I don't own a SOG?!?

I don't own a SOG either. I haven't seen one I would want . Of course "modern" folders are not my thing, I prefer traditional knives.
 
I do. I have an AirSOG that I bought years ago. I wanted a Tomcat but my wife (now ex-wife) was complaining about the few dollars difference so I got a AirSOG instead. Don't carry it much anymore because I have gotten away from clip blades.

I also have a Flash 2 that I don't carry much but, I have to admit that it makes a great steak knife!
 
The only SOG folder I've found that I liked is the vulcan and mini vulcan. I never got it though because of the frn handles. That's a deal breaker for me personally. It's a really nice looking knife though.
 
I had a Pentagon Elite 2 many years ago. It was garbage. Blade play in all directions and the edge hit the backspacer. I don't remember how many times the lock spring broke on that thing (at least 4 times). I must say that SOG was great about sending me replacement springs, though.

After they had a line heavily "inspired" by Spyderco's design, I wrote them off completely.

I was given a SOG tomahawk as a gift recently and it's a fun piece of kit. We'll see how it holds up.
 
Armadew said:
After they had a line heavily "inspired" by Spyderco's design, I wrote them off completely.
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To that point in time, I had purchased a lot of SOGs and then they did the hole thing. They also started a Chinese manufactured line, but at least they were identifiable and cheaper. The Revolver was one model that I liked that was shifted to Chinese manufacture. But if it was not selling well, at least they continued to make it.

These steps caused me to dismiss SOG from serious consideration and I stopped buying their stuff. In hind sight, the Chinese manufacturing shift was predictable and I don't look unfavorably on that specific business decision any more. The hole thing has been adopted by other companies as well.

My last purchase was an Access Card 2.0 (Seki VG-10) which I like and use frequently. That doesn't change the fact that many of their blades are quite useful and pretty well designed.
 
SOG's designs really haven't appealed to me much since the late 90's, early 2000's.

Even with their old designs, still made in Seki, the quality has gone down. Even though they maybe still make the same model, they have changed some of it.

I have an old, abused, mini X-Ray Vision in ATS-34, with the then new Arc-lock. I got it for my birthday in 1997 or 98. I also owned a Pentagon Elite liner lock.

Loved both of these knives, arc lock was super tight, smooth. I lost the Pentagon circa 2004.

In 2010, I broke the clip on the X-Ray. SOG sent me a new one immediately, but upon receiving it, it did not fit my knife. I visited my local gun store, and handled a new one. The handle was slightly large, different logo, lots of texturing to the smoothness of the original, VG-10 (which is an upgrade) and the arc lock was gritty (I tried 2 different ones, NIB) and there was lots of blade play. I was quite disappointed.

While there, I purchased a Trident with a satin clip point to check out assisted opening. I ended up with two of them, and an aluminum handled flash 1. I expected the sloppiness/grittiness of the arc lock, but what I didn't realize is that the Trident is NOT an arc lock. I sold one and eventually gave away the other and the flash here on the forums. Couldn't stand the jiggle of the "arc actuator" freely floating while the knife was closed and clipped. Here was a knife that was blacked out, black low ride clip, but you could hear me coming a mile away. No thanks.

Summer of 2013, I decided to buy another PE 1, since I had missed my old one for so long. I did heavy research on VG-10, (how I found BF) and pulled the trigger. It was nothing like the one I had. I sold it here, and will never own another SOG folder again.

To me, folder wise, they have become another CRKT. Cool and unique designs, flawed execution and/or inflated price. That is not true for all SOG's or all CRKT's, but most IMO.

The one fixed blade I have, is the Seal Pup. Beast of a knife. Mostly retired now, but I got a good solid 12 or so years out of it.
 
Armadew said:
I had a Pentagon Elite 2 many years ago. It was garbage. Blade play in all directions and the edge hit the backspacer. I don't remember how many times the lock spring broke on that thing (at least 4 times). I must say that SOG was great about sending me replacement springs, though.
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I don't know if I'd ever trust one of their folders. I do like their fixed blades, though.
 
I have a couple of their cheap hawks and the Snarl(I wasn't willing to pay $100 for Brous' version, I'm fine paying $30 for the SOG), but that's about it. I've handled several of their folders and they just didn't feel high quality, plus a LOT of their designs just look uninspiring to me. I've seem several that developed blade play after very little use, as well, plus several are overpriced for the materials(the SOG Trident, AUS-8, FRN, Arc Lock, 3.7 inch blade, $80? I could get a Cold Steel Voyager, with the same materials, the Triad lock, and, if desired, a bigger blade, for a fair bit less). As for their fixed blades, they do have some designs I like there, but most of them seem rather high priced for what you're getting, as well. I mean, the SOG Bowie 2.0 is a nice looking knife, but still, $150 for an 6.4 inch AUS-8 blade? I mean damn, for that kinda money, I could get a classic Ka-bar, something nice from Ontario's Spec Plus line, AND still have enough left over for a couple Moras, or a Leek, or maybe something from Condor...all GOOD stuff, not cheap junk!
 
The price versus materials is generally the "rub" after you start to develop a fundamental understanding of steels used in factory knives. Honestly, AUS-8 is not that bad a steel... easy to sharpen, holds an edge well enough.... but it does not compare very well to many newer steels. Some might question whether AUS-8 is worse than 1095 carbon steel used in many of the Kabar's and Ontario's.
 
22-rimfire said:
The price versus materials is generally the "rub" after you start to develop a fundamental understanding of steels used in factory knives. Honestly, AUS-8 is not that bad a steel... easy to sharpen, holds an edge well enough....
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AUS-8 has never impressed me with it's edge holding, though I don't have a problem with AUS-8 either. I do however, have a problem with AUS-8 for $150. If you don't like the 1095 Ka-bar uses, you could easily replace the Ka-bar in my example with "Cold Steel Marauder/Boar Hunter/OSS/OSI" in AUS-8 or the new Leathernecks in D2...
 
After reading this, I realized I have never owned a SOG. I went to the google and checked them out. I could not find one design in folders that appealed to me. Some of the fixed blades are okay. But, I don't like the giant SOG they want to stick on them, plus other stuff. Not for me.
 
i have an SOG Trident that ive carried in the rotation for some years now, its a pretty sweet knife in my opinion. mine doesnt rattle or make any noise. i love the blade shape and the assist action is pretty nice. i whish the handle didnt have that rope cutting slot built into it, but it still feels great in the hand. tridents are pretty cheap nowadays, if you can get one with no play or issues its a great knife.

i also took a chance on a SOG Aegis since i liked the look, and i got a good one with no play or issues. the Aegis is pretty nice too, and not expensive. if you order one, ask the dealer to inspect the knife for you to make sure it has no play or issues.
 
I own one SOG, a SealPup. It's a fairly good knife for what it is. It's not a Busse, Grayman, or ESEE, but it will work fine in an emergency situation. Comes with a pretty good plastic/kydex sheath and a belt clip. Can't ask for more than that for about $50.
 
RevDevil said:
I own one SOG, a SealPup. It's a fairly good knife for what it is. It's not a Busse, Grayman, or ESEE, but it will work fine in an emergency situation. Comes with a pretty good plastic/kydex sheath and a belt clip. Can't ask for more than that for about $50.
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Ive actually been EDCing a plain edge Satin Elite a couple times a week using a G-clip IWB. Got it at a steal off the exchange. Fantastic little knife:

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I own a lot of SOGs. Mostly Fixed blades, mostly Sekis, and if not Seki then at least their more classic designs. Most of the stuff they are coming out with in the last couple years looks like complete mallninja wannabe stuff to me. I wouldn't touch most of their current lineup.

Yes some of their Fixed blades are overpriced for the material. That said, you can find great deals on them here and there that make them much more worth it. Their Seki folders I have had all were great. If they had G10 handles they would be as functionally good as my Benchmades but for less money IMO. I have had some of their SAT folders. Most have blade play. There is much better knives for the money. However it was the SOG Flash II that I EDCed for 3 years that got me into this hobby so I can't really hate them.
 
Yep, the SOG Seal Pup Elite is a good general purpose knife. I have the plain edge like you. SOGs were where I started really buying a lot of different knives and experimenting. Never had an assisted folder until I got a SOG (Blink and both Twitches). Never had a flipper until I got the Vulcan. SOGs taught me that I do not like partially serrated edges. I have grown past their stuff for the most part, but I still have a soft spot for some SOG knives.
 
I don't own any of their folders but in the early 2000's I purchased a Mini Tsunami and have been very happy with the knife. I don't know much about the history of the knife but if the quality is the same I would check out some of their fixed blades.
 
VTRonin said:
I don't own any of their folders but in the early 2000's I purchased a Mini Tsunami and have been very happy with the knife. I don't know much about the history of the knife but if the quality is the same I would check out some of their fixed blades.
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I also have a mini Tsunami made in Seki. Some of the quality now is a bit better (due to AUS8 over AUS6) but most of it is much worse. Generally many of the knives that have a linage to the Seki days are still good (think Seal Pup, Seal Team, Tech Bowie, etc...), though some are expensive so shop around. You can also find used Seki models around.
 
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