Can't Decide on which of These to get, SOG or TOPS

[Southernsorrow]

I have been wanting a dagger style knife for awhile, Just something I want . I also want it to be a carrying and usable knife not looking for another shelf queen to come out once in awhile get admired and go back. Having trouble deciding if I wanna go the cheaper route with the sog "about $60ish shipped" or spurge for the tops My 3 headscratchers are

SOG Daggert 2 "black"
TOPS Rangers Edge
TOPS MAK-7 (really like this one)

What I like about the SOG: Half the price, Rust-less Aus 8 vs high carbon 1095
What I like about TOPS: "Heavy/thicker" , Made in USA vs sog's Taiwan, Styling


there's always aus-8 vs etc.etc. steel threads but of these brands how does the tops vs sog do with rust and edge retention

 

[rcmodel]

How about an old Gerber MK1 for way less then that.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-GERBER-M...089?pt=Collectible_Knives&hash=item416c9af9e9

It can become a safe queen just as well as a new knife costing three times as much, once you figure out how worthless double-edge daggers really are.

rc

 

[knife guy]

well i dont own any TOPS blades but i own a sog flash 2 and i think its aus 6 or aus 8. its ok but not the best/higher end of a lower bracket.

personally i would go with 1095 over aus 8/6 steel at least as far as tiawan goes. sog produce some of their higher end knives in japan if you get one of those you won't be dissapointed for sure. the prices on those used to be rather reasonable especially for the quaility. the japanese know what they are doing when it comes to blades. normally japanese cutlery steel is pretty corrosion resistant. also even though they are assembled in taiwan does not mean they dont have good steel or a quality build just not as good as it can be is all.

i also support american made product wholeheartedly but as i said i have no actual experience with TOPS knives. 1095 is a very well respected steel more than adaquate for a dagger. i do own an E.S.E.E 4 with a sharpened back edge and it does what it does very well. the gerber noted above would do a daggers job exceptionally well, but it is large.

 

[rcmodel]

A 5" Gerber MKI isn't large.

A 7" Gerber MKII is large.

rc

 

[hso]

Louisiana - R.S. 14:95. Illegal carrying of weapons is...
(1) The intentional concealment of any firearm, or other
instrumentality customarily used or intended for probable
use as a dangerous weapon

Looks like a dagger may be illegal in LA.

 

[Lee D]

ive owned and own both brands and i would buy TOPS before SOG hands down. i have used and abused a little roughneck at work and it is truly a tough knife. good 1095 steel, acceptable sheath, and made in the USA.

the seal pup is the only SOG i own. its a solid usable knife, but i wouldnt buy it again. the knife itself is comfy in my hands, stays sharp but doesnt touch up as easily in the field, the sheath is junk and it says Taiwan on the tang. like i said, i wouldnt buy another one.

 

[mdauben]

I also want it to be a carrying and usable knife

I'm a fan of dagger blades myself, but be aware that carrying them is illegal almost everywhere and double edge blades are not terribly good EDC utility knives.

SOG Daggert 2 "black"
TOPS Rangers Edge
TOPS MAK-7 (really like this one)

SOG and TOPs both both produce generally good knives. Personally, I like the MAK-7 the least of the three, so I don't know that my aesthetic opinion is going to do you any good.

What I like about the SOG: Half the price, Rust-less Aus 8 vs high carbon 1095
What I like about TOPS: "Heavy/thicker" , Made in USA vs sog's Taiwan, Styling

Not sure where you are shopping. The first on-line retailer I checked lists the three knives as $110, $126 and $160 respectively, so the SOG is certainly not "half the price".