the diameter). While that's still enough to get you by in a survival or backpacking situation, hardcore survivalists might want something with a bit more momentum and length, and that's not what this is for.

LIMITED HAMMERING ABILITY - Although indestructible, the Zytel handle is all but useless for hammering, especially tent-stakes. SOG decided to round off the base of the knife, probably for comfort. Had they left it *just* a bit flatter it would have been up to the task, but as it stands, the rounded pommel either glances off your stake or doesn't strike hard enough. Another con of a lightweight knife, but nothing that can't be fixed with a nearby rock ;)

POOR JIMPING - There *is* a thumb-ramp formed into the Zytel handle to prevent slippage when thrusting the blade, and it does have very slight grooves, but not deep enough to write home about. Also, the first ~3/4" of the spine isn't rasped, which just doesn't make sense to me as it would be perfect jimping if you were to ride your thumb high. Fortunately, there's enough texture and finger grooving in the Zytel handle overall that, combined with the thumb ramp under actual use, this isn't really a problem.

SHEATH - Yeah, I know the sheath is in the Pros section, but it's not without its flaws. Kydex is supposedly a top of the line, lightweight, durable sheath material. But something about this sheath, while still better than the nylon version, just seams cheap to me. It's basically a sheet of plastic that's been heated and folded in half around a mold, then riveted together. After spending a weekend of removing and reinserting the knife, it's developed a little catching point inside where, if you don't insert the knife straight in, it'll get stuck on the way in. Also, the retainer loop/plate and Velcro belt loop screw points are different widths, meaning you cannot attach the belt loop to the sheath without the retainer plate in the middle. Again, not a big deal as I don't plan on using either of them, but you might want to know. Oh, and the quick-access rope cutter is a joke. Sure, it works (you have to pull pretty hard since you don't get the slicing you would otherwise get if you just used the knife) but think about it: when is it going to be quicker to un-lash the sheath from your gear, just to cut a cord, then lash it back down the way you like it? Never, and though I haven't actually gotten it caught on anything, I'm still afraid it's just a liability.


So that's it. I truly recommend this to those looking for a lightweight backpacking knife.

This is the best survival knife I have ever had. Several years ago I was issued a SEAL Pup as a test article for SWCC boat teams (long since retired). The knife was an excellent survival knife and tested well. Ufortunately, it was subsequently stolen from me during a break-in and I have missed it ever since. I finally broke down and got a replacement and am thrilled with the features that have been added since my original.
The kydex sheath is a must have over the nylon sheath. It holds the razor sharp blade well and I prefer kydex bcause it will not absorb water like the nylon. My original SEAL Pup had a kydex sheath but since then it has been redesigned with considerable upgrades to include the ability to mount it sideways and upside-down and a groove on the sheath so you can cut paracord without unsheathing the knife.
The grip has a good feel, lends good balance to the knife, and has a hole for a lanyard. The grip is not too small like many knives on the market and is textured allowing a firm grip. The elite has a heavier blade and is worth the extra cost even though the original pup has an awesome blade.
I prefer this size knife to the full size SOG SEAL knife when back packing or in the field as a survival blade but you wouldn't go wrong with either knife.

This thing is amazing. The edge is super sharp. The weight is balanced and just feels like a solid piece of kit. The form factor is super sleek. The extra touches over the regular version are nice too. The coating on the blade is better, the width of the blade is wider, there's a ridged spine for better control and the grip on the handle is better. If you're getting a survival knife, why not go all out right? The kydex sheath is really nice and the cutout for quick slicing of rope is a convenient touch. I'll primarily be using the knife on a boat in a saltwater setting, so the rust-resistant properties and enhanced coating were of importance when deciding which knife to buy, as well as serated edge for quickly cutting tangled lines if need be. Overall very pleased with the quality of the knife. Time will tell how it endures the elements but first impression is that it will do fine.

I received this knife as a gift from my Brother in Law after I had done extensive research on it and decided this was the one. This knife is ridiculously light weight, even with the sheath it is so light that I forget it's on my belt within seconds. The knife came extremely sharp, it cuts through paper like it is cutting through air and I ran it up my arm and all I could see was a cloud of hairs jump off my arm when the blade got close.

The Sheath is a little hard to get the knife out of, but thats good IMO. I haven't been able to get the knife out with one hand, but I've found the knife comes out much easier if it is on my belt. When it is on my belt it just pulls right out when I pull on it, but if I'm holding the sheath it can get stuck and dig into the plastic. Not a big deal at all, I plan to have it on my belt as much as possible.

I haven't had a chance to use it in a survival situation yet, but I know it will perform amazingly. The handle is extremely grippy, I can hold the handle with one hand and pull on the back of the blade with the other and I can't pull the handle out of my hand. The handle is very hard, and it feels indestructible, and I ran water over it and it didn't slip at all. I'm really looking forward to using it an outdoor setting while backpacking, I'll add an update and tell how it performed.

As the proud owner of the Flash II 1/2 Serrated, Black TiNi I had no doubt that I could only expect a product of similar superior quality and I was not wrong. SOG do not compromise on design and quality, you can always expect to have a smile on your face when you receive your goods.

I'm very pleased with this product. The case appears rugged and sturdy, built to last a long time and withstand harsh weather. The blade is trés sharp! One needs to be careful with SOG knives. I once found myself on the business end of my Flash II and it cut through my palm like butter! Stitches were in order. The grip feels excellent and the weight of the knife is as close to perfect as your going to get. The length is not too short neither too long. The guys at SOG have really done their homework.

For a product of this quality, I think the price was reasonable...maybe that's because I bought it around Christmas so AMAZON had some good discounts on. No complaints here.

I definitely HAVE to get one for my father-in-law. For a man who spends a lot of time in the bush, he would really get utility out of this tool...and I would be his favorite son-in-law.

If your looking for a good quality outdoors knife, look no further. You won't be disappointed. I can't wait to get my hands on the Tactical Tomahawk!

I did some intensive research on purchasing a suitable/dependable fixed blade knife for hiking/backpacking, and this knife performs very well. The blade is razor sharp, and the kydex sheath is great for mounting and deploying horizontally or vertically. The kydex sheath does not retain moisture, unlike the nylon sheath which does, therefore reducing the likelihood of corrosion.

I have many knives, including a "Sly 2" survival knife, made by the late Jimmie Lile, But this one is one of my favorites! It's an all around useful piece of equipment weather using it for military or survival or just around the house. This knife will take it! Sharp out of the box. The kydex sheath is neat, but I want to buy the standard nylon one also. It looks good too. Buy this knife and it may be the last one you will ever need! George, Chelsea, Michigan

Great knife. Perfect size for hiking or camping. Very well made. Best in its class for price.

SOG is known for not skimping on the quality of their blades. There's no doubt about how important good steel can be if your life depends on it. SOG gets the steel right on this little puppy as well. The problem many professional operators and other trained guys who don't have very small hands will have with this is the handle. It's very small - in length and diameter - easily broken, and has no functional butt plate or point. Worst of all, it's VERY slippery when it gets wet. In a gloved hand, this handle is too small to allow many operators adequate feel for precision work. That makes it dangerous. In the hands of lay-persons who don't know better, I'd say it's even more dangerous.

Guys who use knives professionally as tools; not just soldiers, but serious back country hunters, wilderness trekkers, geologists, etc., know how important being able to precisely control the point and cutting edge of any tool really is. Having a superb blade slip in your ungloved hand can ruin your day when you're fifty miles from the nearest road or medic. In a tactical situation, those who know will tell you that a good grip is every bit as important as a good blade. If you've survived more than one knife fight with a determined enemy (or a pissed off wolf, cougar, or bear..), you may even agree that a quality no-slip grip and solid butt plate that breaks what it hits rather than breaks when its hit can be more important than the quality of the blade.

Same goes if you're in a tough survival situation a couple hundred miles from whatever you call civilization. You need a cutting tool that can also be used as a hammer, lever, ice/frozen ground chipper, tied firmly to a stout stick for a spear, etc.

I've had the honor of working with SEALS, British, Aussy and Kiwi SAS, SBS, and other special operators for many years. They are all extremely intelligent, capable, and professional. They are not interested in in how cool something looks, especially to a lay-person. They are interested in consistent functional quality and performance. Period. This knife scores high for blade steel quality; but dangerously (IMHO)low for handle/grip quality. If you still want one, and you're blessed with small (and very strong) hands, be sure to tape the handle with at least two interlocking wraps of quality surgical or orthopedic wrap to absorb stricking vibration and fluids, and to reduce slippage when you can least afford it.

Knife feels rock solid. Shaving sharp out of the box. All around love this knife.