Dimensions:
Overall Length: 9 - 1/2"
Blade Length: 4"
The Dalton SEALs were produced in several runs between 1991 and 1994. In between these runs, Mr. Dalton also made a smaller version (the Baby SEAL) and some runs of the AFO. We'll cover the Baby SEAL as a separate basic model in a future "Dalton of the Week" installment. All of the SEALs that I've seen had the same basic blade shape as the one pictured above. As with all Dalton knives made before early 1999, all of the blades were hand ground. This is the reason that you'll see a lot of minor blade grind variations within the basic model. If anyone has seen a tanto version, I sure would like to hear about it. I have only seen beadblast and polished versions of the standard blade. The polished blade was marked "SEAL TEAM 2". I don't recall seeing any serrated versions either.
Although most knives of this model were sterile (no maker's marking), some were marked and can be easily identified as Daltons. The earliest marked ones had "USA" engraved into the handle. Following the "USA" marking, Mr. Dalton used the "D" tang stamp on the blade. Later runs had the familiar Dalton logo stamped into the blade and the last run/runs had the logo etched into the blade. Fifty damascus bladed SEALs were made with the "D" tang stamp.
The only handle colors I've seen in this model are gloss black, matte black, and a light purple. Machining marks are always visible on the handle surfaces. I think that most of the SEALs that I've seen had an Allen set screw as an adjustable blade stop, though I've heard of ones with a flat head adjustment screw. This feature may not be on all knives of this model. I've never seen one with a pocket clip.
For Dalton collectors interested in acquiring one of these, I'd recommend that you be very careful unless you find one with one of the markings above. With the sterile versions, it is difficult to tell the difference between the Dalton and the Miller versions. I don't know how many Dalton SEALs were made, but Miller made 8000-10,000 pieces between 1987 and 1994. More have since been made by Charlie Ochs. A good portion of the Miller and Ochs knives had black oxide treated blades. There were other makers of the Black Knife in the early to mid- 1990's. Paragon also made a copy of the SEAL, commonly called the Elephant SEAL. The Paragons do not have the machine marks in the handles and the cutout around the button is different from the Dalton.
Many thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Dalton, who provided much of the information above. Does anyone else have any additional information on the Dalton SEAL model?
Edit: Mrs. Dalton emailed me with some more background information on the original SEAL model. She recalls that the first 100-200 pieces were sterile. Most of the rest had the markings described above except one order that was to go to a military unit. In those early days, Mrs. Dalton would cut out the blade blanks, do the bead blasting, and prepare the blades for heat treat (in-house). This was before the Daltons had CNC machinery, so the machining of the handle slabs was outsourced. Everything else was done by hand by Mr. Dalton. They did add pocket clips to a few pieces at the special request of a customer. Mrs. Dalton said that the clips were hand made and should be easily recognizeable.