Wich Powerlock?

[Bushman]

Hi Everyone,

I am new on the forum and quite new to multitools as edc, as I used to wear my own made fixed blades.
Anyway my only MT is a Skeletool wich served me good at my last job, but now i have different needs.
I was introduced to the Paratool and was very impressed. I have now done a lot of research and I think I know what to get,

A SOG Powerlock B63 in Black Oxide and with leather sheath.

It is very confusing with the different but similar models so now I am asking for help as to where I can buy a late model powerlock that for sure features the gear covers and the piano lock? (I live in Australia)

Thanks!

[MultiMat]

First up G'day & welcome mate  .


I would suggest logging onto US Ebay & having a look there mate .

This crowd ship to Australia(I have asked them previously  )  , you could ask about the gear covers & piano locks.
http://cgi.ebay.com/S-O-G-SOG-Black-PowerLock-EOD-Tool-Nylon-Pouch-B63-N-/270607256878?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f01730d2e#ht_1922wt_889
The picture certainly has the covers , hard to tell about the locks.

SOG has said they are phasing out the piano locks on every thing but the Powerassist so that might be a bit tricky.

Good luck mate & let us know what you get & how you like it 

[CENTURION]

http://cgi.ebay.com/S-O-G-SOG-Black-PowerLock-EOD-Tool-Nylon-Pouch-B63-N-/270607256878?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f01730d2e#ht_1922wt_889
The picture certainly has the covers , hard to tell about the locks.

Those are piano locks. The trick to telling one from the other from that view is to look at the pivot points, old-style locks have a flange that comes around the outside of the handle, and attaches to the pivot bar. Piano locks are contained entirely between the two sides of the handle.
Compare the locks on the PL at the top of this photo to the ones on that ebay photo.  (Ignore the red and blue, I'm re-purposing a different pic because I'm feeling lazy. Also, credit for the original pic goes to J-Sews)


Don't know much about purchasing tools in Australia, but good luck in your hunt! Oh, and welcome to the forum!

[Bushman]

Thanks for you replies fellas!

I forgot to mention that I have already emailed a couple of sellers on ebay only to find out that their pictures does not necesserely reflect what they are actually selling. 2 sellers had pictures of late model PL's with gear covers, and when asked they did not have gear covers nor piano locks.

It was very interesting to find out that they are discontinuing the piano locks and that the army models are without gear covers.
I now feel that gear covers might not be necessary at all, nor piano locks. It would of course be extra interesting to get piano locks now when they might get a bit scarse though.

Please share your thoughts on old vs new gents, specially if you experience of both.

[Chako]

Piano locks make the tools fiddly to use. I was never a big fan of them to be honest. A single lock will lock all of your tools wonderfully without having to press tiny little lock keys to unlock them.

As for covers...if you enjoy comfort, you will want them. The downside is that you have to open them to access your folding tools. However, if you do buy one with a cover and you don't like it, they are held by two small indents, and are very easy to remove. So go for one with a cover so you can find out which you prefer better down the road.

As for model numbers...well SOG does get a little confusing on this, as the only thing that differentiates one model from another in the same family, are the tool selections. With that said, you can easily buy replacement tools and interchange them, thereby making your own tool load out and negating your original SOG model number.

Be sure to buy one with the gear covers on. The older models have the gears exposed.  Here is a photo to better illustrate this. You can also see which ones have piano locks and which do not by what Centurion has already said.

[Bushman]

Thanks Chako!

Nice collection btw

[Bushman]

Ok so I ended up ordering a b62n model. Didn't ask about locks or covers so that will be a surprise.

I want to order a sheath and some complementary knife blades from sog us. I couldn't find where to get that spanner set, could anyone please tell me where to get it?

I am really really looking fwd to get it now. Oh and it's in BO.