Until now, SOG Specialty Knives Inc. has focused on the more budget-oriented segment of the market, and that’s what’s made SOG a staple in sporting goods and outdoor stores all over the world. It’s been quite some time since the company has ventured into the world of higher-end folders. That’s all changing now.
SOG’s very first focus was fixed blades. In 1986, founder Spencer Frazer launched his own line of tactically oriented fixed blades. His inspiration? The knives Special Forces used in Vietnam. Since then, the company has evolved into one of the country’s largest knife companies. It makes everything from fixed blades and folders to multitools, keychain knives, and everything in between.
SOG’s most recent foray into the world of more enthusiast-oriented knives that would take on the likes of Spyderco, Benchmade, and Zero Tolerance was the SOG Terminus XR, released in 2019. That knife featured a BDZ-1 blade, attractive styling, and a new locking system for the company. Benchmade’s patent on the lock had expired and SOG was one of many companies to produce its own slightly different version. SOG’s is called the XR Lock, and it seems poised to be a staple of the company’s folding efforts going forward.
This story is from the July-August 2020 edition of Knives Illustrated.
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This story is from the July-August 2020 edition of Knives Illustrated.
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I have a confession to make. See if this sounds familiar. I take meticulous care of the knives I use for everyday carry, hunting, and general woods wandering. I wipe them down with an oily cloth after use and I never let them get too dull. Seldom do I have to restore a damaged edge. Most of the time I simply touch up the edges of my pocketknives with a few careful strokes across the rough bottom of a ceramic coffee cup. That’s usually all that’s needed. I don’t use my knives as screwdrivers or pry bars. As a matter of fact, I still have the very first knife I ever owned, an old Boy Scout knife that was handed down from my older brother. The blades have a deep patina that comes with using carbon steel over the years, but the knife is very usable still.
