SOG makes good knives. That said, remember the SEAL was designed for a military application. Nonreflective coatings are great for concealment and protecting non stainless steel blades from rust. Finding something in shiny steel I just dropped is hard enough. While the SOGS are very tough, the thin spine doesn't lend itself to splitting wood with a baton. Think of the actual tasks you will ask of a bigger knife. Price is a factor for everyone. Look at a few other candidates and then look at the dealer's prices. If you can buy "X" for $75 vs "Y" for $150 and both please you-buy X! $75 is a lot of gear and trailmix ;O)