SOG Specialty Knives & Tools E37T-K Seal Pup Elite Knife

<h2>Product Description</h2>


 

        Product Description
 
  The E37T-K SEAL Pup Elite partially-serrated knife with black TiNi finish and Kydex sheath is SOG's new high-performance addition to the SEAL family of products. Sleek, attractive, and easy to operate, the E37T-K showcases SOG's sophisticated style and quality construction. Designed for use by Navy SEALs, the E37T-K features a thick steel stock (.185 inches), an AUS8 stainless steel heat-treated blade, a long ergonomic handle, deep finger grooves, and more.<p>.caption {font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif;font-size: 10px;font-weight: bold;font-style: italic;}ul.indent {list-style: inside disc;text-indent: 20px;}table.callout {font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, serif;margin: 10px;width: 250;}td.callout3-c26 {height: 100 percent;background: url('http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/th/content_26/Q2_2009/sog-callout3.png') repeat-y;border-left: 0px solid #999999;border-right: 1px solid #999999;padding: 10px;width: 250px;color: cccccc;}ul.callout {list-style: inside disc;text-indent: -12px;font-size: 12px;line-height: 1.5em;}h5.callout {text-align: center;color: white;}img.withlink {border:1px black solid;}a.nodecoration {text-decoration: none}<img src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/th/content_26/Q2_2009/sog-callout-top.png">The SOG E37T-K SEAL Pup Elite Partially-Serrated Knife Offers:<ul class="callout3-c26"><li>A 4.85-inch partially-serrated blade with black TiNi coating<li>Cryogenic heat-treated blade construction</li><li>A contoured and textured glass-reinforced Zytel handle</li><li>A tactical Kydex sheath</li></ul><img src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/th/content_26/Q2_2009/sog-callout-bottom3.png"><img src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/th/content_26/Q2_2009/sog-B0017HZ0O6-1-sm.jpg" border="0"><b>The E37 was designed for use by Navy SEALs. View larger.</b><img src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/th/content_26/Q2_2009/sog-B0017HZ0O6-2-sm.jpg" border="0"><b>The durable, tactical Kydex sheath can be mounted in a variety of ways. View larger.</b>The E37T-K's Kydex sheath is designed to endure practically any situation. Military belt and jump rated, the Kydex sheath can be mounted upside down, sideways on a belt, or strapped to your ankle. Additionally, the self-draining scabbard has a friction fit and a back-up nylon strap for extra security.<p><b>Cryogenic Heat Treatment and TiNi Coating Guarantee a Sharp, Durable Blade</b>The E37T-K offers a full, 4.85-inch, partially-serrated, AUS8 stainless steel blade that has undergone SOG's proprietary Cryogenic Heat Treatment process, which ensures that this blade will stay sharp over the long haul. This intensive process takes more than 48 hours and involves slowly reducing the blade's temperature to less than -300 degrees Fahrenheit, then slowly heating the blade to room temperature. The stress created by this process strengthens the steel on an atomic level and increases the blade's overall durability and edge retention.<p>In addition to having undergone the Cryogenic Heat Treatment Process, this knife is coated in proprietary titanium nitride (TiNi), of the toughest coatings that can be applied to steel. TiNi boasts extreme hardness, is exceptionally scratch and peel resistant, and helps increase steel's longevity.<p><b>Ergonomic, Lightweight Design Ensures Comfortable Use</b>Even if your blade is sharp, it's hard to make precise cuts if your knife doesn't fit comfortably in your hand. That's why this knife's handle is ergonomically contoured. Crafted from tough, glass-reinforced Zytel, the textured handle is also slip-free and well-balanced. Other ergonomic features include deep finger grooves and a blade spine rasp for easy notching, filing, and thumb placement. Also, at just 5.4 ounces, this knife is lightweight and easy to carry. A tactical Kydex sheath is included for convenient portability.<p>This knife is backed by a lifetime warranty that protects against defects in manufacturing and materials.<p><b>About SOG: Strong, Innovative Specialty Tools</b>SOG originally stood for Studies and Observation Group, an elite joint services military group designed to handle covert operations during the Vietnam War. SOG Specialty Knives &amp; Tools was founded in the spirit of this elite group and became the first knife manufacturer to offer an expanded line that included fixed blades, folding knives, and multipurpose tools.<p>Each SOG product is created by company Founder and Chief Engineer, Spencer Frazer. Known for their uncompromising style and performance, these knives and tools showcase innovation, dependability, and a unique, futuristic style that has garnered awards and recognition worldwide. SOG products have also won favor among law enforcement, military, and industrial customers that rely on their tools to perform flawlessly in the toughest, most adverse conditions.<p><b>What's in the Box</b>E37T-K Fixed blade knife and tactical Kydex sheath.
 
  <br /> <b><span class="h3color tiny">This review is from: </span>SOG Specialty Knives & Tools E37T-K Seal Pup Elite Knife with Kydex Sheath, Black TiNi (Tools & Home Improvement)</b><br/>
     

<br/>MY OWN MEASUREMENTS:
<br/>12 & 1/4" sheathed (with belt loop and retainer plate)
<br/>10" sheathed (without belt loop and retainer plate)
<br/>9 & 3/8" knife Overall
<br/>4 & 13/16" exposed blade
<br/>4 & 1/4" sharpened blade
<br/>3/16" blade thickness
<br/>5.7oz knife
<br/>1.3oz Kydex sheath (without belt loop and retainer plate)
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<br/>---PROS:---
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<br/>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!
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<br/>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. 
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<br/>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. 
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<br/>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.
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<br/>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.
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<br/>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 ;) ]
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<br/>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!
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<br/>---CONS / LIMITATIONS:---
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<br/>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.
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<br/>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 ;)
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<br/>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.
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<br/>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.
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<br/>So that's it.  I truly recommend this to those looking for a lightweight backpacking knife. 
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