WHAT’S UP WITH ALL THESE VERSIONS?

[Tigershark]

Please help me understand how or why we’re assigning Ver.1.0 (or V1), Ver.2.0, Ver.3.0, etc. to SOG Multitools. I’m rather familiar with knives, like the Tomcat, Tomcat II and the Tomcat 3.0 (notice it’s not Tomcat 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0) each having their own name uniqueness. Hence, I’m left to identify/describe any PowerLock as a PowerLock or a PowerLock 2.0 per the SOG Catalog/Marking/Box. If the idea was to have different versions for the PowerLock, or any multitool, due to a design change, this would be very difficult to standardize, right? Wouldn’t there be several versions for PATENT PENDING = Ver.1.0, PATENT ####### = Ver.2.0, w/Gear Guards = Ver.3.0, Allen Bolts = Ver.4.0, i.e. From a collector’s perspective it’s important to know what’s chronologically the oldest, but I can’t think of another reason. Thx for reading and your insight.  Thx, Jay

[GotBluntnose]

There is no clear or standardized system issued by SOG (to my knowledge), except for the catalogue numbers, but those do not clearly distinguish variations.
Many here and on the forum use the V-system for the size and shape of the pliers.

for Paratool:

• 4 hole rows / pat pend / hex rivet + hex bolts = V0 (rare first production)
• 3 hole rows / pat pend / hex rivet + hex bolts = V1 (closed pivots on pliers)
• 3 hole rows / patented / flat rivet + hex bolts = V2 (u-shaped pivots / usually polished)
• 3 hole rows / patented / flat rivet + allen bolts = V3 (Newer SOG stamp on pliers) (Also rare, only briefly manufactured before discontinued in 2007)

for Pocket PowerPlier:

• Rounded tip / pat pend / Edmonds / Hex bolts = V1(has a TiNi version)
• Fine tip / patented / Lynnwood / Allen = V2
• Master Mechanic (same as V1)
• Stanley (same as V2)
• Motortool HD29 (same as V2)
• Paladin PT510 (gear covered, kinda like V2)

for Power Plier

• Triangle pliergap / bluntnose / pat pend / Edmonds / hex bolts / old toolset = V0 (rare prototype run / old logo version with length handle stamp and thinner nose)
• Triangle pliergap / bluntnose / pat pend / Edmonds / hex bolts / old toolset = V1 (the version you'd usually see, some have a knife hole, others a knife slit)
• Rounded pliergap / bluntnose / pat pend / Edmonds / hex bolts / old toolset = V2 (the first TiNi was made for this version)
• Thin pliergap / fine nose / pat pend /Edmonds / hex bolts / old toolset = V3
• Thin pliergap / fine nose / patented / Lynnwood / allen bolts / new toolset = V3 (yes, also)
• Motortool HD30 (same as second V3) + other slight variations in toolset

for Power Lock:

• Rounded tip / SOG USA stamp / no gear covers / patent pending = V0 (rare early version with old powerplier-like toolset)
• Rounded tip / SOG USA stamp / no gear covers / Patented = V1 (Fully made in USA, newer toolset)
• Fine tip / SOG non-USA stamp / gear covers = V2 (Parts made in Taiwan)
• Master Mechanic (same as V1)
• Paladin PT525 / wire stripper plierhead / different toolset (Taiwan made, seen as a V2)

This is where it gets difficult, because there are too many Power Lock variations. I'll do a whole other topic on this soon.


If I made any mistakes, please correct me, I am human after all. (Daft Punk reference)

[Tigershark]

Please help me understand how or why we’re assigning Ver.1.0 (or V1), Ver.2.0, Ver.3.0, etc. to SOG Multitools. I’m rather familiar with knives, like the Tomcat, Tomcat II and the Tomcat 3.0 (notice it’s not Tomcat 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0) each having their own name uniqueness. Hence, I’m left to identify/describe any PowerLock as a PowerLock or a PowerLock 2.0 per the SOG Catalog/Marking/Box. If the idea was to have different versions for the PowerLock, or any multitool, due to a design change, this would be very difficult to standardize, right? Wouldn’t there be several versions for PATENT PENDING = Ver.1.0, PATENT ####### = Ver.2.0, w/Gear Guards = Ver.3.0, Allen Bolts = Ver.4.0, i.e. From a collector’s perspective it’s important to know what’s chronologically the oldest, but I can’t think of another reason. Thx for reading and your insight.  Thx, Jay

There is no clear or standardized system issued by SOG (to my knowledge), except for the catalogue numbers, but those do not clearly distinguish variations.
Many here and on the forum use the V-system for the size and shape of the pliers.

for Paratool:

• 4 hole rows / pat pend / hex rivet + hex bolts = V0 (rare first production)
• 3 hole rows / pat pend / hex rivet + hex bolts = V1 (closed pivots on pliers)
• 3 hole rows / patented / flat rivet + hex bolts = V2 (u-shaped pivots / usually polished)
• 3 hole rows / patented / flat rivet + allen bolts = V3 (Newer SOG stamp on pliers) (Also rare, only briefly manufactured before discontinued in 2007)

for Pocket PowerPlier:

• Rounded tip / pat pend / Edmonds / Hex bolts = V1(has a TiNi version)
• Fine tip / patented / Lynnwood / Allen = V2
• Master Mechanic (same as V1)
• Stanley (same as V2)
• Motortool HD29 (same as V2)
• Paladin PT510 (gear covered, kinda like V2)

for Power Plier

• Triangle pliergap / bluntnose / pat pend / Edmonds / hex bolts / old toolset = V0 (rare prototype run / old logo version with length handle stamp and thinner nose)
• Triangle pliergap / bluntnose / pat pend / Edmonds / hex bolts / old toolset = V1 (the version you'd usually see, some have a knife hole, others a knife slit)
• Rounded pliergap / bluntnose / pat pend / Edmonds / hex bolts / old toolset = V2 (the first TiNi was made for this version)
• Thin pliergap / fine nose / pat pend /Edmonds / hex bolts / old toolset = V3
• Thin pliergap / fine nose / patented / Lynnwood / allen bolts / new toolset = V3 (yes, also)
• Motortool HD30 (same as second V3) + other slight variations in toolset

for Power Lock:

• Rounded tip / SOG USA stamp / no gear covers / patent pending = V0 (rare early version with old powerplier-like toolset)
• Rounded tip / SOG USA stamp / no gear covers / Patented = V1 (Fully made in USA, newer toolset)
• Fine tip / SOG non-USA stamp / gear covers = V2 (Parts made in Taiwan)
• Master Mechanic (same as V1)
• Paladin PT525 / wire stripper plierhead / different toolset (Taiwan made, seen as a V2)

This is where it gets difficult, because there are too many Power Lock variations. I'll do a whole other topic on this soon.


If I made any mistakes, please correct me, I am human after all. (Daft Punk reference)

Big thanks for all the information. It looks like versions are primarily for collectors to identify new from old chronologically.

[pfrsantos]

Sorry, I can't help you with that.

 

Maybe you can help me with something, though...

WHAT’S UP WITH ALL THESE THREAD TITLES?!

 

They used to be much more quiet and soft. I think I prefer them the way they were before. Just sayin'...