Cold Steel VS SOG

I have a SOG powerlock and a Cold Steel machete. I've been very pleased with both. The powerlock, while heavy, has served me really well for nearly four years. The machete was cheap and I've been the crap out it with no complaints.
 
One thing that turned me off from SOG, which was really just the final straw for me, was seeing their "USA Produced" knives being assembled by a group of only Asian women that didn't speak much if any English. I get that their American knives are "Assembled in the USA" as per their spec info but it's a bit disheartening to me. This could honestly be the case for a lot of companies but SOG has been the only one I saw actual video of. I'll gladly buy Chinese produced knives from American brands if their completely honest about it but I just can't help feeling like SOG is purposely being sneaky about it. I also find their knives typically OP for what you get. Zytel and AUS8 just doesn't feel right for the prices they go for. Knives like the Aegis, Trident, Flash. Even the Vulcan feels OP with VG10. For those prices, you'll find my money going to Spyderco. Cold Steel can sometimes have the same effect but with honest marketing and a very special, very strong lock in the Tri Ad. Of course I'm only speaking on the folders here. I don't have experience with SOGs fixed blades.
 
Spudly94 said:
Both are over priced for what you get
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Not in my opinion. I paid around $50 for my Recon 1 with the Tri-Ad lock. That's about $20 less than say a Spyderco Endura which has about the same length blade. For $20 less I get a knife that has a MUCH stronger lock, a blade that slices just as good if not better and has about the same edge retention, and a better handle material (G10 over FRN).
 
ive come to the realization that sog is incapable of putting out a practical product. everything has to look like it fell out of a ufo, crkt is also guity of this.
 
The biggest problem I have with SOG(and maybe even CS to an extent) is their marketing of their stuff as "tactical" without really having the quality to back it up. A SOG knife might serve someone very well as an EDC blade for years, but with my personal experience, I cannot see a SOG being put through serious paces in Afghanistan or Iraq for very long. Just because a knife looks badass laying on a vest next to a gun in a photograph, doesn't mean it is ideal tac gear.
 
vwb563 said:
Not in my opinion. I paid around $50 for my Recon 1 with the Tri-Ad lock. That's about $20 less than say a Spyderco Endura which has about the same length blade. For $20 less I get a knife that has a MUCH stronger lock, a blade that slices just as good if not better and has about the same edge retention, and a better handle material (G10 over FRN).
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VG10 is quite a bit better than AUS8A and Seki City is typically a higher quality than Taiwan. Not taking away from the Recon 1. I think it's an outstanding folder but I personally wouldn't consider it better than the Endura. They both have their arenas. Your point is absolutely valid though.
 
154CM is significantly better than AUS8. VG10 is a little better than AUS8, but costs twice as much.

Imagine what a Voyager XL would cost in VG10 steel.
 
This is a hoot

"One thing that turned me off from SOG, which was really just the final straw for me, was seeing their "USA Produced" knives being assembled by a group of only Asian women that didn't speak much if any English."

Kind of hard to argue with that logic.

A knife is a knife. My SOGs are of the Japanese variety, seiki-city specifically, build is excellent, steel is AUS-8 (they give it a good heat treat). I don't care if "Asian women" assemble my knives either in the US or "Asia"...which country is "Asia"? :)
 
I agree with Brownshoe. I have 3 higher end SOG folders and I have never regretted the purchase. They are well made, came sharp OOB and the VG-10 peforms wonderfully.
 
I bought a SOG SV68 Vision years ago and it was a well made knife.
The axis lock was very strong and the blade worked smoothly.
The only complaint I had was the thickness of the handles.

I've never really cared for the CS folders, but have owned several of their fixed blades, with no complaints.
 
If sog actually steped up there game and had better quality control and maybe use better materials they would probely be one of the top companies out there , for the money that is , but for doe reason they refuse to change even with all the complaints they get
 
I bought a set of three SOG folders recently and even though they were low priced I was extremely dissapointed. I could not find any differences between them and any frost cutlery gas station knife. Definetly Cold Steel.
 
Hello, I'm fairly new here, but want to add my two cents. I haven't liked most of the SOG's I've handled, but I love my SOG Vulcan. I got it on ebay slightly used for about $64 and I think it's great for that price.
I like cold steel blades, I have many I will keep and many I will flip. I love my bushmaster in 01 steel, as well as my SRG and master hunter. I also really like my my large Espada in the aluminum billet and polished G-10 dressing. I just sold my rajah 3 serrated. I know people rave about the lawman, but I don't like it. It's hard to feel great about a knife that small which has to be opened up and filed on just to get it to deploy smoothly.
People will, I'm sure, think I'm crazy, but I don't like blades with big holes in them and thus have never owned a spyderco. I just made a deal $50 incl. S/H for a spyderco Manix 2 just to try a spyderco due to SO MANY RAVE REVIEWS.
I work in the building trades usually, but my new job also involves driving a truck across the country. Bigger knives work for me. The Espada doesn't actually do any work, I just like knowing it's there in my back pocket, just in case.
My favorite pocket knives are
Defensive blades --
Cold Steel large Espada

Larger work/defensive blades --
ZT 0560
Reate D9-A (and I've already worked a deal for a D9-B and a Hills).
This knock off of microtech matrix by wild boar (supposedly) that has an engraving with gold fish on the blade. it was around $100 and kind of heavy with a little extra metal on the nose that seems kinda superfluous to me, but I really like the knife in general. I also keep aquariums so it's nice to see the fish.

Smaller work blades --
Ontario Rat 1 -- (Flies out when you deploy it, smooth in every way, great ergonomics, the blade is a little thin for the length in my opinion, but not a big deal. One of the best knives out there, everybody should own at least one. I will prolly get a Rat 2 soon as well.)
Ontario utilitac 2 (tanto version because it can be choked up on to scrape glass, pull caulking, used as a slight chisel etc. For the money, $25 incl. S/H or so, this is by far the best cheap work knife there is, except for maybe...... )
Kershaw needs work (love this thing, opens and closes with one hand, nice ergonomics, has the cool tentacle design, nice steel blade steel so far. Prolly a slight bit better than the utilitac 2 for the type of work I use it for.)
CRKT tigh coon (The only thing I own that I consider a "gentlemen's" flipper. I love the design and fit in hand. As a work knife? Meh.)
Ganzo G710 (I just got the knife this one copies, the Benchmade 950, in the mail today and I will be sending it back. The benchmade may be made better, but I got it slightly used for $130 on ebay and is it $112 better? I don't think so. the benchmade feels small in the hand and I'd rather put that money into a new Reate. The Benchmade Contego may have been a better decision and I'm thinking I will have to get one in hand to know. The ganzo is really really nice for a knife you can get for around $18 on fasttech or alliexpress. HOWEVER, I have to say that I haven't used it hard yet. Will it hold up? Not sure. Feels great in the hand, love the blade style and it flips with authority. I, personally, don't like knives with too many buttons or gimmicks and a knife with a spring is questionable at best as far as I'm concerned, but I'm gonna keep putting it to task and we shall see.)
Kershaw CQC-7k (I didn't like this at first cuz it's a bit heavy in the handle, due to it being an all steel frame lock, and does not at all fill the role it's advertised to (tactical) IMO, however, as a work knife it's great. It has an easy to sharpen blade and the small size, nice handle (G-10 or GRN? I don't remember) and tanto cut make it easy to choke up on to do detail work with.)
Hinderer XM-18 titanium (?) D2 (?) G-10 (?) $50 knock off from alliexpress. There are so many of these in different price ranges. I was curious to know the difference and understand how that knock off market works so after having this one for many months I bought the $18 one as well. The $50 is much better IMO. I know this may make some of you angry, but knock off or no, and even though I'm not sure what it's really made of, it's a hell of a knife. the perfect size for me, opens effortlessly and cuts well, I love the shape and design and whether it's G-10 or not the scale works well.

Like I said, I'm kinda new here so please, if I offended or made any posting mistakes just tell me and I will make sure to be aware for next postings.

OH, I kinda forgot to talk about the SOG Vulcan. I actually just sold my SOG vulcan today to a friend who loved it so much I couldn't say no. I will buy another one ASAP. I have to admit that it's not a reallyl great knife in any of the roles it could fill, defensive, work etc. but it is all around a good knife and I love the way it looks and opens. It can do work, but it's just not great for the type of work I do. It could be defensive....I guess....Just depends. As a pocket knife that kinda fills all roles, it's great. Fits in the hand well, opens with a flipper, axis lock thing (still don't like that spring), thumb stud and of course the other two ways any knife can be opened. I like the way it fits in hand AND MOST OF ALL, THE BEST THING ABOUT THE VULCAN, this may sound silly and of no consequence, but it has the best pocket clip of any knife I own. Other's don't appreciate the deep carry, but on this knife it works. The amount of space between the clip and knife is perfect. So is the spoon at the end which allows for one to seperate the clip from the pants a bit as pulling the knife out so that it deploys out of the pocket smoothly. The clip holds the knife in my pocket but lets it slide out without catching and tearing up my pockets. Is the Vulcan perfect, No, but it does work all around pretty damn well.
 
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I should just mention that I went to the SOG website and they list the MSRP on that Vulcan as $188.50. Is it worth that? HELLLLLLLL NAWWWWWWW. At $64 it's questionable, but I still really like the knife.
 
Nobody pays retail unless you're stupid. I personally found the Vulcan to be too large for me (have one). I prefer the Mini-Vulcan which I purchased when they were introduced. I slowly moved away from SOGs. I still think they sell/make some pretty good knives. The new stuff just hasn't interested me.

The Vulcan is easily worth $64.
 
Japanese made sog fixed an folders are definitely great knives. Have owned a few over the yrs. The tomcat was a seriously super looking, feeling n using knife especially in the late 80's when it came out compared to what was available back then. Wish I still had em. Cold Steel outdoorsman and big bear classic were the sharpest knives out of the box I've ever seen and are solid quality knives. Their folders never really caught my eye.
 
Thanks for dragging this crap out of the grave. Both companies suck for overseas manufacture and low quality in my opinion.
Although cold steel continues to find new ways of sucking it all the time.
 
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