Multitool.org Forum
Tool Talk => Events Forum => Topic started by: Grant Lamontagne on February 11, 2008, 03:47:12 AM
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Not everything at the SHOT Show caused us to drool uncontrollably. Some concepts were just not the kind of thing that excites me, but since we were there, we have an obligation to report what we saw to you guys. Bob and I have both been avoiding posting this one, hoping the other would do it. It seems I drew the short straw.
Without further adieu, I give you the SOG Fusion Contractor 2x4:
(http://gallery.multitool.org/pbmirror/Contractor02.jpg)
The version we saw, and is pictured here is a prototype, and may not see production for a little while yet. My hope is that someone at SOG will read this and make a few small, sensible changes before releasing this design. There are some decent features on this knife, and I'd hate to see it cut short.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/pbmirror/Contractor01.jpg)
The blade is a nicely sized and shaped sheepsfoot with a nice thumb bolt and a bead blasted finish. It was a handy size at abotu 3" and therefore should be legal in most jurisdictions where size is an issue.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/pbmirror/Contractor03.jpg)
(http://gallery.multitool.org/pbmirror/Contractor07.jpg)
The Contractor 2x4 also has a few contractor type features, which are both fully functional and useful. A bubble level like this may be the kind of thing you don't want to skimp on when it comes to measuring any load bearing surfaces, but it sure beats "eyeballing" surfaces when taking a quick stock of something. And, while the main blade might be best for sharpening a flat carpenter's pencil, a standard round pencil benefits from a dedicated sharpener.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/pbmirror/Contractor08.jpg)
(http://gallery.multitool.org/pbmirror/Contractor06.jpg)
A sharp eye will note the "cutesy poo" back lock mechanism, which has been machined to look like the head of a hammer, in keeping with the contractor type motif of the knife. Cute, but not necessary, and most contractors or carpenters I know wouldn't care if it had the Last Supper painted on it. It either works, or it doesn't, no one cares what it looks like. As a result, this seems like an unnecessary design complication.
You've also no doubt noted that another prominent feature of this knife is the large saw blade at the blade pivot point. This saw blade actually rotates in conjunction with the knife blade, and so in addition to being an aesthetic device, it could also be used as a thumbwheel to open the blade one handed, which could be very handy. This would provide an easy way to open the blade while wearing gloves or by "rolling" it against jeans or coveralls. I say "would" instead of "is" because there is one little thing that hampers the process. If you look closely, you will see a small sheet metal "guard" designed to make the saw blade look more like a real circular saw. It's unfortunate placement blocks an easy opening of the blade, and if this feature sees production, I urge everyone to snap it off and regain this otherwise useful function. Otherwise, you are allowing a "cutesy poo" look to get in the way of the knife's function. Frankly I don't want to sacrifice function for form, but maybe others would.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/pbmirror/Contractor04.jpg)
(http://gallery.multitool.org/pbmirror/Contractor05.jpg)
Another "feature" I wonder about is the so called "Lucky Nail" tucked away in the handle. The theory is that when you are one nail short for your project, you can simply pull this one out of the knife handle and use it. Of course, being a T headed nail it likely won't help you much for many things, and it would also be a pain in the butt to replace for next time. So, I pretty well just consider this a useless feature of this knife, but if you are the kind of person who has often thought you needed an odd shaped nail at an awkward time, then this may just be the knife for you.
All in all, the concept is sound, and if they were to simplify the design I'd bet this could be a useful and successful design for SOG. However, the fancy machining of the backlock, the "lucky nail" and the counter productive sheet metal saw blade guard add to the manufacturing costs unnecessarily. SOG knives and tools have always had a rep for being stripped down, serious users, and I hope this fancy schmancy crap doesn't catch on.
Def
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Wow, that's...different! :think:
Judging from the pics and your synopsis, I'd say...
Pencil sharpener - Good idea, lots of times I'll be sitting at a work table or marking something and the tip of my pencil breaks far, far away from a pencil sharpener.
The "lucky" nail slot - Make it hold a standard round headed nail. I've never seen a T shaped nail in my life.
Overall it looks like a nice knife to have while up on a ladder, your pencil breaks, and your last nail drops to the ground!
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They forgot the band-aid dispenser which would probably come in handy looking at all those pointy edges on this tool.
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They forgot the band-aid dispenser which would probably come in handy looking at all those pointy edges on this tool.
Good one! :)
The whole knife looked and felt too gimmicky for my tastes. Sure, keep the knife blade, the pencil sharpener, and the spirit level. But get rid of that weirdo saw blade on the side and that goofy last nail thing. And I won't even tell you what I think of the hammer-shaped back lock. All are somewhat.....embarrassing.....on a serious work knife. :P
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Kinda reminds me of the muscle car knife they came out with last year.
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At the first pic I thought this was ripper.
Big Sheepsfoot - My favourite!
Nice easy-use blade-launching wheel - Neato!
Pencil Sharpener - Clever!
Some kind of Wire stripping device - Cool.
Oh, that blade launcher is a gimmick, and what I thought would be a wire stripper is a hammer-head silhouette.
I don't use Levels a whole lot, and I doubt that one would be much chop.
That "lucky nail" is little more than the final one in the coffin for this showboating toy, most likely to be an awkward gift for an unsuspecting blue collar gent.
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I'm with Nomad, the sheepsfoot blade is a great feature in a work knife.as it's a really safe design, but what the hell were they thinking when they desigbed the rest of the tool :o
Some one must have stuck something naughty in the coffee machine ::)
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In't Fusion sogs rubbish line?
"Affordable Quality" they calls it?
I suppose this'll team up nicely with the other Sog Fusion Knife-o-foolishness, the "Muscle Car"
Bah.
If they want to make a *real* work knife, I'll be here, until then, I'll stick to admiring their multitools and leave their knife department up to the Tac Blac fans.
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I guess they could have added a hammer to one end to use on the lucky nail.
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That sharpener on the back looks like something a kid would stick on with superglue, actually the whole thing looks like a design contest entry, and not a very good one, cant believe they built it, how does the spirit level work when its not on a flat edge?
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actually the whole thing looks like a design contest entry, and not a very good one,
I think you've hit the ''lucky'' nail on the head there mate :)
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Actually I would not want to use that knife one bit. I think that there are going to be a ton of stitches due to the design of the back lock. It is to "proud" of the scale and looks like it can be disengaged to easily by accident.
My sug is not to trust the lock and certainly not to put any presure on the blade, especially while torquing it.
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Here's a Shot Show picture of the Contractor 2x4 with a couple of its close kin:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/SOGFusions.jpg)
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The Kilowatt looks decent and useful, the others...not so much.
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I'm a little confused about these "gimmick knives". Do they think contractors and car guys really going to carry these motif knives aroung? Or are they just aiming for the gift market?
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That Muscle Car one is one of the lamest things Ive ever seen on this forum.
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The Muscle Car,my son in law would love,he's a NASCAR fan.The Kilowatt,that's a winner.The Contractor,well it looks just a little to busy for one frame.
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I can get the Kilowatt and the muscle car one. The ergos look good and if you removed the styling the would still be good knives.
The 2x4 looks painful to use. The saw and lock release look like they create some unpleasant hotspots and overall the knife just does not look put together well.
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The front side of the Muscle Car knife caused me to do this: ::)
The back side of it caused me to do this: :P
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/MuscleCarback.jpg)
(Note the shift-lever pocket clip, and the belt-and-pulley system that actually rotates when you deploy the knife blade)
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I hate to say this... but I actually kinda like that muscle car knife. It's strange enough to be interesting.
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The 2X4 would actually be pretty decent if they took out all the pizzazz.
The Killowatt is the best (not surprisingly, it's the only one not in the Fusion line) and its decorations don't get in the way, so they aren't a big deal.
The Muscle Car... :P
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I hate to say this... but I actually kinda like that muscle car knife. It's strange enough to be interesting.
Good grief. Next thing you'll be telling us is how wonderful your new MUSCLE CAR!!!! knife is...... :D
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I hate to say this... but I actually kinda like that muscle car knife. It's strange enough to be interesting.
Good grief. Next thing you'll be telling us is how wonderful your new MUSCLE CAR!!!! knife is...... :D
I'll make sure to do a full review when I get it :)
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so the saw wheel doesn't cut anything, it's just used to open the blade but the top guard blocks it's proper use? hmmm
a spare nail...hmmm
a big ole locking/release mechanism shaped like a hammer...hmmm
a pencil sharpener....hmmm
I've been a carpenter for over 16 years And I'd never be caught dead with that!
1.Lose the guard over the wheel.
2.put a pen in that hole instead of a nail.
3.make the trigger, release mechanism simpler, more safe!
4.ditch the pencil sharpener, we use the blade to sharpen every type of pencil, flat or round.
I like the blade, the level is alright, that pocket clip looks like it needs some rounding off,
how about a nice awl or ruler on the thing or even a loop/ring to attach a string and make it a plum bomb...
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I agree that some serious changes should be made to the Contractor, but it has definite potential, in my opinion.
I was just looking at some of SOG's new knives, they've nearly tripled the size of their Fusion line, and I'm actually interested with their Spirit, it looks like a spear with an extremely short handle because of the blade style, but you can unscrew part of the handle, and screw the blade onto a broom handle to create a spear. That seems pretty stupid, but it also has a built-in screw to put a stick into it, which seemed to be its savior.
They also have various new designs that are just innovative, for example, they have a Fusion knife called the Salute that has an adjustable thumb-stud. They also have some Fusion fixed blades, similar to the Daggert and Gov-Tac.
My favorite new knife from them is the Team Leader Survivor. It is exactly like the team leader, but with a built-in saw. I will probably get that for the next time I go camping.
I didn't like their new folding knives much. One, the Stingray, was exactly like the Tomcat, except with different handles. Kind of like the SOGwinder and Gentleman. Also new is something called the Fatcat, which they describe as a larger version of the Tomcat, production will apparently be limited, and the suggested retail price is 570 American dollars!
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I was on the SOG site earlier in the week and they only had half a dozen Fusion tools, now it has, as you say, doubled.
I guess they were waiting for SHOT to update their website?
They might want to smack around the Marketing Dept though.
"The Spirit looks like a futuristic tribal spear taking off from “Area 51”."
So is it Futurisitc, Tribal, or Alien?
Make up your minds folks!
My dislike of Tac knives and Daggers is marked, but the Fixation Dagger looks a half nice scrap knife.
Hey, sometimes even I like to pretend I'm a ninja.
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I think we have some photos of teh Spirit from the SHOT Show- I'll look them out and get them posted later today.
Def
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http://sogknives.com/store/BP-3.html
:D
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IT looks like on the folders in the fusion line uyou can actually Move the thumb stud. Kinda neet. Especially for dif sized hands.
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I'll pass on this one, even if they make your suggestions before production. This just seems more gimmick than anything else.
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I doubt that their main targets are actual contractors.
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I hope not! No work would be done if someone walked in with one of those.... they'd be laughing too hard! ;)
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I would have to kick my own butt If I bought one of those and brought it on the site. However, I would not criticise anyone that bought one. Remember some say we are all insane for owning several tools, and some will collect these theme knives.
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To clarify on my previous post, as I was in a hurry, they are likely marketing the Contractor mainly to two types of people. The first type is the person who is mates with a contractor, and gets the unsuspecting worker a new knife to "help him out".
The other type of person is, for lack of a better term, a wannabe contractor.
Close behind is collectors.