I feel naked without a pocket knife. I’m an old farm boy and once a Boy Scout, always a Boy Scout.
Now I’m feeling particularly well dressed with my new folding knife.
I’ve had my eye on this one for a while: the SOG Flash II.
This is not a knife for the timid. It’s a large folding knife with a 3.5 inch half serrated blade. It comes out of the box wicked sharp. It’s a serious looking knife, but it feels great in the hand. It’s solid and comfortable. The handle is made of machined aluminum. The blade appears to hold an edge well, but sharpening a serrated blade isn’t easy—fortunately you probably won’t dull the serrated part as quickly as the standard edge.
The Flash II has a clip at the end. I use it to clip it to the top of my pocket (all anyone will see is the clip). This keeps the knife from sliding to the bottom of my pocket. That would be uncomfortable and make it more difficult to access. Clipped at the back of my pocket I barely notice it, but I can find it instantly when needed.
What makes the knife especially interesting to me is the “Assisted” opening. This is not a switchblade, but it’s damn close. Here’s the important part: in the U.S., switchblades are illegal—assisted openers are not (it’s a technicality that makes no sense to me, but it might to a law enforcement official). What I love about this knife is that I can pull it out of my pocket with one hand, flick off the safety (yes, there’s a safety), and with a little pressure from my thumb on the nob or knurl and the blade flies open and securely locks into place. This is important because often when I need a knife my other hand is busy holding or steadying something. For some, this assisted opening is a little frightening, but using it a few times eases the fears and its utility becomes clear. This is a very handy feature.
The knife is well designed to be held and to have a firm and steady grip while using the knife, either sawing or applying firm pressure. It feels solid and comfortable in my hand, substantial.
The blade lock is relatively easy to disengage. While I open the knife with one hand I use two hands to close the blade. I think it’s safer to do it that way.
I don’t use knives as weapons, but I treat them with due respect. Improperly used, a really good knife is really dangerous. That’s why I appreciate the safety lock. As with most firearms, “Red Means Dead.” If you see red in the safety, the knife is ready to open. I suspect that you do not want to keep it in your pocket with the safety off, but I’m unwilling to test it myself. Every day before I put it in my pocket I pick up the knife, flick the safety off, then open the knife. I then close it and lock the safety before putting it in my pocket. I strongly suggest that you follow this routine as well.
If you’re looking for a substantial, affordable, high-performing pocket knife, you should consider the SOG Flash II. I really like it.
Google+
Randy MurrayReviewed: SOG Flash II Knife by Randy Murray, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Great review Randy! I agree - I feel naked without my knife! Like you I don’t use my blades as weapons, but still have a healthy amount of respect for them. The Flash 2 is a great little knife, awesome for those daily chores that require a blade. Glad to hear yours has been holding up for you.
Thanks, Dan! Love your site and the work that you do there.
When I was six or seven in about 1953 my grandfather and I were shucking corn part way up the hill by the garden when he discovered that he’d lost his small bone handled Case pocket knife. I recall crawling around with him in the grass till we found it. Since them I’ve always had a pocket knife. During elementary and high school we were told carrying a knife was forbidden, but I found that if it was kept in your pocket it was OK. It’s now 2009 and I still carry a small knife in my left front pocket. It’s a tool, but it’s also a pocket piece like a big coin or whatever. I now have a Bear and son, 3 inch with one locking blade. Over the years I’ve had all manner of less expensive knives which were all oiled, kept somewhat sharp and useful.
Love my Flash II. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that the 3.5″ blade may be illegal in some states.
Definitely illegal in the UK and most of Europe. But I love carrying it and using it here in Ohio!
God, I wish I was born in US. There you have so much freedom! Here in Europe, mostly in 3rd-world countries like Romania one could not even dream to carry such a knife around without getting in trouble. Buying a firearm or something like that it`s out of the question.
It’s a mixed bag, but on the whole, it’s a wonderful place to live. I see a knife like this as being a tool and I’d feel naked without it.
Nice review. I definately don’t use the safety though. It’s not needed. I’ve never had a SOG assisted or any knife open in my pocket. I super glue them in the off position because it’s an annoyance to me