SOG Specialty Knives

SOG Specialty Knives & Tools, LLC
Limited liability company
Industry Manufacturing
Founded Santa Monica, California
1986 (1986)
Headquarters Lynnwood, Washington
Key people
Spencer Frazer, Founder & Chief Engineer
Products Knives, Rescue Tools
Number of employees
200
Website http://www.sogknives.com

SOG Specialty Knives, Inc. (commonly known as SOG) is a U.S. knife and tool manufacturing company famous for their reproduction SOG Knife from the Vietnam era.[1]

SOG currently manufactures a variety of knives other than the original military inspired designs, many designed for everyday carry (EDC). The company also produces a line of multi-tools.

History

The company was founded in 1986 by Spencer and Gloria Frazer and was inspired in its choice of name by the Joint Services Special Operations unit known as the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) who developed their own knife during the War in Vietnam.[1]

SOG Bowie

Making changes to the original design of the MACV SOG Fighter, like resin-impregnating the leather handle, utilizing thicker stock and new grind lines, Spencer and Gloria launched their product and company with a one-page, black and white ad in Soldier of Fortune Magazine of the S1 Bowie, a replica of the SOG Knife used by the SOG groups operating in South-East Asia.[1][2] They also produced the SCUBA/Demo knife, which is a replica of one of the rarest military knives to date (only 1 of the original 39 knives produced has survived till this day).[2] Knives such as these and many of the SOG models produced prior to the shift of production from Seki, Japan to Taiwan are considered to be the best knives SOG had ever made.[2]

A second "maritime" version of the Bowie (S2) was made utilizing a black micarta handle and stainless steel blade known as the Trident.[2] It was decorated with the US Navy SEAL emblem as opposed to the Special Forces Crest found on the Bowie. The original S1 and S2 classic bowies were manufactured for SOG by Ichiro Hattori of Seki Japan until 2006. The other models were manufactured by Kinryu Corp. also of Seki until 2007.[2]

SEAL 2000

SOG manufactures a knife used by the United States Navy SEALs dubbed the SEAL 2000.[3] The SOG SEAL 2000 is a 7" bladed fixed blade knife with a rubber handle that was designed for the US Navy SEAL knife trials in 1992. The knife was manufactured from 1995 to 2007 for SOG by Kinryu of Seki Japan. Both the Seal 2000 and the smaller version, the Seal Pup are on display in the knife exhibit at the US Navy SEAL Museum in Ft.Pierce, Florida. [4] Two SOG "Seal 2000" knives were used in the 2001 Dartmouth College murders. Scabbards left at the scene were crucial in tracing the killers.[5]

Use Today

The SOG paratool functions as a pair of pliers and contains fold-out blades and other tools.

SOG Specialty Knives manufactures an array of tools available for military personnel and casual outdoor users.[1] SOG also makes several other military style knives including a tactical switchblade which is only available to military/law enforcement personnel. SOG has developed fixed blade knives for survival and outdoors such as the Tech Bowie as well as folding knives, many of which feature assisted opening technology such as the Aegis, Twitch and Trident. SOG also manufactures multi-tools including the Paratool, PowerLock, and PowerAssist.

Many of SOG's folding knives and multi-tools are made or assembled in the USA, with the higher priced folders being made by G.Sakai in Seki, Japan. The fixed blade models that were originally made in Seki are now made in Taiwan. Some of SOG's lesser priced tools, such as the Fusion line are manufactured in Taiwan or China.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Pacella, Gerard (2002), 100 Legendary Knives, Iola, USA, Krause Publications, 145. ISBN 0-87349-417-2
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Walker, Greg (1993). Battle Blades: A Professional's Guide to Combat/Fighting Knives. Boulder, Colo.: Paladin Press. p. 130. ISBN 0-87364-732-7.
  3. Dockery, Kevin (2004). Weapons of the Navy SEALs. California: Berkeley Hardcover. ISBN 0-425-19834-0.
  4. Fred J. Pushies (2004). Weapons of the Navy Seals. Zenith Imprint. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-61060-777-3. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  5. Douglas Belkin; and Mitchell Zuckoff; Globe Staff (April 19, 2001). "1 INDICTMENT TO BE ASKED IN KILLING GRAND JURY WILL HEAR TESTIMONY IN DARTMOUTH CASE". Boston Globe. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
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