In your opinion, what is SOG's best folder and why.

I have the Spec-Elite 2 and it compares very favorably with much more expensive knives. The handle material would be a little more rugged if G10, but then it would also be heavier. I was pleasantly surprised by it.
 
I really like Tomcat 3.0. Love that VG-10 blade and rock solid Arc lock. I'd like to see a future version of the Tomcat with G-10 scales and a pocket clip. To me, the only SOG folders worth considering are their Japanese made non-assisted models (Tomcat, Architect, Vulcan, Pentagon, etc.). I won't even bother with their flimsy assisted openers.
 
I think all of the Seki made SOG folders are excellent. As to which is a matter of personal taste in terms of design and size. I carry a Vulcan in cold months when I wear a coat or jacket. But in warm months my Visionary II with it's flat profile carries better on my body.
The Spec Elite II with it's monstrous 5 inch VG10 blade is my "folding fixed blade" in my fanny pack. While the vintage folders are classics, the arc-lock makes the current models much smoother and easier to use. Same factory in Seki that made the old ones continues to make them today.
 
I have a serrated AirSog (little knife). Picked it up a few years ago when I was interested in buying SOGs.
 
I own a lot of SOGs. Mostly fixed blades. That said, it was a Flash II that got me into this hobby. I carried it everyday for 3 years including several cross country trips. Is it the best? No. I thought it was the bees knees at one time. I have added another Flash II with the rare woodland camo pattern, a mini Magna DOT (Seki made), a full sized, and mini Aegis. The Aegis' see EDC several times a month when I need something extremely lite and lockable while closed. I did recently get a SOG Spec Elite II. What beast of a knife! I bought it used off the bay for what I consider a very good price. The action is super smooth with great lock up. There is for sure a big step up in quality between the Seki folders compared to the SAT folders. The Spec Elite II would be my favorite SOG folder as of now.

It simply dwarfs my Military:

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Insipid Moniker said:
My favorite SOG folder is the Spec-Elite 1. To be totally fair, it's kind of a clone of the Benchmade 710, but what better knife to clone? Relatively lightweight, good steel, great lock and maybe the best blade-to-handle ratio I've seen on a knife. Given that they often pop up for around $70 it's a pretty nice package for the money.
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Well said! And it opens so smoothly! I always wanted a Benchmade 710, but when I handled a Spec-Elite 1 at a knife shop, I just couldn't see paying more for the 710. I've actually had 2 Spec-Elites: the first was a Spec-Elite 2 in AUS8 steel (man, is that a huge freaking knife! 5 inch cutting edge!), but I sold it when SOG switched to VG-10 steel and bought a Spec-Elite 1 in VG-10. Anyone wanting a big folder should consider the 2, but for me, it was not that great of an EDC. I'm extremely satisfied with my Spec-Elite 1. Yeah, are the black FRN handles a little plain-Jane? Sure, and it'd be great if they were machined G-10, or micarta, or unicorn horn or whatever. But I'm glad SOG went with FRN, just to keep the price more affordable. The Spec-Elites are not pretty, man-jewelry safe-queen, art-folders. They are for carrying and using. And I've never regretted buying the Spec-Elite 1.

I also like the SOG Twitch 2 as a neat little gentleman's folder. It somehow looks simple and classy at the same time. A great smaller-sized non-tactical EDC, though if you had to use it for self defense, it would beat being empty-handed. For an even more classy look, you can even get it with wood handle scales. And it's the only back-locking folder with assisted opening AND a blade kicker that I've seen (aside from all the other Twitch variants, of course).
 
The tomcat was/is sexy as hell, especially considering when it came out. Not much variance in knife build back then. All the seki models just speak to me. Fat cat and vulcan tanto san mai still on the list to get
 
AntDog said:
Original Tomcat. It's a classic. One of the original super beefy folders.
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+1 I totally agree - I loved that knife back in the day and I had in a a car of mine that got towed and the towing
company took the knife (even though they wouldnt admit to it, but I knew where I had it).
 
Has anyone carried an Access Card 2.0? I've been eyeing these for a hot minute.

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I've owned and used an Access Card 2.0 (sheepsfoot) for a couple years now. It was in fact the last SOG I have purchased. I like the knife as a knife that you might carry when no other will do. It mostly spends it's life on my desk as a letter, packaging, and box opener and is used often. I in fact used it yesterday. It is a useful blade to keep with your hiking stuff if you are not attached at the hip to a SAK. Opens very easily one handed and the lock up is good. The only problem I have with it is the price and that probably reflects it's VG-10 and Seki manufacture. But I think it's a well made thin knife and the steel is good enough for me.
 
SOG Trident... grippy, fast assist, cord cutter, axis-like lock, between 3.5-4", and inexpensive!
 
Well, these are not all my SOGs, but I would consider them my favorites:

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OBVIOUSLY, I like black blades. Starting from the bottom, we have the Visionary I (VS01-CP), Visionary II (VS-02), Mini Vulcan (VL-12), Vulcan (VL-11), Aegis Mini (AE02-CP), Aegis (AE06-CP) and the odd man out, the Flash I (FSA7-CP).

The Visionarys and Vulcans are similar, VG-10, Arc-Lock (better than the Benchmade Axis Lock IMO), manual... choosing between them is a matter of size preference and handle shape preference. The Visionary has a more simple handle, the Vulcan's handle is more complex, has a better grip on the surface and has a flipper, which is nice. The Vulcans are more expensive.

The Aegis models are less expensive, AUS-8, assisted-opening. Still nice, but not as nice as the more expensive Visonarys or Vulcans.

The Flash I... I always need to repeat the following story. I consider this the best SMALL knife in my quite large collection. I once lost it for several days. It turned out it was clipped in my pocket and I was clipping another knife next to it, not realizing it was there! :rolleyes: Also, there are a couple popular videos on YouTube where people hold the closed Flash I and show you it is a poor knife because when they shake it, the blade release mechanism rattles... having never seen a personal need to shake my Flash I when it was closed, I'm not clear what the point of this is... :p

If I had to choose ONE of the above as my FAVORITE, it would be the Vulcan. If I could only have ONE, it would probably be the Vulcan II, which would be a more practical size for EDC for me.:thumbup:
 
Personally I prefer the Twitch II it I love the spring assisted open , the way it sits deep in the pocket will never fall out on you ...and I hardly even notice it is there when bending down or crawling into a small space Out o the box it is acceptably sharp and seems to keep it's edge over time I just wish they made it with the VG10 steel. Simple yet very effective. The locking feature keeps it from accidentally opening in pocket "which I might add could be quite painful when digging for change"...seeing as it is barely felt when you're wearing it.

 
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