SOG S1 Bowie Gun-blued

The Gun Blued SOG  S1 Bowie is very rare.  Although very functional, it is definitely  a collectable.

The SOG S1 Bowie knife has a gun-blued, polished blade finish. It has a 6 1/4″ blade of Gun-blued SK-5 carbon steel, a 1/4″ stock, and a 10 7/8″ overall length. The knife also has a blued steel hilt and butt cap, a leather handle, and a thong hole.

SOG stands for Studies and Observations Group. SOG knives are known for their solid construction and toughness. They have been the knife of choice for many military operators, including NAVY SEALs, since 1986.

Some say that the SOG S1 Bowie knife’s finish isn’t durable. However, others say that a cold blue gel or liquid can handle minor touch-ups.

SOG Knives Collectors’ Review:

The S1 Bowie is the flagship model of SOG Specialty Knives Inc., the first knife designed to roll off their production line. It is modeled after the exact knife that the brave men of MACVSOG used while in Vietnam for covert recon operations. This knife is gun-blued to a shiny hue, making it a very pretty knife indeed. Many praise it for its beautiful gun-bluing and the use of high-quality SK-5 steel, and it is considered to be one of the more collectible Seki Japan SOG Knives. Some commonly know the S1 Bowie as the “5th Special Forces knife”, but it was actually called the “SOG Bowie” by SOG.

Engraved on the left front of the blade near the cross-guard is the old “square SOG logo.” On the other side of the knife, just directly above the guard, reads “Seki Japan.” In front of that engraving is the “MACVSOG” Special Forces logo. Further down, the blade in the middle of the knife reads “Vietnam 5^th Special Forces Group”. The knife features a leather handle and a classic ‘faceted tip’ that is the signature feature of the current SOG Bowie knives made today. Most of the current SOG knives follow the form/design of the S1 Bowie. The modern versions, which use different materials, include the S1T, Super SOG Bowie, and SOG Bowie 2.0.