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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Any updates on the Topo Meridian?
- Thread starter BlueOrca
- Start date
I have some good news for everyone. We just received/completed all the components for the first batch of Topo Meridians (M46) with polished blade and are Qc'ing them right now. We have not yet reveiced the black TiNi parts yet, tose are expected in the next two weeks. This has been a long process for us at SOG because we did not want to release the knife until it was working perfectly. We have finally gotten to that point and are happy to finally be able to ship the knives out.
Chris
Chris
hmm, 1st post.. been looking for a new knife for bout a week.. i carry a spiderco lum daily for 3 years.. before that i wore out a benchmade afck.. before that a gerber applegate fairburn covert.. this looks like my next purchase.. i saw it on the mfg website.. based on the measurements and blade style this is the perfect urban carry pocket knife. as soon as its out im getting 2. 1 for the father in law and.. well you know.
hmm. i called SOG a couple of days ago. and a female in customer service said they were shipping. so i called one of the vendors that SOG recomends on their website and the guy said "shipping" means ready to ship but could be a few weeks.. I say Chris@SOG help blueorca and I.. lol.. send us a factory sample..lol.. well test em out and buy more..
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2005
- Messages
- 19
Hey guys,
We just received the M46 Polished Topo Meridian. The black TiNi version will not be available until early January 2006. If you want to check it out, visit us at www.absoluteknives.com.
Thanks all!
We just received the M46 Polished Topo Meridian. The black TiNi version will not be available until early January 2006. If you want to check it out, visit us at www.absoluteknives.com.
Thanks all!
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2005
- Messages
- 191
Just picked up my TOPO Meridian at my local dealer. Got the polished blade version (as that was all he had). Slick little knife. A little stiff, but I figure that after I play with it a while, will loosen up. Worth the wait!!
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2003
- Messages
- 1,983
Yeah......rub it in Richard.......
we will just wait for your remarks on how sharp it is.
Congrads.........You deserve the first one !
Robbie Roberson.
we will just wait for your remarks on how sharp it is. Congrads.........You deserve the first one !
Robbie Roberson.
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2005
- Messages
- 191
Sharp as in "ouch" or sharp as in "what a design". Well, all I can say is WOW!! Razor sharp out of the box. Design does take some getting used to, especially the handle w/all the cutouts. The size is perfect for a pocket carry. and the clip is long and wide enough to ensure security. Only complaint would be the thumb studs. Once again, too long. They extend just a hair beyond the handle, not much to look at them, but enough to snag on jean pocket seams. Other than that, I LIKE it. I guess some folks would call it cute. But nothing cute that I know is a sharp as this baby. Can't wait for my dealer to get the TiNi coated version.
Hi all:
I bought a Topo Meridian at a local retailer a couple of days ago. I must admit that I am going to return it today. Luckily my retailer has a good return policy as long as the item is not used and I have just flipped it a few times. Bottom line: I LOVE the design and looks but the manufacturing standards are not good on mine. I looked at several in the store and rejected a couple due to dings in the anodized surfaces, etc--right out of the box. I found one that looked good in the store and bought it. Once I got it home and inspected in good light and up close, several other defects became apparent. First, the not-metallic top layer of the scales was manufactured poorly--there were defects in the cutouts around pins--like the holes were milled too large or unevenly. Second, and most surprisingly, the spine of the blade had casting defects--not huge, but notable upon inspection and enough that I would have expected the knife to be rated as a second---certainly by the kind of standards that SOG shows on their site for seconds. This has no impact on functionality of course, but it was well below the standards I expect for the price and from SOG. The other notable issue is blade play from side to side. At first, the assisted opening did not engage when flipped. Once I flipped maybe 5-10 times, this loosened up, but then I noticed that the lateral blade play was very high---far higher than other assisted opening knives that I own. Bottom line is that the lateral blade play is far more than any other decent manufactured knife that I have seen---it is simply not worthy of the brand.
I really like SOG knives and I have carried a PE II for 4 years and a Gentleman (as a dress knife) for 2 years and find that their quality is outstanding. On both of these knives, the fit and finish is top notch. I really like the design of the TOPO Meridian and I can only think that the folks at BLADE had a better manufactured version of this knife. I hope to pick one up later in the year but I will inspect it more carefully and hope that QC improves.
Overall, I am seeing these kinds of issues more and more on good brands of manufactured folders in the $70-$100+ range and it irks me. The Topo Meridian is a great EDC but I bought it as a collector and hence want a high level of fit and finish. I am not asking for perfection. I would be perfectly happy with quality that is on the order of any of the Buck knives that I own, all of which cost less than this knife. The most obvious comparison is my little Buck with assisted opening and anodized handles and a double lock and that knife is completed to a notably higher level of quality than this SOG.
On the good side, the design is really nice. The blade grind is good too--albeit with a very small defect in the edge right out of the box. The assisted opening is quick and smooth and I like the double lock for when its in the pocket. You can also do both locks with a one handed opening.
I know that SOG reps read this and I would love some reassurance that this is an anomaly. This knife is NOT a second--I bought it at a premium retailer (McGuckins in Boulder, CO)--and there is nothing on the knife or box to indicate a second.
Regards,
QBoy
I bought a Topo Meridian at a local retailer a couple of days ago. I must admit that I am going to return it today. Luckily my retailer has a good return policy as long as the item is not used and I have just flipped it a few times. Bottom line: I LOVE the design and looks but the manufacturing standards are not good on mine. I looked at several in the store and rejected a couple due to dings in the anodized surfaces, etc--right out of the box. I found one that looked good in the store and bought it. Once I got it home and inspected in good light and up close, several other defects became apparent. First, the not-metallic top layer of the scales was manufactured poorly--there were defects in the cutouts around pins--like the holes were milled too large or unevenly. Second, and most surprisingly, the spine of the blade had casting defects--not huge, but notable upon inspection and enough that I would have expected the knife to be rated as a second---certainly by the kind of standards that SOG shows on their site for seconds. This has no impact on functionality of course, but it was well below the standards I expect for the price and from SOG. The other notable issue is blade play from side to side. At first, the assisted opening did not engage when flipped. Once I flipped maybe 5-10 times, this loosened up, but then I noticed that the lateral blade play was very high---far higher than other assisted opening knives that I own. Bottom line is that the lateral blade play is far more than any other decent manufactured knife that I have seen---it is simply not worthy of the brand.
I really like SOG knives and I have carried a PE II for 4 years and a Gentleman (as a dress knife) for 2 years and find that their quality is outstanding. On both of these knives, the fit and finish is top notch. I really like the design of the TOPO Meridian and I can only think that the folks at BLADE had a better manufactured version of this knife. I hope to pick one up later in the year but I will inspect it more carefully and hope that QC improves.
Overall, I am seeing these kinds of issues more and more on good brands of manufactured folders in the $70-$100+ range and it irks me. The Topo Meridian is a great EDC but I bought it as a collector and hence want a high level of fit and finish. I am not asking for perfection. I would be perfectly happy with quality that is on the order of any of the Buck knives that I own, all of which cost less than this knife. The most obvious comparison is my little Buck with assisted opening and anodized handles and a double lock and that knife is completed to a notably higher level of quality than this SOG.
On the good side, the design is really nice. The blade grind is good too--albeit with a very small defect in the edge right out of the box. The assisted opening is quick and smooth and I like the double lock for when its in the pocket. You can also do both locks with a one handed opening.
I know that SOG reps read this and I would love some reassurance that this is an anomaly. This knife is NOT a second--I bought it at a premium retailer (McGuckins in Boulder, CO)--and there is nothing on the knife or box to indicate a second.
Regards,
QBoy
Qboy
Let me first apologize for the poor performance you had with you knife. This is the first I have heard about this type of problem with the knife. If you have not already returned the knife to the retailer please send it in to me personally, at the address below, and I will see that it gets looked at and the problems corrected. Also I will bring this issue to the attention of our design and manufacturing departments and see if I can get any answers for you.
If there are any specific question you have please let me know.
Thanks
Chris Cashbaugh
SOG Specialty Knives
6521 212th St SW
Lynnwood WA 98036
Let me first apologize for the poor performance you had with you knife. This is the first I have heard about this type of problem with the knife. If you have not already returned the knife to the retailer please send it in to me personally, at the address below, and I will see that it gets looked at and the problems corrected. Also I will bring this issue to the attention of our design and manufacturing departments and see if I can get any answers for you.
If there are any specific question you have please let me know.
Thanks
Chris Cashbaugh
SOG Specialty Knives
6521 212th St SW
Lynnwood WA 98036
Thanks Chris:
I already returned the knife to the retailer. They have a fairly large knife sales counter. The guy on the desk, familiar but not expert with knives, also agreed with my assessment of the quality issues. This helps me to feel that I am not being too picky and I do not want to be unfair. As I say, my basic benchmark for quality of mid-range manufacture here would be Buck. SOG, in my experience, surpasses this standard. This knife did not. I appreciate your response and you may want to look out for returns from McGuckins in Boulder, CO.
I already returned the knife to the retailer. They have a fairly large knife sales counter. The guy on the desk, familiar but not expert with knives, also agreed with my assessment of the quality issues. This helps me to feel that I am not being too picky and I do not want to be unfair. As I say, my basic benchmark for quality of mid-range manufacture here would be Buck. SOG, in my experience, surpasses this standard. This knife did not. I appreciate your response and you may want to look out for returns from McGuckins in Boulder, CO.
:thumbup: I purchased a Topo Meridian this week with the satin blade and it is one sweet EDC. There is no perceptible lateral blade movement, and the assisted opening mechanism is fast, tight, and smooth. The locking mechanism is on the bottom of the spine. The blade, although only AUS 8, is super sharp out of the box. The grip is well-designed and is surprisingly thin. The topographic cut-outs are cool (blue and gray aluminum and an outer Zytel) and make the knife very light. The grip takes a bit to get used to, but the contours of the grip fit the hand well. The blade has a wicked appearance. There is a flicker that makes opening the knife easier than most assisted openers that I have owned. The fit and finish are top notch for a production knife and the low price. The futuristic appearance is unique and will either turn you on or off (I love it). My only (small) complaint is that one part of the blade ever so slightly rubs against the side housing, leaving a small rub mark. However, this is probably due to the thin width of the knife, rather than the blade being seated off-center. Overall, the quality of my Topo Meridian is better than my SOG Trident TF-3 tigershark assisted opener. SOG also offers a more expensive option (about $20) with a black TINI blade. (I always scratch up black TINI finishes, so I went with the satin finish). If you want an inexpensive (I paid only $58 at Knives Plus in Amarillo, TX) and light EDC assisted opening knife with a 3.25" blade and a futuristic look, take a look at the Topo Meridian! 