I have the 5" manually opened SOG Spec Elite II and it's been my EDC for a long time. It looks nearly identical, with a slight recurve blade with no serrations. I was very disappointed that SOG discontinued the 5" Spec Elite II. I'd love to buy another, just in case, although it was billed as a folding version of a fixed blade fighting knife and it's super beefy. I can't imagine it breaking. I like big knives and I cannot lie. I sincerely wish SOG made a Spec Elite III that was a 6" folding knife.
I’ve had my pentagon elite 2 was purchased in 1996, 24 years old, I have only had it sharpened once as I look after my blades, I still have the original box it came in, VG10 steel is great, 1% carbon , great to keep the blade sharp if used right, you can shave with it, mine is different to yours, under the SOG stamp in the blade mine has also stamped in PEII also stamped under it, in 24 years I’ve only ever had one issue, the arc lock spring broke, I sent them an email from Australia and I received within 14=days 3 new spare arc lock springs and a thumb assisted thumb opener. These types of knives are not for sale in Australia, you can’t get them through customs, basically banned as they are opening assisted knives, when we heard the government was banning the import we hunted down every sog and spyderco knife we could find, among other top brands, I paid over $200 Australian dollars for this 24=years ago which was considered pretty expensive for a knife in them days, I have several Sog knives including the twitch 1 and twitch 2, great knives, in my opinion the SOG knives are one of the best around, can’t fault them, mine would cut you to the bone with no effort, can shave with it, them simple wipe it accross your bare hand to restore the blade to its original sharpness, I’d be ver careful doing this. I forge my own Bowie type knives and have made some from car leaf springs, you must forge it though, heat it and beat it into shape, then after you have got your shape and blade worked out temper it. You would be surprised how sharp I can get these things, same with a file, that is great steel to forge a knife blade from. Love my blades, but the SOGS and Spyderco blades are my favourites, some over 20 years old but still like new.
excellent review Jeff, not too long and you focussed on the points that we can't see from reading the specs online and briefly covered those we can look up...i wasn't familiar with this knife, nice to see something new
Great review. I like big knives, but the 5 inch size is a bit to big to carry in NJ. I want to try a SOG knife in the 3 1/2 inch to 4 inch blade length. Any recommendations?
Great Knife, I have both Pentagons the 5" blade and the 4" blade, both are similar to eachother the only difference is the size, personally I prefer the smaller size just because it's more compact and still has enough defence qualities I look for in a knife of this type, your absolutly right when you said they are well constructed, I think their great knives.
Jeff, it is a bigger than normal blade, than I carry. It does have some nice features. I really like the lock when its open forgot what you called it. SOG makes excellent products. Thanks for the review. Have a good day...
yay a positive review! i have the spec elite 1, the slight recurve version of a pentagon elite 1 at a 4" blade length, and i love it. got it a few years after my friend got his pentagon elite 1, which i really like but i didn't want serrations and i love the spec elite's blade design. thanks for the review, you should also go for one of the spec elites!
i got the baby brother and i mentioned in my sbiner vid that the recess caught my finger nails. i filled it with black 2 part epoxy. good vid, hows it feel when opening when compaired to outher knifes? mine feels supper smooth to me.
I'm the worst at maintaining tips. I could use some more direction in this task. I know you did a video showing that you have to take the spine down to retore tips, but you can't easily to that with a bowie tip or reverse tanto/wharncliffe, etc. Two sharp edges coming together would be a nightmare for me. I just KNOW it would end up looking semi-circular when I was done with it.
I have the Spec-Elite II (same size) and it failed me when the pivot screw fell out. Then the pivot dropped out and the whole blade just fell out. How's your's doing?
Opinel FTW! Traditional French folder with an old-school locking system, usually sells for +/- $10. Take the 'Number 8' size, beechwood handle, 1075 carbon steel blade, you can't get more "countryside" than this. Check for youtube vids about it, you're bound to find some, and it sells in the USA, online or physical shops. Hope that helps.
hey jeff =) i would like to hear your thoughts about kuhkri knives and folder (for example:cold steel rajah) because i am thinking about getting one but don't hav made my decision yet greetings from germany
More compact, sure, but it's a 5.75" knife in your pocket or a 10" knife on your hip, a knife on the belt seems more comfortable to me. As for being concealable, sure. But if you're going to use it, it's coming out of your pocket, and I would call a big folder a "socially unacceptable knife", at least here in New York. That said, I don't carry a knife for self defense, so maybe conceal-ability is valuable to someone that does. Anyway, sorry for writing a little novel, and this is personal liking
Great review! I have this knife and love it. But you said it was VG-10 and mine says it's AUS-8. Maybe you have a different one then mine but ....*shrugs*
thanks for the vid this is 1 of the few sog folders that strike my fancy but i am in the process of spending a good about of $ on a knife right now so i dont think i will be getting this any time soon
jeff i have to say im huge into knifes and i always have been but ive but a few of the kinfes youve reviewed and said you liked for edc but seriously in my opinio a handmade knife from one man not machin made by a company is the best. ever since i was 14 ive known and elderly gentlemen that makes beautiful and purposeful hand made knifes and these in my opinio aare way better from day 1 to day 100 for use than any knife from coldsteel or any company's kinfes u review
I know you asked Jeff but I think he trades for most of his knives. A good website to truly get a good variety of knives is amazon.com but the prices change alot and there is alot of wierd stuff.
"I could have a little kid come and help me hold that.." :O Jokes aside, my first impressions of SOG have left me with mixed opinions. I picked up the Twitch II, and I like the design, but it feels a bit gritty when it's almost closed and almost open; it deploys rather weakly, and the blade plays a lot when closed. I got a Powerlock too, and I love how smoothly the pliers open, but none of the other tools are so smooth, and after cutting only one thick wire, the cutters deformed. Bummer..
I believe they ship to any state where it is legal BUT dont quote me on that best course of action to find out of it is legal or not would be talk to a lawyer or read an OFFICIAL copy of your state laws
If you wanted a big knife and willing to spend $130 why not get the G10 Espada XL. I never felt more safe than when I have it in my pocket, its so big you always know its there which I like as well.
I own one of these and I've had many problems with it. I've snapped and bent the pocket clip several times it seems very prone to snagging and bending to me. I've had the arc lock spring fail/break on me twice in one year. As with many sogs the lockup has never been solid it always has play and the pivot hardware really feels undersized for the size of knife. Lastly the handle doesn't have a solid feel, you can easily compress the handle scales. Overall I don't trust this knife for hard use
Why do they bead blast blades ( Lol, Alliteration) ? I absolutely hate it, do they want the average knife owner to take the knife out of the cabinet one day and find rust on every inch of the knife?
I actually have done a lot of researching on my state of maryland and even though we are liberal and the cops can almost arrest you for anything if they are in a bad mood. It is legal to own switchblades it is just not legal to conceal carry them.
then you should be fine in ordering them. Just dont take them outside of your house! I dont think ive ever seen a tag on BladeHQ about not shipping to maryland so you should be golden!
If I want to carry a big knife, I go with a fixed blade. I can't really think of any reason or situation where I'd rather have a 10" folder than a 10" fixed blade. If anybody can think of a good reason, let me know, but that's my opinion.
