Why do knife snobs hate SOG???

The tomahawk is another of their gems, though I wish they'd make one with a longer handle.
 
1 reason, cause they suck....:) ive had my fair share of crap with them... expect that that CS is excellent.
 
I should also mention that from my own standpoint I think "hate" is too strong of a word. I simply find it difficult to appreciate them. :p
 
For all of those bashing SOG because they copied Spyderco's Endura, ever thought that Spyderco may have copied something else from other knife companies?
:rolleyes:
I have some SOG knives and I like the Visionary I (nice VG-10 Arc-lock 3'' folder) a lot.
 
Spyderco is very serious about giving credit where credit is due. Out of any knife manufacturer on the market I think they pay the most attention to that. So if it's happened I doubt it was with their knowledge.
 
tonijedi said:
For all of those bashing SOG because they copied Spyderco's Endura, ever thought that Spyderco may have copied something else from other knife companies?
:rolleyes:
I have some SOG knives and I like the Visionary I (nice VG-10 Arc-lock 3'' folder) a lot.
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Copied the Endura? Link?
 
Just about all the knife makers copy from others. There are few really new knife designs. The Spyderco hole copy was however flagrant from my point of view and some close to Spencer Frazer have made their thoughts known one way or the other.

Copies? If you use a liner lock are they a copy? If you buy a bowie styled knife similar to the classic Randall's, is that a copy of a Randall? Bo Randall copied his design too in my opinion. I don't know the history of the Spydie hole, but I don't recall seeing this until Spyderco came out with the design. Even Victorinox has copied the "hole" to some degree on their one hand openers. Do they pay a royalty? Robbie Robinson's design of the SOG Revolver was somewhat revolutionary and others have copied his design. Some pay royalties to him.
 
When I look at an endura and a sogzilla side by side it's pretty obvious the sogzilla is a copy of pretty much the entire knife. The pocket clip is in the same spot, more or less same blade and handle shape. It's the same design. There's a difference between using a traditional design and entirely copying a knife pattern. If you make a knife with a drop point blade you aren't copying anyone's design necessarily just by using a drop point. When your mass produced knife looks the same as another folder that's been on the market for what, 30 years or so, it looks like blatant design copying.

Even ignoring all that, the sogzilla uses Chinese 8cr13mov at 57-58 Rc with a GRN handle and they sell it for $49. The Spyderco endura comes with a VG-10 blade for $49 on amazon. It's made in Japan and it's the same price as the sogzilla even with a better blade steel. Similarly, a US made Kershaw skyline or speed bump in 14C28N with G10 scales sells for $35 and $40, respectively. When you can get a knife with better materials, better customer service and it's made in the USA for less than a Chinese knife with inferior materials I'd say it's a no brainer which knife to get. If SOG used better materials at a better price point and produced the knife in the US I'd be a lot more inclined to purchase something from them. As it is I buy US made knives whenever I can but I don't mind buying Japanese made knives either. Kershaw gets my business for putting out quality, US made knives at an affordable price. Spyderco makes great knives here and some in Japan. I'm very tempted to get a Spyderco endura as well to try out some VG-10. SOG, however, makes nothing that stands out to me as something I'd really want to own.
 
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FortyTwoBlades said:
Link. :p
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Thanks 42, wow that's pretty much it. Never heard of that one. Put a small ding in the top of the Spyderhole and a deep carry clip on it and you've got an Endura (a chintzy one). :thumbdn:

When you can get a knife with better materials, better customer service and it's made in the USA for less than a Chinese knife with inferior materials I'd say it's a no brainer which knife to get.
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Are you speaking generally? Cuz, my Endura 4 G-10 says Japan on the blade tang if I recall.
 
Good point 22-Rimfire.
Some of the similarities do seem a bit too coincidental, but I don't think every little manufacturing technique should be considered copyright infringment.
SOG catches enough hell from the knife community, so I think that negative publicity is punishment enough.
That being said, I have to admit that I have a soft spot for SOG b/c I have never had any problems with any models I've owned.
I EDC'd a Lg Vulcan for neraly 2 years and loved it. The Flash 2, Seal Pup, Twitch 2, and Micron 2 also held up well.
However, no SOG will ever trump my BM or Spyderco EDC's
 
It's in Spyderco's court to make the decision to press a lawsuit or not. I take it they don't care too much. Often it's not worth the time or the energy. I just think it's funny that the SOGZilla is really quite a lot lower quality than the Spyderco Byrd series...but more expensive. :p
 
22-rimfire said:
If you buy a bowie styled knife similar to the classic Randall's, is that a copy of a Randall? Bo Randall copied his design too in my opinion.
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Your opinion is wrong. W.D. Randall was heavily influenced by Mr. Scagel, he admitted that fact. He is one of the accepted pioneers of the production knife industry, who could he copy? A few of his knife designs were submitted by customers requesting a knife be made in that style, and they were later adopted as regular offerings. It is rather difficult now to design a knife and have it not look like, or draw influence from some other knifemakers work, but you clearly have your facts backwards.

In my opinion SOG has done little more than copy everyone since the very beginning back in the late 60's, water under the bridge by now though.

Patents, Copyrights, and Trademarks, are all different. Before pointing fingers at "copy-cats", you should find out those differences. I did once, and it was educational reading.
 
cziv said:
Thanks 42, wow that's pretty much it. Never heard of that one. Put a small ding in the top of the Spyderhole and a deep carry clip on it and you've got an Endura (a chintzy one). :thumbdn:



Are you speaking generally? Cuz, my Endura 4 G-10 says Japan on the blade tang if I recall.
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The endura is Japanese made, which is superior to Chinese made most of the time. I consider the Japanese made Spydercos to be on par with their American counterparts.
 
Before pointing fingers at "copy-cats", you should find out those differences.
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Didn't know I pointed any fingers. Yes, there are differences to patents, copyrights, and trademarks. I have read a few things on the topic. Since I have not researched it, I suspect that the Spyderco hole would probably fall into the "trademark" catagory. But since the small gap is present in the SOG knife, it is likely neither a trademark or patent infringement situation. But I am not a lawyer.

"Influenced" is just a another way of phrasing "copying". I personally really like Randall knives. I don't particularly care if the design was influenced by somebody else or it orginated with Randall Knives. I just like the knives. I also like many of SOG's knives.

SOG started business in 1986 (not the 60's).
 
The problem with lawsuits is if they are drawn out (and they often are) they become an ongoing black hole for cash. The only people who win are the lawyers. So even though Spyderco likely has grounds to go to court over the Sogzilla it probably wouldn't pay them to do so.
 
I do not consider my self a knife snob in any way shape or form. But I do not like SOG just because their knives do not appeal to me in their ergonomics and their price, for around $10 more I can get a Spyderco FFG Endura as opposed to a Flash 2 which for me has crap for ergonomics and AUS 8 vs VG 10, no contest. And I can get an ESEE 4 for the same price as a Seal Pup. Oh and they also blatantly copied the Endura which no one can deny but it is mainly the reasons above that I do not look at SOG for my next knife purchase.
 
Their materials and designs are not what I am looking for. If SOG could go from that Zytel stuff, to stainless steel, G-10, etc...I'd be more interested. AUS8 steel is fine by me. Their customer service, is great, though. I sent in my Blink for repair, and I got it back in a week. They sharpened it up nice, fixed the problem, and gave me a free hat. The lady on the phone was very respectable, no issues there. SO, maybe if they improved the product, they could turn around.
 
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