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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
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s.o.g. snarl
- Thread starter MR Barry
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2013
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- 6,446
A dog snarl can be pretty intimidating, not sure how you could EDC that 
All kidding aside, it looks like a cool little blade and it's designed by Jason Brous. He makes some cool stuff.
They use Chinese budget steel so it's not the best but I'm sure it will handle normal EDC tasks like opening mail, boxes, etc. I've gone back and forth on this one, as well. Thankfully it's not very pricey at all. You should get one and try it out if you're interested. That short wharnie-style blade looks like it could do some work.
All kidding aside, it looks like a cool little blade and it's designed by Jason Brous. He makes some cool stuff.
They use Chinese budget steel so it's not the best but I'm sure it will handle normal EDC tasks like opening mail, boxes, etc. I've gone back and forth on this one, as well. Thankfully it's not very pricey at all. You should get one and try it out if you're interested. That short wharnie-style blade looks like it could do some work.
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2009
- Messages
- 1,102
I have the SOG Snarl and I would not recommend it as an EDC blade. Mine came from the factory with a terrible edge that would not cut paper. I measured the edge angle at a little over 60 degrees on my edge pro. In addition, because the stock they used is so thick (0.25) and it has a low saber grind, the secondary grind is also very obtuse. In short, the edge geometry is absolutely horrible for anything except a sharpened pry bar.
I reprofiled the edge at 40 degrees and now the primary grind has to go almost half way up the secondary grind to get a barely usable edge. The .25 inch stock also makes the knife too heavy for a usable EDC neck knife that can barely cut anything anyways due to its design shortcomings.
If SOG had used a 1/8th inch stock and given it a full flat grind it would have been a nice EDC blade. The small cutout at the bottom for your middle finger has sharp edges that become very uncomfortable after extended use. I noticed that in subsequent versions of the original version of this knife (the Silent Soldier) Jason Brous chamfered the edges and extended a small guard to increase the comfort. The SOG Snarl does not have any of these improvements.
Don't buy it.
I would also add that my particular sample of the Snarl was slightly bent from the middle to the tip. This became very noticeable on sharpening and made an already difficult job even harder.
I reprofiled the edge at 40 degrees and now the primary grind has to go almost half way up the secondary grind to get a barely usable edge. The .25 inch stock also makes the knife too heavy for a usable EDC neck knife that can barely cut anything anyways due to its design shortcomings.
If SOG had used a 1/8th inch stock and given it a full flat grind it would have been a nice EDC blade. The small cutout at the bottom for your middle finger has sharp edges that become very uncomfortable after extended use. I noticed that in subsequent versions of the original version of this knife (the Silent Soldier) Jason Brous chamfered the edges and extended a small guard to increase the comfort. The SOG Snarl does not have any of these improvements.
Don't buy it.
I would also add that my particular sample of the Snarl was slightly bent from the middle to the tip. This became very noticeable on sharpening and made an already difficult job even harder.
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2001
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- 3,709
I have both a SOG Snarl and a Jason Brous Silent Soldier V1, so I can give you some thoughts.
The SOG is made in China of 9CR18MOV steel. The REAL Brous Silent Soldier is made in the USA of D2 tool steel.
Keep in mind that the SOG is a $35 knife, so the steel will be of lesser quality and won't hold an edge as long compared to Jason Brous' SS which runs around $110-$120 depending on which finish you get. My Silent Solder is a gen 2 with finger guard and black Cerakote finish.
There are a few differences, aside from steel and outward appearance. The sheath on the Brous SS is Kydex, and on the SOG it's molded plastic. Sheath retention on both is very good and they are unlikely to fall out of the sheath unless pulled out. Both fit well in the hand, the Brous version having better comfort due to the fingerguard. The Brous came quite sharp, but not the SOG.
Now, I do have some issues with the SOG Snarl. First off, it's too thick. The Brous is noticeably thinner and a better cutter than the SOG. Also, the jimping on the Snarl doesn't extend forward enough on the spine to make good contact with your thumb. The last issue is with the clip on the sheath. It's open and doesn't sit flush against the sheath making it slide around your belt unless you clip it over your belt and seam of your trouser. It can be fixed by bending the clip with pliers, but be aware that all the SOG Snarls I've seen come like that. Also, the knife doesn't click in place when you insert it into the sheath. It's sort of held in place by friction. Again, retension is good as there is no rattling, but just be aware of that if you get one.
Overall, the Snarl out's an okay neck knife for $35.00, but could have been better if it were a little thinner. SOG should really consider fixing the clip issue on the sheaths as well. If you really like this knife design, I would recommend going with the real Brous Silent Soldier, unless you're on a tight budget.
The SOG is made in China of 9CR18MOV steel. The REAL Brous Silent Soldier is made in the USA of D2 tool steel.
Keep in mind that the SOG is a $35 knife, so the steel will be of lesser quality and won't hold an edge as long compared to Jason Brous' SS which runs around $110-$120 depending on which finish you get. My Silent Solder is a gen 2 with finger guard and black Cerakote finish.
There are a few differences, aside from steel and outward appearance. The sheath on the Brous SS is Kydex, and on the SOG it's molded plastic. Sheath retention on both is very good and they are unlikely to fall out of the sheath unless pulled out. Both fit well in the hand, the Brous version having better comfort due to the fingerguard. The Brous came quite sharp, but not the SOG.
Now, I do have some issues with the SOG Snarl. First off, it's too thick. The Brous is noticeably thinner and a better cutter than the SOG. Also, the jimping on the Snarl doesn't extend forward enough on the spine to make good contact with your thumb. The last issue is with the clip on the sheath. It's open and doesn't sit flush against the sheath making it slide around your belt unless you clip it over your belt and seam of your trouser. It can be fixed by bending the clip with pliers, but be aware that all the SOG Snarls I've seen come like that. Also, the knife doesn't click in place when you insert it into the sheath. It's sort of held in place by friction. Again, retension is good as there is no rattling, but just be aware of that if you get one.
Overall, the Snarl out's an okay neck knife for $35.00, but could have been better if it were a little thinner. SOG should really consider fixing the clip issue on the sheaths as well. If you really like this knife design, I would recommend going with the real Brous Silent Soldier, unless you're on a tight budget.
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I would not think for a moment that the sog snarl be edc-ed for general utilitarian use.
Its would more likely appear to be some sort of hide away slash and gash last ditch thingy...
But this is not to say that it can't be marginally useful in mundane roles as demanded and determined by its owners.
Its would more likely appear to be some sort of hide away slash and gash last ditch thingy...
But this is not to say that it can't be marginally useful in mundane roles as demanded and determined by its owners.
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- Joined
- Sep 17, 2009
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I will echo what others have said and add to my original post:
The belt clip on the Snarl is terrible. It sit almost 1/4 inch open and does not touch the other side of the belt clip. When you put it on your belt, it slides all over the place. I had to adjust the belt clip with a 3 prong plier to get the right tension. It is very obvious to me that no one field tested their product or they would have changed the way the adjust the clip before sending out their product.
The belt clip on the Snarl is terrible. It sit almost 1/4 inch open and does not touch the other side of the belt clip. When you put it on your belt, it slides all over the place. I had to adjust the belt clip with a 3 prong plier to get the right tension. It is very obvious to me that no one field tested their product or they would have changed the way the adjust the clip before sending out their product.
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2001
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Yeah, I agree with you on the clip. No issue if you plan to wear it around your neck with the beaded chain, but the buyer shouldn't have to fix the clip in order to wear it on the belt. SOG really needs to fix that issue on the sheaths and slim the knife down a bit to make it more usable.
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2001
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I could very well be used for general utilitarian tasks if it were thinner and the edge was sharpened properly. It's a wharncliffe blade, I can think of no better utilitarian knife for opening boxes, and general chores. The problem is the Snarl is too thick and the edge SOG's Chinese factory puts on these is rather lame. Other than that it's a pretty cool design. The Brous Silent Soldier has none of the issues the Snarl has, but of course it costs more.
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2009
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The Silent Soldier V1 GEN 1 is almost the same as the Snarl. The Silent Soldier V1 GEN II has all the changes that make it a good EDC blade (thinner stock, finger guard, rounded and chamfered finger notch, higher grind, etc.). I think Brous decided to let SOG make a version of only his GEN 1 because he knew that all the changes he made in his GEN II would not create a situation where SOG was creating competition for his newer, and better, product.
Also, I agree with you about the edges that come out of SOG's Chinese factory. They stink... Surprising really because the edges that come out of their Taiwan and Japan factories are outstanding; some of the best OOB in my experience.
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2014
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- 4
My Snarl hangs around my neck tucked away under my shirt on a 20 lbs break away ball chain. I don't have any real qualms about it. Unlike others that have posted here mine came shavable sharp. No problems with putting an edge back on it (actually seems to hold an edge better then the SOG Slimjim that rides in my pocket). All in all it does what I need it to the little I use that one. If you want a real little work horse (in my opinion) pick up a CRKT Minimalist.