SOG makes a decent knife and charges 500 dollars?!

B

bobmellon

Joined
May 1, 2011
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108
So I just picked up this month's Knives Illustrated from my local Borders, and I was reading the points of interest section and I saw that SOG has come out with a new knife designed by none other than R. Lee Ermey. The new knife is called the SOG gunny, and actually I thought it was fairly attractive, maybe as just a collectors piece. The knife sports a VG-10 clip bowie/modified clip/recurve blade, with steel bolsters, cocobolo inlays, and a nickel plated insert coin of Gunny's face. It is a fairly good looking knife, but my problem is SOG. I have had nothing but bad experiences with SOG. Every knife I have ever bought from SOG has been dull out of the box, loads of blade play, and just overall I have been very disappointed. But here I see a knife with a VG-10 blade, SOG always uses AUS 8 which in my opinion has become somewhat antiquated for the prices they charge, and overall they basically just made a good knife it seems. And they are charging $500 for it. So I wanted to see what your guy's opinions were on this topic, do you think that the price is ridiculous like I do, or do you think that it is worth it , that this knife is cooler than a Sebenza or Strider or heck even a custom. Just wanted to throw that out there.
 
not worth it, had they skipped the inlays, bolsters and coin and added some nice steel liners, G10 and a price drop of oh say $360-$400 then it would be on my want list, until then its a no go
 
Here it is.

Whereas one end of the marketing spectrum relies on high volume with low margins, this knife is low volume and high margin. I think its goofy, and I would not pay $20 for it, but SOG and Lee Ermey think they are going to make some money out of it. Good for them. But these kind of display items - with their Franklin Mint flavor - just don't do it for me.
 
I've seen pictures of them. If a different looking knife for SOG, I suppose. They are designed by Gunny. $500 is totally ridiculous for them, and that's the folder price. The fixed blade is $750! I don't care who designed the knife. The blade steel and his likeness on the coin isn't enough justify it. I seriously doubt that there will be any collectible value to them either.
 
I have a SOG Arcitec AO3 in Damascus, and the fit and finish are amazing, the knife is spectacular, razor sharp, no play, rock solid jimping, very nice finishes, abalone inlayed thumbstud, just an amazing knife, and the retail is around $500, but street it closer to $350, a good buy in my book. So I think the upper end of SOG is not in the same league as their lower end stuff, just my opinion.
 
Well imo, it is what it is...like every other knife company on the planet they have fans and detractors...they price knives to what they think the market will bear. I would not buy it, I love knives designed by knife folks ie Hood, Perrin, Demko but companies that come out with gimmick names like Ermey or Steven Seagal, well they do make me giggle.

The one caveat to this is the knife that Stallone commissioned for Rambo, the cleaver by Hibben. But then again that is a huge chunk of 1090 with a substantial leather sheath for what like 40 or 50 bucks? Once that one is convexed it is a silly good heavy camp knife. But, this was a star asking for a knife design not the other way around too.

I just wouldn't buy it, use some wallet discretion. If you want a nice bowie type knife the Trailmasters from Cold Steel are nice, so is the W85 by Case or if you get the notion maybe a Randall.
 
Just some pics for your enjoyment

P6200019-1.jpg


Look at that great deep carry pocket clip, another thing SOG does so right

P6120007.jpg
 
timberweasel said:
No freakin' way I'd pay $500 for a SOG, period.
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In general, I would have to agree with you. But some of their high end stuff is actually pretty nice. Jason Brous is making some cool stuff these days, and he's doing a few limited edition things with them (IIRC) that might be worth that kind of scratch.
 
powernoodle said:
Here it is.

Whereas one end of the marketing spectrum relies on high volume with low margins, this knife is low volume and high margin. I think its goofy, and I would not pay $20 for it, but SOG and Lee Ermey think they are going to make some money out of it. Good for them. But these kind of display items - with their Franklin Mint flavor - just don't do it for me.
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You mean you wouldn't want to display this fine piece beside your Legends of NASCAR commemorative plates? :D
 
I thought the Geiko commercial was pretty funny, but not $500 funny, and not funny enough to want his face on my knife. :D
 
I have had good luck with SOG knives, but there is no way I will pay 5 yards for that one.
 
Wow that SOG Arcitect is beautiful. I have never seen that one before very nice. And powernoodle you put it perfectly they are very franklin minty, and I don't see it at all. I woud rather have a franklin mint knife, atleast I wouldn't be wasting 500-700 dollars. I wish they used that blade style and steel and made something with some g10 or frn scales and I might might be interested.
 
Not my cup of tea, but I do own some nice SOG's and their VG-10 is one of my favorite steels.
 
Slider817 said:
I have a SOG Arcitec AO3 in Damascus, and the fit and finish are amazing, the knife is spectacular, razor sharp, no play, rock solid jimping, very nice finishes, abalone inlayed thumbstud, just an amazing knife, and the retail is around $500, but street it closer to $350, a good buy in my book. So I think the upper end of SOG is not in the same league as their lower end stuff, just my opinion.
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I agree with you on the Arcitech. I had one several years ago, the red bone handles one, and the fit/finish, blade sharpness, and all factors that knife nuts look for were present. At the time I paid $200 for it, and though nice, I wouldn't go above that price now.
 
$500 will buy a damn nice folder from CRK. SOG or CRK? I'm afraid I would be ordering another Sebenza and still have change left over.
 
No way I'd ever $500 for it. I personaly think its ugly as can be. Blade shape is cool but handles with coin. :eek:
 
TUF said:
$500 will buy a damn nice folder from CRK. SOG or CRK? I'm afraid I would be ordering another Sebenza and still have change left over.
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I would agree with you if I only had one or two Reeve folders, but I own quite a few more, and tsome of the SOG offerings really show well
 
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