View on SOG Knives

T

txjaws2000

Joined
Jan 5, 2006
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Just wanted to see what people thought of the quality of SOG knives I have the FlashII partially serrated and have thought of getting more from this company.
 
I don't have any serrated stuff and only have a SOG X42 autoclip in BG-42 so I can't comment on any of the other SOGs, but I really like the autoclip.

The edge near the tip was blued when I got it, like their grinder ran out of coolant just then and burned the very edge for about 1 cm near the tip (that part was too hard and kept getting tiny chips). Guess it slipped past QA and I should have sent it back for a replacement but I wanted to put BG-42 through its paces so I kept it and just reprofiled it on a coarse DMT plate and ground the edge back past the burned part (it was small, only about 8mm long and .5mm wide right before the corner where the blade angles up to form a tanto point).

Wanted to see how thin an edge BG-42 would handle so used the thumb stud as an angle guide and took the bevel down (didn't measure it but definitely more acute than the 15 degrees per side a Sharpmaker could give). Once I got the burned part off and the new bevel set, I took it all the way up to 15k grit on my waterstones and the blade took a wickedly sharp mirror polish.

Took a bit more grinding than some steels because of its abrasion resistance and tendancy to form foil burrs, but I'm very pleased with the result. Used it as my utility knife while moving, cutting tape, rope, slitting up cardboard and all that, and it still doesn't need sharpening again. I don't use pocket clips so can't comment on the "dial a width" plastic clip, but the thing stays sharp and is so easy to one-hand open with either hand that it has become my favorite utility knife.

I do like the M2 steel in my BM 910HS and ZDP-189 in my Cali Jr a bit better than BG-42, but BG-42 comes darn close to them as far as sharpness and durability, and neither the BM or Spydie are as easy to handle as the autoclip (extra points for ease of use). Quality control=?, materials=v. good, design=v. good. So, based on my autoclip, I'd be tempted to try other SOG designs.
 
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They have some very nice designs, and their fixed blades are wonderful. I'm thinking of adding a Seal Pup to the lineup sometime soon.

But the only SOG I own is the Flash II and I was fairly unhappy with it. The blade is wickedly sharp and has held its edge fairly well, in fact I don't think I've ever touched it up in the year that I've had it. But I only carried it for about a week. Something about it though... just didn't work for me. The A/O was a bit on the slow side when compared to some of the Kershaws, and painfully slow compared to my Camillus Heat.

But that's only one knife, and there is nothing wrong with it from a quality standpoint. In fact it's a very well made knife, just not my cup 'o tea.
 
I've had a twitch II for about a week and I like it. It's about what I expected for the money. The design is nice and it's pretty solid. It does have small amount of side to side blade play in the closed position, but it locks up solid. I'd buy it again if I had to do it over.
 
Always interesting to figure out why some companies catch fire, others don't. There are lots of opinions on why SOG isn't discussed much. I have a SOG Vision, and it's sound enough to prove that SOG could compete effectively even against the big boys. I personally believe their biggest problem is their design team. While they have some designs I like, they have more that I don't like, and a host of gimmicky designs as well. They need a fresh infusion of talent, and a couple of well-chosen custom collaborations is probably the ticket to see if their production prowess coupled with strong design could help them compete better against the likes of Benchmade and Spyderco.

Joe
 
Joe Talmadge said:
I personally believe their biggest problem is their design team. While they have some designs I like, they have more that I don't like, and a host of gimmicky designs as well.
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I agree.
I only have one SOG, the Pentagon, and I have to say that it's very well-made and highly practical for SD. It's also one of their more straightforward designs.
 
If SOG would do these three things, they might move to the top of the production knife market, as their production is spot-on.
1. Use better steel. AUS8 may be okay, but most knife knuts disdain it in a high-dollar knife. Premium steel will often sell your knife for you.
2. Get better, more practical designs. 'Nuff said.
3. Give people the option of non-serrated blades. Serrations have (rightly so) seriously fallen out of fashion, and most people don't want them. Serrations only belong on bread knives.:p

That being said, I'd love to see a PE Jetedge with BG42, VG10, S30V, or a CPM154CM blade. That was a sweet knife.
 
What about me ? You forgot about me......... :rolleyes: I helped with my design on the SOG Revolver series didn't I ?

And I have tons of new ideas..............:o



Robbie Roberson ;)
 
I really like the knives. Granted, all I own is a Hunter Revolver, but it is a fabulous knife (great thinking there, Mr. Roberson!). I also bought my uncle a SEAL Revolver for Christmas (I figured he'd enjoy it, since I always see him with cool blades, and he always buys my dad a nice knife for Christmas). He finally got it, and just gave me a call. He is thrilled with it, and said once he realized there was a saw blade in there as well that it was quite the pleasant surprise!

My only beef with SOG is this: the other day I went into the local outdoor store, and was going to buy a SEAL Pup. The knife fit my hand pretty well, and one of the main selling features was that Kydex sheath with the notch in it for cutting rope/fishing line while it was still sheathed. To my dismay, the sheath didn't hug the blade all the snugly, rendering that neat little notch useless. It was the only one they had left in stock, so I walked and ended up buying a KaBar short with the black handle. Didn't wanna order the SEAL Pup online because of the (what seems to me) common occurence of the poorly fit sheath, and I couldn't wait for their new shipment to pick out one that fit correctly (it takes the local store a while to recieve a new stock of knvies). That's my only gripe, and it is pretty minor at that.

Oh, and one of our friends loves SOG products. He always has one of their multi-tools with him, and he's the type that only buys the best of the best. That's maybe an indication of their quality. ;)
 
I agree completely Joe. The SOG Twitch XL Graphite I have really impressed me once I got it and checked it out. I got it in a trade and never would have bought it based on its looks but you can tell from just holding it and using it that it is a very solid design and the knife just screams quality. SOG makes a very tight well working product. I've since recieved a SOG Mini X-Ray vision that is quite nice also. One of the smoother openers I've seen in a long time.

I don't think it would hurt the company any to move up in the steel arena. I don't know about all their knives obviously but my Twitch is AUS8. I think it could certainly help to move it to S30V or some other of the newer generation of steels. The Mini I have is ATS34. I found that interesting also. The Twitch is made in the USA and the Mini in Japan.

STR
 
Thanks Cougar Allen, :D I hope I get another shot or two in the next few years.

I am very fortunate to have Spencer Frazer (Mr. SOG) give my design/invention a chance.

Gubby, thanks so much for the compliments, I sincerely appreciate any and all mentions I get. :D

I too think the Revolver design is a great "working" design, hopefully SOG thinks so too and continues to make it for a long time.

I would like to see some CF and Aluminum for handles on folders.

I also think a good solid CF liner lock drop point flat grind PE would be nice.

I think a small size CF liner lock drop point with double thumb studs would be a killer EDC, tip up or down, left or right carry pre-drilled would be even better IMO.

I think the designs could be simple, blade steel, handles and components would make the knife IMO.

Thanks for the comments.

Robbie Roberson;)
 
I like SOG generally, but I agree that several knives they make would be much better as plain edge knives-NW Ranger, Tsunami, Pentagon. I also think that for the dollar, better steel should be used. I don't mean expensive stuff, I would be good with 440C.
 
I like some of the SOG designs. The big blade and small handle is my thing. I really love the new Taiwan fixed blades. I just wish that SOG would make more satin finished models. I've been trying like hell to get a Seal Pup Elite with a PE/satin blade for weeks now. I believe that more people prefer the satin finish and the plain edges over black and serrated blades. I won't settle for what a company puts out unless it's what I like. As far as designers go, I think that SF has an ego problem. I read a lot about him getting credit for everything. Especially the Arc lock. I don't find it that original. Only a patent office would take it serious as an "original" idea. Us knife enthusiasts really know where the Arc lock was derived from. As far as blade steel goes, I find the AUS steels to be great for tough use such as in the fixed blades. I really don't care about corrision resistance (I carried a carbon steel knife in the jungle for two years) because it's just a matter of simply maintaining its finish. I would like to thank the folks at SOG for not switching to the crap steels like 420. Like some companies have.:grumpy:
 
I personally like some of the SOG designs quite a bit especially the NW Ranger & Pentagon. My only wish is that they used a better quality steel than AUS-6. Not saying ZDP-189 or S30V, but along the lines of ATS-34/154CM, or VG-10. I used a SOG NW Ranger as my beater FB while in the Army and it performed just fine. Thing is now at that price range you could spend a few $$ more and get a Spyderco Temperance in VG-10 with a choice of PE or SE.

If SOG upgrades the NW Ranger, Pentagon, or both to at least AUS-8 like their other FB's like the Daggert I would buy both. C'mon SOG, make me spend some cash :)
 
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