SOG Seal Pup Elite Tactical Fixed Blade- Survival and Hunting Knife with Sheath, 4.75 Inch Combat Knife Blade (E37T-K)

This knife has got it all, and the price is hard to beat. It can handle various bushcraft and survival tasks, feels great in the hand, and is the most visually pleasing of all the knives I own in the 4"-6" range.If you are looking for the best survival knife for the money and are looking to stay below $40, then the Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Outdoor Knife with Carbon Steel Blade, Military Green, 4.1-Inch, with Carbon Steel, is impossible to beat. There is no better knife for the money.The SOG Seal Pup Elite outclasses that knife, but for double the price. The Seal Pup Elite is full tang (the Mora is not), and is a bit more heavy duty. Also, the SOG sheath alone is worth the difference in price. The sheath that comes with the Seal Pup Elite (as well as SOG's other knives in this line, such as the Seal Team Elite) is heavy duty ballistic nylon with a pouch you can use for various items. I put the DMT FWFC Double Sided Diafold Sharpener Fine / Coarse in mine, hands down the best field sharpener. I wouldn't trust that Smith's pocket pal, I don't understand why it is rated so highly on Amazon. I bought it and it only sharpens from "Dull" to "Barely Functional", not up to the standards set by other field sharpeners.If you are looking for something you can beat the tar out of while staying under $100, then there is only one knife to consider: Ka-Bar Becker BK2 Campanion Fixed Blade Knife. Unless you are willing to spend over $200, then there is no reason to look anywhere else. Even then, you will be hard-pressed to find a stronger knife. However, it is HEAVY. The Seal Pup is 5.4oz. The Becker BK2 is 16oz! You can certainly baton wood with the Seal Pup Elite and it'll hold up, but it won't handle it with the authority that the Becker will. The becker is a full pound hunk of 1095 steel, with a blade about an inch longer and is .25" thick.The Seal Pup Elite uses AUS-8 Steel. I love this steel. Perhaps 1095 carbon is a bit stronger (the Becker BK2 and the Esee 6 have 1095 carbon), but the AUS-8 requires much less maintenance in the field and can handle almost any survival task you ask it to. It also takes a new edge VERY easily. 10 minutes on the Tri-Angle Sharpmaker and this thing will be shaving hair off your arms like new.If you are looking in the $40-$80 range and want an all-around great knife that requires little maintenance, is comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, and has among the best sheaths out there, this is the knife for you. If you don't mind tripling the weight and carrying a small bottle of mineral oil with you, and plan on chopping down a small tree and breaking it into little pieces, then look at the Becker BK2. If you decide to forego budgets and want to get something that gets the best of both worlds, check out the ESEE 6P-B Fixed Blade Knife. It is 2 inches longer and a beast in the field, and a beast on your wallet.

I loaned out my years old camping/backpacking knife only to have it lost, so I began looking around for a replacement. I looked at survival knives, hunting and fishing knives, and tactical knives. It was hard for me to make a decision, since there are some really good knives on the market for around $100. I settled on this knife due to reviews of it written by survival enthusiasts.The blade on this knife came out of the box sharp enough to cut hair on my arm. The edge is straight and consistently sharp along it from tip to heel. I don't intend to shave with this knife. :) I bought the knife for backpacking and camping (light duty) and not for cutting hair. I will use it for kindling, notching, cutting rope, cutting fishing line, and gutting out fish, birds, and small game. So, I tested this knife by breaking down a store bought whole chicken. I know, sounds weird, but getting through slimy chicken skin and chicken bones is allot of work on a knife edge. I have had boning knives lose their edge half way through breaking down a whole chicken, so this is at least a meaningful test for me (if not comical for some readers).This knife passed my little test with flying colors and is still exceptionally sharp! It cut through rib bones like they were butter and I was able to remove the wishbone with surgical accuracy. Cutting through raw chicken skin is a challenge for improperly sharpened knives, but this SOG sliced through it like it was air.Now, I am sure the SEAL teams wouldn't be impressed by my "test" but I have no doubt that this knife's edge is up to all the work I am going to throw at it.The knife's handle is comfortable for my hands. The balance of the knife is incredible. The weight is perfect for me. The knurling in the handle and it's materials holds up well and I didn't encounter any problems with the skin-slime from my chicken test; which is not to say that I had the handle covered in it!Clean up of the knife is a snap. The coating on the blade ensures that it will be rust free for years to come and the coating held up through the bone cutting process of my test with no scratches in it. I am sure if I put it through daily use that would change, but I believe the blade's TiNi coating is tough as nails and I see no flaws in the coating even after a thorough hot-soapy-water washing.Finally, the only think I don't like is the nylon sheath. I am going to upgrade to a zydex sheath. While the utility pocket on the nylon sheath is handy, I don't like the sheath's nylon strap which will get cut into over time as the blade is sheathed and re-sheathed. But, it isn't worth dinging the rating by a star over the sheath, since the knife is what is under consideration here and not what it is housed in.This is an excellent knife and I am very pleased with my purchase.

I am not going to bore you with all the specs and why it is good and the arguments that go with it.But what i would tell you is straight real world experience, my real world experience with this knife.High quality steel with a good design at an affordable price point is hard to beat. i have two of the same exact knife, one for my go bag and one for my utility bag. The knife i use for my utility bag has gone through a lot of beating, from chopping fire wood to cutting steal wires,skinning, opening cans and even carving aluminum make shift front sight post when my rifle sights got lost in the woods. This knife took the abuse and still shines and retains it sharpness, yes a few scratches here and there is inevitable but for function and intended use, it performs and exceeds expectations.What this knife is NOT:This knife is not a shelf or show case queenThis is not a macheteThis is not a hachet or an axeThis is not a sawThis is not a under the pillow defensive tool alternativeWhat this knife is:This knife is a great all around work/utility/hunting or even tactical knife if calling it so makes you feel more secure, then yes it can perform in those categories.No serrations, easier to sharpen out in the field longer cutting edgeThis knife is by far the best quality knife at this price point in my opinion. No none sense, No BS. just plain business!For camping or back packing the nylon sheath option would be your best bet, it can hold anything up to the size of a glock 17 mag. For vest or tactical use the kydex sheath would be better for it has a slimmer profile and less chances of getting snagged.