RIAA multi Platinum® and GRAMMY® Award winning recording artist and knife enthusiast Zac Brown created the Georgia-based Southern Grind knife company to be representative of what he believes knives should be. — ruggedly dependable and highly functional using the highest quality materials and workmanship second to none.
Camp Southern Ground
The mission of Southern Grind goes beyond making state-of-the-art knives. It’s also about giving back to the community. The efforts of Southern Grind benefit Zac’s passion project, Camp Southern Ground.
Nine weeks out of the year Camp Southern Ground, which is located Fayetteville, Georgia, acts as a summer camp. For remainder of the year the campus supports veterans and their families, bringing together thought leaders in the field of neurobehavioral disorders, military respite and much more to discuss how Camp Southern Ground can be on the cutting edge of serving all of those groups. Camp Southern Ground is dedicated to helping and supporting veterans through the transition from the military to a meaningful, productive life after service.
As a former camp counsellor, Zac knows the benefits that a positive camp experience can have on a child’s life. Camp Southern Ground is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It serves children from all backgrounds, races and religions, with special emphasis on children with Autism Spectrum Disorders such as Autism and Asperger’s, learning and attention issues like ADD, ADHD and Dyslexia, social or emotional challenges and those with family members serving in the military/
Southern Grind Jackal Pup
Southern Grind offers an ever-growing line of knives. The Southern Grind Jackal Pup immediately caught my eye with its compact everyday carry (EDC) friendly size. A scaled down version of the full-size Jackal fixed blade knife, the Jackal Pup retains most of the features of its bigger brother.
Like its bigger brother the Jackal, the Jackal Pup features full-tang construction, modified clip-point flat-ground blade with finger choil and thumb ramp, 8670M high carbon steel construction, sculpted G10 handle slabs / scales and an adjustable-carry, formed Kydex® sheath. Also like its bigger brother, the Jackal Pup is available in variety of handle and sheath colors and blade finishes.
8670M is a non-stainless low-alloy tool steel. Think of it as a super L6 steel. The 86xx series low-alloy steels were developed in World War II to conserve nickel and other alloying elements critical for the war effort.
8670M is a specialized steel with a 320,000 psi tensile strength. Commonly used for circular saw and band saw blades, it‘s a tough steel with good wear resistance. Southern Grind cryogenically quenches the blade to -300°F (-184°C) for maximum strength and durability.
Although 8670M is a top steel for hard use, it will rust and stain if not properly cared for. Just keep your knife sharp, clean, dry and oiled and it won’t let you down.
The Jackal Pup has a 2.8-inch (7.1 cm) blade. Blade thickness is 0.135-inch (0.34 cm) at the spine. The knife has 2.95-inch (7.49 cm) handle length and an overall length of 5.75 inches (14.6 cm). It weighs 2.8 ounces (79.4 g).
The Jackal Pup is surprising capable for its size. A knife with a smaller blade is better for some tasks. And smaller blades are often legal for carry in in restrictive jurisdictions where larger blade are not. The smaller profile of the Jackal Pup makes it easy to carry and conceal. In addition to its all around EDC utility, it’s also an outstanding caping and bird and trout knife.
Clip point blades are very popular and date back to at least ancient Macedonia. The modified clip point blade of the Jackal Pup provides a sharp and controllable point that’s good for piercing and plenty of belly for slicing. The spine features a curved thumb ramp that allows for precise control. It‘s an excellent all-around blade.
The blade is finished with a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating. PVD is a vacuum deposition method that produces a thin, hard and corrosion resistant coating that’s often more durable than even electroplating. The Jackal Pup is available with your choice of a black or gunmetal PVD coating.
The 3D milled G10 handle scales on the Jackal Pup are each attached with two recessed round head Torx® screws. The sculpting on the handle, coupled with the shape of the handle and finger choil, not only looks awesome, it serves a practical purpose by for a very secure grip on the knife without being abrasive on clothes. It provides a secure and comfortable grip with any grip technique and with wet or bloody hands. The Jackal Pup is available with black, black & tan, desert tan, Jade Ghost Green, and OD green handles.
G10 is a rugged fiberglass and epoxy laminate that’s impervious to moisture and most chemicals. It’s one of the best materials for scales on a hard-use knife.
The Jackal Pup comes with a versatile multi-carry black Kydex sheath. Southern Grind also offers Flat Dark Earth and OD Green sheaths for the Jackal Pup separately. The thermoformed sheath holds the knife by a secure friction fit with no rattle. As with all Southern Grind products that I have examined, the sheath exhibits a great attention to the small details overlooked by some, such as the small molded drain hole in the bottom, for example.
The belt clip is attached by two Chicago screws and can be positioned for ambidextrous IWB/OWB carry or removed for carry on a neck chain as a neck knife or for static cord IWB carry. The belt clip fits belts up to 2 inches wide. It’s MOLLE/PALS compatible.
The fit and finish on the Jackal Pup I received are flawless. The attention to detail is immediately apparent. The grinds on my knife are perfect. The handle scales are perfectly mated to the tang. Southern Grind takes great pride in its products. Every knife comes with a card signed by both the assembler and the final quality inspector.
The knife came out of the box with a very sharp factory edge. The 8670M blade is hardened to RC 58-59 and holds its edge well, yet is easy to sharpen. If you register your knife with Southern Grind you’ll receive sharpening for life from the company for free.
The Jackal Pup is an outstanding low-profile fixed-blade knife for discreet carry. It’s well suited as a back-up knife for personal defense. The knife is very well balanced and feels good in the hand.
The Jackal Pup has a MSRP of $169.95. All Southern Grind products are made in the USA by American craftsmen and come with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Not only is the Jackal Pup an outstanding knife, your purchase helps to support a very worthwhile cause too. Southern Grind offers a 15% discount site-wide to all registered and confirmed military and first responders
Material Disclosure
I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.
*The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Spotter Up Magazine, the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.
Specifications
Southern Grind Jackal Pup
Maker; Southern Grind
Model; Jackal; Pup
Handle: 3D Milled Solid G10
Grind: Conventional Flat Grind
Blade Steel: 8670M High Carbon Steel
Blade Finish: PVD Coat
Hardness: RC 58-59
Overall Length: 5.75 in. (14.6 cm)
Weight: 2.8 oz. (79.4 g)
Handle Length: 2.95 in, (7.49 cm)
Blade Length: 2.8 in. (7.1 cm)
Blade Thickness: 0.135 in. (0.34 cm)
Sheath: Black Kydex with Adjustable Belt Clip (Flat Dark Earth and OD Green Sheaths available separately)
Origin: USA
Warranty: Limited Lifetime
MSRP: $169.95