SOG Team Leader 20CV Nutnfancy Knife Review

A $100 blade that promises 30% more toughness than S30V and 80% better edge holding and 20% better rust resistence than 440C? OK I'm interested. This is the first knife I've seen use this 20CV CPM steel and from all indications and preliminary reports, it should be a good performer. High carbide content, lots of vanadium, a chromium-rich matrix (excellent rust resistance), and outstanding sharpness set the 20CV steel SOG Team Leader apart from other blades (it was also offered in AUS8 steel as well). Of course that wouldn't mean much if the knife sucked. But suck it doesn't and in fact its an impressive stainless stell tactical fixed blade offering. Since it weighs in at just 6.8 oz (9.4 oz with sheath) it would make an ideal LBE knife as well (BlackWater MOLLE adaption shown). Handling the Team Leader for me was key in liking it: its balance and feel are superb. The handling characteristics inspire confidence and it would serve in excellent fashion in the tactical or camp knife POU. The DuraTech 20CV willow leaf blade is perfectly sized for such applications and features a full flat grind. It arrives razor sharp unlike some other SOG fixed blades and has decent belly for the slicing chore (it turned out to be an excellent food prep knife). The tip is highly tapered and will achieve excellent penetration in a thrust cut (Boker Deser Dagger compared for reference in vid). Be careful of the somewhat thinned tip: it's probably too weak to hammer on in cold survival situations (in a batoning tasks). The coarse jimping both on the spine and lower finger guards is well-executed and does its job. It's a refreshing find on a stainless steel tactical fixed blade. The Zytel grip is outstanding: palm swells, sharp molded-in checkering, and removeable scales achieve handling excellence. The leather sheath is well made but does not excite me: no QD capability, leather is susceptible to moisture problems, the retention strap is not anchored, and it's not MOLLE capable. On the upside, the provided sheath is well made (quality stitching, riveted) and handsome. The Team Leader then pretty much a plank of 20CV steel with excellent balance, outstanding sharpness and durability (ease of sharpening not assessed), and excellent ergonomics. Even with the promising 20CV steel, I suspect that this Team Leader failed to gain traction in the market at its $275 retail price. But at the $100 price point, I think this now-discontinued 20CV steel SOG Team Leader is a homerun design in the designated POUs and it represents excellent value. Get it while you can. ///////////////////////// Nutnfancy Likability Scale: 8.5 out of 10 (with Kydex sheath and at $119 price; 9.5 of 10)