quality of SOG

L

larrytwohig

Joined
Dec 6, 2002
Messages
395
Was thinking of picking up a SEAL 2000, but I was in a store today and handled the Trident... suprisingly, upon closer inspection, the craftsmanship seemed kinda shoddy, with the grind being lopsided, and the lines in general on the blade not being very even. Any input on SOG quality, especially on the SEAL 37? Was this particular knife that I looked at an exception, or is this the norm for SOG? Rather disappointing considering the price-tag!
 
IMHO, SOG make very good quality Production blades...:D

Would have no problem forking over some doe for one...ore two;)
 
Hi..

I'll second that...

I've handled quite a few SOG's and own several myself...
I haven't noticed Anything like that on any of the knives I own or have worked on...

Something that may have slipped by QC maybe ??!!

ttyle

Eric...
 
I have a seal 2000, I think the only thing it would be good for is stabbing something, or used as a prybar... It's too thick to cut anything quickly and the steel, I believe, 440 doesn't hold much of an egde in my experience. The grinds on mine were not bad, but like I said, its real thick...
 
I say, the one you handled was an "exception" ( as opposed to "rule")
I've handled MANY SOG knive(s)( even
own their "Pentagon Elite";)) If you
want a "good deal" on SOG knive(s)
try :

www.cutleryshoppe.com

( The Cutlery Shoppe )

Or, you may query the owner, Ron :

ron@sogknives.com

They ( SOG ) are "right up there"
with the "big boys" IMO

AET ;)
 
Larry,

SOG is very concerned with the quality of their products, aftersales service, and their customer's concerns which is why they maintain a forum in the Makers/Mfgs section. In fact, Ron@SOG is arguably the most dedicated company rep/moderator and visits the SOG forum frequently to answer questions. He's also a knife nut so it's his job and his hobby...Lucky guy!

You should go to the SOG Forum and let them know if you've seen shoddy looking SOG products. That's very rare for SOG. I recently asked what the return rate for Visions were for omega spring breakages and Ron says zero in the two years the Vision has been released. That's pretty impressive.
 
I think he loves his SOGs as much as he likes his Glocks.

Also, Ron here is a bigwig at SOG so you know you've got some pull at Customer Service there.
 
Originally posted by MelancholyMutt
I think he loves his SOGs as much as he likes his Glocks.
...
Click to expand...
Yup, that's right :). I have 2 SOG Tridents (well, actually one, as the other one is gone on a recent trade), and BOTH are excellent examples of SOG quality. Both have perfect grind-lines, and the fit & finish on both are impeccable, (as are my other 8 SOG knives & multi-tools).

BTW...My Seal 2000 is also perfect.:).
 
while we're at it, can I get a SOG Bowie without the 5th Special Forces Logo on it? Great knife, but I feel like a Poseur with the logo.
 
Hi Larrytwohig,
Originally posted by larrytwohig
Was thinking of picking up a SEAL 2000, but I was in a store today and handled the Trident... suprisingly, upon closer inspection, the craftsmanship seemed kinda shoddy, with the grind being lopsided, and the lines in general on the blade not being very even. Any input on SOG quality, especially on the SEAL 37? Was this particular knife that I looked at an exception, or is this the norm for SOG? Rather disappointing considering the price-tag!
Click to expand...
I'm sorry for your rather dismal first contact with our company. The description you've outline here does not sound indicative of the standards we have set for our company. Accordingly, that Trident should be sent back to us for replacement.

If you have any questions/concerns, I would be more than happy to personally address those via email or phone at 888.SOG.BEST or 425.771.6230, ext. 228. Or visit the SOG Forum and address your concerns there. I’ll most easily see them in that Forum.


MelancholyMutt: The “Sterile Bowies” are no longer in production. We make them in honor of the fine members of the 5th Special Forces personnel that served in the Vietnam War. I personally wouldn’t feel like a “Poseur” carrying this knife with this mindset.
 
back in the early ninety's I had a sog bowie that the finish was quite good. I bought three x-rays (arclocs) last year and all three had bad blade play, and workmanship was substandard.
 
i have a couple of vision series knives, and i must say, the workmanship is EXCELLENT and they are VERY NICE knives(right up there with benchmade, emerson and spyderco) as far as blade play, that is to be adjusted to your liking with a T-6 torx driver. to say-
"last year and all three had bad blade play, and workmanship was substandard."
is like saying the car was a lemon because it ran out of gas. it is up to the owner to "maintain" the product and make "minor" adjustments(thats why they sell tools at sears, for dummies like me:)
 
Very good knife for the $$$.., and although I don't care for many of the designs myself.., the few that I've had have been excellent users.

I think wat you saw was something that slipped by QC as mentioned..., not "the norm" for SOG....


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
I have an old Air-SOG folder and a Tsunami. Both are very well made. I've even done a little throwing with the Air-SOG(yeah, I know...bad thing to do). The only damage it received was when it hit the concrete floor. A little chipping of the blade that was easily removed with some sharpening.
 
wayne, they were new. car is a lemon because it ran out of gas I do not know how you concluded that? please read again.
 
please explain "workmanship was substandard."
blade play is EASILY adjusted. some people like their blades tight, some loose, some in between. SOG does have a LIFETIME WARRANTY. i have several knives in the vision line-up and all are exceptional quality!
what i was getting at is this, some people buy a new car, even though there is nothing wrong with the car, the first thing they do is put in a new stereo, different wheels, custom paint job, etc, etc. ALL of my knives have some sort of personal customization, whether it is the blade tightness, pocket clip, or smoothing of the action(even to the point of just a good oiling). sometimes things are not mass produced "exactly" the way i want it to function or what i would percieve as substandard workmanship, others percieve as top quality..., because as it turns out, it was EXACTLY manufactured as they themselves would have designed it. as for me, i could say EVERYTHING i buy is substandard. why? because, no matter what it is, i "have to" add my personal "touch" to make..., whatever it is, to perform to MY liking.
just thought i would try to clear that up...
 
SOG is one of my favorite brands of personal cutlery. I got my first SOG (a paratool) when I was 14 and have been a loyal customer ever since. I find thier quality to excede most of the popular brands of knives today. Though I also find thier selection of designs to be a bit limited, I like most of them a lot. I have never had one fail me.

Like all production companies there is going to be some inconsistancy in quality control. Like Spyderco, CRKT and others they are someimes made by different factories like the ones in Seki Japan.

IMO if you can fix horizontal bladeplay by turning a wrench a couple of times then the knife is not of poor quality. If it is a issue where the action is way too stiff after youve eliminated the bladeplay, or if it is vertical...then thats the "lemon".
 
blade play was vertical, as far as the substandard quality the handles were formed crooked, had places in the handle that were not filled in (when molded). Hence they were "lemons" in your terminlogy. I make folders, and fixed blades and Im quite aware how to fix "side to side" blade play. What was wrong was the way the blade tangs were ground, it didnt matter how much you played with the pivot screw, it would'nt have made a difference. Now please do not be mistaken, as it sounds like you are. I have nothing against sog, Im only relating my experience with these three folders I had of the same model (I had bought at one time).
 
thanks for clearing that up for me:) it sure sounds like "lemons" to me...,
if you still have them, i would send them in for inspection and for new knives. personally, i like the size of the mini x- ray's, you don't even know they are in your pocket(yes, sometimes i carry 2 knives in one pocket when i can not make up my mind).
SOG customer service is one of the best things about SOG. they REALLY take care of ya!
i don't know what happened to quality control to let 3 "escape" the factory in that condition, but i would let them know about it and send them back for new x-rays. they really are nice...
 
well I had sent them back the day after they came to me in the mail. I would have loved to keep those knives had they been in better shape. The poor finish of the three I had was not the issue that made me send them back, it was the blade play that wasnt acceptable in any form. if I have a folder that does not have good lockup, it never leaves my shop!!!! I understand though, of course, with factory produced knives, you cannot make the mark 100% of the time. I really liked the design, but that problem kinda soured that particualr knife for me. what really made me weasry though, was that all three had the proble. Out of them, only one wasnt too bad (compared to the others).
 
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