Did SOG get me or did I just do it to myself?

[blume357]

A number of years ago a good friend of mine gave me a small pocket knife made by SOG for participating in his wedding and I was always impressed a bit by it and how well made it was... sometime in the last year or more I got on SOG's email list and they send me a promotion of course a couple times a week... I usually just ignore them but about a month ago one of these had their original 'Bowie' as well as a newer one with composite handle pictured and I liked the way both looked. Went to their web site and looked at it some more and decided this original Bowie made for the "Studies and Observation Group" Special Forces Unit was really cool and I decided it would be my Christmas Present to myself.... then about 3 weeks ago I get another email promo from them that there is 20% off on all fixed blade knives and free shipping if over a certain price. And so I decided to go ahead and buy.... unpacked it last night and this is what I found... one more good looking well made knife for sure with a good scabbard and even a honing stone.... but this is not what I would consider a Bowie knife... or at least could be called a small Bowie what it is actually is a fancy K-bar. The other item I kind of missed on their site.... nice SOG emblem etched in the blade and then you turn it over and in very small fine letters is something else etched in it: "Taiwan". Damn for some convoluted reason I thought these were made here in American even though now when I actually look at their web site I don't see any mention of that...
https://www.sogknives.com/bowie-2-0/?searchid=0&search_query=bowie

 

[gunzo]

Well,,,, hold your hand up blume. When I finally found the knife on their complicated(to me) website the country of origin is listed in the tech specs in standard sized print.
I wouldn't be too concerned over it though, SOG is a good product & good products come out of Taiwan as well. A lot of cold Steel knives are made there now.

 

[Rat76]

Nice!

 

[hittman]

Seems they have always been foreign made ….. except for a few models

https://allamerican.org/investigation/sog-knives/

 

[sharpblade7777]

Like Gunzo said above, taiwan makes some great knives. In fact, many of Spyderco's higher end knives are made there.

 

[reuben_j_cogburn]

If I can't find U.S. made I look for Taiwan.... good looking knife and I'd prefer that over a bowie....

 

[41Dude]

A number of years ago a good friend of mine gave me a small pocket knife made by SOG for participating in his wedding and I was always impressed a bit by it and how well made it was... sometime in the last year or more I got on SOG's email list and they send me a promotion of course a couple times a week... I usually just ignore them but about a month ago one of these had their original 'Bowie' as well as a newer one with composite handle pictured and I liked the way both looked. Went to their web site and looked at it some more and decided this original Bowie made for the "Studies and Observation Group" Special Forces Unit was really cool and I decided it would be my Christmas Present to myself.... then about 3 weeks ago I get another email promo from them that there is 20% off on all fixed blade knives and free shipping if over a certain price. And so I decided to go ahead and buy.... unpacked it last night and this is what I found... one more good looking well made knife for sure with a good scabbard and even a honing stone.... but this is not what I would consider a Bowie knife... or at least could be called a small Bowie what it is actually is a fancy K-bar. The other item I kind of missed on their site.... nice SOG emblem etched in the blade and then you turn it over and in very small fine letters is something else etched in it: "Taiwan". Damn for some convoluted reason I thought these were made here in American even though now when I actually look at their web site I don't see any mention of that...
https://www.sogknives.com/bowie-2-0/?searchid=0&search_query=bowie
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I have done a lot of research on Taiwan manufacturing. They have a very high standard and ratings on knife steel and optical glass. You scored a nice looking knife (y)

 

[eveled]

Nice looking knife. I’m sure it will be a good user.

FWIW, I Always look to Buck first. They have some imports, but most of their knives are American made and backed by the best warranty and customer service in any industry.


“Bowie knife”. Is an interesting concept. Everyone wants one, everyone has an opinion about what a Bowie is and nobody really knows what Jim’s knife looked like.

Sadly it really is a marketing gimick.

 

[Busterswoodshop]

Just look at tools.
Some of the best equipment is made in Taiwan.
Jet , Powermatic , Grizzly , Delta and so forth.

When it comes to knives , all mine are either American or German.

 

[Yaworski]

“Bowie knife”. Is an interesting concept. Everyone wants one, everyone has an opinion about what a Bowie is and nobody really knows what Jim’s knife looked like.

As I understand it, generally speaking, a Bowie knife is a fixed blade knife with a crossguard and a clip point.

 

[ArizonaTea123]

Cold Steel has models made in Taiwan. The quality is much better than China.
But then again China's quality has vastly improved over the years.
Norinco used to make a copy of the 1911. All parts interchanged with a Colt.
The difference? The Chinese 1911 was made of a better steel than the Colt. The Norinco 1911 was a stronger pistol over time with hard use.

 

[eveled]

As I understand it, generally speaking, a Bowie knife is a fixed blade knife with a crossguard and a clip point.

There are 100’s of threads about Bowie knives on knife forums, with no real consensus.

Everyone has their opinion, you are welcome to yours.

 

[41Dude]

And is it
Bowie knife
Or
Boowie knife?

 

[ArizonaTea123]

Jim Bowie. Ask him.

 

[ArizonaTea123]

Looks like an "Arkansas Toothpick"

 

[Mike J]

There was a time I thought everything made in Taiwan or China was junk. That is not the case now. If it seems well put together & they used good quality steel it is most likely a good knife.

 

[gunzo]

How many can remember when the label: made in Japan was scorned by nearly everyone. The J. A. pan Co. as it was known. That was 40-50 years ago, Now, Made in Japan is as revered as Made in the USA, quality wise.
We are in a constant state of flux. Nothing is static in trade or manufacturing & Taiwan seems to be the next star.

China stuff has improved, but not trustworthy across the board in my book at this time.

 

[Yaworski]

How many can remember when the label: made in Japan was scorned by nearly everyone. The J. A. pan Co. as it was known. That was 40-50 years ago,

More like 60 or 70 years ago. Forty years ago was 1985. Sony was top notch. Hondas were great. Panasonic was good.

 

[gunzo]

OK, you win. You want a cookie?

 

[M118LR]

Anyone recall the Studies and Observation Group? S.O.G. I still daily carry the Pentagon Elite. Crafted in Japan from AUS8. Could send a photo but why?

 

[blume357]

thanks guys for turning my thought around.... I was thinking that since the knife was designed around a group stationed in Vietnam that had ordered / designed these knives especially for them then the originals were for sure not made in the U.S. I did not know that Taiwan was admired for their knife making... again Thanks. I still don't consider it a true Bowie knife but it is a top of the line K-bar.

 

[IKE]

It may or may not be true to the original design that 'Jim'Bowie' is supposed to have carried but to me the Western W49 is what I think of when I hear the term 'Bowie' knife....not an issued knife but some field troops in VN purchased and carried them on their own.

After gifting one to my son and another to a close friend I'm down to just one with the original drop sheath that was made in 1977.

Internet pic.

 

[JackBull]

Kabar knives are still mostly made in the US>

 

[Yaworski]

OK, you win. You want a cookie?

The intelligent never object to having their errors pointed out.

I'll have a chocolate chip, thanks.

 

[gramps]

When I hear the term SOG knife this is the design I think of:

gramps

 

[Hankus]

That’s still a nice knife, and is probably a very high quality blade. Ever since I got my hands on a Benchmade AFO in the Army during the ‘90s they’re all I’ve bought. My original AFO was stolen from my Jeep in a parking lot break-in a couple of decades ago so I replaced it with an AFO II auto with a Tanto blade. My EDC is a Stimulus. They’re all American made.

 

[Mike J]

How many can remember when the label: made in Japan was scorned by nearly everyone. The J. A. pan Co. as it was known. That was 40-50 years ago, Now, Made in Japan is as revered as Made in the USA, quality wise.
We are in a constant state of flux. Nothing is static in trade or manufacturing & Taiwan seems to be the next star.

China stuff has improved, but not trustworthy across the board in my book at this time.

The quality level of things manufactured in China, Japan or wherever has more to do with what the company having it made wants than where it is made. The manufacturer will meet whatever standard is sat by the company having it made there.
I still see posts on forum boards about some things, usually optics. From what I have gathered watching those thread is that many consider Japanese manufacture to be better than Philippines, Philippines to be better than China. I don't know. I think most of my riflescopes are made in the Philippines.

 

[el caminero]

Nice looking knife. I’m sure it will be a good user.

FWIW, I Always look to Buck first. They have some imports, but most of their knives are American made and backed by the best warranty and customer service in any industry.


“Bowie knife”. Is an interesting concept. Everyone wants one, everyone has an opinion about what a Bowie is and nobody really knows what Jim’s knife looked like.

Sadly it really is a marketing gimick.

Between jim and rezin, there are several genuine bowie styles, but only one is the classic

 

[el caminero]

How many can remember when the label: made in Japan was scorned by nearly everyone. The J. A. pan Co. as it was known. That was 40-50 years ago, Now, Made in Japan is as revered as Made in the USA, quality wise.
We are in a constant state of flux. Nothing is static in trade or manufacturing & Taiwan seems to be the next star.

China stuff has improved, but not trustworthy across the board in my book at this time.

There was even a chinese industrial city named usa, so they tried to defend their right to mark their 'products' as "made in usa". Dident last long.

 

[gunzo]

The intelligent never object to having their errors pointed out.

I'll have a chocolate chip, thanks.

If I'm still awake at 12:09 AM I'm not just intelligent, I'm a genius. hint.