On a scale of 1to10 this knife was meh.
I bought another item off of Steep and Cheap. It was a SOG Flash II knife. To be truthful, I don’t love it. I don’t hate it either, but I am not blown away.
I have always had a very high opinion of SOG knives. They make well regarded tactical and combat knives, and insist upon a high level of quality control and excellent materials. I think that for a normal folder, or a fixed-blade knife, I might have a better opinion. But this knife has a different function.
The Flash II uses SOG Assisted Technology, an internal mechanism that assists in opening the knife quickly. Basically, once you start to open the knife (using the thumb stud on the blade), internal springs assist in flinging the blade open. You could consider it a semi-automatic knife. While this is kind of cool, I am honestly not that fussed about it after using it.
My issue with this knife is that I feel like there’s lots to go wrong. It has a safety, which seems superfluous 
to me. The knife never seems to accidentally open in your pocket, and there is an internal mechanical “something” that can become gummed up and/or go wrong. And the unlock mechanism (after you’ve locked the blade open) is a slider switch. I found it overly difficult to use unlock mechanism right out of the box. Now that it’s had a little bit of use, it moves more easily. I’m concerned that it may become too loose over time, rendering it less effective. I really can’t fault SOG for something that might happen though. However, because this is a sliding switch, I AM concerned that gunk (mud, slime, pocket lint, you name it) could easily get embedded in the mechanism and foul it.
Also, I find that this knife lacks symmetry. It has a curve for the fore and middle fingers, but I think the base of the scales narrow too much. This is a subjective topic, but I don’t love the ergonomics or the design of the scales.
One positive thing I WILL say about this knife is the weight. It’s quite light, under 2 and a half ounces, and it’s barely noticeable in your pocket. When I am using a knife, I actually prefer it to have a little bit of heft, so in terms of usability the lightweight is sub-optimal (IMHO.) However, in terms of every day carry, it’s sometimes nice to have a lighter weight blade in your pocket. This is especially true as I frequently ride my bike to work, and I always carry a blade with me, regardless of where I’m going. It’s a benefit to have light weight tool in your pocket when your thighs are pumping up and down.
Let me be clear. I don’t hate this knife. But I don’t love it either. If pressed, I would probably give it a 4 out of 10, but I’m pretty satisfied with “meh.” If you want to purchase one, and you don’t catch it on SteepandCheap, you can buy it from SOG for full retail. Or you can check out The Blade Shop. As of this post, they’re selling it at $41.00, down from the full retail price of $72.
Here’s a brief video review I made on 12seconds.tv:
I respect the fact that you are expressing an opinion, but “a man’s got to know his limitations” when it comes to AN opinion. First of all as a normal pocket foldeable, cleaning the knife ONCE a month will help alleviate any fear of the microns of lint, grease or any foreign object that may get embedded in the sliding switch. TOOLS need to be taken care of UNLESS you are independently wealthy and do not mind replacing them on a regular basis. Even inexpensive knives that are well built will last with a little bit of care from the owner, unless they have a butler that will take care of the small work for them. I purchased one for $10 at a military base a few years ago and have cut boxes, ropes, paper and it still keeps on going. A little sharpening, adjusting with a screwdriver or allen wrench and VOILA, it is ready for battle. The SOG is not very pretty, but who cares? It is a very well made TOOL!
Hey Just Me,
Thanks very much for your comment. I totally agree with your point about cleaning and maintenance. I am meticulous with my gear and my tools, and conscientious about cleanliness, sharpness, and upkeep on all my knives. You’re right, it’s easy enough to clean out the lint and the muck.
My issue is more focused on simplicity of design. I think of it as the Occam’s Razor of knife design. All things being equal, I think the simplest design is generally the best one. While things like assisted opening are neat and all, I think in this case the mechanism is overly complex. I think the Safety is an unnecessary feature, adding another layer of complexity. The fact that it can easily accumulate gunk is a symptom of that complexity, not a cause, and hence not my principal complaint.
I agree that this tool is well made. But I think its design could be better. I think it could be simpler. And that’s why my review is as “meh” as it is. Just my opinion.
Hey David, my only beef with the Flash is the handle shape. I much prefer the Trident, again, just me. If you want to try one on the cheap please visit us at http://www.TestedBestProducts.com We stay about 40% below retail and give an additional 5% for Military & First responders. Type in FREEDOM in the coupon code box at checkout.
Take care,
Kirk