SOG Knife Buying Guide
SOG knives are popular with many people. Just look up the term on YouTube and look at the thousands of viewers watching knife reviews, many of which, for whatever reason, begin with “Hey guys…”
Regardless, this general guide should help you determine what type of SOG or other knife you need. It all comes down to one thing…
You are buying a good knife. You’ve done some browsing, checking out some stores that sell attractive knives at cut prices: knives made by SOG, Spyderco, and all the other major brands. But how do you know which one is the one for you?
It almost always comes down to how you’ll use it. In other words, the right knife is the knife that suits the tasks you will be performing with it.
If you’ve been watching SOG knife review videos, you know that opinions vary. For example, take a review of the SOG Aegis, where the reviewer says it’s amazing and perfect and SOG is great, and so on. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to love it. No. You need a knife that is right for the way you intend to use it.
What will you use your knife for most:
Do you need a folding knife, light enough to make it easier to get things done around the house, or are you more interested in a tactical knife designed for stability, grip, speed, and other fast-acting characteristics? Maybe you are into collecting. You have several beauties and are just looking for another specimen to add to your display case. Knives are great for outdoor sports, and if you take every possible opportunity to enter fishing tournaments, the knife for you will be different from the one you need for camping, climbing, or hiking. If you are a hunter, a field knife is essential.
Tasks you could be performing with your knife:
- Cut heavy ropes, branches, etc. in climbing and camping
- Country dress up game in the cold of winter.
- Fish filleting in difficult conditions
- Law enforcement or military operations, or survival
- Take the remote control car out of the box on your child’s birthday
Other features of the knife to consider:
- Size: Compact and foldable for easy and safe transport or longer blade length for better reach
- Weight: very light or heavy, depending on how sturdy or portable you need it to be
- Ergonomics: great grip, designed for one-handed opening and closing, or fixed blade that is always ready
- Blade thickness: If you are going to do heavy work, such as cutting bone or wood, the blade will need to be thicker and stronger.
- Specialty: SOG Knives and other brands offer field prep knives, etc.
- Blade sharpness: The type of blade varies quite a bit from one knife to another. Saw blade, straight edge, a combination of the two, and many other variations will affect performance
Many material options:
Blades and handles use many different types of materials, and the best manufacturers also provide color options and other “coolness” factors. The material used affects things like how easy the knife is to sharpen, how stable or balanced it is, how well it holds its edge and resists rust, how it fits in the hand, how well it grips, especially on tough conditions, and how well it wears over time.
Great news:
In fact, you can get a top-of-the-line knife without breaking your budget. Discount knives are like that these days with so many stores competing for sales online. With that being said, you want to make sure you have a reputable seller who has a secure site and can be contacted in case you need customer support. But honestly, you can get deals on SOG, Spyderco, and all the hottest knives out there.
So figure out what you need, contact the seller for help if needed, and get the knife that fits how you’ll use it.
