My brand hater status revisited...

Bigfatts

Bigfatts

Joined
Mar 12, 2012
Messages
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So for a while now I have been a pretty solid hater of a couple brands. But I've decided my horizons could be a little broader and I'm trying to re-evaluate my haterness. First it was CRKT, then I got a Ripple and loved it. So my opinion of the brand changed a little. Turns out some of their higher end folders are decent. Now while it may be a little while before I hype myself up to try another Cold Steel, I am thinking about giving Sog another try.

I've owned a couple of Sog's assisted knives and thought they were junk (a Twitch and something else- can't remember). But lately a couple of their Arc lock knives have been catching my eye and I am thinking of giving one a whirl. My 2 choices are the Arcitech and the Pendulum. I really like these knives aesthetically speaking and they are made of decent materials. My preference between the 2 is the Arcitech because it can be had with CF scales but that's a hefty chunk of change to drop on something I'm not sure of.

What I'm looking for is specific input on these models- not "Just buy X-knife instead." Does anybody own either of these that can give a little insight as to whether they're worth owning?
 
As much hate as SOG gets, I have to defend the knife I bought for them. The second knife I ever bought was a SOG Mini-Vulcan Tanto, and I just finally sold it recently. In reality, it was a great knife; there were zero QC issues, the lockup and centering were perfect, and it was smoother than pretty much anything I own or have owned. I would recommend the Arcitech based on my experience with the Vulcan. Can't imagine a knife costing three times as much would have QC issues if a $100 didn't.
 
A few years ago I got a chance to handle both Arcitech models at a local knife show. I wasn't crazy about the way the scales were fitted on the bone version , there's a weird cutout in the scale near the back and it looks clumsy. The CF model was first rate in every respect.

I never did buy one, I opted for the Tomcat 3.0. It's bigger and heavier because it's made of steel and not titanium. It also lacks a pocket clip, but it was half the price.

The TC is made in Japan and is very nicely finished. If the Arcitech is made in the same factory as the TC , you can expect a well made knife.
 
The thing with SOG is that the knives with the actual Arc Lock (Vulcan, Pentagon, Visionary, etc) are much better than the ones with the "arc-actuated piston lock" (Aegis, Trident, etc). On their redesigned website, they finally specified the difference between the two locks. The Arc Lock self-adjusts for wear the same way Axis Lock does, so no worries on up-down blade play.

I had a Vulcan, and the there was no up-down play whatsoever. The only thing that may be an issue is blade centering and minimal side play, but both can be user controlled by the pivot.
 
The only thing I have to say about sogs is NEVER EVER TAKE ONE APART. you will not get it back together...........
 
I believe I saw an Architect User in the for sale forum. Might be worth a look to save a benj. Of course it may have sold too I dunno.
 
I've actually looked at the Architect myself and overall it seems like a nice solid knife.

Another knife to look at from SOG in the cheaper range is the SOGZilla.
It's a cheaper made knife, but it is made well. The one I had was solid in every aspect and I was extremely pleased and impressed.
 
Wow, I honestly didn't expect this much positive input! It's nice to hear from people who have owned or handled the models I'm looking at. I will definately be getting one of these. Decisions, decisions...
 
I didnt like leatherman that much (not that I hated them) but I wasn't that impressed with the micro. Just got the wingman. Love Leatherman now. And as for the architect , if you don like it you van always sell it or trade it. :)
 
You're really willing to drop over $200 on an SOG? Yikes... :barf: :barf: :barf:

There are SO many other knives out there. Just my opinion.

I was extremely disappointed with the Vulcan I purchased a few months ago. The FRN handle is too light and the knife is not balanced well at all. The silly SOG cutouts on the handle looked really stupid once it was in my hand, not to mention they serve absolutely no purpose. But the main problem I had with the knife dwarfs these issues. The washers in my Vulcan were somehow too big and actually interfered with the Arc Lock and kept it from closing 100%...I should have taken a picture to show you guys. I could shine a flashlight in the Arc Lock and literally see the edge of the washer getting crushed when it was open. This caused blade play as well and like someone else said you don't really want to go taking apart an SOG knife they're pretty difficult to put back together and the hardware they use (screws) are crappy and strip easier than Benchmade/Spyderco screws.

On that note, go with a Benchmade or Spyderco at that price point you will get a much better product. Benchmade's Axis Lock is a lot better than Arc Lock I think most people would agree with that. Check out the Benchmade 300SN lock test videos...withstands like 600 lbs of force.
 
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T.L. said:
You're really willing to drop over $200 on an SOG? Yikes... :barf: :barf: :barf:

There are SO many other knives out there. Just my opinion.

I was extremely disappointed with the Vulcan I purchased a few months ago. The FRN handle is too light and the knife is not balanced well at all. The silly SOG cutouts on the handle looked really stupid once it was in my hand, not to mention they serve absolutely no purpose. But the main problem I had with the knife dwarfs these issues. The washers in my Vulcan were somehow too big and actually interfered with the Arc Lock and kept it from closing 100%...I should have taken a picture to show you guys. I could shine a flashlight in the Arc Lock and literally see the edge of the washer getting crushed when it was open. This caused blade play as well and like someone else said you don't really want to go taking apart an SOG knife they're pretty difficult to put back together and the hardware they use (screws) are crappy and strip easier than Benchmade/Spyderco screws.
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Huh, that's actually the first problem I've heard of like that since I've been looking into the Arc Lock. Sounds like someone goofed and put the wrong washers in it. Did Sog fix it for you? I agree the handle cutouts with the Sog logo look silly but if I got one with the frn that had the cutouts it would be getting custom scales anyways.

I know there are lots of knives others would prefer in that price range but I really have all my edc/working/zombie apocalypse/whatever knife needs covered with a plethora of quality steel so I thought I'd try something off the beaten path for me.
 
I have much more respect for SOG. Gave my dad a Twitch some years back, every time I see him I have to disassemble it to reconnect the spring and the knife is beat to hell. But it cleans up nice and sharpens well, spring still works good after all these years. A good test of a knife is to give it to your old man you only get to see every year or so haha! Hey, the higher end SOG's are very well made, $150 for a Japanese folder (the Tomcat on a well known, not auction site) with arc lock and VG10? I don't think that's crazy at all.
 
Bigfatts said:
I really have all my edc/working/zombie apocalypse/whatever knife needs covered with a plethora of quality steel so I thought I'd try something off the beaten path for me.
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Then fire away! :D Just sharing my particular experience as it was the most disappointing knife purchase I've made by a longshot.
 
If you haven't at least held, if not used, every single knife a company makes, then how can you "hate" the company? Every manufacturer of anything has good and not so good products. I struggle to think of one that has all terrible or all fantastic. Plus, that rating is subjective anyways.
 
Planetcat said:
If you haven't at least held, if not used, every single knife a company makes, then how can you "hate" the company? Every manufacturer of anything has good and not so good products. I struggle to think of one that has all terrible or all fantastic. Plus, that rating is subjective anyways.
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That's more or less what I've been thinking. I've handled most of their sub-$100 knives at local dealers. Bought a couple before I really got into bladery and was ruined on them. Then I realized- "Hey, they make some pretty decent looking mid-priced folders" and thought I'd re-evaluate my position.
 
I had had ok experience with SOG over the years, the lower end folders are fair but a little overpriced, but the Mini-Vulcan and Vulcan I had were very nice. Blade grinds were very good, extremely sharp out of the box, solid lockup, nice fit and finish, they were just too heavy for my liking. I have handled a few of their other arc-lock models and they were all well made, just overpriced like their less expensive counterparts.
 
Like the OP, after having owned a couple of their lesser knives, I was not really into SOG anymore. The knives I had (trident and aegis) were fine functional knives to be sure but just didn't do it for me.
I recently found a Spec Elite 1 at a particular retailer's "bargain cave" for under sixty and decided it was worth it to give it a try. I have to say that I was very pleasantly suprised by how nice this knife is and by how much I like it.
It is easily one of the smoothest opening knives I've ever had, second probably only to the sebenza. It is very slim and unobtrusive in the pocket, though it could do with a lower riding clip, and is very lightweight. The factory edge was and still is shaving sharp.
I am not a fan of bead blasted finishes but that is my only real complaint. This unexpected find has been bumping alot of stiff competion from my pocket these last couple of months.
Some size comparison pics.

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Bigfatts said:
That's more or less what I've been thinking. I've handled most of their sub-$100 knives at local dealers. Bought a couple before I really got into bladery and was ruined on them. Then I realized- "Hey, they make some pretty decent looking mid-priced folders" and thought I'd re-evaluate my position.
Click to expand...

That's awesome that you're open minded to giving them another try. Otherwise, you'd miss opportunities for companies that maybe come around. The worse though is when you really love the products a company makes and then they come out with something terrible. Hate when that happens.
 
I have always considered CRKT to be the largest supplier of 'gas station' knives around, so to counter my prejudice of CRKT, I bought a Ripple. The top of the line Ripple with the blue anodized handle and the Acuto steel was a knife that I looked forward to trying. Well, the Ripple was the most uncomfortable knife that I have ever handled. It hurt to use the flipper, it hurt to handle the knife and it even hurt to close the blade. I don't hate CRKT, but I'll be ice skating in hell before I will buy another CRKT knife. On the other hand, I own 4 SOG folders (2 Vulcans, Visionary II, Aegis) and have found them all to be quite acceptable.

I suppose the point to it all, is once bitten, twice shy.
 
Update on this. I did snag an Arcitech out of the exchange and recieved it yesterday and I am blown away. It's a used knife but still, the fit and finish is great and the knife is incredibly light. The Arc is also great. It locks up solid as any Axis I've owned and there is 0 blade play. It's also one of the smoothest non-bearing knives I've ever handled. I went to take some pics and found the batteries in my camera dead so as soon as I get some fresh ones I'll get some up.

I'm very glad I took the plunge. Thinking about having the blade stonewashed and the bolsters done satin.
 
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