Each knife you listed has their own qualities. First off, I prefer the SOG flash 2 because the size is perfect for my hand. It is large enough to perform just about any job you want it to perform and the blade is super sharp out of the box. Steel is Aus-8, which in my opinion is very good steel, seems to hold an edge well, and when sharpening is needed, usually a ceramic rod brings mine back to razor edge.
The Flash 2 opens with a slight outward pressure on the thumb stud, making it very easy and fast to open, handles are very strong, made of glass reinforced zytel. It also comes with a safety lock, to use so the knife will not open while in your pocket. This knife is very differant than the chive and the twitch 2, because of the way the chive and twitch 2 opens, both open by a flipper bar located on the back of the knives, both I think work basically the same, but again, the twitch 2 is my favorite because of the way it looks and the overall layout of the blade. I like the chive, but I don't like the blade shape as well as I do the twitch 2. It just seems to me there is a lot of blade missing on the chive, whereas, the twitch 2 seems to have more blade than the chive, but you are hearing from a hardcore SOG fan. I think kershaw makes great knives, but I prefer SOG, and I have spent many hours looking and comparing both. I just think SOG is a better knife.
No, not all SOG knives are made in U.S.A., Some are made in Seki Japan, where a lot of fine blades are made these days. Of course not everyone will agree with me, and that is whats so good about this forum, read, look, feel, and decide which one you like the best.
Robbie Roberson
P.S. I own all of the assisted openers from SOG, and all perform flawless, and I have never had any problems, I use basic fine machine oil on all my knives and they are super fast and seem to get faster.
so I recommend handling both.
