SOG terminus XR

W

WilliamTT

Joined
Jun 7, 2022
Messages
9
I am new to the EDC world. As a start I purchased an Ontario Rat 2 and a SOG Terminus XR. The thumb studs on the Rat 2 are easy and smooth. The ones on the Terminus are almost impossible. The flipper is easy and opening using the axis lock is a breeze. Why can’t I operate the thumb studs?
 
I had the same problem. It takes some calluses to get that knife moving, the knife just has a strong detent...lower quality knives (like the SOG) tend to have greater variance in tolerance and detent.

Most do break in after meticulous flicking so hopefully that works out for you.

Some knives react better to a consistent pressure push with your thumb, some respond better to a harder, more abrupt push. Also, the direction you push/flick with your thumb matters so, my CEO likes the finger sliding right along the edge (hmm, sounds a little weird lol), while my benchmades like a more perpendicular push from the edge.

It's alot of science and calluses. Mostly calluses :)
 
It's a great flipper knife, working well with the axis type lock, thus, I never use the thumbstuds.
I disagree with the calluses claim, however.
I would pay more attention to your index finger placement, as it could easily be unconsciously applying counter pressure against either the flipper tab &/or the axis lock.
They work fine, practice makes better...👍
B.T.B. 😎
 
Dergyll said:
I had the same problem. It takes some calluses to get that knife moving, the knife just has a strong detent...lower quality knives (like the SOG) tend to have greater variance in tolerance and detent.

Most do break in after meticulous flicking so hopefully that works out for you.

Some knives react better to a consistent pressure push with your thumb, some respond better to a harder, more abrupt push. Also, the direction you push/flick with your thumb matters so, my CEO likes the finger sliding right along the edge (hmm, sounds a little weird lol), while my benchmades like a more perpendicular push from the edge.

It's alot of science and calluses. Mostly calluses :)
Click to expand...
Thank you so much. I will try to break it in and try different push/flicks.
 
Billy The Blade said:
It's a great flipper knife, working well with the axis type lock, thus, I never use the thumbstuds.
I disagree with the calluses claim, however.
I would pay more attention to your index finger placement, as it could easily be unconsciously applying counter pressure against either the flipper tab &/or the axis lock.
They work fine, practice makes better...👍
B.T.B. 😎
Click to expand...
Practice. Got it. Thanks so much for your help.
 
I don’t have either of those knives, but I did get a Buck Sprint Pro (finger flipper) a few weeks ago, and my first time opening it I thought there was something wrong with it, because it would not budge. When I did finally get it open after a bit of cussing and one really sore finger, it just took a few more flips to loosen up to where it now opens easily. It seemed to quickly find that sweet spot and stay there. I think most of my flippers were kind of like that when new, and I’d just flip them until my finger had had enough, then go back later and flip them some more. The Buck was probably the worst of them at first, now it’s one of the easiest and smoothest. I do find that they all have a different finger position that they like (yeah, that doesn’t sound too inappropriate), and sometimes you have to fidget with it to find the best hand position and angle. I’ve got one Kershaw that if I’m not holding it exactly right, it just doesn’t want to open. I think our natural tendency is to want to push in on the flipper, and you need to position your hand more so you’re pulling down on it, which isn’t always easy given the various sizes and shapes of those flippers and handles.
 
The Terminus kind of grows on you during the break-in period...
It's actually not a bad little knife!
I'm got the all C.F. version, and it's easy to forget that it's in a pocket!
 
Danny Linguini said:
I don’t have either of those knives, but I did get a Buck Sprint Pro (finger flipper) a few weeks ago, and my first time opening it I thought there was something wrong with it, because it would not budge. When I did finally get it open after a bit of cussing and one really sore finger, it just took a few more flips to loosen up to where it now opens easily. It seemed to quickly find that sweet spot and stay there. I think most of my flippers were kind of like that when new, and I’d just flip them until my finger had had enough, then go back later and flip them some more. The Buck was probably the worst of them at first, now it’s one of the easiest and smoothest. I do find that they all have a different finger position that they like (yeah, that doesn’t sound too inappropriate), and sometimes you have to fidget with it to find the best hand position and angle. I’ve got one Kershaw that if I’m not holding it exactly right, it just doesn’t want to open. I think our natural tendency is to want to push in on the flipper, and you need to position your hand more so you’re pulling down on it, which isn’t always easy given the various sizes and shapes of those flippers and handles.
Click to expand...
Got it - keep flipping. I will try that. Besides, flipping is fun.
 
The Terminus is a good little solid knife for the price. I find one the best ways to open a thumb stud flipper without flipping is to use both thumb and pointer finger in a twisting motion thumb moving forward on stud pointer on flipper to open the blade. This is an almost foolproof reliable way to quickly open it without much of a learning curve and no need for calluses. I think this method is even more reliable than using a flipper or thumb stud alone on any folder.
 
greater said:
The Terminus is a good little solid knife for the price. I find one the best ways to open a thumb stud flipper without flipping is to use both thumb and pointer finger in a twisting motion thumb moving forward on stud pointer on flipper to open the blade. This is an almost foolproof reliable way to quickly open it without much of a learning curve and no need for calluses. I think this method is even more reliable than using a flipper or thumb stud alone on any folder.
Click to expand...
Never thought of that. I will try it. Thanks!
 
I have the XR, ran pretty rough initially. I found a full disassembly, cleaning the bearings out and a fresh nano oil lubricating helped. Adjusting the pivot to dial in the tension also helped immensely. All that being said, the XR does not leave much room behind the thumbstud to gain traction or to obtain the appropriate geometry for excellent thumb stud deployment. It seems as it was designed as flipper opening with the thumb st an afterthought.
 
Lawilli2 said:
I have the XR, ran pretty rough initially. I found a full disassembly, cleaning the bearings out and a fresh nano oil lubricating helped. Adjusting the pivot to dial in the tension also helped immensely. All that being said, the XR does not leave much room behind the thumbstud to gain traction or to obtain the appropriate geometry for excellent thumb stud deployment. It seems as it was designed as flipper opening with the thumb st an afterthought.
Click to expand...
Thanks. As I am new in the EDC world, I may wait on a disassembly. Until it is broken in, I will stick to the flipper.
 
WilliamTT said:
Thanks. As I am new in the EDC world, I may wait on a disassembly. Until it is broken in, I will stick to the flipper.
Click to expand...
I get it. I just really started last Christmas with an Elementum gifted by my kids. It was my first knife since a spyderco i got back in the 80’s. Anyway, Nick Shabazz is an amazing resource and his youtube channel has a disaasembly vid on the XR, i watched it multiple times before attempting. The axis type lock makes it a bit trickier, but very satisfying, depending on you need to see how everthing works.
 
Lawilli2 said:
I get it. I just really started last Christmas with an Elementum gifted by my kids. It was my first knife since a spyderco i got back in the 80’s. Anyway, Nick Shabazz is an amazing resource and his youtube channel has a disaasembly vid on the XR, i watched it multiple times before attempting. The axis type lock makes it a bit trickier, but very satisfying, depending on you need to see how everthing works.
Click to expand...
I did get a set of Torx tools so I may try it. You have been very helpful. Thanks so much!
 
WilliamTT said:
I did get a set of Torx tools so I may try it. You have been very helpful. Thanks so much!
Click to expand...
I’m thinking the rat 2 might be a good first disassembly, runs on washers i believe. Anyway, i would get a second torx driver. I found some knives, like the XR, do not have a fixed pivot. You will need one torx holding the pivot steady on one side, while the other side does the work. On the advice of others smarter than me, i got the Boker driver kit, and then a Bondus Gorilla grip key set, cost like 12 bucks in amazon. The ifit driver on Ben Petersons knaffs.com site is also a sweet deal, just takes a little longer with shipping.
 
Billy The Blade said:
It's a great flipper knife, working well with the axis type lock, thus, I never use the thumbstuds.
I disagree with the calluses claim, however.
I would pay more attention to your index finger placement, as it could easily be unconsciously applying counter pressure against either the flipper tab &/or the axis lock.
They work fine, practice makes better...👍
B.T.B. 😎
Click to expand...
W WilliamTT
The Bold part (above) of my reply was the important part to extract, the practice part was merely secondary...
B.T.B.
 
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