SOG QUESTION: ANY OTHER SERIOUS SOG COLLECTORS OUT THERE?

[OnlySOG]

Wow... Well once again, I have nothing for sale as a dealer. If I came across as a dealer, in my original post or any post pls forgive me.
Now it’s my turn. I entered into BF on the best of virtues. “Any SOG Collectors out there... let’s colliborate.” Subsequently, most of the feedback I’ve received has been VERY negative. “Welcome to BF... SOGs are junk. I owned a SOG once and hated it.” Better yet are the slick guys like yourself beating around the bush probably trying to report the new guy... and you were a Marine? I’m a retired combat vet and served 24 years in the Corps, then 10 more at CamPenCA. Hence, why in at least 3 posts I’ve made it blatantly clear NOT SELLING and still the warning.
For all the SOG HATERS in BLADE FORUMS... see ya. I might be back later, but I doubt it. It hasn’t been a week and I’m already pissed off. Congratulations JBC whoever you are.

 

[DirtyDave100]

Sounds like your going to need a dealer badge sooner or later, if you are using your presence here to drive traffic to your site and you will be selling items from that site.

Let's also address why no one here likes SOG, its because the vast majority of the products they make are crap, Overpriced for what you get, Poor Designs, Low Quality Materials, Poor construction and QA/QC. The root cause of the all these issues is poor leadership at SOG. Chris Cashbaugh and the other senior leaders are SOG are not knife guys, they aren't even gun or gear guys. If you don't believe me that he is the root cause go watch the Nutnfancy SOG tour series from a few years ago, it's disgusting. Spencer Frazer has had a number of good designs over the years and those are what the company is respected for in some circles but the rest of it is junk. They might be good at brand marketing but they have no talent for knife design and manufacturing.

I have a SOG Paratool that I bought 25 years ago when I was in the Marine Corps and I love it but that's the extent of the love for SOG, I have a Twitch that sits in a box on my desk in pieces. It needs to go back to SOG, it wont open with the spring assist and wont go back together properly and function. They have some nice fixed blade knives if you pay for them but from a purely consumer perspective why pay more or why risk it on a lower cost model. Buck, KaBar, Ontario, Esee and others make better real world user models for the same or lower cost and if I wanted something for looks Im going to go to a custom or mid-tech.

First, I would like to comment on your statement" no one here likes SOG" Really? No one? Hmmm? I certainly hope you are wrong about "here". I think I'll wait to hear from the webmaster "here" before I believe you. The only reason I signed on "here" is to share my love of SOG products with other like-minded members on this site. I sure hope you are wrong. Otherwise I've got nowhere left to go. :-(

I love most of SOG's products or I wouldn't own over 700 of them, including the "Vino" CRK77 corkscrew. Most are well built to SOG spec's--yes even the "lowly" China one's. SOG has had their share of losers but name a brand that hasn't and I'll prove to you that you are wrong.

As for your Twitch--I was amused when you stated it "won’t go back together properly and function properly". It sounds like maybe you took it apart and couldn't figure out how to put it back together, which is understandable as they can be somewhat tricky to put back together-especially if you possess no mechanical skills. I'm going to guess that you got curious, loosened the blade pivot screw too much, the assist spring end jumped its slot, and things went downhill from there for you. Bummer dude.

Second, I would like to address your statement "the vast majority of the products they (SOG) make are crap". Is this statement based on your Twitch ownership? I'd be curious to know what other SOG products you have personally owned or is your bias towards SOG based solely on what you have read online? I suspect many of the unhappy SOG owners bought their first and only "SOG" knife on an online auction website we all know and love (NOT) and purchased one of thousands of the China counterfeits that are listed there daily. Yup them definitely be garbage---but not SOG. You can even purchase an orange, yellow, green or black handled Twitch II. All of which are all counterfeits not produced by SOG. Just like the drop-point bladed "Flash II Tanto" being sold real cheap. Gee, I wonder what's wrong with that picture?


Sadly, almost all the mass producer knife companies have gone to China in order to appeal to the Walmart Ninja bugout warriors that want to spend their hard earned $19.95. It's a large market of individuals that haven't yet learned that "you get what you pay for". Even OKC is doing It. Their category is "Designed in the U.S.A. but globally sourced for a great value" Translation: Made in China. Go check out Buck, Gerber, CRKT, Camillus, S&W, Kershaw, Ka-Bar, etc. websites. Yup, them too. A few years ago I was on the phone with a Buck Co. rep discussing all of the China counterfeits listed on garbaGebay (800+ daily) and he stated " That's one thing Buck will NEVER do is have China make any of Buck's knives". Oops. He never should have said never.


Thirdly, let’s talk about " Low Quality Materials". So you consider Titanium, S30V, S35V, 440C, AUS8, VG10, ATS34, VG42, etc. as " Low Quality Materials"? Maybe not the best but DEFINITELY not low quality materials. (Let the never-ending debate continue).


Oh, and before you even get a chance to imply or ask---NO I am not a SOG dealer, I am not employed by SOG, I have never been employed by SOG, I have no friends or relatives that are employed by SOG, I am not being paid to endorse SOG products, I do not own shares in the SOG company, and I do not make parts for SOG. I just collect them. Dollar for dollar they are amazing works of functional art just like most other mass producing knife company’s products. (See above). I just happen to prefer SOG.


IMHO I really believe you should do a little more homework before you slam an excellent company like SOG. If I didn't know better, I would suspect that maybe you might be employed by a SOG competitor. However, not likely as most reputable companies have an ethics rule that states "never badmouth the competition". It's an excellent rule to live by.


Lastly--"mid-tech". Please excuse my ignorance but I have to ask---what the heck does that mean? I'm still learning about knives. 60 years and counting.

HooRah!!!

 

[DirtyDave100]

The only SOG I own is a X-42 field knife which I liked a lot but could never get it very sharp.
Had a wicked edge sharpening done to it and my son who has it nowadays really likes that one.

I got a chuckle when I read your post. You were not alone in not getting your "X-42" series knife sharpened. Contrary to popular knowledge, what led to the demise of SOG's BG42 steel knives was not that they were too brittle causing the tips of the blades to snap off as was the case with the first X-42 Recondos. When they first went into production SOG was hardening them to Rc64. Bad decision-lesson learned. They backed off to Rc60-62. Better but still no prize. The brittle issue was resolved but now, once the knife blade finally did need re-sharpening, the average Joe couldn't sharpen it to save their lives. Even SOG employee's cursed with the task of doing it would blow steam when handed one to sharpen. In the last year of production SOG finally changed the steel to S30V and dropped the "X-42" from the "X-42 Recondo" but it was to late. If you ever get a chance to get your hands on a S30V "Recondo" I am certain you will be pleased AND you'll have no problem sharpening it.

 

[Psybull]

I got a chuckle when I read your post. You were not alone in not getting your "X-42" series knife sharpened. Contrary to popular knowledge, what led to the demise of SOG's BG42 steel knives was not that they were too brittle causing the tips of the blades to snap off as was the case with the first X-42 Recondos. When they first went into production SOG was hardening them to Rc64. Bad decision-lesson learned. They backed off to Rc60-62. Better but still no prize. The brittle issue was resolved but now, once the knife blade finally did need re-sharpening, the average Joe couldn't sharpen it to save their lives. Even SOG employee's cursed with the task of doing it would blow steam when handed one to sharpen. In the last year of production SOG finally changed the steel to S30V and dropped the "X-42" from the "X-42 Recondo" but it was to late. If you ever get a chance to get your hands on a S30V "Recondo" I am certain you will be pleased AND you'll have no problem sharpening it.

Thanks for the info, that one is marked Rc60 if I remember right. It was a nice design with a lot of blade for the weight the only other thing I wasn't a big fan of were the tiny screws used for the scales. Was always thinking candidate for a nice wood handle with corby bolts or similar.

 

[DirtyDave100]

Wow... Well once again, I have nothing for sale as a dealer. If I came across as a dealer, in my original post or any post pls forgive me.
Now it’s my turn. I entered into BF on the best of virtues. “Any SOG Collectors out there... let’s colliborate.” Subsequently, most of the feedback I’ve received has been VERY negative. “Welcome to BF... SOGs are junk. I owned a SOG once and hated it.” Better yet are the slick guys like yourself beating around the bush probably trying to report the new guy... and you were a Marine? I’m a retired combat vet and served 24 years in the Corps, then 10 more at CamPenCA. Hence, why in at least 3 posts I’ve made it blatantly clear NOT SELLING and still the warning.
For all the SOG HATERS in BLADE FORUMS... see ya. I might be back later, but I doubt it. It hasn’t been a week and I’m already pissed off. Congratulations JBC whoever you are.

I certainly hope you will decide to stay. For the better part this forum has much knowledge to be shared and learned by it's many members. I'm really not sure what JBC6650's issues are but I'm sure he too means well. Could be he's got serious hemorrhoid issues he's dealing with this week. That's enough to make anyone unpleasant. Especially if you sit at a desk all day. Besides, I'm pretty certain he's not the appointed official spokesperson for this forum. Jeez, I hope not or I'm outa here too. Smile JBC...it's all in fun. Feel free to pick on me. I'm wearing my big-boy panties today.

 

[DirtyDave100]

Thanks for the info, that one is marked Rc60 if I remember right. It was a nice design with a lot of blade for the weight the only other thing I wasn't a big fan of were the tiny screws used for the scales. Was always thinking candidate for a nice wood handle with corby bolts or similar.

Oh ya. Hard to dull but ridiculous to try and re-sharpen. Weren't there only two screws/bolts that were roughly 1/4" head with T8 Torx head holding the scales on the Field knife? I always that that would be considered large. Hmmm?

 

[DirtyDave100]

Never owned a SOG.

Sorry to hear that....

 

[DirtyDave100]

I'm not sure how I missed this thread!

I did some years ago but nothing like this guy! Mine was most all of the regular production Seki knives. Nothing too rare except a Midnight Tiger Shark Stamped S.M.C.A which I have never seen before or since. I got out of the collecting for collectings sake a while back. Now I just have a few users, mostly Taiwanese models but still classic designs. Frankly, most of their new stuff sucks IMO.


They won't sell well and he likely won't get what they are actually worth. SOG has a bad reputation around here, and they have justifiably earned it with their change in direction over the past decade. Many folks here associate the company's current garbage offerings with their past fantastic offerings.

Not a lot of serious collectors of SOG on BFC. Serious collectors are who this guy is going to need to sell to and they are few and far between, especially here. Other places have a much more broad and diversified audience. It really comes down to a pure numbers game. That said, I think the OP is on the right track with his participation here, in trying to connect with the few collectors that are here. I certainly look forward to seeing any sales threads he may start!

In reference to your statement "I think the OP is on the right track with his participation here, in trying to connect with the few collectors that are here" I couldn't agree with you more, craytab, unless there is such a thing as to many members in a forum. Judging from what I've read tonight on here from some very opinionated members, it's quite possible that many SOG brand fans that had so much to contribute may have been run of in the past by troll-like responses of individuals that really had no clue of what they were talking about. Sad. When it comes to knowledge and respect there is no such thing as too much. Too little? Oh ya. My advice to those who don't have anything good to say about any given brand---move on in bladeforums and bond with like-minded individuals. Personally I want to learn from all of you. Even though I know SOG brand is the best thing since peanutbutter! (Heh,heh,heh) :-0

 

[craytab]

In reference to your statement "I think the OP is on the right track with his participation here, in trying to connect with the few collectors that are here" I couldn't agree with you more, craytab, unless there is such a thing as to many members in a forum. Judging from what I've read tonight on here from some very opinionated members, it's quite possible that many SOG brand fans that had so much to contribute may have been run of in the past by troll-like responses of individuals that really had no clue of what they were talking about. Sad. When it comes to knowledge and respect there is no such thing as too much. Too little? Oh ya. My advice to those who don't have anything good to say about any given brand---move on in bladeforums and bond with like-minded individuals. Personally I want to learn from all of you. Even though I know SOG brand is the best thing since peanutbutter! (Heh,heh,heh) :-0

It is a tough burden to carry around here for sure, being a SOG fan that is. Here's the thing, if one is a fan of their current line-up of stuff, this will be tough place to hang out. That is because most of the membership here is honest, intelligent, well knowledged about knives, and rationally critical. So when it comes to the new SOG stuff, which in many folks opinion is utter crap, members here have no problem critiquing it as such. Then you throw in SOG copying spyderco.....fans of the current SOG will need to take that one on the chin as well. Combining these facts and the modern SOG fan will have a tough row to hoe. That is just how an enthusiast community works.

Now, when ever I brought up my collection of Seki SOGs most folks were very receptive because those SOGs and the company as a whole at that time had a very different reputation As this being a knowledgeable rational community, most can see the vast difference between the current SOG and what it use to be. Even some of their Taiwanese made knives, with more classic designs, have a good reception here. So, the problem isn't so much that bladeforums members are running off SOG fans, but rather it is a problem of SOG nose diving their respect to the enthusiast community and some of the newer SOG fans not understanding that fact. Of course there are trolls and haters. There always are and always will be anywhere on the internet. I do feel though that the vast majority of members here are not that way. When I first joined I saw the flack that SOG got. Rather than get butthurt and run away, I thickened my skin and looked at the facts. This allowed be to learn why SOG got this reputation here. And that really is what this place is about: gaining knowledge so one can better form one's own opinion.

Long post, I know, but I think it was worth covering. Btw, this will be my EDC today:

 

[marcinek]

In reference to your statement "I think the OP is on the right track with his participation here, in trying to connect with the few collectors that are here" I couldn't agree with you more, craytab, unless there is such a thing as to many members in a forum. Judging from what I've read tonight on here from some very opinionated members, it's quite possible that many SOG brand fans that had so much to contribute may have been run of in the past by troll-like responses of individuals that really had no clue of what they were talking about. Sad. When it comes to knowledge and respect there is no such thing as too much. Too little? Oh ya. My advice to those who don't have anything good to say about any given brand---move on in bladeforums and bond with like-minded individuals. Personally I want to learn from all of you. Even though I know SOG brand is the best thing since peanutbutter! (Heh,heh,heh) :-0

If one only wants to learn more about opinions you already have, a forum is not the place. Information in it and people in it will not agree with what one believes. Those people know what they are talking about and are not trolls. They just disagree with you. Its the whole point of a forum. They are "a medium (such as a newspaper or online service) of open discussion or expression of ideas."



My advice to people who have a hard time with that has always been to get a blog.

 

[22-rimfire]

It is a tough burden to carry around here for sure, being a SOG fan that is. Here's the thing, if one is a fan of their current line-up of stuff, this will be tough place to hang out. That is because most of the membership here is honest, intelligent, well knowledged about knives, and rationally critical. So when it comes to the new SOG stuff, which in many folks opinion is utter crap, members here have no problem critiquing it as such. Then you throw in SOG copying spyderco.....fans of the current SOG will need to take that one on the chin as well. Combining these facts and the modern SOG fan will have a tough row to hoe. That is just how an enthusiast community works.

For me, the problem currently is that I have not kept up with SOGs current line of knives. My interests have shifted elsewhere. So, I have really no experience with the newer stuff (last 5 years) in terms of quality or value. I guess I need to spend some time and really look over as many models as I can at a store. The Sogzilla line is what pushed me away. At that time, I really didn't want to buy any of the Chinese made knives.

The Spydie hole is kind of old news now as there are lots of companies using the same sort of manual opening approach.

 

[craytab]

For me, the problem currently is that I have not kept up with SOGs current line of knives. My interests have shifted elsewhere. So, I have really no experience with the newer stuff (last 5 years) in terms of quality or value. I guess I need to spend some time and really look over as many models as I can at a store. The Sogzilla line is what pushed me away. At that time, I really didn't want to buy any of the Chinese made knives.

The Spydie hole is kind of old news now as there are lots of companies using the same sort of manual opening approach.

It wasn't just the hole. The whole knife screams spyderco Endura.

Most of their new stuff is over the top tacticool. Lots is made in China, while not bad on it's own, the costs are hard to justify for the material and FF/QC (like crkt). Even some of their classic stuff is going to china. Take the Seal Pup. Started in Seki, moved to Taiwan, now made in China. The cost has not changed between the move from Taiwan and China. You can tell me it costs SOG the same to have it made in China. It is a pure cash grab. I use to recommend the Seal Pup but I no longer do as I don't know the quality and the cash grab just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

So that said, SOG did just do a couple knives made in the US with top quality materials. The SOG pillar looks like a really good knife. It is a bit on the spendy side though. If I didn't already have so many knives in that size I would be all over it.

 

[brownshoe]

I think Sog has different knives for different customers and prices, but their most expensive folder is only $200 at BladeHQ. Since some of their prices are low, those knives receive a lot of criticism from people who don't understand. Since they don't make knives in the $450 range, they are not "good enough" for those who equate cost and popularity with quality. Those two situations include a fair number of the most frequent poster on this forum, hence the criticism. I like my Sogs

By the way, Sogmaster, I never thought you were or are a dealer. Just a fan...keep on posting

 

[KenHash]

Wow..I had no idea Seal Pup production went to China. I guess with the way trade is going SOG might have to bring
it back to Taiwan.

 

[Impulse600]

Do you have a SOG Stingray in Cocobolo

 

[craytab]

Wow..I had no idea Seal Pup production went to China. I guess with the way trade is going SOG might have to bring
it back to Taiwan.

Yup. I was quite disappointed in that move. Same price to the customer, lower cost to SOG.

 

[craytab]

I think Sog has different knives for different customers and prices, but their most expensive folder is only $200 at BladeHQ. Since some of their prices are low, those knives receive a lot of criticism from people who don't understand. Since they don't make knives in the $450 range, they are not "good enough" for those who equate cost and popularity with quality. Those two situations include a fair number of the most frequent poster on this forum, hence the criticism. I like my Sogs

By the way, Sogmaster, I never thought you were or are a dealer. Just a fan...keep on posting

You are inferring a lot about how other people think

Since SOG doesn't make expensive stuff people here don't like them? Come on.

People don't like them here mostly because they don't deliver on value for what you get. Take their SAT folders as an example. Not one of them in the hundreds of thousands they have sold does not have blade play. Out of the 4 I've had I can almost dial it out of one, almost. The play is still there though. SOG will even say the blade play is normal. An enthusiast community is not going to look favorably on that track record.

A buddy of mine was eager to show me his new SOG Salute because he knew I was a knife guy. That thing was so stiff to open I was amazed. He was considering removing the thumb stud because it was killing his thumb to open the damn thing. Converting a one hand opener to a two hand opener was the best option to make that knife work like a knife. The tacticool frame protruding out the back serves no purpose other than to dig in to your hand during use. KC has it for $32. You can find it a bit less elsewhere. For a poorly made chinese knife, that is far too much money. The value is not there.

Kershaw injection is $15 from KC and is one million times the better knife. Ontario offers knives made in Taiwan for less that are a million times better. Even more Kershaws are the same. Spyderco the same (bird). Spend another $10 and you are in the tenacious line which is 2 million times better.

And you seem to have glossed over the whole ripping off spyderco thing when considering this community's dislike of the brand. That is a big reason why they will never be accepted back in the enthusiast community.

SOG can make a fine product if they want. Their current Seki made products and their USA stuff is a testament to this. On the other hand, they have completely sold out to making bad products because the products sell to non-enthusiasts, and that is fine. However, that is a bed they will have to lay in here. And folks like you defending them with ridiculous arguments can lay in that bed as well.

 

[marcinek]

Do you have a SOG Stingray in Cocobolo

Does who have one?
And why?

 

[The Whip]

You are inferring a lot about how other people think

Speaking of....

Let's also address why no one here likes SOG,

That is a big reason why they will never be accepted back in the enthusiast community.

No one else speaks for me. Please don't attempt to do so with such blanket statements about "the community" or Blade Forums members.

The original poster attempted to start a thread seeking the company of fellow enthusiasts for a particular knife brand in the world's largest online forum for knife enthusiasts. That seems reasonable to me. What does he get? People telling him that they've never owned an SOG knife or explaining why they think SOG knives suck. Boy, that's helpful!

SOGMASTER, and anyone else who might be interested, Recoil OFFGRID magazine printed an interview with Spencer Frazer in honor of SOG Specialty Knives' 30th anniversary in the February/March 2017 (Issue #17) issue. You might still be able to find a back-issue copy if you'd like to read it or add it to your collection.

-Steve

 

[craytab]

Speaking of....



No one else speaks for me. Please don't attempt to do so with such blanket statements about "the community" or Blade Forums members.

The original poster attempted to start a thread seeking the company of fellow enthusiasts for a particular knife brand in the world's largest online forum for knife enthusiasts. That seems reasonable to me. What does he get? People telling him that they've never owned an SOG knife or explaining why they think SOG knives suck. Boy, that's helpful!

SOGMASTER, and anyone else who might be interested, Recoil OFFGRID magazine printed an interview with Spencer Frazer in honor of SOG Specialty Knives' 30th anniversary in the February/March 2017 (Issue #17) issue. You might still be able to find a back-issue copy if you'd like to read it or add it to your collection.

-Steve

I wasn't speaking for you personally but rather giving my opinion of what I have observed here over the years and currently. It's quite clear you are capable of speaking for yourself. Thanks for doing so.

I think it would be more helpful for you to follow the progression of the thread because the discussion evolved beyond the orginal question, at the OP's behest no less.

As I said, SOG has a bad rep here, at their own doing. I'm sorry if that upsets some people.