GSM Outdoors Acquires SOG Knives

[eTripper]

https://knifenews.com/gsm-outdoors-acquires-sog-knives/

GSM Outdoors is the same company that acquired Cold Steel around this time last year. When that acquisition took place, Cold Steel’s California HQ was shut down, with only select employees making the jump to GSM’s operations in Irving, TX. At that time, we were told that Lynn C. Thompson and Andrew Demko were among the personnel retained; however, Demko struck off on his own in the ensuing months.

GSM Outdoors owns dozens of brands, most of which are centered around hunting accessories. Cold Steel was the first knife brand in their portfolio, in an avowed effort to break into the knife space – a move they evidently wanted to follow up on this year. Eddie Castro, CEO of GSM Outdoors, had this to say about the purchase:

Since 1986, SOG has been synonymous with austere-duty knives intended to meet the needs of defense professionals. The name is instantly recognized by military, first responders, and blade enthusiasts for their high-quality craftsmanship and reliable performance. Our acquisition of SOG represents an important expansion of the GSM family of brands, and we look forward to not only keeping the high-quality standards intact but also taking the brand to the next level of consumer support and product innovation.

It has been quite a journey for SOG. In 2020 they refreshed their brand with updated versions of core products that put their XR Lock front and center. Shortly after that, founder Spencer Frazer retired, passing the reins to Joe McSwiney and the rest of SOG management. Just a couple months ago, SOG showed off some 2022 products, including a multitool based on the popular Flash folding knife chassis.

[dks]

Despite initial worries they have not messed up CS, so hopefully they will improve SOG quality

[Poncho65]

Hopefully it will be good for SOG and not detrimental We will see in time

[Zephon]

Whatever happens, as long as their production facilities stay in mainland China, I’ll expect knockoffs or backdoor products being sold in Ali, ebay, lazda, shopee, etc. 

The patent for compound leverage has expired already, right?  Maybe an upcoming NextTool or Xiaomi sub-brand will soon have SOG-based implements and eventually have a compound leverage pliers model.

Can’t they just move to Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand? (don’t bother with the Philippines)

[dks]

LM is made in the US and we still see copies

[Etherealicer]

LM is made in the US and we still see copies

I think the difference is that some of the Chinese copies come from the same factory as the original (most likely made on the same machines with the original plans). E.g. The Sanremu version of the Boker City Tool are exactly the same (except the scales are not contoured). China has very loose copyright laws, so that is legal there (though I suspect this will change in the long run, as they are starting to produce goods that others deem worthy of copying).

P.S.: Taiwan has even less of copyright protection than China (only goods made in Taiwan are protected).

[tosh]

 
Message to self..
Stay away from new SOG’s

I’ll take the original or go without.