- Joined
- Nov 25, 1999
- Messages
- 1,499
SOG JetEdge-2 - this appealing ugly knife.
I received it in June'99 and my first impression was: "What a bizarre design!" But some time later, when I was going to travel across some European countries and realized that knife is only defensive weapon I can legally have with myself (my handgun concealed curry license is valid in Poland only) - from all my knives I choose JetEdge-2. Why?
Knife is visible in my son's right hand.
Now let I describe this knife a little.
Blade of ATS-34 steel has a bit difficult to describe shape, it might be a modified clip point with so called shark-tooth tip. This kind of tip is used pretty rarely but it's worth to look it carefully. Not too sharp beveling angle in blade plan makes this tip very strong and resistant to breaking. When my kids levered up the piece of bark with knife I was afraid they will break the tip but nothing occurred.
On the other hand this tip is by far more penetrative than the usual tip with the same beveling angle because both bevels are sharpened. Please note - it's not simply false edge, the back edge in the tip area is truly sharp. The long recurved false edge improves penetration ability as well. This causes JetEdge-2 to be a no-nonsense defensive weapon if required.
The rear half of blade has serration with pretty large teeth. It works nicely if you have to cut a thick rope or heavy cardboard. To sharpen the pencil using only curved front part of the edge is a bit tricky but possible.
Extended checkered thumb rest provides very accurate blade pointing and additional leverage for hard cutting tasks.
Handle of carbon fiber has a single steel liner. When I began to use this knife I was almost sure it is not enough to provide adequate handle strength and soon I'll have unpleasant surprises. Now, 8 months later I can say certainly - I was not right. After 8 months of hard use nothing wrong occured with this knife, no play in pivot/lock area appeared, nothing was loosen up and knife works as good as it worked being new. Seems that carbon fiber, this space age material has really surprising properties!
Another surprise: this glossy surface is by far less slippery than I could expect. Handle's shape is simple but very functional, deep cutout under forefinger provides secure grip and prevents hand's sliding onto the blade. Minor disadvantage: the locking liner had a very sharp angle between recurve under forefinger and surface matching blade tang. It could harm my forefinger in some circumstances, so I removed this sharp tip using a fine narrow diamond file. This part of liner stays above matching blade surface and can be removed without any problems. Unfortunately I did it before I thought to make photo, what a pity!
In fact I can hold his handle very sure and securely.
Action was very smooth and light out of the factory box. In my opinion even a bit too light, I like a bit more secure blade hold in closed position. I resolved this problem with slight pivot screw tightening. Now action is balanced very well: it's light enough for easy operating and tight enough to prevent unintentional opening. As I said already no play in any plan appeared after 8 months of hard use. I had newer to retighten pivot screw after numerous thousands of openings.
I noted this knife "likes" firm opening movement, in this case locking liner stays exactly on the half of blade thickness. When knife is opened gently liner stops the travel on first quarter of blade thickness. Must to say even in this case lockup is OK, knife passed medium forced spine hack test being opened gently also.
Opening slot works enough comfortably and reliably, unfortunately it's not available for left hand.
Belt/pocket clip is made of glossy polished stainless steel with nicely imprinted this SOG JetEdge logo. Although I prefer non-shiny pocket clips on knifes intended for concealed carry in this case shiny clip doesn't disturbs me because I carry this knife in my home. Maybe it would be useful to remove the clip and to scratch surfaces one the clip and on the handle where these ones come together - knife hold in the pocket would be more secure. But it's my presumption only, I didn't try to do it.
Resuming:
During 8 months I'm using this knife as my all-purpose home knife. It's still in my home jeans rear pocket and I use it everywhere, from kitchen to garage. I cut with it all I can and must to cut at my home, from apple portioning and letter opening up to heavy cardboard and packing straps. Edge retention is exactly adequate for premium grade ATS-34. Of course I had to resharpen this blade numerous times but in the plain part only. Serrated part isn't reasharpened yet but it's still sharp. It might be a little addition to the thread where we discussed advantages of plain edge over serrated one: http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum32/HTML/002757.html
I'm usually resharpen JetEdge2 using my DMT Diamond Whetstones or Double Sided Diafold.
So I can say certainly: it's ugly knife but at the same time it's nice knife. I don't like how it looks but I like how it feels and works.
It's my sure and reliable workhorse.
------------------
Sergiusz Mitin
gunwriter
Lodz, Poland
I received it in June'99 and my first impression was: "What a bizarre design!" But some time later, when I was going to travel across some European countries and realized that knife is only defensive weapon I can legally have with myself (my handgun concealed curry license is valid in Poland only) - from all my knives I choose JetEdge-2. Why?
- With blade length 95 mm (3 ¾ inches) it's legal to carry in most European jurisdictions.
- It's very light and very flat, I can place it even in my shorts, sporting dress or swimming trunks waistband.
- It's very versatile, true multi-purpose knife and it can serve as defensive weapon as well.
Knife is visible in my son's right hand.
Now let I describe this knife a little.
Blade of ATS-34 steel has a bit difficult to describe shape, it might be a modified clip point with so called shark-tooth tip. This kind of tip is used pretty rarely but it's worth to look it carefully. Not too sharp beveling angle in blade plan makes this tip very strong and resistant to breaking. When my kids levered up the piece of bark with knife I was afraid they will break the tip but nothing occurred.
On the other hand this tip is by far more penetrative than the usual tip with the same beveling angle because both bevels are sharpened. Please note - it's not simply false edge, the back edge in the tip area is truly sharp. The long recurved false edge improves penetration ability as well. This causes JetEdge-2 to be a no-nonsense defensive weapon if required.
The rear half of blade has serration with pretty large teeth. It works nicely if you have to cut a thick rope or heavy cardboard. To sharpen the pencil using only curved front part of the edge is a bit tricky but possible.
Extended checkered thumb rest provides very accurate blade pointing and additional leverage for hard cutting tasks.
Handle of carbon fiber has a single steel liner. When I began to use this knife I was almost sure it is not enough to provide adequate handle strength and soon I'll have unpleasant surprises. Now, 8 months later I can say certainly - I was not right. After 8 months of hard use nothing wrong occured with this knife, no play in pivot/lock area appeared, nothing was loosen up and knife works as good as it worked being new. Seems that carbon fiber, this space age material has really surprising properties!
Another surprise: this glossy surface is by far less slippery than I could expect. Handle's shape is simple but very functional, deep cutout under forefinger provides secure grip and prevents hand's sliding onto the blade. Minor disadvantage: the locking liner had a very sharp angle between recurve under forefinger and surface matching blade tang. It could harm my forefinger in some circumstances, so I removed this sharp tip using a fine narrow diamond file. This part of liner stays above matching blade surface and can be removed without any problems. Unfortunately I did it before I thought to make photo, what a pity!
In fact I can hold his handle very sure and securely.
Action was very smooth and light out of the factory box. In my opinion even a bit too light, I like a bit more secure blade hold in closed position. I resolved this problem with slight pivot screw tightening. Now action is balanced very well: it's light enough for easy operating and tight enough to prevent unintentional opening. As I said already no play in any plan appeared after 8 months of hard use. I had newer to retighten pivot screw after numerous thousands of openings.
I noted this knife "likes" firm opening movement, in this case locking liner stays exactly on the half of blade thickness. When knife is opened gently liner stops the travel on first quarter of blade thickness. Must to say even in this case lockup is OK, knife passed medium forced spine hack test being opened gently also.
Opening slot works enough comfortably and reliably, unfortunately it's not available for left hand.
Belt/pocket clip is made of glossy polished stainless steel with nicely imprinted this SOG JetEdge logo. Although I prefer non-shiny pocket clips on knifes intended for concealed carry in this case shiny clip doesn't disturbs me because I carry this knife in my home. Maybe it would be useful to remove the clip and to scratch surfaces one the clip and on the handle where these ones come together - knife hold in the pocket would be more secure. But it's my presumption only, I didn't try to do it.
Resuming:
During 8 months I'm using this knife as my all-purpose home knife. It's still in my home jeans rear pocket and I use it everywhere, from kitchen to garage. I cut with it all I can and must to cut at my home, from apple portioning and letter opening up to heavy cardboard and packing straps. Edge retention is exactly adequate for premium grade ATS-34. Of course I had to resharpen this blade numerous times but in the plain part only. Serrated part isn't reasharpened yet but it's still sharp. It might be a little addition to the thread where we discussed advantages of plain edge over serrated one: http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum32/HTML/002757.html
I'm usually resharpen JetEdge2 using my DMT Diamond Whetstones or Double Sided Diafold.
So I can say certainly: it's ugly knife but at the same time it's nice knife. I don't like how it looks but I like how it feels and works.
It's my sure and reliable workhorse.
------------------
Sergiusz Mitin
gunwriter
Lodz, Poland
