GSM Outdoors acquires SOG Knives

[bubinga]

Confirmed: https://knifenews.com/gsm-outdoors-acquires-sog-knives/

 

[jlauffer]

Ohhh boy...here we go again!

After seeing CS so far, can't imagine this will be good for SOG, and things with CS may get even worse

 

[Zulus]

Finally some day they all will land in one place :^(
Everyone know where ...

 

[Lee D]

This one doesn’t bother me a bit. Wreck SOG, I won’t care lol

 

[jbmonkey]

Ohhh boy...here we go again!

After seeing CS so far, can't imagine this will be good for SOG, and things with CS may get even worse

my thoughts exactly too.

 

[POCEH KOCEB]

Just saw it on IG, I’ll second jlauffer ’s opinion…

 

[Quiet]

This one doesn’t bother me a bit. Wreck SOG, I won’t care lol

Yep. I can't really name anything current that they make, and the last SOG I bought was over 12 years ago.

 

[mmyron1]

Well. My Seal Pup just became a collectors item I guess. Last quality SOG I remember buying and it was over 12 years ago. The folders have sucked for many many years.

 

[DocJD]

Welp , at least SOG had already gone down the crapper long ago , largely .

Whereas , I still respected Cold Steel ...until !

 

[Stelth]

...could Gerber be next?

 

[sliceofaloha]

I thought my new Talwar post CS sale was quality. I did pass it along because it was not super practical for my needs but it had no issues I could see. For me, the best SOGs are the old fixed blades. If they ever revived those deigns done to the quality I saw in the Talwar they'd have some winners. Love my Agency and Demo!

 

[The Grendels]

It looked they were just starting to get their house in order at SOG with a change of direction last year. It would have been nice to see what they would have done before GSM goes in and purges their entire headquarters, save some guy hiding in a broom closet. GSM are becoming the Borg of American outdoor kit companies.

 

[jlauffer]

...could Gerber be next?

That's what I was thinking too

 

[tltt]

...could Gerber be next?

I don't think Gerber, it doesn't seem to have name appeal anymore like Cold Steel and SOG did/do. And I think Gerber still does well for Fiskars. Both Lynn and Spencer Frazer, they are close to the same age, and neither have kids interested in hanging on to the brand. Sad as it is, it was probably the right time to sell for them.

I think most of the other major brands are safe now, I can't think of any that fall into GSM's wheelhouse and are weak or have older owners now.

 

[jbmonkey]

...could Gerber be next?

when fiskars bought them years ago..... didnt it already kinda happen.....I can't see anything happen worse than fiskars did with the brand......

 

[jbmonkey]

I don't think Gerber, it doesn't seem to have name appeal anymore like Cold Steel and SOG did/do. And I think Gerber still does well for Fiskars. It was the right time to sell for both Lynn and Spencer Frazer they are close to the same age, and neither have kids interested in hanging on to the brand. Sad as it is, it was probably the right time to sell for them.

I think most of the other major brands are safe now, I can't think of any that fall into GSM's wheelhouse and are weak or have older owners now.

Buck as in older owners......but I sure hope not.....

 

[jlauffer]

Wonder if they'll get a goofy mascot like Stickman?

 

[craytab]

SOG was wrecked long ago, mostly after they moved from Seki, but there was a time there in the 2000 when they had a chance where they had most of their stuff made in Taiwan or Seki. The move to cheaper import sourcing made for a money grab after the name, and they've been successfully doing it since, not unlike say, gerber.

I don't think this accusation will change the current trajectory for SOG a bit.

 

[dano]

SOG has been/was redesigning several models, and seemed to be heading away from the SOG of the last ten years, or so. Now that GSM has bought them, they'll begin the decline, once more, which is a shame.

 

[Blue Sky]

Buck as in older owners......but I sure hope not.....

Who's next? Buck was my first thought as well, they are going through some changes of their own that make it not so far-fetched.