I just got my SOG Pillar in, and boy am I disappointed. What a letdown.

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Buck factory tour. Fast forward to 4:20 to see how they sharpen their knives. I’m sure all production lines are more or less the same.

They spend about 30 seconds sharpening each knife. They cant afford to spend more time on each blade at their price point. Time is money.
 
If the Op’s knife is really that dull he should send it back. My 3 Sogs have all been shaving sharp out of the box. The Tech Bowie is one of the absolute sharpest knives out of the box I’ve ever bought. Aside from that, the 2 fixed blades have some of the most precise grinds I’ve seen on knives at any price point. Both sides look like mirror images of each other and all the lines match up looking down the spine or any other angle. The Flash II AT or whatever it’s called has a bit of an uneven bevel on the clip side between the belly and the tip but is still shaving sharp and I’ll fix it the first time I sharpen it. Knives should be sharp out of the box. They’re supposed to cut stuff.
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In my opinion, knives SHOULD be sharp out of the box, but it’s not a deal breaker to me if they aren’t…

I am a used knife buyer. I am an eBay auction stalker. My game is to get the deal faster than the next guy. If the knife isn’t sharp, I’ve found that it rarely affects the value given proper disclosure.

However, a knife new from the factory is a different matter. What factory knife in the box says “not sharp”? I’d naturally expect something from a reputable manufacturer to come with at least a paper-slicing edge. It doesn’t have to be great, doesn’t have to be perfect. Good enough.

But. It’s not worth starting a thread over unless one wanted to reach out to others with SOG experience to see if this is a normal thing, and to decide whether or not to keep buying SOGs.

If so, do so.

Personally, it would depend for me. Maybe I would buy a SOG, maybe I wouldn’t.

In any case, I’m spending too much typing on a fairly pointless post. Curse my writer’s thumbs.

Adios.
 
Watch, in 5 years, knives will come without an edge...the slogan is "sharpen your knife however angle you want! WOW! So you'll never bi- I mean complain about the factory edge again!"

Just you wait!
 
Paratrooper06 said:
Agreed. I think there are particular brands (SOG, CRKT, for example) where the more you pay doesn’t mean more hands on work for quality and function. Some of these brands slap micarta or copper on the knife bump up the steel, and charge an extra $100-$150.

If I’m paying $200 for a knife, that sucker better pop out of the box ready for years of uninterrupted use. I get that assurance from Spyderco and Benchmade. Not so much SOG. Benchmade, Spyderco, and ZT/Kershaw regularly send out knives with sharp edges that dull immediately because the steel at the edge is fatigued. In fact, I would wager this happens more often than not.
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Paratrooper06 said:
Agreed. I think there are particular brands (SOG, CRKT, for example) where the more you pay doesn’t mean more hands on work for quality and function. Some of these brands slap micarta or copper on the knife bump up the steel, and charge an extra $100-$150.

If I’m paying $200 for a knife, that sucker better pop out of the box ready for years of uninterrupted use. I get that assurance from Spyderco and Benchmade. Not so much SOG.
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Kershaw/ZT, Spyderco, and Benchmade routinely send out knives with sharp edge that dull immediately due to fatigued steel from machine sharpening. In fact, I’d wager this happens more often than not. If you’re using a knife from any of the big three for “years” with “uninterrupted use”, then I’m not sure what you’re cutting, but whatever it is probably doesn’t require an edge.
 
Murdamook said:
Kershaw/ZT, Spyderco, and Benchmade routinely send out knives with sharp edge that dull immediately due to fatigued steel from machine sharpening. In fact, I’d wager this happens more often than not. If you’re using a knife from any of the big three for “years” with “uninterrupted use”, then I’m not sure what you’re cutting, but whatever it is probably doesn’t require an edge.
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Spyderco, Benchmade, and Kershaw/ZT will make it right if you get a bad edge. You really want to have to send in a knife to SOG for repair? Yes, the average person can go a year or more with an s30v knife without needing a tuneup from the factory.

Here is a hard to swallow pill: Just because you sharpen your knives every weekend, doesn’t mean the average person needs to. A sharpening hobby doesn’t dictate a necessity. Know this.

I gifted a Sheriff’s deputy an s30v pm2 and he only needs me to sharpen it for him once a year. I welcome you to go tell him he doesn’t need a knife. Be my guest.
 
I think I'm with the majority here; paper slicing out of the box isn't a big deal. Sure, it's nice.

IMHO, the grind and heat treatment are 100% more important than paper cutting out of the box. As long as the grinds are even & good, along with the ht, not much else matters.

Having said that, any knives I've purchased only required some stropping & compound, I've never had to get stones or a sharpmaker involved
 
Paratrooper06 said:
Spyderco, Benchmade, and Kershaw/ZT will make it right if you get a bad edge. You really want to have to send in a knife to SOG for repair? Yes, the average person can go a year or more with an s30v knife without needing a tuneup from the factory.

Here is a hard to swallow pill: Just because you sharpen your knives every weekend, doesn’t mean the average person needs to. A sharpening hobby doesn’t dictate a necessity. Know this.

I gifted a Sheriff’s deputy an s30v pm2 and he only needs me to sharpen it for him once a year. I welcome you to go tell him he doesn’t need a knife. Be my guest.
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Your biggest issue is that you’re painting with a broad brush. The main complaint about this thread is about the OP and his penchant for extreme hyperbole and a lack of pictures. Did someone mention that they wish they could get a knife to come without a primary apex? Yes. Did they also imply that this should be the case for every knife and every user? No, they didn’t. Yet you proceeded forward as though they had. You used absurd counter arguments like under-inflated tires and uncooked food to try (and fail) to make your point.

Now, on to how you’ve addressed me: I never stated that I spent every week sharpening, nor did I imply anyone should. I also never faulted anyone for being upset about a dull edge, simply that if you have the means and knowledge, you should sharpen it yourself.

As for one of the big three “making it right”: when their factory edges come burnt to a crisp on most production specimens, why the hell would I send my knife to them to correct the apex?
 
Murdamook said:
Your biggest issue is that you’re painting with a broad brush. The main complaint about this thread is about the OP and his penchant for extreme hyperbole and a lack of pictures. Did someone mention that they wish they could get a knife to come without a primary apex? Yes. Did they also imply that this should be the case for every knife and every use? No, they didn’t. Yet you proceeded forward as though they had. You used absurd counter arguments like under-inflated tires and uncooked food to try (and fail) to make your point.

Now, on to how you’ve addressed me: I never stated that I spent every week sharpening, nor did I imply anyone should. I also never faulted anyone for being upset about a dull edge, simply that if you have the means and knowledge, you should sharpen it yourself.

As for one of the big three “making it right”: when their factory edges come burnt to a crisp on most production specimens, why the hell would I send me knife to them to correct the apex?
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Did you or did you not attempt to belittle Spyderco, Benchmade, and Kershaw/ZT with your “whataboutist” response? You think just because Spyderco and Benchmade get it wrong SOME of the time and back things up with a solid warranty that it justifies you defending SOGs reputation for poor quality control?

Also, did you or did you not attempt to insult me with your remark about “not needing an edge” if I expect a knife to last me a year without maintenance?

Listen, I can play this game with you all day. But don’t start backpedaling when you get snippy and I fire back. Two can play that game.
 
Paratrooper06 said:
Did you or did you not attempt to belittle Spyderco, Benchmade, and Kershaw/ZT with your “whataboutist” response? You think just because Spyderco and Benchmade get it wrong SOME of the time and back things up with a solid warranty that it justifies you defending SOGs reputation for poor quality control?

Also, did you or did you not attempt to insult me with your remark about “not needing an edge” if I expect a knife to last me a year without maintenance?

Listen, I can play this game with you all day. But don’t start backpedaling when you get snippy and I fire back. Two can play that game.
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Oooh. I’m excited. My “whataboutist” response was a direct follow up to you invoking the names of those manufacturers, so don’t play that game with me. I never defended SOG for sending out dull knives, and if that is what you got from my posts, then perhaps you should go back to high school and take an intro English course so you can learn to read for understanding. I simply stated that I wouldn’t bitch on GKD about a dull edge, I’d just sharpen it.

And yes, if you honestly have knives with factory edges from the big three that you’re using regularly, uninterrupted, for one to two years without even a touch up, then you’re not cutting anything that needs an edge.

What use is a “solid warranty” on an edge that comes fatigued? Again, why would I send my knife back to the manufacturer just for them to remove steel and fatigue the new apex? At some point “some of the time” becomes too frequent to not be a regular occurrence.

I await your pedantic reply.
 
Murdamook said:
Oooh. I’m excited. My “whataboutist” response was a direct follow up to you invoking the names of those manufacturers, so don’t play that game with me. I never defended SOG for sending out dull knives, and if that is what you got from my posts, then perhaps you should go back to high school and take an intro English course so you can learn to read for understanding. I simply stated that I wouldn’t bitch on GKD about a dull edge, I’d just sharpen it.

And yes, if you honestly have knives with factory edges from the big three that you’re using regularly, uninterrupted, for one to two years without even a touch up, then you’re not cutting anything that needs an edge.

What use is a “solid warranty” on an edge that comes fatigued? Again, why would I send my knife back to the manufacturer just for them to remove steel and fatigue the new apex? At some point “some of the time” becomes too frequent to not be a regular occurrence.

I await your pedantic reply.
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Nah, I’m done with you. I really grow bored quickly with people that scoff at other members with regard to things like sharpening skill and knife use. Once you began mocking me for assuming no one uses a knife for a year uninterrupted ever used their knife. I just can’t take you seriously when you make remarks like that. Spyderco and Benchmade are better companies and have better warranties that SOG, and SOG shouldn’t send knives out to customers that need shappening.

Enjoy the last word.
 
Paratrooper06 said:
Nah, I’m done with you. I really grow bored quickly with people that scoff at other members with regard to things like sharpening skill and knife use. Once you began mocking me for assuming no one uses a knife for a year uninterrupted ever used their knife. I just can’t take you seriously when you make remarks like that. Spyderco and Benchmade are better companies and have better warranties that SOG, and SOG shouldn’t send knives out to customers that need shappening.

Enjoy the last word.
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Thanks, I will. Is the implication here that I think SOG is a better company than Spyderco or Benchmade? Because I’m certain those words have never been uttered or typed. I simply said that I wouldn’t use their warranties for sharpening a knife with a fatigued edge. I also never said SOG should send out dull knives. It’s annoying, but not shocking that I’d have to repeat this to you once again.
 
Murdamook said:
Kershaw/ZT, Spyderco, and Benchmade routinely send out knives with sharp edge that dull immediately due to fatigued steel from machine sharpening.
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Idk about the other brands but that’s not true for ZT. I’ve used their S30V, S35VN and Elmax with great results.
Edit: obviously the edge doesn’t last a year or 2, but in my use it was about 2x longer than cpm154 and N690.
 
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