I handled a Chinook the other day and man, this thing is stonger more stout than any other lockback I've ever met. My money would be on the Chinook in a strength battle aganst the SOG. Apparently Spyderco engineered the lock to be ultra-strong to facilitate back slashing with the swedge since JAK's original design called for it to be sharpened up near the tip. There are not too many lockbacks that can take that kind of stress. I actually like the Tomcat and still want one, but I'll be getting a Chinook as soon as my regular dealer gets some in so I won't get totally shafted on the price...