Why do knife snobs hate SOG???

22-rimfire said:
Didn't know I pointed any fingers.
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Only that first paragraph was intended for you, the rest was a general responce to the thread.


22-rimfire said:
"Influenced" is just a another way of phrasing "copying".
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that arguement could be made, but you are ignoring the obvious differences of the knives from the two gentlemen I pointed out.

22-rimfire said:
SOG started business in 1986 (not the 60's).
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Ok, but the original knife from the company is a copy of a copy, of a knife that has history dating back to the 40's.
The SOG knife from the 60's.

Enjoy your knives.
-Ron
 
+1. All it takes is one bad move to spoil the company image. SOG had a few.

Fusion series - Gave the impression of SOG knives as cheap and China made.
SOGZilla/2010 line- Copying designs outright from other granted SOG instant pariah status.
Warranty policy - So you can't use knives to baton, even for their fixed blades. (Explicitly stated on the website)
Prices & Materials - Ridiculous prices and refusal to use materials like G-10 and better grades of steel (They may have a purpose f or this but the prices are not going down either!)

Can't get enough of the cheesy product descriptions!

That being said, I like their fixed blades. Have a few discontinued Seki Japan models (S1 Bowie, Tigershark) and a Tech Bowie (Taiwan made). Good stuff! Have one of their multitools and works great.
 
huh this thread is back. Anyway, controversies aside and with nearly a year of carrying a SOG flash 1 I have found it to be my most carried EDC folder. My first flash was ruined due to non manufacturing related issues but my second flash 1 has been great. Sure it is AUS 8 and costs $30 but that thing never gives up. It seemingly is capable of keeping its using edge for an extended amount of time. From my personal tests it can keep an edge better than Spyderco's fabled 8cr13mov.

Carry it as a primary blade always. However, I always have a backup ready (usually a heavy duty Spyderco or Benchmade) because the Flash was obviously designed for lighter duties.
 
Blade_Crazy said:
i was unaware of this until now. While I have not really been interested in SOG before i am definitely not now. (not to bring up sore subjects if i did sorry)
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Awesome link Blade_Crazy, Kaizan1 "owned" SOG in those threads wow - BUSTED!
 
I like SOG knives and their Arc-lock knives the Spec Elite 1 & 2, Pentagon Elite 1 & 2, Visionary 2, and X-Ray vision all have VG-10 steel blades and are made in Seki City, Japan. I have one of each and love them.
I don't understand why they even make the Zogzilla as it is a direct copy of Spyderco's Byrd Cara Cara but is heavier, more expensive, and not any better at all. Based on that alone I would not buy any of these models.
 
To original poster: very simply answer is because they are commercialized crap. The name says it all: SOG stands for Studies and Observation Group, an elite unit in Vietnam. They had a GI knife made for them that was later *copied* by the SOG company in question (which is not in any way/shape/form associated with the U.S. military SOG of the Vietnam era) and marketed as some sort of Navy SEAL knife. NONE of SOG's knives was ever issued to a Special Operations unit or the SEALS, and ALL of their knives are made in China/Taiwan/Japan, etc.

In short, they're a cheesy company trying to convince unknowing consumers that they are some elite, Special Operations knife company that supplies knives to the SEALS. Which is 100% bovine excrement.
 
Not a snob- just picky and set on my preferences. I did have a couple of SOGs when I first got into knives (all of which were let go), but now I'll be hard pressed to find one of interest. What turned me off with the previous designs that I did like was SOGs choice in material handle- plastic. Sure it makes it lighter and easier for them to manufacture and include all their proprietary gadgetry enclosed in it, but I just don't mind the extra weight of quality materials. Since then, I've also come to realize that I do have an affinity for simple and clean knives.

Which brings about another aspect of their knives that's annoying, all the branding. From the grip, clip, to blade- too saturated for my liking. Not all their models are proliferated as such, but the ones that did draw my attention were. But then again, they might have changed drastically (doubt it), haven't been to the SOG site for years, let alone browse through their collection at online retailers.

Also, as others have previously noted, the price point for what they offer... not feeling it.
 
SOG's not so bad. They can hang in with the best of them when they utilize the right blade steels. Not too happy about some of the better looking models being made in China, but Spyderco, Kershaw, CRKT etc are all guilty of the same offense. I personally like Spyderco like no other maker, but I don't blame anyone for choosing a Sogzilla over an Endura or Delica because of the signifigant price difference. Alot of folks ain't got $80 -$120 bucks to throw around on a ZDP-189 or VG-10 Spyderco. We Spyderco fans love our brand, but the heavy criticism of less expensive brands is nothing but a bunch of BS.
 
Seki-City said:
SOG's not so bad. They can hang in with the best of them when they utilize the right blade steels. Not too happy about some of the better looking models being made in China, but Spyderco, Kershaw, CRKT etc are all guilty of the same offense. I personally like Spyderco like no other maker, but I don't blame anyone for choosing a Sogzilla over an Endura or Delica because of the signifigant price difference. Alot of folks ain't got $80 -$120 bucks to throw around on a ZDP-189 or VG-10 Spyderco. We Spyderco fans love our brand, but the heavy criticism of less expensive brands is nothing but a bunch of BS.
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Of course, they could get a Byrd for even less, and have an arguably better knife than the Sogzilla.
 
This thread is obviously for ignorant people. Almost every knife company will have snobs hating on their product but this is ridiculous and full of false information. Sog was founded in 1986 in order to recreate the original sog bowie knife so yes the design was copied just as kabar and other companies copied the original kabar knife. However that does not stop me from liking this company.

Next people complain about Aus8 steel. For people who dislike it, then buy something else because it is a good option for people who are newer to knives. It gets extremely sharp and it sharpens easily. It also is more rust resistant so people don't have to worry about taking care of their knife as much.

Then people are complaining about zytel? I like the glass reinforced nylon for the following reasons. It is very grippy since sog has a nice texturing on the handles. It is light weight, which is a pro. And it makes the knifes price cheaper.

For all of you idiots in the world, one knife was not made to do everything. Sog has different knives for different categories. For example the sog force is an excellent choice for the outdoors and the sog seal pup is an excellent tactical knife. So don't expect the knives to perform outstandingly in something they were not made to do.

Sog also has excellent customer service and as i've seen on this site alone, chris replies to peoples questions and tries to help the best he can.

Sog knives are sharp, durable, light weight, cheap, and are more resistant to rust. Yes their assisted opening knives have blade wiggle... Crazy right, but if that stops you from buying one of their knives then you are crazy. Also again for the idiots, not all of the knives are made in taiwan. Some are made in america like the aegis, trident, flash, and twitch and some are also made in japan. As for the whole navy seal deal, the navy seals were holding a contest for who could make a knife suitable for the seals. Sog competed using the seal 2000 knife and won 2nd place due to the many outstanding qualities. So i'm sure there are seals that do use the sog seal.

Now for all of you snobs, there are good and bad knives from every company. Sog is very good and i've had very nice results from their products.
 
I have a couple of Jet Edge's from the 90's, ATS-34 steel and carbon fiber, I EDC'ed them for many years, I loved them.

Since then I did buy a Flash I and Flash II, I gave away the Flash I, and keep the II in my drawer to open mail, but if the cutting gets intense, I'll grab the box cutter :)

SOG, no bad taste in my mouth, maybe the right fixed blade I'll drop coin on.
 
I've wondered about the lack of love for SOGs here just like the OP back in 2010. I've owned and used probably a dozen SOG's in the past few years and in general I've had mostly good experiences. Some of the blades are probably a bit too thin for a hard use knife, the Aegis comes to mind. But for light work and slicing it's excellent. NO blade play in any direction and easy to maintain. I'm not terribly in love with the locking system though. Definitely not as easy to use as an axis lock. On the other hand, they have I believe, the only knives out there with both a flipper AND a back lock. Used in the Twitch series as well as the Meridian. Quite innovative. Then there is my favorite SOG knives, the Vulcans. I have had both a full sized Vulcan (Sacrificed to the Lake Gods) and a mini, and they are among the slickest knives that I have used. Buttery smooth action that rivals the best axis lock knives, thumb studs, a flipper, and VG-10 steel. Zero blade play in any direction, and very comfortable ergos. What's not to like? I've never owned a Sogzilla, and I know that's one that get's pointed to when people start the SOG bashing, so I can't really relate. But for the most part the SOGs that I've owned have been at the least 'Reasonable' values, and at the best, Very good indeed.
 
Scurvy092 said:
Did you bump a 2+ year old thread to make yourself feel better about a purchase?
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I do have to say that resurrecting this thread is better in my mind than him starting a new one; otherwise we could have had 5 more pages of people with half the information arguing with all the rustled jimmies.
 
Kai Abbe said:
This thread is obviously for ignorant people. Almost every knife company will have snobs hating on their product but this is ridiculous and full of false information. Sog was founded in 1986 in order to recreate the original sog bowie knife so yes the design was copied just as kabar and other companies copied the original kabar knife. However that does not stop me from liking this company.

Next people complain about Aus8 steel. For people who dislike it, then buy something else because it is a good option for people who are newer to knives. It gets extremely sharp and it sharpens easily. It also is more rust resistant so people don't have to worry about taking care of their knife as much.

Then people are complaining about zytel? I like the glass reinforced nylon for the following reasons. It is very grippy since sog has a nice texturing on the handles. It is light weight, which is a pro. And it makes the knifes price cheaper.

For all of you idiots in the world, one knife was not made to do everything. Sog has different knives for different categories. For example the sog force is an excellent choice for the outdoors and the sog seal pup is an excellent tactical knife. So don't expect the knives to perform outstandingly in something they were not made to do.

Sog also has excellent customer service and as i've seen on this site alone, chris replies to peoples questions and tries to help the best he can.

Sog knives are sharp, durable, light weight, cheap, and are more resistant to rust. Yes their assisted opening knives have blade wiggle... Crazy right, but if that stops you from buying one of their knives then you are crazy. Also again for the idiots, not all of the knives are made in taiwan. Some are made in america like the aegis, trident, flash, and twitch and some are also made in japan. As for the whole navy seal deal, the navy seals were holding a contest for who could make a knife suitable for the seals. Sog competed using the seal 2000 knife and won 2nd place due to the many outstanding qualities. So i'm sure there are seals that do use the sog seal.

Now for all of you snobs, there are good and bad knives from every company. Sog is very good and i've had very nice results from their products.
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3 posts into your membership & you necroed a rather negative 2 year old thread to call several lifelong knife enthusiasts ignorant, idiots, & snobs. I don't think this really helps SOG any. Likely as not, you'll goad guys into taking shots at the company because the rude guy that insulted them was waving the company's flag.

I loved my old Tomcat I had back in the 90s, like their multitools & the few fixed blades of theirs I've owned, but the Aegis folder I got for my wife just sucks. Up & down blade play right out of the box & something loose rattling around inside. Sent it in for repair & got it back with up & down blade play & something loose rattling around inside. The few folders of theirs I've sharpened for co-workers had the same sort of blade play.

I'm not much of a "snob" & am likely far less ignorant of knives in general than you've just shown yourself to be (jury's still out on the idiot part). I don't care for SOG's folders for much the same reasons as most of the others on this thread. Knife enthusiasts aren't "idiots" or "crazy" for having a problem with blade play in folders. If you ever get around to purchasing similarly priced folders from other reputable companies you'll notice that they don't commonly have this defect. SOG didn't design these folders with the intention of having this sort of play, either. It's either a poor design or a QC issue.

SOG doesn't need anyone drawing more attention to this thread & the links posted in it. You could better serve this company by posting your reviews of their products or making positive comments about them in more current threads . I know you want to help & mean well, but this just highlights the negative.

And lastly, welcome to Bladeforums.
 
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