Two SOG questions

[rdub934]

I recently found a couple of black oxide SOG Powerlock 2.0 EOD w/ scissors (what a mouthfull) at my local Base Exchange for $57. I cannot tell what kind of locks it has, but it has the new style plier head and the larger, Paladin-style gear covers. After doing some online shopping, I have determined that this is a good price for a NIB Powerlock. Question one: how much better could one reasonably expect to do on this tool?

In regards to black oxide finish, examining the previously described tool, it looks great - the finish looks even. I have a BO Gerber MP400 that is 9 years old and it shows its age a bit, but generally looks good. I like the look of new BO multitools - but some do not age well. In particular, pictures I have seen of BO Leatherman's look horrible.
Question two: how does the BO finish on SOG tools hold up over time/use?

[mulou]

1) $57 seems to be the average price for this

2) the BO eventually wears off, but it's not like the BO leatherman. ie it doesn't leave black stain on your hands. with heavy use (i unwind tiny motors that have their winding epoxied, this means a lot, lot of friction on the pliers, for hours), my plier tips started to look less black after a while, basically. if i wasn't using it as heavily, i suppose it'd still be fully black in 10 years ;-)

I don't have a gerber mp400, but it sounds like the finish is similar.

[Lynn LeFey]

1) I purchased a pair of these about a year ago. They were $45 each with shipping from dailysteals.com.

2) I had to rub both of mine down when i first got them. The BO coating was like someone had rolled them in charcoal dust. Terrible. TERRIBLE.

I'm sorry to say I can't tell you about how they'll look long-term, because both of mine got traded away as fast as possible. The more I tinkered with them, the less I liked them. I loved the compound leverage pliers, and everything else, IMO sucked.

And, apparently, I hate black oxide.

[rdub934]

Good info. I figured it was possible to find these for under $50 - I would like one but wouldn't want to pay more than that. I like the look of new BO tools, but once they aren't new anymore, you can never make them look good again. At least with stainless, you can polish them up easily. But if SOG's BO finish holds up similarly to that of my Gerber, I would be willing to get one.

Thanks for the replies.

[kirk13]

STILL waiting for my BO Paratool to arrive ,so I can't help

[Goatlord666]

Can't help much on the price cause that's also how much i paid for my BO Powerassist.

However - just based on my experience, the black oxide coating on the gerbers are a bit more resilient to normal wear when compared to my BO SOG. especially on contact with steel