Why do knife snobs hate SOG???

The sense I get is a lack of consistency and QC, not to mention the SOG Zilla debacle.

I saw a lot of their folders. Not my style.
 
I don't own any SOG's, which is kinda odd because I own knives by most serious companies. I don't like the looks or materials of the more affordable ones, and the ones I do like are extremely expensive for what they are. For example, I like the Tomcat for its looks, but it's just too expensive. Fatcat ditto, looks like it would be an awesome folder but I'd pay $200 max for it. $300+ is just not reasonable.

So I have nothing against them, but as long as their price/performance ratio doesn't improve, I won't buy any.
 
I own several SOG folders and although I don't find them "outstanding" in performance, I believe they are serviceable products. I do believe their fixed blades could use a bit more styling and upgrading and their upscale folders are just overpriced!
 
Not a knife snob here. Good old Buck is probably my favorite. That said, I don't like the way SOG borrowed the Delica and Endura cuz they couldn't come up with their own design. And my Flash is fun, but it has more play than Britney Spears or Paris Hilton's privates.
 
Not a knife snob--but I don't care for most of their work. I find I can get more for my money from other manufacturers, and most of their designs aren't appealing to me. I own a Blink, but I picked it up as a souvenir when I visited the factory out in Lynnwood, WA. :)
 
To make a long story short, I don't like SOG because:

No warranty on certain products.
Certain aspects of their marketing.
Design copying.
Idol worship of the owner.
 
I like their seal pup series, although i don't own their knives anymore. They seem to have bad attitude with sheaths, like velcro closure and really bad quality leather. They also wanted to ruin most of their designs with oversized SOG logos all over the knives. Add to that, their recent tasteless design thieving.
 
Cotherion said:
Wouldn't consider myself a snob :)

Used to love SOG after getting my Pentagon Elite Folder and the Fatcat (can't remember if name is right) was next in my sights. After reading about the copying done (Sogzilla for example) I'm off SOG until at least they acknowledge copying some designs.
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Cotherion, how do you like the Fatcat? That is one mega folder I've eyeballed since it came out and have never pulled the trigger on it. If I could figure a way to attach a high ride, deep carry pocket clip I think I would get one of these.

Ooops...........didn't read far enough as I see you were going to get one. Sorry 'bout that.

I am really just neutral about SOG knives. I can take them or leave them.
 
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cutter17 said:
Cotherion, how do you like the Fatcat? That is one mega folder I've eyeballed since it came out and have never pulled the trigger on it. If I could figure a way to attach a high ride, deep carry pocket clip I think I would get one of these.

Ooops...........didn't read far enough as I see you were going to get one. Sorry 'bout that.

I am really just neutral about SOG knives. I can take them or leave them.
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At the risk of derailing the thread, contact STR in the subforums for a low rider clip to be made. Gotta send in your Fatcat to ensure he gets the fit right.

Regarding the obese kitty folder, it was next in my sights. Only thing I hate was the SOG hole in the butt end and the potential of my throusers being on my knees if I clip it to my pockets :)

SOG didn't had to go the direction of blatant knockoff. They had gems like the Pentagon and Spec Elite and I personally like the affordable and sturdy tomahawk. But to copy so blatantly other company's popular models and even style and design from a deceased maker (Sorry can't remember the name offhand), it rubs me the wrong way.
 
ive got an old seal pup ,a field pup,and a nw ranger 2.0 and they are all outstanding.the only folders i own are a pe satin trident and a spec elite.i used to have an aegis but the blade flopped around too much.they could definitely use better qc on their folders.i cant say anything about their copying other companies because knife companies have been doing that for years.it happens.i personally hate the design of the sogzilla.
 
Mr. Ultra has not yet demonstrated that there are such a thing as knife snobs, nor that they hate SOG. So I reject the basis of the question. :)

For my part (in a very snobby tone :)), I have never owned a SOG knife nor could I even name one model. They simply have never been on my radar. I do like their multitools, and own several.
 
mk.ultra: Don't know what a knife snob really is, but in Jan, an opportunity to buy a new Tigershark for US$99.00 came up (less than half price), so I snapped it up having never owned an SOG fixed blade, and I have had great fun with it, cutting, shopping, slicing, stabbing - all the things one should be doing with a knife without having to think whether the damage will reduce its resale value (tongue-in-cheek).

I have even played around with different sharpening angles, mouse-pad and wetordry'ing, and its still going strong. With the 9" blade and steel hand guard its not a bushcrafter nor any other 'bracket' I can put it in, except the fun one.

Until my experience with the Tigershark, I had not considered adding SOG fixed blades to my collection, but I am considering buying a SOG PUP - plain edge with Kydex as a user.
 
I have a newer Flash 2 and its a great edc knife when you want a super light beater knife.
 
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I like the SOG multi-tools and have several, but the knives don't do much for me. I had a Flash before but it had excessive blade play and opened a few times in my pocket. I once considered a Vulcan because I thought the design was intriguing and am a fan of VG10, but passed when I realized there were too many options I preferred in the same price range. I would pick up a used Seal if I came across once at a decent price for use as a beater, but that's about all the interest I have in SOG knives. I'm a big fan of spokesman R Lee Ermey, but my respect for the company itself was greatly diminished due to the Sogzilla issue.
 
Ive handled a few in person, and seen quite a few models. Honestly, ive always found them aesthetically very unpleasing and found they felt cheap in the hand. Just not for me, plus im not a fan of companies that steal other peoples designs.
 
I don't know. Maybe the reason "snobs" don't like them is the same reason mall ninjas and 14 year olds seem to like them so much.
 
I own a SOG Vulcan and like it quite a bit. It locks up solid and is reasonably sharp. I don't think I would have spent full price on it - I picked it up for $50.00 on this forum (I think). It feels very solid and I think it looks very cool. It's fun to carry and use.

That being said, I also own a ZT0200 and a 0500 (and have owned several 30xs and several 350s). There is absolutely no comparison between them. In every respect, the ZTs trounce the SOG. Including appearance - it's not subjective, the ZTs are objectively cooler looking.
 
It looks like these kind of threads will never end ,and I never seem to be able to stop myself from commenting.
I have at least a dozen Spydercos, a half dozen Emersons, and only one Benchmade-the large Rukus-[now discontinued] because most Benchmade folders are just too small for my tastes.
Despite being familiar with these "respectable' brands, I still reallly like my Cold Steel and Sog knives. When it comes to really large folders, these two companies virtually stand alone. I also like many of the fixed blades these two companies make.
I had to chuckle at a post above which claims that ZT has Sog beat every way, including aesthetically. Other than my ZT 400 tanto, which is a cool looking knife,ZT knives all look stumpy to me. Put a 5" blade spec-elite folder next to ,for example, the ZT 200 and tell me with a straight face that the 200 looks better than the spec-elite. I had the ZT 200 and traded away for a better looking knife.
People will keep climbing on the "I hate CS and Sog bandwagon" because, I think, it makes them feel like they appreciate the "prestigious" brands and allows them to look down on us ignoramuses who don't understand that CS and Sog are on the wrong side of the tracks.
 
Cotherion said:
At the risk of derailing the thread, contact STR in the subforums for a low rider clip to be made. Gotta send in your Fatcat to ensure he gets the fit right.

Regarding the obese kitty folder, it was next in my sights. Only thing I hate was the SOG hole in the butt end and the potential of my throusers being on my knees if I clip it to my pockets :)

SOG didn't had to go the direction of blatant knockoff. They had gems like the Pentagon and Spec Elite and I personally like the affordable and sturdy tomahawk. But to copy so blatantly other company's popular models and even style and design from a deceased maker (Sorry can't remember the name offhand), it rubs me the wrong way.
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That would be Bob Lum. And stealing a design from one of the most influential knife makers of the last twenty years, just after he dies... That's a great way to trash your reputation.

It's a real head scratcher too, to put the name Bob Lum on one of your knives is usually a great selling point. Then again, since they used the design on a $20 knife it's pretty obvious that whoever made that decision just doesn't care.
 
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