Are Sog knives even worth it?

[Jakeywax31]

I would recommend buying one second hand. Seems the prices new are high for what they are. I personally can't stand the crazy branding on everything. I had a seal pup about 10 years ago and it was ok. A little expensive for what it was to be honest.

I was gifted a sog terminus xr folder last year and has been surprisingly nice in my opinion. For a 50 dollar knife I feel its good value. YMMV

 

[Bob Denman]

Once you carry them a bit: the Terminus grows on you!

 

[Jakeywax31]

Bob Denman It has made its way into my pocket a lot the last year over many BM and Spydercos. I would of never thought.

 

[greater]

The SOG Terminus XR is a very good strong budget knife. They are making different versions such as S35VN (80.00) and I have also seen some offered with micarta scales. SOG can have some pretty good stuff in their lineup if you know how to sort out their other, shall I say ,less desirable models.

 

[y53p]

The SOG Terminus XR is a very good strong budget knife. They are making different versions such as S35VN (80.00) and I have also seen some offered with micarta scales. SOG can have some pretty good stuff in you their lineup if you know how to sort out their other, shall I say ,less desirable models.

Checked the s35vn terminus, seems good in terms of price and steel. Does it throw sparks off the spine with a fire steel?

 

[KenHash]

In most cases you can not approve or disapprove of a knife by it's brand name alone. A brand may carry good models and bad. A knife needs so be chosen on it's merits as a knife, not on the label.

 

[jux t]

In most cases you can not approve or disapprove of a knife by it's brand name alone. A brand may carry good models and bad. A knife needs so be chosen on it's merits as a knife, not on the label.

Agreed in this case particularly. I’ve had good service from my old and new seal pups, seal teams, and some seki made arc lock models.

 

[Dav1]

I don't own any so couldn't comment but wanted to try a fixed blade in 14c28n. Purchased the Ruike Jager which for the price (in your budget) is an excellent fixed blade. I've used it and sharpened it and the heat treat seems excellent, I think someone on here tested it and it came out at the correct hardness. Also imo a very underrated tough use steel.

 

[craytab]

depends on which model and what ya find it selling for price wise.

Taiwan as a general rule makes mostly good products. this would be my least concern with a sog knife.

now with gsm taking over...expect warranty to collapse..like it did with cold steel. also expect a high probability of a cheapening up of the product line eventually.

This^ is a fair assessment of the question. I've had many, but none of the recent ones. I'd honestly just look elsewhere unless you happen on a really good deal.

 

[Wild Willie]

I was given one of the new trident xr's a few months back by a friend of mine. This same gentleman also gave one to my brother. After a little edge tuning they're absolutely fine tools. I don't carry mine on me much because it's a bit bigger than I prefer for pocket carry, but it lives in my bag. My brother carries and uses his constantly, they're well made and have put the recent SOG products back on my radar after years of dismissing them. We'll see where GSM takes the brand though, my guess is right down the crapper.

 

[Dergyll]

I'll just throw it out there that due to the recent high quality budget folders coming out overseas from Civivi, Kizer, etc that the expectations for budget folders have never been higher.

It's a good thing though. Improve or die. SOGerber is which, you decide with your money.

 

[greater]

Checked the s35vn terminus, seems good in terms of price and steel. Does it throw sparks off the spine with a fire steel?

I don't know but my impression is most knives that can't can easily be fixed (file to make spine edges close to 90deg) to do so if one desires.

 

[Greggy]

I don't own any so couldn't comment but wanted to try a fixed blade in 14c28n. Purchased the Ruike Jager which for the price (in your budget) is an excellent fixed blade. I've used it and sharpened it and the heat treat seems excellent, I think someone on here tested it and it came out at the correct hardness. Also imo a very underrated tough use steel.

I have had my eyes on that one for some time. But for now my Rat 5 and Mora Companion meet my fixed blade needs. I do own a Ruike liner lock, and it is one damn fine value knife with 14C28N steel. Nice knife.

 

[Chronovore]

AUS-8 isn't great but it's also not the worst. It does have decent toughness versus stainless steels like N690, 154CM, or M390. According to Larrin's charts, it's tougher than S35VN. Of course, toughness isn't everything and stainless steels like 14C28N and Nitro-V are much tougher.

Despite chemical similarities to 8Cr13Mov, AUS-8 will sometimes hold a much better edge. There has been speculation on why but at the end of the day, AUS-8 does occasionally exceed expectations in cutting tests. For instance, the Taiwanese Rat knives in AUS-8 had been surprisingly competitive with their D2 counterparts. Of course, it all depends on the heat treatment on the actual knife you get. That's true for any knife but over $100, a steel that shows up in lots of sub-$50 knives that might only end up performing as well as 8Cr13Mov isn't a compelling gamble for me.

My experiences with SOG have not been great but those experiences are not recent. Some people say that SOG has improved in recent years. I don't know. Personally, I'd go with the general consensus here and look at other options. For instance, some of the Bradford knives can be had in N690 for just over $100. Heck, the Ruike Jager in 14C28N is a decently sized fixed blade with good ergonomics for like half that price.