Customer Reviews

SOG Specialty Knives & Tools S44-N Pocket PowerPlier

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I got this tool as a gift in 1997 and used it daily until I last it six months ago. The geared jaws worked surprisingly well and really gives one a lot of leverage. After losing the SOG, I replaced it with a BuckTool. What a mistake! I really miss the SOG. Fairly quickly, I ruined the Bucktool's cutters when cutting the same things as I used to cut with the SOG. Also, the Bucktool's handles tend to twist out of the way when force is applied to the handles (due to a bad design in the folding mechanism). The SOG does lack locking blades, but I never found that to be a problem in practice. The SOG is a good tool and I would get another one.

I have owned a number of different multitools. The SOG items I have purchased have been some of the best money I have ever spent on tools. Leatherman seems to recieve much of the press in this catagory. I have owned both Leatherman and SOG. The SOG tool is far superior. It has tighter tolerances and a better design. The compond leverage feature makes any other multitool seem like a toy.

I used to carry a well known name brand multi-tool myself until I found a couple superior options ( based on 30+ years as a fire fighter, police officer and bomb disposal technician ( EOD ). I have owned a number of multi tools over the years and abused them all ( that's why the good ones have a lifetime warranty ). The SOG Pocket PowerPlier (PPP) rates among the best I have used. Don't waste your money on anything else - " Leather Guy " can't come close to a SOG in performance, functionality and warranty - in my opinion!!! I do own other brand multitools and have a desk drawer full of them and they are used solely for opening envelopes and packages. When I need a multitool at work I want a `real' multitool that I can depend on to do the job at hand .

SOG's Pocket PowerPlier is the most recent addition that has been added to my arsenal of multitools that I carry on a regular basis. I find it adequate to do 95% of the jobs handled by it's big brother the SOG PowerLock. Lighter and more compact than the PowerLock the Pocket PowerPlier ( Model #S44 ) is very easy to carry and use. SOG's Pocket PowerPlier is packed with essential tools that include pliers/grippers, wire cutters, partially serrated blade, Phillips screwdriver, three-sided file, can opener with a small screwdriver, bottle opener with medium screwdriver, an awl, rulers, lanyard and heavy duty leather pouch. Again the PPP's advantage of hex bolt construction leaves all the other multitools running for cover as this essential design element gives you the greatest versatility to clean and change tool components ( additional tool components are directly available from SOG for a modest charge) not offered by other multitool manufacturers. With the interchangability you can replace the partially serrated blade with a 3" plain edge blade and I also removed the 3 sided file and replaced it with a serrated line cutter. I find carrying the PPP a benefit because of less weight hanging on my belt ( 5.5 ounces vs 9.6 ounces for the PowerLock) . Also noted is SOG's Deluxe Pocket PowerPlier ( Model S45) which adds a large screwdriver, 1/4 socket drive however it loses the awl as a tool and weighs in at 5.5 ounces - same as he S44 model. Backed by a Lifetime Guarantee and they are MADE IN THE USA.

ALL 3 multitools that I use on a regular basis have their place in my life, and depending on the assignment for the day the PPP is on my belt and the other two are close by in the truck.


Andrew J. Gnoza, III
multitool.org

Several years ago, I received as a gift the now discontinued SOG S23 ToolClip, which had flaws of its own (serrated knife, file and flat-head screw driver on a single non-locking blade? what could possibly go wrong?), but it had the best set of pliars on a multi-tool at the time, so I liked it. After two of the lock-springs broke, I sent it in for warranty repair and received the S44 PowerPliers as a replacement. To SOGs credit, I got the replacement less than a week from the time I mailed it, no questions asked. To SOGs discredit, they replaced my discontinued $90 specialty multitool with a $50 generic multitool. Oh well.

As for the knife itself:

* Main blade: seems to flex more than I would like or expect. It's sharp, but looks fragile. I don't think it would take much torque to snap it. But since it's non-locking, you probably aren't gonna want to use it for much than trivial tasks anyway. At least it will be good for slicing cheese when I go camping.

* Can opener: ...is a can opener. Not much more to say than that.

* Awl: who the hell uses these things? There are so many blades that would be so much more useful. But as another review mentions, the (non-locking) blade faces the wrong direction, so if you put any force on it at all, it will close on your hand. Exciting!

* Phillips head: this looks like the most promising blade on the thing. Right size, reasonable length shaft, so you can actually reach a recessed screw, and looks sturdy. Again, locking would have been better than non-locking.

* Bottle opener/flat head: expect it to take a couple tries to get a bottle open, but it should eventually do the job. As for the driver... well, all flat head screwdrivers suck. Can't blame SOG for that.

* File/other flat head: looks decent. it seems like its a harder steel than the main blade, so hopefully it wont snap if you try to pry something with it.

* The Pliars: These are one of the better features of the whole multitool. The teeth mesh nicely and the geared down ratio gives you a pretty good grip on things. The wire-cutter is shrunk back to a pretty small size and is probably not ideal. Some sort of spring-loading so you could easily open and close the pliars with one hand would be nice, but thats not the case.

Over all, I would say think of the S44 as a glorified set of needle-nosed pliars. Its worth having around, but I'd gladly trade mine for a Leatherman Wave, and in all honesty, I expect I'll get a lot more use out of my Leatherman Squirt.

I have personally used this tool for multiple uses and have never been disappointed for over 12 years.

I would suggest this tool to any person to is in search of a "get the job done" tool.

Bought this for my guy friend this Christmas as a replacement for his Leatherman PST II. He's very happy with this S44. i also ordered him the Leatherman Sidekick but he said that the SOG is what he wants. It has the tools that he uses - not the dumb scissors! The S44 is easy for me to pull out and use. The tools are very well made. Compared to the Leatherman Sidekick - well there isn't a comparison. They put plastic in the new Sidekick and he doesn't like it. So we're sending it back and he'll keep the SOG S44. The only thing we'll need is a leather case. The SOG came with a nice nylon case but he prefers leather. Thanks for all of the reviews! i learned more about multi-tools than i ever thought i would by purchasing a new multi-tool for a Christmas gift. i only wanted the BEST for my guy. (He's the best!)

I have lost gerber's and letherman's. So the last time I lost a gerber I decided to try a SOG. I LOVE MY SOG! I am an auto mechanic. Everyday this thing saves me time and a walk to my tool box. I have owned this set for about two years now. Considering they have been used everyday, they have really held up well. The gear drive torque multiplier really works. All the tools inside are really strong. This model is not bulky, it is light and feels just right in your hands. The knife is still quite sharp after cutting countless heater hoses. The files is no joke either, it really works(that is rare for a pocket tool). Heck, I even use the ruler on the side a lot. At $40 you can't go wrong. I have put mine through the gauntlet and it still gets the job done. I will never buy any other multipliers, these are the best.

I got this multi-tool six months ago and its an utter joke. Without having used it much at all, I took it camping on a trip that did not experience any wet weather, the screw driver broke while I was putting together furniture. The problem is that its too thin and is made of some kind of inferior metal and it cracked in half. Also, the knife blade chipped in several places after normal use. Something that is super annoying is that the guards that you have to open to pull out the tools constantly pop off and are quite flimsy as well.

All in all, I would say to spend your money elsewhere, I would not trust my life to this if I had to, much less was I able to put together stupid furniture with this thing. I will be getting a Leatherman quite shortly and will be happy to pay $30 more than I did for this piece of junk. Good day.

If you're looking for a light-weight multi-tool, look no further. For starters, the SOG PPP has the best plier head. With it's compound leverage gears, it not only opens buttery-smooth, it cuts through pennies with a slight squeeze with no discomfort. I tried cutting a penny with a leatherman Kick, similar in size and weight. It not only could Not cut the penny, as I cranked down on the over-molded handles, the plier heads twisted AROUND it. Yes the tools don't lock, but are adequate for normal use. If you need a heavy-duty tool, check out the Power-Lock or the Power-Assist (Awesome). FYI, if you're thinking about switching out components, you can only have one long tool, (like a knife blade) per side because of the way the pliers fold in. The combo-blade is chisel-ground, the bevel is only on one side. I re-profiled the flat edge to a more traditional double bevel. You can always order a straight blade from SOG. For something so small it feels incredibly durable. You won't be disappointed.

I've had this tool for about 3 months now and it has come in handy many of times. The pliers will cut a quarter up easily because of the force multiplier. There are three things that bother me about this knife though.

1: there is no cover on the gripping side so when you really clamp down on something the handle tends to want to dig into you, which is very annoying.

2:the other thing is that the tools wont open individually and all want to come up at the same time. this is due the the single white washer on the side instead of several smaller washers in between each tool.

3: this is kind of a picky thing but I would really like a spring so that the pliers came back instead of manually pulling them back each time.

Overall: I am not suprised by the durability of the tool, as it would survive an atom bomb, but I am disappointed the SOG didnt put more time and effort into this tool to make it way more user friendly and convenient. I would recommend for HEAVY duty use, but if you are just a woodsman or farmer leatherman will do you just fine and be way easier to use routinely. Sorry SOG, I love your Knives though!