SOG Flash II

Joined
Jan 24, 2003
Messages
2,110
Hey all, I've heard about the nightmares of the SOG Flash I, thin blade and flimisy lock up. But what about it's bigger (and hopefully stronger) brother the SOG Flash II ? Is the blade lock-up tighter and is the blade thicker (or adleast not as flimsy)?

The reason I want it is because it is a spring assist w/ a tip down carry. (Quicker Draw).
 
Just my opinion..... but it's a piece of crap. I was very excited when they first came out, but after seeing one in person, I'm underwhelmed. The display model's spring assist was already worn out, and just the overall feel of the knife was pretty poor. The assisted opening Keershaw models are 3 times the quality. I'm a fan of SOG in general, but this one is a dog.

Chip
 
Man...i love SOGs....I mean i really really like em.

But the Flash isnt up to par with the rest of the SOG crew. With the exception I have found some aluminium handled Flash2s to be quality, you still have to select them out of a crowd. They are profuse with bladeplay.

Now that i have essentially badmouthed my favoruite knife provider I will say this....My SOG Vision, previously owned by the very cool Bobby B, has a fit and finish that make my benchmades hang thier heads in shame. My SOG Recon Bowie (72 out of the first 250)rivals many many many custom fixed blades I have handled in balence, construction and design. The Blink, another SAT knife by SOG is a awsome little gents knife. It makes a much better impression in person than from photos in catalogs or on the web. It is much more solid then the Flash series, with a better lockup and saftey mechanism.

SOG is a company I respect and trust. I also realize that they outsource thier production to many different makers the same way as other production companies. When something says Seki on the blade it can be from a wide variety of different makers in that area of Japan.....although I am not sure if the Flash is Seki-made, a lot of thier folders are. A lot of what they have undergos a strict QC inspection, and it is quite evident in most of thier models but for some reason not in the Flash. My one factory-second from them surpasses anything I have seen in its pricerange, and many well above.

So, I say give the aluminium Flash 2 a shot if you can inspect it in person. If not take a look at the Blink, it is a higher quaility than any of the kershaws in its size and cant be beat for the price. But dont judge all of SOGs lineup by the Flash some of thier stuff is mucho quality.
 
i'm with you guys...SOG is a good brand, a very good brand indeed. but.....DON'T buy one of em Flash-folders. they're terrible. i handled one in a store and it already had blade-play, the mechanism didn't work smooth and properly and the overall 'feel' of the knife made me NOT to spend my bucks on that knife.

DON'T BUT IT!

d75
 
by the way j-man, i handled the type II flash to be exact. it was a standard-handle model, so it just might be that alloy-version is better, but still, be careful.......

d75
 
J-man_the_jet:
You could make a better purchase choice than a SOG Flash II. I just bought one sight unseen, and am pretty dissapointed with what arrived. Up to the point of purchase, the forum reviews on the Flash II looked good. As a guy who really likes assisted opening folders, like Kershaw Scallion and Leek, I thought I'd check out the Flash II as an alternative. As it is, the quality and materials seem OK, but the lock mechanism on the Flash II is pretty funky. I would actually like the knife a LOT BETTER if it had a standard liner lock.
As far as speed in opening (another forum debate), my CRKT-M16 with a flipper opener actually opens faster and has the same length blade.

TT2Toes
 
I tried a plastic handled flash II about six months ago, got it at
cost, didn't like the feel, so I sold it.
Just received a Ti-coated blade, with aluminum handle. Much better,
feels great. Very tight blade. But I'm always in the market for
a different knife. I will give this model a try.
Next knife on my "want" list is the new Camillus Cuda Dominator
assisted opener.
mm
 
Well, now that I’m not on SOG’s payroll, I can give my personal opinions of their products and company philosophy.

SOG is in business to make its owners lots and lots of money. I can’t fault that position. The ratio of knives SOG sells in the under $50 range compared to the over $150 range is simply staggering. Knife materials is a key component in determining a knife’s cost. If you look at the types of knives SOG has introduced each year over the past ten years (or so), you’ll see a dramatic rise in “value-oriented” products. That is completely by design!

Now to the Flash series knives. In my humble opinion, the Zytel handled models feel cheap and flimsy. I personally hate them and wouldn’t own or carry one…period.

The aluminum handled Flash models are altogether a different story. For someone who does carry higher-end knives from companies such as Microtech, MOD, Benchmade, and SOG, I really do like the aluminum handled Flash (in either size). I really feel the Flash series should be reviewed independently as either the Zytel line or the aluminum line. Their characteristics are very different. But, Spencer has developed these knives with differing customers in mind. The customers have different sized pocket books and different expectations for their knives. The problem with this course of action, is the bad reputation the whole line gets because of the cheaper knife models in the line.

Putting aside the realistic complaints with the Zytel models, let me address the only complaints about the aluminum models stated either here or in other places:
  • Thin Blade: This is simply a blade design concept offering essentially a complete, single flat grind. Other knives are much thicker grind styles. Problems will only occur if the owner chooses to pry with their knife. :(
  • Lock: I’ve yet to hear anyone say that the lock is not secure, for being a bolt-action type lock, it is very, secure! The complaints are that the lock release, when the knife is closed, slides freely. This in no way hampers the performance of the knife or lock. Adding tension to that lock release in the closed position would have added unnecessary complexity to its internal workings.
  • Slow Action: From “Day One” in this knife’s concept, the goal was to make an assisted opening knife that had nearly no felt recoil. That goal has been succeeded in dramatic fashion. Is it slower than other assisted openers or automatics? Yup! But it will open fully every time and not JUMP in (or out of) your hand.
  • Blade Play: I’ve seen these knives up close and opened up. I’ve even got to play with them. When you have a coil spring wrapping around the pivot, positioned between the blade and handle material, the construction dynamics change quite a bit from a liner lock, Arc-Lock/Axis-Lock, or Lockback where blade play is never accepted. You have more than a Teflon washer between the blade and handle…there’s a spring. A little blade play is understandable, unavoidable, and in no way hinders the performance or safety of the knife.
So in personal review. Zytel Flash: Sucks! Aluminum Flash: Great knife for price!

But, if you get "Zytel" and "knife" together in the same sentence, I’m going to say "Sucks!" It's who I am. :) I am sold, though, on injection-molded Zytel handles on knives like the SEAL Knife. For durability, the handle will outlast the blade (and I’m not kidding…they’re that durable!).
 
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