SOG: Is it worth it?

G

Gassyerik911

Joined
Jul 6, 2012
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118
I've been looking at some SOG knives recently and some of them look pretty cool, but on the reviews they say they don't perform all that well. On the other hand there are SOG knives that look great and also perform great.

I have one knife from SOG. The SEAL Pup Elite. I have no complaints. Overall it's a good knife for me. It's perfect when I go backpacking or camping.

Overall, there are mixed reviews of SOG. Some people love them, and others hate them. And then there are people like me who are in the middle. Overall, what do you guys think of SOG?
 
I think they'll cut okay but for the same general price, a Becker will give you a LOT more knife
 
It seems to be a knife-by-knife basis, aside from your own tastes... I've had good luck with my Twitch 2 and my Seal Pup [new AUS-8 version].
 
SOG's fixed blades are okay, but not great. There are better options for your money. In terms of folders, they pretty much suck. Poor quality control, low end materials, and horrendous blade play are pretty much the norm. Overall, I'd just skip SOG and go on to something else.
 
I have never held a SOG folder that I felt was a quality knife. Even their higher dollar knives feel lacking compared to a Spydie or a Benchmade folder. I would have a hard time swallowing any SOG folder and I am sure I am not alone.
 
Look out for the Aegis folder. I tried one myself and there was blade play all over the place.
 
I think they are better than what many people say. I have a seal pup elite too, and have been satisfied with the price and just about everything about it for a hard use woods knife. I actually have a number of SOG blades, both folders and fixed. The only one that I have owned that I was displeased with was the Flash II. I was very pleased with the Blink, Twitch II, Twitch XL, Vulcan, Mini-Vulcan, and Access Card 2.0. What bugged me about SOG was when they copied the Spyderco hole... stopped buying SOGs at that point, but that does not mean they aren't fairly sound knives. Some say they are a little overpriced. Some complain about their choice of steels. There are lots of choices for knives these days and if you don't want to buy a SOG, don't.
 
I've got a SOG somethingoranother fixed blade. Bought it on clearance and like how it feels in hand. Just haven't had the chance to use it.
I do like the SOG multi-tools. I have a PowerLock and think it's as good as my Leathermans.
 
Sog makes at least two excellent folders; the 5" blade Pentagon-elite 2 and the same size Spec-elite 2. I have both. The fit and finish is very good and the size alone makes them unique except for CS's XL folders.
[I must be looking in the wrong place but I've never seen a Becker folder yet.]
I have a number of fixed blade Sogs as well ,including the very wicked Pentagon which may well be the prettiest dagger around, anywhere near it's price. The Gunny makes me gag, but I'm not going to allow a neanderthal marketing ploy to put me off the knives.
 
SOG isn't terrible, it's just that their are so many better options. Just like Gerber they only survive on there reputation from making some of the best knives 20+ years ago.
 
Depends somewhat on which type of SOG.

Hawks and multi-tools are well regarded.

Fixed blades are quite popular and usual don't generate much negative reaction.

Most of the negative reaction comes when the folders are discussed. There were some designs a year or so ago that generated a LOT of negative reaction due to them looking a bit too much like another manufacturers knives. Probably not SOGs finest hour.
Lot of folks don't like the quality.
I've got a about a dozen SOG folders, from the lower end Twitch and Flash to the higher end Tomcat and I've found them to be decent value for the money. Possibly I've been more satisfied than others because I bought all of them at pretty deep discount.
 
SOG's multitools are the best out there for ME (I.E. the tools on theirs are very useful to me, and they are not a bad price. Good quality, and very smooth operation).
SOG's fixed blades are... good. There are better for price, but they are still good. And SOG's fixed blades are usually very nice looking.
SOG's folders... that's where most of my knowledge with SOG is, and I have to say that they tend to be overpriced. Similar to Alann45, I don't buy SOG's unless I find a real good deal. I have a Flash II, Trident Tanto, Twitch XL, that little $10 one, and I think I still have a Flash I that a friend didn't want. One recurring theme in all of them is blade play, and horrible screws. Blade play can be lessened, but it's still annoying (it's a side-effect of the assisted-opening). The screws, well... they strip and break so easily. SOG WILL send you new screws for free, though, and I love that. Pocket clips also tend to be great on SOGs.


Overall, I like SOG a lot as a company, and their customer service is as good as it'll get (in my experience). So I do buy the occasional SOG knife, and their multitools are all I use lately. But I try not to pay what they want, as well as a lot of their vendors.
 
In my opinion it's all how you feel and what you use it for, I love my salute as a beater edc, I also love my spec elite 1 and that has no blade play and is such a smooth opener, my tridents have a little blade play but not enough to notice on most edc tasks...I just wouldn't use them for super hard tasks though, they may not be expensive but as it's been said for the money you can do better..
 
I must have found a goodie....I have a Mini-Aegis that I just love. Carry it everyday, use it for everything that I don't need my BK7 for.......lol....absolutely no play in the blade and very sharp right out of the box. Holds a decent edge and easy to touch up. Just recently went thru a wash/dry cycle. :( It came out unscathed. Little WD, and GTG.
 
Not all SOG knives are junk, it's just that their unlined zytel models suck IMO. I actually have a Twitch XL, an Mini-Xray and an aluminum Flash that has held up very well over the years thankfully. However, my experiences with their other offerings without steel liners have been very different in my uses. I also have an Aegis and Mini Aegis and although they were great knives in the beginning, after some use both have developed up and down blade play. It's too bad as that blade shape on both of the Aegis' is very useful, but that up and down play irritates me to no end. From that experience I would no longer buy a SOG unlined blade, I have not had this issue on the other lined or metal scaled models...

The blade play is truly a common experience on some of their models, but in no way happens throughout their lineup. I still look at SOG's offerings, but steer clear of anything they make without liners...
 
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