SOG Visionary II

[Mistwalker]

While I am usually a fixed blade kind of guy… I’ve never had a fixed close on my finger… I do edc a folding knife as well because in town large fixed blades are impractical and in general really aren’t a good idea and I feel naked without a knife. I wanted one that is bit little larger than the one I have been carrying because of some of the things I have been getting into lately, and some of the places I have been going. Today I got in a new folding knife to check out, do a review of, and then and carry while I am out looking for pictures for the urban survival thread I am working on. It is a SOG Visionary II, and from what I can tell so far it should be a good edc folding knife. I really do like the design, how well it fits in my hand, the razor sharp edge, and the very sharp tip. It has a blade length of 3 and 3/4 inches, and an over-all of 8 and 3/8 inches. I think the corrosion resistance of the VG10, stainless liners, and Zytel handle should do very well here in this humid environment especially with as much as I sweat in the summers here. This is one of the SOG knives that is made in Seki Japan.



It has a great grip, and I love the clip location. I like pulling a knife from my pocket and it already being in my hand the way it needs to be.

The blade edge never comes in contact with any of the frame, only the Arc-Lock locking mechanism.

The Arc-Lock release mechanism is ambidextrous and easy to manipulate with thumb and forefinger.

The Arc-Lock both locks the blade open as well as holds tension on the blade to keep it closed but does not lock the blade closed, it can be flipped open pretty quickly if needs be, though I prefer not to stress the pins like that unless necessary.

 

[Mistwalker]

This knife is VERY sharp! It shaved hair easily, and then sliced into the skin of my arm.

It did well at whittling some wet pine…sliced through a half inch limb cleanly and easily in one cut. And cut some pretty thin shavings.

And it made very quick work of cutting through some bamboo that was cut a couple of weeks ago and is mostly dry. The majority of this point was made with one cut, and then just a couple of quick cuts to clean up the tip. Then I bored a couple of holes with the tip. So far I really like it, now to see how it holds up over time.

 

[Reeek]

Great review. The bamboo test goes a long way for a pocket EDC IMHO. How was the overall fit and finish? My experience with most Seki made production knives has been very positive with the fit and finish.

 

[Mistwalker]

Great review. The bamboo test goes a long way for a pocket EDC IMHO. How was the overall fit and finish? My experience with most Seki made production knives has been very positive with the fit and finish.

Thanks man, glad you liked it.

Fit and finish are very good, and there is no blade play at all, smooth open and close. The Arc-Lock works very smoothly too.

 

[A.P.F.]

Thanks for the review and great pics, Mistwalker! Enjoy your new knife.

 

[razorburn]

Thank for the great review.I'm glad you didn't have a problem with the back spacer hitting the blade, like many have had.Your review makes me want this knife more than before.

mistwalker,I want to ask you if the side of the blade's tang that come in contact with the bolt of the arc lock, smooth and polished.The reason,I ask is because I bought a Tomcat 3.0 and the side of the tang were not like a BM axis lock,where everythings is highly polished.

 

[Mistwalker]

Thank for the great review.I'm glad you didn't have a problem with the back spacer hitting the blade, like many have had.Your review makes me want this knife more than before.

mistwalker,I want to ask you if the side of the blade's tang that come in contact with the bolt of the arc lock, smooth and polished.The reason,I ask is because I bought a Tomcat 3.0 and the side of the tang were not like a BM axis lock,where everythings is highly polished.

Thanks man, glad you liked it

Yeah, smooth, polished, and shiny on the entire area the Arc-Lock comes in contact. I'll take a picture in a few and post it later. I just got in from work and it was a long hard day.

 

[knarfeng]

As always, your review was very good with very good prictures. Thanks.

That clip looks like the knife will carry deep in the pocket with very little showing. Is that correct?

 

[p_mcmanis]

As always, your review was very good with very good prictures. Thanks.

That clip looks like the knife will carry deep in the pocket with very little showing. Is that correct?

this is from google.

 

[Mistwalker]

As always, your review was very good with very good prictures. Thanks.

That clip looks like the knife will carry deep in the pocket with very little showing. Is that correct?

Thanks, glad you enjoy my posts.

It would ride like that in pants made of thinner materails...but it rides about 1/8" higher in jeans and BDUs. If you force it further it makes it slower to draw.

 

[vic2367]

thanks for the great review,,

wanting one now :thumbup:

 

[knife_nut73]

Very good review! I've never even heard of that knife but it looks like a very good edc with the lightness, and the blade shape with a point to work with. I'm going to have to look in to getting one at some point.

 

[Mistwalker]

mistwalker,I want to ask you if the side of the blade's tang that come in contact with the bolt of the arc lock, smooth and polished.The reason,I ask is because I bought a Tomcat 3.0 and the side of the tang were not like a BM axis lock,where everythings is highly polished.

Meant to post these earlier but forgot.

 

[razorburn]

mistwalker,Thanks for the pics.There was no real urgent need to promptly post pics. Presentlt,I'm kind of skeptical of Sog QC because of the stories about their Customer Service. Below is what I'm concerned about.

 

[Mistwalker]

Wow, while I do sort of like the looks of the texture on the grooves for the "thump ramp" the machining on the tang sure looks rough there. I think they have gotten much better with that on the VisionaryII.

So far the only issue I have run into is with the pocket clip. In my work I get in a lot of crazy positions...hanging over the edges of decks, hanging in trees, climbing ladders, LOTS of climbing ladders lately and in some contortionist positions on said ladders (I'm really getting too old for this crap) and I had an incident yesterday where I impacted my right front hip on a tree limb right on the area where the knife rides and now the clip has a little bit of pendulum motion to it...not freely moving but will move toward the blade side. Still feels secure, and I'm not sure how to remedy it yet.

 

[razorburn]

Again,Thanks for the great review and all the pics. I do believe the thumb ramp is deliberately roughly finished.

 

[Mistwalker]

Again,Thanks for the great review and all the pics. I do believe the thumb ramp is deliberately roughly finished.

No problem, glad you liked it. I was thinking it would be, but the roughness in the other area could cause one to wonder....either way I think it looks good though. I like textures and character, that has both.

 

[CARRERA50]

Super review! I have the same knife and agree with all of your observations except the smoothness of the ArcLock--just not as effortlessly flickable as the Axis on my full size Doug Ritter. The sharpness of the VG10 is stellar..

 

[tholiver]

Good review Mist!
I'm currently contemplating a SOG folder but the Visionary (1 or 2) wasn't on my radar til now.
You've had it a while how has this knife been holding up longterm?

 

[DennisStrickland]

thanks mist for all the pics & info. i have had the spec elite for almost a year now & can attest to the quality of sog folders. i have found the arc lock to be very smooth & positive. these knives can be opened as easily left handed as right & the vg10 has a great heattreat. holds a razor edge but not brittle. this is the only folder [of these type knives] i would consider to almost equal the ledendary 710 b.m.dennis