The new Tactical NW Ranger?...

D

doggyknife

Joined
Oct 14, 1998
Messages
259
Just noticed today that some online dealers have begun selling a "Tactical" version of the Northwest Ranger. I was all excited about grabbing a new and better NW ranger when I looked at the specs and saw AUS-6...NOOOOO!!! DAMMIT!!! From what I can tell from the descriptions, it's basically the same knife as the regular version (size, AUS-6 steel, etc...) except that the blade is bead-blasted and has a different logo on it. It also costs significantly more.

I was under the impression that bead-blast finishes were a quick and dirty way to finish off blades because they could be done fast and relatively cheaply. Don't get me wrong, I think the NW Ranger is an excellent fixed blade design and AUS-6 is a decent steel, but why would this "Tactial" version end up costing more? If the steel had been upgrade to say AUS-8 to appeal to the little steel snob in all of us I could see where the price increase came from ('nudge''nudge'...'wink''wink'...'hint''hint':D ).

Not trying to stir up a flame war or anything but I just can't figure out where the extra cost is coming from with this "Tactical" version. Any thought? Ron? Anyone?
 
I think the Tactical version has a Black or grey powder coating and that's the reason it costs more.
 
Hi DoggyKnife,

Thanks for your comments and don’t worry, I don’t shy away from direct questions.

The retail prices (MSRP) of the NW Ranger is $89.95 and the Tactical Ranger is $99.95. You are correct in saying that the only differences are the additions of the beadblasting and application of the “SOG Tactical” logo on the Tactical Ranger (sorry Heber, no coating on this knife...we do have a little typo on the NW Ranger web page we’ll fix real soon). You are incorrect in this case in saying beadblasting is the inexpensive finish between the two. In the case of this knife, we are taking finished NW Rangers and altering them into Tactical Rangers. Basically, the Tactical Ranger is a “special order” item. They make the metamorphosis from a NW Ranger to a Tactical Ranger as we receive orders for them (or in very small lots). The demand for this model is not strong enough for us to set it apart as its own model in the original production stages.

Regarding AUS6 stainless steel (or in the past, we’ve used the term 440A for this steel), it is well documented that heat treating will either make a steel noticeably effective or ineffective. Yes, AUS6 is an inexpensive steel, that’s why it is widely seen throughout knives of medium quality. And unfortunately, more often than not, AUS6 is poorly heat treated. The result is that AUS6 receives a “blanket” bum rap as a steel.

AUS6, when the appropriate measure of care and time is invested into the heat treating process, will perform quite admirably. We would certainly prefer to use a properly heated treated AUS6 (that has a cost savings in materials, but higher heat treating cost...overall lower knife cost), than use a poorly heat treated ATS-34 (that has a higher materials cost, lower heat treating cost...but a false boost in image). Yes, ATS-34 has the “image,” but SOG would prefer to do it right.

I completely understand being a “steel snob”: ‘cuz I’m one, too. Please understand, though, that steel snobs only make up a small fraction of a single percent (while they make up a much larger percentage here in BladeForums), and SOG is marketing to a very vast market. You’d be surprised at the number of special forces, SWAT, police officers, and other truly “professional” knife users I talk with who really don’t understand the differences between steels. They are not buying a knife because of a “steel label,” but rather because of price and knife style.

In the design of a knife and our whole knife line, much thought is put into offering a variety of knife steels, knife types, at various price points. Though we’ll not make everyone happy, we try to offer enough variety to make sure most of SOG’s customers will find knives to suit their needs. For the record, the wide variety of steels SOG uses in our various knives are: AUS6, AUS8, ATS-34, BG42, and SK-5 (high carbon tooling steel).

I hope this has appropriately answered your questions. If not, or if you have more, please let me know.
 
Thanks for the thurough explanation, Ron. Being that the bead-blasting is kind of like an after-market customization after the regular NW Rangers are completed I now see where the extra cost is factored in.

I definitely agree that AUS-6 has gotten a bad rap (especially around here). My SOG Government, Sealpup, and various other SOG's have served me admirably over the years, with nothing to complain about the performance. If I can only get my Government back from my old college roomate after all these years :rolleyes:

When I saw the specs for the "Tactical" NW Ranger, I wasn't actually disappointed by the AUS-6 steel, but by the fact that there wasn't a big enough difference between it and the regular NW Ranger for me to justify getting the new version. Darn.

Thanks again Ron.
 
Hey Ron,

Just curious, will SOG be making nylon or kydex sheaths for the NW Rangers anytime soon? I kind of figured the leather sheath wouldn't quite go with a tactical version.
 
As a "rule of thumb," we do not make and stock multiple sheaths for the same knife. We sometimes will, though, have old style or limited production alternate sheaths in stock. Also, though we don't recommend using any sheath on a knife for which it was not designed, occasionally one of our existing sheaths for one knife will be a good fit on a different knife. That is the case with the NW Ranger, as the Kydex sheath for the Tsunami will work just fine. Nothing else I’m aware of that we make will work. If you want something extra special, really well made and at a reasonable rate, you can have a custom sheath made from Eric at On/Scene Tactical. I’ve been stunned by his reputation and will in several days have an assortment of custom made sheaths I ordered from him (more on that to come!).

For SOG accessories, you can email my Retail Department or call at 888.SOG.BEST.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top