SOG Growl

[burmfilip]

Does anyone have any specific usage experience with the SOG Growl? How sharp is the edge when it comes out of the box? Is the steel of a satisfying quality as far as thoughness and edge retention is concerned?

Loooking forward to any input on these questions.

Filip

 

[GCG199]

I have been interested in this knife for a while too.

I just wish it had more of an urban-styled sheath, instead of the current one.

All of the other Sog knives I have are made in Japan or Taiwan.

I do like the design of this one, it is a bit different in shape and design than most Tantos.

 

[22-rimfire]

Link to knife in case you are unfamiliar with it. I was.
http://www.sogknives.com/growl.html

Chinese manufacture. Not familar with this chinese steel. Typically SOG knives are very sharp out of the box.

 

[GCG199]

Good point, I forgot to add that detail above.

 

[craytab]

I own quite a number of SOGs. This one I would avoid unless you just can't do without the shape or looks or something. Chinese produced 9Cr18MoV steel is okay but certainly not at that price point. Should be half the cost. From what I can tell it looks like SOG has started working with some Chinese manufacturers but has kept their prices high. Sometimes you can get the same knife just branded different. See the SOG Safety and the Sanrenmu ZB4-T21. Same knife but when SOG doesn't have their name on it the cost drops to $12. I think this sort of stuff really hurts SOGs rep. Be cautious when buying Chinese steel from an American brand. Spyderco and Kershaw price their Chinese steel much more appropriately.

 

[dkb45]

The Growl seems to have a normal street price of about $40, and for the steel they use that is pretty darn good. I had a Silent Soldier (same knife but made by Brous) and it was pretty nice. Since the jumping on it is machine made it should be more even and hopefully a lot less sharp. The knife feels weird for a while, but you will get used to it. I have a few knives in 9Cr and I love the steel. It is around the same performance as 440C.

As for sharpness out of the box, most production knives are a mixed bag. I have seen some that were surgical sharp, and others that had an edge more akin to an ax. SOG has been good to me in the past, so I would trust them to at least give the knife a somewhat consistent edge. I would expect the factory geometry to be about 20° per side.