O.k ... I had a SOG "SEAL pup" knife and my junior commo guy had some other model. BOTH broke.right in the same spot-where handle meets the blade.

Cold steel-Lynn Thompson is a Pu*z. Insecure man,company has impossible customer service, most,if not all knife designs are copied from someone elses,yet he claims credit for it.

Becker, Ek, Ranger knives,Ontario,Camillus,or, on the high end,spartan blades, any Harsey mede knife,mercworx or Randall.

Just my .02

 

Impossible customer service? Not for me, one time I had a problem with the tempering on a knife I bought from them and it was covered by the warrenty. They fixed that and sent it back to me no questions asked. They've always been polite when I had questions as well. So not sure where you're getting that from. Their knife designs are entirely original and if they did a remake they say where the original design was from, so they don't take credit for it. But yeah, I'm a Cold Steel fan based on good experience from them. I would go with the SRK, its got better tip strength, and although its the same steel type Cold Steel uses better heat treatment because my brother's SOG Navy Seal had horrible edge retention, while my SRK has good edge retention for stainless. SRK has better grip, and sheath as well. So I would go with the SRK.

 

Can't go wrong either way, I think. Personally, I'd go for the SRK for the extra blade length and weight.

Becker BK-2?

 

Both are around the same size. What does everyone have to say about these two awesome knives? Opinions welcome. Looking at buying one of these two knives in the next 24 hours.

-Se7eN

I've always preferred SOGs and Al Mar. Both have proven to be bulletproof in the field.

 

cold steel SRK.... I have broke a SOG...

 

Heres the link!
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1105/111105lb.htm

Cutting a Deal
The Justice Department has reached a settlement with a Lynnwood, Wash.-based knife and tool company accused of breaking a law intended to protect reservists' employment rights.
The complaint alleged that S.O.G. Specialty Knives Inc. violated the 1994 Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act by improperly discharging a Coast Guard reservist when he was called to active duty in January 2003. The complaint also claimed that S.O.G. failed to properly re-employ the reservist in a position of similar status and duties once he returned.
USERRA guards the reemployment rights of military service members or veterans when they return from active duty.
After completing an investigation, the Labor Department's Veterans' Employment and Training Service referred the Coast Guard reservist's complaint to the Justice Department.
The knife company, in a consent decree that must be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, agreed to compensate the plaintiff an unpublished sum.
"We have a duty to our men and women in the military to enforce vigorously their legal right to be free of employment discrimination on the basis of their military service," said Bradley Schlozman, acting assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's civil rights division. "We are very pleased to see a positive resolution in this case."
Schlozman said the knife company cooperated with the investigation and offered the settlement, but denied any wrongdoing.
S.O.G. Specialty Knives did not return calls requesting comment.
According to the Justice Department, this is the eighth USERRA complaint filed since the civil rights division received enforcement authority for such cases in September 2004.

 

Se7eN, you are Canadian. Buy a Grohmann. They do not have the tacticool type knives but their woodsman's knives have a 50 year proven track record of just working. and working. and working.

I like the look of the SRK better. I like knives with straight lines. Cold Steel is said to be making many of their knives in China now, so I would not want one.

 

http://www.grohmannknives.com/pages/unusual.html

"Grohmann also does custom orders when time permits. For instance, here we have a custom order Trout and Bird Flat Grind, Stainless Hi-Carbon Steel Blade, with oatmeal coloured high lustre fossilized oosik handle (walrus penis bone). Oosik approx 10,000 yrs old."

*Personally I'd go with this one!!! haha gross

 

I have had a SRK for a long time now and it has just held up. I have pounded it into trees to use as a step, pried rocks out with it, opened cans, used it to split kindling(alot), and it goes caving with me all the time. the only part that is worse for wear is the finish,, and it still holds a great edge

My dad has one that he used to dig his way out of a cave(got in a bit of a tight spot, the trench he dug is still there after like 10 years, I crawl through it all the time ). The finish is almost completly gone and it needs a sharpening in a bad way, but it aint broke.

 

SRK for sure (IMHO).
All knife shapes, designs have been done before (except, maybe useless fantasy stuff) and the good ones copied over and over, I don't think that's an issue. Also, they don't try to sell those as an original Fallkniven for instance...
Customer service sucks for SOG (personal experience). I know some people like to bash Cold Steel, but I never had a problem with any of the Cold Steel products that I have.

 

I have both and have used them hard and I prefer the feel and balance of the SOG...I had no problems with either it's just the SOG feels better but I think that the Cold Steel may be the stronger of the two...

I also have the complete collection of SOG including multi-tools but that hasn't any basis on this comparison.

Macumazahn did make a good point...Try the Grohmann line of knives of which I also have the whole collection, they are very well made, tough as nails and much less money...The Boat or Survival knife would be closest to your choices...

Cold Steel, Bark River and a few other companies like the Grohmann Original (that sits in the NY Museum of Fine Art since it was made) so much that they offer them in their catalogues—just different materials, steels etc.

 

I have both and have used them hard and I prefer the feel and balance of the SOG...I had no problems with either it's just the SOG feels better but I think that the Cold Steel may be the stronger of the two...

I also have the complete collection of SOG including multi-tools but that hasn't any basis on this comparison.

.

WOW!! You got the whole collection of SOG? That's insane man!! You're lucky, they got a lot of cool stuff

 

I have both of the knives you mention in the OP. The SOG sucks (dulls easy, ground too steep for slicing, chipped very easy, and not great gripping - at least in my hand). I generally like SOGs, I have several that are quite good - though overpriced.

So, of the two I say the Cold Steel (better grind, better heat treating, better in general). However, for about the same $ you can get a Rat 7, or (for a few $ more) you can get a RC-4 from Rat Cutlery (my favorite no-bull survival knife - and I have over 30 survival knives).

My favorite outdoor knife company is Rat Cutlery. Their prices are a little more than Ontario's for a similar knife, but that's because Rat uses a special heat-treat process that makes their blades much tougher than the Ontario's.

Just the Bum's opinion

 

A little side point I'd like to make:

You say that it bothers you that the blade is stamped "Japan" on the SOG. I prefer US made knives (more attention to detail and usually better heat treating), but . . .

Don't think that Made In Japan is equal to Made In China. It is not. Not by a long shot. Japan is actually world famous for their knife and sword making abilities, they can produce top quality knives, China has never (to my knowledge) produced a top quality knife.

So, don't be too turned off by the Made In Japan thing when it comes to knives. They've been making them longer than anyone. Like I said, I do prefer US made, but never China (though they are getting better, recently).

The Bum

 

I agree with you, but let me make a little correction here.. "Japan" is stamped on the Cold Steel SRK, not the SOG. :

 

I own The SOG seal pup elite and it is a great knife, I do not own the SRK but do own other Cold steel knives. They are good quality and strong. Out of the two I would have to agree with someone from above that you would get better length out of the SRK. Be it known that the SRK is not a carbon blade anymore but cold steel is now using AUS 8, same as the seal pup elite. Edge retention should be about the same depending on heat treat. Mine holds an edge acceptably well. My pup elite has chopped fire wood, cleaned goats, raccoons, cut up vegetables although this is not one of its strong points due to the wedged blade style, it has performed all of the task that I need it for. I have never done any real prying with it though so can't tell you about handle to blade strength. All in all I think the SRK will be stronger do to a wider blade configuration but for size and ease of carry and a just plain good all around knife I vote for the seal pup elite.

 

The Cold Steel SRK is cheaper and comes with a kydex sheath. It is now made in Japan which is not China. Toyota, Sony, Samurai Swords and all sorts of other top notch products are produced in Japan. You can get a New SRK for about $50. It is a great knife for the cost.

 

SRK vs PUP

Go for the Cold Steel SRK. It is far better. I cant recommend you SOG because that a piece of China sh*t.

Well do, SRK is very tough and bigger. Go for the SRK ! Or if you dont like SRK atleast get KA-BAR Becker BK2. Thats better...

 

I would buy the Cold Steel.I only have 1 Cold Steel fixed blade,
it is an original version of the Recon Tanto before they changed
to the style they are now.That is 1 tough knife.I've actually driven
the knife through a steel door & an old heavy steel desk just to see
if it would break.All it did was dull it.That's my knife for edc if needed.

 

I have used the SOG seal pup for a number of years and it hasn't let me down. I recently retired a KaBar USMC as my heavy bush blade and replaced it with a BK-2 and was very happy with the increased capabilities. I recently bought (last night in fact) a CS SRK Carbon V which I may end up using as a replacement for the seal pup once I get home and try it out. If the stories are true regarding the SRK this will be my primary goto knife...and as always I take a mora with me....I will always be tool heavy in the woods. I feel the marginal increase in weight is easily offset with the piece of mind of knowing I am prepared in case something goes pear shaped.

 

I do not have the models in question, but I do have a couple of products from both companies. In my opinion, they are comparable; good, but not the best.

 

Cold Steel...I was in the same boat a few years ago. it came down to the fact that Cold Steel takes the time and effort to proove their blades can take it. Buy with confidence and get the SRK or if primarily a combat knife; the Recon Tanto.

 

Well more than 24 hrs has gone by since your original post. But I am in agreement with most of the posts,go with the CS SRK. If you can swing it, cost wise, go for the San Mai version of the SRK. I own both versions, and the San Mai stainless is far superior in edge holding ability.

 

To the OP, it's not immediately clear to me what your use for either knife is. I have no experience with the Cold Steel knife you reference. I have a SOG Seal Pup Elite with the straight edge in the black TiNi finish kicking around here somewhere. I haven't used it for much of anything, and it wouldn't be my first or second (or even third) choice for bushcraft or hunting. That said, as I mentioned, the knife does generally receive a lot of good reviews.

 

What knife did you choose afterall? And could you share your experiences with it?
My opinion on cold steel srk can be found here.

 

I've owned my SRK (non carbon/san version). The only complaint I have about is that because the blade is so think, and they made the primary bevel pretty steep (for edge durability), it does not bight into wood quite as well as some finer edged blades I have seen. It is TOUGH though. I have dropped it tip down on concrete and got minimal deformation...it was easily brought back to a nice point with a little work. If you are looking for something to make feather sticks, whittle fine pieces of work, or impress your friends with chopping water bottles, then you should probably go with something else. But, if you want a workhorse that will not break on you then you will be happy with the SRK! I highly recommend going with the carbonV (SK5) or San Mai if you can afford it....if I were to do it over again, thats what i'd do.

 

I have nothing but good things to say about all of the Cold Steel products that I own.

 

Cold Steel over SOG any day. Cold Steel knives are usually ridiculously sharper than most other knives from the factory.

 

Cold Steel knives are usually ridiculously sharper than most other knives from the factory.

Sorry, but that's a ridiculously absurd comment.

 

@vol 4 life why is that?

 

I have several of the older style Voyagers in different sizes and have carried the same one as my daily carry knife for at least 10 years now. It has stood up to the hard work that I inflict upon it on the farm on a daily basis.

In addition I own 3 Recon Tantos one of which has been my camping, hunting and go to fixed blade for several years. I have gone as far as hacking down small trees with it and have driven it into campfire wood with a hammer in order to split it,, still keeps a good edge and has no issues.

I also own a Cold Steel tomahawk that I carry in my Jon Boat while on float fishing trips,, have cut my way through some nasty laydowns on the river with it,,, no problems.