SOG Specialty Knives & Tools E37-K Seal Pup Elite Straight Knife with Kydex Sheath

This is an excellent camping/hiking knife, which is exactly what I was looking for. The knife seems light for its size, yet is very sturdy and well made. The blade is VERY thick, noticeably thicker than the Benchmade fixed blade knives, but it is expertly carved and shaped to not feel thick. This makes for an incredibly sturdy knife that is still able to be used precisely, and doesnt feel like a hammer like other thick bladed knives. While I wouldn't recommend it for safety reasons, this knife could easily be used as a prybar if needed. The tang of the blade goes the full length of the handle, unlike cheaper copies.After some use in the field I can say that the blade is strong and keeps an edge well. I have not tried anything silly like chopping down a tree, but it has cut plenty of rope and cord, trimmed dozens of sticks into marshmallow holders for the kids, and numerous other campsite duties without the need for sharpening as of yet. When it does require sharpening, I plan on sending it back to SOG for their $9 sharpening service to bring the edge back to factory new condition.The blade is just long enough to be useful, but not so long as to make you look like a psychopath for wearing it on the trail. The handle is comfortable and sturdy. The back of the blade is knurled, not enough to be counted as a file or saw, but just enough to offer grip if needed for delicate work. In an emergency, I suppose the back of the knife could be used to saw soft woods or make a slot in a soft material. The area where the back of the blade meets the handle is smooth, just right if you put your thumb there for control, but also works well to stike the flint if you are like me and use a magnesium/flint fire starter while camping.While comparing to my beloved fixed blade Benchmade knives, I am obligated to say that this is a better knife for REAL outdoor use. It may not be as pretty or sexy as some of the Benchmades, bit it is more functional. My Benchmades are gorgeous, and feel fantastic in the hand, but this knife is study, well designed, and perfectly featured for field use.While I love the feel of the full size version of this knife (the SEAL approved knife), for anyone who isn't taking it into combat or disarming bombs with it, this is a much better knife.***EDIT-UPDATE*** Its 2011 now, this knife is still one of my preferred and gets used regularly. Cant praise it enough. I also wanted to add that this knife is NOT USA made, now that Im at work and dont have it with me I cant recall if it is Taiwan or China, but it is one of the two. At least my specific model is, as it is stamped on the blade. Coincidentally, the photos on this item show the OTHER side of the blade, not the one stamped with the origin country. While I prefer USA made products, this one is great. I just wanted the info out there for people who take that into consideration on purchases.

I purchase this knife after readying several reviews and seeing it in real life. I'm a knife guy and a backpack camper/hunter/fisherman + chores around my 2 acre yard; I have several high end factory and even a few higher end custom knives. The reason I purchased this was to put my Fällkniven Forester into semi-retirement since they have gone up dramatically in price recently and it would not be economical to replace. I would rate the SOG Seal Pup Elite in the good to very good category. You are absolutely getting what you pay for; the kydex sheath is fantastic, the size, ergonomics, heft and design are first rate….. the AUS 8 steel…….is…….good…..not great….but good. The problem is, if they made it out of ATS -34, VG10, S30V, 440C…….ext, the price would go up with it. If I had the option, I would give it 3 ½ stars rather than 4.

I've used the same camping knife (Kershaw Amphibian) for almost 8 years now, and finally decided I wanted to move to a single edged knife instead of the double edged I use now.After looking for a new camping knife for about a month, reading many reviews and watching many (bad) youtube videos, I finally decided to purchase this knife. I don't really care for serrations, as it just makes it harder to sharpen, and I have no need for the "tactical advantages" of the black TiNi finish. I did originally get the Kydex sheath, but after seeing it, it just felt flimsy and didn't have that great build quality feel to it, so I ended up ordering the Nylon sheath instead. It is much better.The knife arrived razor sharp, with a light coat of oil on it. I'm not a fan of clip point knifes, but this is the first one I've held that didn't feel like it was going to break. The knife is thick and solid, very good feel to it. The handle is easy to grip, but feels very light in comparison to the blade. I like the fact it makes my load lighter on hiking trips, but I generally dislike knives where the blade is heavier than the handle (balance reasons).Overall, I do give this knife 5/5 stars. It feels good when holding it, it's just the right size for my hands, and with the nylon sheath I can mount it a variety of different ways (plus it has a small pocket for my leatherman).***************EDIT: Well, I'm a little disapointed with the knife. Originally I gave this knife 4 stars, but I've changed that to 2. On a recent backpacking trip this year, it snapped in half while I was using it to split some wood. The blade had hit a knot, and on my next swing down (striking it on the spine),the blade split cleanly in to 2 pieces. I ended up using my friends Gerber Prodigy to finish the job. I liked the Gerber so much, that after the trip I ordered a Prodigy for myself, and have been using it since. I encourage anyone looking at this blade to take a look at the Gerber Prodigy before purchasing.

Sharp. Really sharp. Straight out of the box I was amazed. Designed by SOG in Seattle, Washington. Made in Taiwan. Reminds me of an Apple product - designed and engineered in CA but Made in China. This having been said, just like an iPhone, it is superbly crafted. The satin finish is flawless. The handle is hard plastic and not rubbery as I had for some reason expected. It's light and feels much like kitchen cutlery. These observations aside, I do like the hard Kydex "holster" (does feel like you're slipping a gun into it). Would be easy to fasten to a backpack. Overall very pleased. I actually prefer this model over the full length Seal Team Elite. The size is perfect for side carry or backpacking. This isn't for me a collectable. There's nothing really pretty about this blade nor is it really of any historic significance. This is one piece of steel that indeed will be put to the test. Let's hope the people in Tawain truly do know how to cast a good alloy!

excellent in every way.

Excellent knife. Practical, well-balanced, nice and sharp right out of the box, and not over-sized. I'm very pleased with it in every way.