SOG PowerAssist

[J-sews]

A few teaser pics for now, some first impressions coming up in a bit:

[Leatherman123]

Is it regular 440 or whatever SOG uses? BTW, how fast do the blades open?

[WhichDawg]

sweeeet, nice shots your giving us! thx boss

[carl]

Are those 2 of the same straight edge blades?  Those are big SOG letters on there.  thanks for the pics!

[Benner]

 
 

Me really want one of those! 

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts Bob.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

 

Me really want one of those! 

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts Bob.

I pretty sure they'll be illegal over here mate

[flapjackboy]

Are those 2 of the same straight edge blades?

Yeah, I was confused about this. Why have two of the same blade? Surely it would make more sense to have a different tool in place of the second straight blade, perhaps a serrated one.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Are those 2 of the same straight edge blades?

Yeah, I was confused about this. Why have two of the same blade? Surely it would make more sense to have a different tool in place of the second straight blade, perhaps a serrated one.

Maybe it's just a pre-prototype or a mock up for the show

[Benner]

 

Me really want one of those! 

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts Bob.

I pretty sure they'll be illegal over here mate

I did think that, but won't it be ok as the blade flips out the side rather than straight out the end?

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

 

Me really want one of those! 

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts Bob.

I pretty sure they'll be illegal over here mate

I did think that, but won't it be ok as the blade flips out the side rather than straight out the end?

Nope, it's still an assisted opener, and automatic, gravity and flick knives are dead illegal over here.

[Benner]

 

Me really want one of those! 

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts Bob.

I pretty sure they'll be illegal over here mate

I did think that, but won't it be ok as the blade flips out the side rather than straight out the end?

Nope, it's still an assisted opener, and automatic, gravity and flick knives are dead illegal over here.

   That's REALLY annoying.  I have been looking forward to that for months!

You're such a killjoy Mike!

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Tis what I do best , I could be wrong, about how it function's, but I don't think so

Save up for a Spirit instead

[Benner]

Tis what I do best , I could be wrong, about how it function's, but I don't think so

Save up for a Spirit instead

 

*Says in childish voice* "But I want that one!"

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Tis what I do best , I could be wrong, about how it function's, but I don't think so

Save up for a Spirit instead

 

*Says in childish voice* "But I want that one!"

Says in best daddies voice: TOUGH

[Spoonrobot]

I like the two blades. Cut twice, measure once, right?

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I like the two blades. Cut twice, measure once, right?

Make a really difficult wound to stitch up too

[Benner]

Tis what I do best , I could be wrong, about how it function's, but I don't think so

Save up for a Spirit instead

 

*Says in childish voice* "But I want that one!"

Says in best daddies voice: TOUGH

 

I wanted to get another SOG as SOG is the only "Big boy" company that I don't own.

Looks like I might have to get one of the new powerlocks then.  They do seem to have got rid of nearly all the things I didn't like.  But this ia ages away as I am officially skint after buying that MPT.

[Benner]

Bob, OT I know, but was there any sign or talk of a PPP with similar gear covers to that of the new Powerlock?

[J-sews]

Is it regular 440 or whatever SOG uses? BTW, how fast do the blades open?

Yep, regular 440 stainless steel on the knife blades.

The assist mechanism is lightning fast, as advertised. Use the thumbstud to lift the blade just slightly, then the spring action takes over and flicks the blade open faster than the human eye can follow.

As a left hander myself, I was pleased to see that the PowerAssist does not discriminate against either leftys or rightys. The handle has a blade on each side, mirror-image like, with a thumbstud for both. Now thats what I call affirmative action!

[J-sews]

Are those 2 of the same straight edge blades? 

Yep, I should have mentioned that this was one of only two prototype PowerAssists that SOG brought to the Show. The one pictured at the beginning of this thread has two plain edge blades, but this will NOT be the standard configuration. Instead, the tool will come equipped with a plain edge blade (situated for right handed one-hand-opening) and a serrated edge blade (for left handed one-hand opening)

[J-sews]

Bob, OT I know, but was there any sign or talk of a PPP with similar gear covers to that of the new Powerlock?

Hmmm, good question. We saw several Pocket Power Pliers on display, but none of them had the gear protectors. I'll ask the SOG folks tomorrow if we should expect this change. Shouldn't be a big deal for them I would think, given that the protectors are already standard equipment on the Paladin PT-510.

[Benner]

Bob, OT I know, but was there any sign or talk of a PPP with similar gear covers to that of the new Powerlock?

Hmmm, good question. We saw several Pocket Power Pliers on display, but none of them had the gear protectors. I'll ask the SOG folks tomorrow if we should expect this change. Shouldn't be a big deal for them I would think, given that the protectors are already standard equipment on the Paladin PT-510.

Cheers Bob  .  You would think that they must be in the pipeline.  Every other tool seems to be receiving the gear covers.

[carl]

J-sews,
thanks again for the updates and pics.  keep em coming!

[J-sews]

It was exciting to finally see one in the flesh, but all is not well with the PowerAssist project at SOG. Despite being announced over a year ago, nagging difficulties with the assist mechanism has delayed production yet again. Latest official estimates from SOG put the availability date out into May of this year, perhaps later.

We were told that the problem lies with the complex requirements of the two assisted knives. As designed, either blade locks in the open position. A sliding button unlocks the blade, allowing it to be closed. No big deal there right?



But in order to prevent accidental discharge of a blade, possibly resulting in injury, the PowerAssist requires a second locking mechanism in order to keep the blades closed. It is difficult to see entirely, but there is a complex linkage mechanism between the two lock releases. Herein lies the difficulties SOG has been experiencing. Being a safety matter, no room for failure is allowed.

So we wait, eagerly, for the engineers to iron out the bugs. With SOG's outstanding reputation for quality, I'm certain they will. 

[carl]

I'm so glad to see thumb studs rather than cutouts/slots. 

[J-sews]

One bit of good news is that SOG is confident that the retail price of the PowerAssist will be virtually the same (within a few dollars) of the PowerLock. This was a pleasant surprise to me, given the usual price one has to pay for advancements in technology. Kudos to SOG for trying to keep our already-staggering toy budget somewhat under control! 

[Thargor]

I'm so glad to see thumb studs rather than cutouts/slots. 

Im the complete opposite, I way prefer cutouts.

One bit of good news is that SOG is confident that the retail price of the PowerAssist will be virtually the same (within a few dollars) of the PowerLock. This was a pleasant surprise to me, given the usual price one has to pay for advancements in technology. Kudos to SOG for trying to keep our already-staggering toy budget somewhat under control! 

That is good news, I think ill be getting one in that case, any release date for them?

You see that smooth round part on the right in your pic up there, can that be removed so you can go back to the nice industrial "cog" look the old SOGs had? I dont like the smooth look, especially compared to the way it was.

[Benner]

One bit of good news is that SOG is confident that the retail price of the PowerAssist will be virtually the same (within a few dollars) of the PowerLock. This was a pleasant surprise to me, given the usual price one has to pay for advancements in technology. Kudos to SOG for trying to keep our already-staggering toy budget somewhat under control! 

That is good news, I think ill be getting one in that case, any release date for them?

You see that smooth round part on the right in your pic up there, can that be removed so you can go back to the nice industrial "cog" look the old SOGs had? I dont like the smooth look, especially compared to the way it was.

Looks aside, would you prefer to have the cogs exposed?

[Thargor]

I dont think they're in any danger are they? You could drop them and bend them I suppose but you could do that with any tool.

[Benner]

I dont think they're in any danger are they? You could drop them and bend them I suppose but you could do that with any tool.

I see the main purpose of the covers to protect the user not the tool.  When using the screwdriver, for example, without any gear covers the gears dig into your hands.  This was the main reason why I got rid of my Powerlok.