Tomcat 3.0

Rotte

Rotte

Joined
Aug 30, 2008
Messages
3,214
When I was younger, I loved the Tomcat. I couldn't afford one, and it remained a 'dream knife' for me. I liked the weight and solid feel of the Tomcat and it had a bank-like lock up (or at least my friend's did). So at some point, a few years back, I decided to spring for a Tomcat and ended up getting a Tomcat 3.0.



While SOG does so many things right, they have screwed up a classic, in my arrogant opinion. :mad:

I hate this knife. It still has a good build quality, nice blade design, and solid lock up. It seems as rugged as anything. But the ergonomic sare horrible (for me at least). The upsweep in the butt of the handle digs into my palm when using it in a slicing manner. I contacted SOG and they seemed to feel the ergos are improved from previous models (for most people). I'll have to disagree. I've tried to like the new and improved Tomcat, but it just sits in my drawer. I ran across it again today and decided my life would be better if I had more drawer space.

So, I'm putting this big cat up for adoption. First, "I love Tomcats" gets the knife. You must be willing to cover shipping by paypal, say $10.00 in US or Canada. Gonna be more if you want it sent to an overseas location. If no one wants it, I'll donate it to the local thrift shop tomorrow (that is not the same as a farm in the country).
 
Winner, winner, Tomcat dinner. Send me a pm with your addy, and out it goes tomorrow.

p.s. (I think this is the correct sheath for this beastie.)
 
I agree beautiful, solid knife, BUT SOG did screw up!
1. Way to heavy @ 8.5oz it should be no more than 4oz, it should have been made with titanium like its big brother Fat Cat!!!
2. Too short blade @3.75" it should have been at least 4"
3. Scales are kraton very grippy but tacky looking on classic folder like this, it should have been nice wood one! Due to finger choil and lower tang protecting index finger totally unnecessary!
4. Would be awesome of there was a choice of partially serrated one as well!
5. I would have prefered drop point blade like the one on it's big brother Fat Cat!!!
6. Upsweep on butt makes it uncomfortable to put your thumb in ice pick grip, which limit grips you can comfortably use!!!
7. Pouch is to big, conspicuous, prints out under your clothe, should have been nice slim leather one!

Other than all of the above, it an awesome hollow ground razor sharp slicer!

Enjoy your new knife!
 
netguy1999 did graciously agree to do a review after he got the knife. It is being shipped OCONUS and he'll probably want to use it a bit first, so that may take a while.

Wolf7 said:
1. Way to heavy @ 8.5oz it should be no more than 4oz, it should have been made with titanium like its big brother Fat Cat!!!
2. Too short blade @3.75" it should have been at least 4"
3. Scales are kraton very grippy but tacky looking on classic folder like this, it should have been nice wood one! Due to finger choil and lower tang protecting index finger totally unnecessary!
4. Would be awesome of there was a choice of partially serrated one as well!
5. I would have prefered drop point blade like the one on it's big brother Fat Cat!!!
6. Upsweep on butt makes it uncomfortable to put your thumb in ice pick grip, which limit grips you can comfortably use!!!
7. Pouch is to big, conspicuous, prints out under your clothe, should have been nice slim leather one!
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1. Too heavy. Uhhh, yes, but I like the weight. It feels good in hand. It feels solid.
2. Short blade. Ahhh, bigger isn't always better. The size seems pretty good to me. I like...no, love a Buck 110 and those are 3.75", so the TOmcat seems like a decent length. I respect a desire for a 4" blade though.
3. I like your thoughts here. Some wood or micarta would be nice.
4. Serrations?!?!? :barf: I have nothing else to add. ;)
5. Yeah, a drop point blade is a great all around design, but I really like the mini-Bowie clip design. Hey, I like Buck 110's and may just be wrong.
6. You are right! But I hate, hate, hate, that damn bump at the butt of the knife. Have you noticed how comfortable a Mora is? Simple = better.
7. Cool idea. But who doesn't like leather? If I were to keep the knife, I'd make a leather friction sheath for it.

Thanks for your thoughts!
 
This is a knife that I have lusted after ever since I saw one, as well. I have never held one, though. I see the specs say it is only 6.5oz. That doesn't seem too heavy. When receive the knife, I'll EDC it for a week and give you a review of what I find.
 
WOW!!

Great way to "pay it forward," Rotte. That's a "top-class" action.

Nice grab, netquy1999. Looking forward to reading your review of the Tomcat 3.

Regards,
d-1
 
I had tomcat many years ago. It was a brick of a knife and I never had any problems with it.
 
Still have my original Tomcat from 1990(?) love that knife! Carried it a lot in the 90's. Added a thumbstud a few years back which made it even better. Sadly the kraton panels are turning to mush, same thing happened to the kraton on my Desert Dagger, a Cold Steel Ready Edge, Blackjack Anaconda II and an old Spyderco kitchen knife i had. Of that list the Tomcat was used the most and was the last to develop the kraton mush syndrome. Oh well i will replace the kraton panels with some G10 or micarta.
Yeah i've never warmed up to the 3.0 Tomcat design. Too big, i prefer pocket carry and a pocket clip nowadays. And even if it was pocketable i've had axis style lock knives partially open in my pocket. I think it's time for a Tomcat 4.0, with maybe a return to a lockback or maybe with a frame lock. Or even better REISSUE the ORIGINAL! :)
 
Love the look of it, shied away for the weight, Kraton, and absence of pocket clip. I know it's an evolution of the former models but come on, put a clip on it SOG!
 
crom said:
Love the look of it, shied away for the weight, Kraton, and absence of pocket clip. I know it's an evolution of the former models but come on, put a clip on it SOG!
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Yeah a clip on the 3.0 would be an improvement.

With the old first gen Tomcat one could mod/add a pocket clip. The steel butt is sturdy and thick, if i replace kraton grips i might look into getting it drilled/tapped to take a clip and screws. With the grip change the collector value would be gone so i might just consider the clip mod.
 
Just received the Tomcat last night. Thank you, again! I have to say it looks great and feels great in my hand. That's about as much as I've had chance to play with it though. I will carry it over the weekend and next week and followup with a review.
 
netguy1999 said:
Just received the Tomcat last night. Thank you, again! I have to say it looks great and feels great in my hand. That's about as much as I've had chance to play with it though. I will carry it over the weekend and next week and followup with a review.
Click to expand...

Do let us know. Not a bad Turkey Day knife!
 
Wow, that took a while to get to you!

I hope you love it. I would be hugely gratified if that knife found a happy home.
 
Well, I've been wearing the Tomcat all weekend now. Granted I haven't had many real hard tasks for it, but I am finding the ergonomics are really working for me. I have small hands and the shape just seems to fit them perfectly. I have my concerns about the Kraton scales, but for now they really provide a solid purchase on the knife. I have to force myself to remember to use the sheath rather than my pocket, but it does free up some room in my right pocket. It's not something I could wear at work, but when I'm not working this seems to be quite comfortable to carry. Overall, I'm quite happy with the knife. I love the clip point. If you read some of my other posts, you'll know I'm quite fond of this shape. I think this knife has found a home.

Thank you, again, for this wonderful gesture and a great knife.
 
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