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emerson vs SOG quality ?
- Thread starter picard
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picard said:
No...actually Emerson's 153CM holds an edge much better than SOG's AUS-8.
And most people (including me) prefer G-10 over cheap Zytel/FRN.
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actually, Emerson's steels (a lot of 154CM) stomps a mud-hole in SOG's steels, which, in the case of the Trident and Flash II, is a lowly AUS-8.
abe m.
abe m.
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They are both well built knives, but 154CM will always stomp AUS-6 or AUS-8.
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SOG Flash II- FRN handle, no liners, AUS8 steel.
Emerson (any model)- G10 scales, Aerospace grade Titanium liners, 154CM steel.
Both are well made knives- but you are really comparing two different classes of knives (priced accordingly). Apples and oranges if you ask me.
Emerson (any model)- G10 scales, Aerospace grade Titanium liners, 154CM steel.
Both are well made knives- but you are really comparing two different classes of knives (priced accordingly). Apples and oranges if you ask me.
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I don't have the SOG Trident, but I had both the Flash I & II. I got rid of them quickly. However, trying comparing the SOG Vision or Night Vision (not the X-Ray series) with anything that Emerson sells. IMHO, both are two of the best quality production knives ever made! 
gotta go with the emerson on this one. i've never owned a sog folder, but i've got a seal pup and my younger brother had a vision. he managed to break it.
of coarse my younger brother is the ultimate acid test for knives. he also broke his spydie endura and arc welded MY bob lum bm folder to the f**king starter of his car by crossing something he shouldn't have, so this shouldn't by taken to suggest the quality of the knife. (my fault on the lum folder of clearly for letting him touch it) all this just running a movie theater.
my younger younger brother took his knife to iraq and barley hurt it. he did have a tops though and they are pretty hard to hurt.
of coarse my younger brother is the ultimate acid test for knives. he also broke his spydie endura and arc welded MY bob lum bm folder to the f**king starter of his car by crossing something he shouldn't have, so this shouldn't by taken to suggest the quality of the knife. (my fault on the lum folder of clearly for letting him touch it) all this just running a movie theater.
my younger younger brother took his knife to iraq and barley hurt it. he did have a tops though and they are pretty hard to hurt.
Picard,
I have to agree that you're comparing two different classes of knife here. It kind of gets to where you are between "want" and "need" and what price you're after. Emerson products promise more performance at about 2-3x the price of the SOG. For pedestrian chores and pure function, there ain't a lot of things you can cut with one that you can't cut with the other.
Of course, the preferred answer without any household budget constraints is..."both."
I have to agree that you're comparing two different classes of knife here. It kind of gets to where you are between "want" and "need" and what price you're after. Emerson products promise more performance at about 2-3x the price of the SOG. For pedestrian chores and pure function, there ain't a lot of things you can cut with one that you can't cut with the other.
Of course, the preferred answer without any household budget constraints is..."both."
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picard said:
It holds an edge pretty well, not as long as some expensive high-tech steels, but significantly better than most others. With minimal care it's fairly resistant to corrosion (I wouldn't prefer a 154CM blade on a diving knife though) and plenty tough. Unlike some of the high-tech steels mentioned above, it can be resharpened in the field, though not as easily as fairly soft plain carbon steel for example.
154CM and ATS-34 (its Japanese equivalent) are good steels for most applications since their composition is well-balanced and they have no major weaknesses.
AUS-8 (a.k.a. 8A) is easier to sharpen, but it performs much worse in the edge-holding department.
AUS-8 is a bit more rust-resistant - however, it's debatable whether that really makes a difference since different blade finishes can easily negate that advantage. CRKT's bead-blasted AUS-8, for example, is much more prone to corrosion that Emersons coated 154CM blades.
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If you look at SOG's best folder, the Vision, you'll find production quality comparable to the Emersons. It's ATS-34, comparable to 154 CM.
I feel that Emerson's biggest advantage over SOG is the designs. Emersons folders are really well designed; world-class fighter design, I would venture. SOG's designs are hit-and-miss, sometimes seeming to substitute gimmicks for design elegance. I really wish SOG would do a collaboration with a good custom maker. Bringing the Vision in again, I wish they'd do a clip point version, but the design is sound, not as gimmicky as some of their other stuff.
SOG's advantage over Emerson is that Emerson's liner locks are solidly mediocre, whereas the Arc Lock seems rock solid. I say "seems" because we get very few reports about them either way. But the Arc Lock on my Vision is very sound.
In my opinion: SOG has the potential to move into Emerson's league, if only they took Vision-class production values and the Arc lock and applied it to better designs (a collaboration would be best!). Emerson could move even further out of reach if they'd switch lock formats.
Joe
I feel that Emerson's biggest advantage over SOG is the designs. Emersons folders are really well designed; world-class fighter design, I would venture. SOG's designs are hit-and-miss, sometimes seeming to substitute gimmicks for design elegance. I really wish SOG would do a collaboration with a good custom maker. Bringing the Vision in again, I wish they'd do a clip point version, but the design is sound, not as gimmicky as some of their other stuff.
SOG's advantage over Emerson is that Emerson's liner locks are solidly mediocre, whereas the Arc Lock seems rock solid. I say "seems" because we get very few reports about them either way. But the Arc Lock on my Vision is very sound.
In my opinion: SOG has the potential to move into Emerson's league, if only they took Vision-class production values and the Arc lock and applied it to better designs (a collaboration would be best!). Emerson could move even further out of reach if they'd switch lock formats.
Joe
have ya ever compared an EKI and a SOG side by side? if so the diffs should be apparent, imho the EKI's are much better than the SOG's in both looks and features, just a lot better knife overall, fit/finish is better, i have several EKI's and have never felt the need to own a SOG. well actually some of the assisted opening ones are ok for the $$, but an emerson they are not...........
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Sifu, have you ever held on of the high-end SOG Visions? That particular knife impressed me as being Grade A production, up with anyone. Would be interested if you felt the same. Agree that some of the other ones are a notch below
picard, Emersons are more expensive for a number of reasons. First and foremost, you always pay for a big reputation and a big name, and Emerson has both. His name has more cachet than anyone's but Strider's, IMO. You also pay more when there's a higher demand and lower supply, and some models of Emerson's are sometimes difficult to kept supplied up.
Beyond that, of course, you're paying for the things sifu mentioned, starting with Emerson's wonderful designs, and down to fit-and-finish, and materials. And the Wave, and Emerson exclusive. I personally don't think those items justify a higher price than (say) a high-end Benchmade -- it's the name that bumps things higher than that.
Joe
picard, Emersons are more expensive for a number of reasons. First and foremost, you always pay for a big reputation and a big name, and Emerson has both. His name has more cachet than anyone's but Strider's, IMO. You also pay more when there's a higher demand and lower supply, and some models of Emerson's are sometimes difficult to kept supplied up.
Beyond that, of course, you're paying for the things sifu mentioned, starting with Emerson's wonderful designs, and down to fit-and-finish, and materials. And the Wave, and Emerson exclusive. I personally don't think those items justify a higher price than (say) a high-end Benchmade -- it's the name that bumps things higher than that.
Joe
Just my two cents on steels, I don't like AUS6 or AUS8 with regards to corrosion resistance. Based my my experience with several CRKTs, I would not pay more than ~$50 for a carry knife in AUS6 or 8.
I don't really care strongly one way or the other as for edge holding... I enjoy sharpening knives. AUS8 was fine in that department though more premium steels are obviously better.
I don't own any Emersons or recent SOG but I've played with a couple SOGs that left me impressed... but not impressed enough to buy.
I don't really care strongly one way or the other as for edge holding... I enjoy sharpening knives. AUS8 was fine in that department though more premium steels are obviously better.
I don't own any Emersons or recent SOG but I've played with a couple SOGs that left me impressed... but not impressed enough to buy.
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I agree with Joe Talmadge 100%!!! Emerson knives have better designs and materials in my opinion but I will never buy another b/c of their poorly executed liners.. (Well, maybe the HD-7)
I would recommend trying to handle the model your after first. I have heard reports of dissatisfied Emerson fans over the switch to a new ceramic coating as well so be advised.
I would recommend trying to handle the model your after first. I have heard reports of dissatisfied Emerson fans over the switch to a new ceramic coating as well so be advised.
Emerson have always made fine crafted, quality strong knives. I own an Emerson Bowie and a Camillus Titanium Dominator. They are nearly comparable in price - the S30V Camillus is in the $140 range street while the Emerson 154CM is $160 street. When you put the two side by side, the Emerson is obviously the more solid and better made knife, with a superior assisted opening mechanism. Emersons quality have given their name value - not the other way around.
WYK
WYK