Thoughts on the SOG Gentleman??

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Applejacks

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I ran across this, and think I really like it. I wanted something I could edc, that wasn't too aggressive so it was people friendly and leo friendly. I also really like thin knives. I think this may be it.

I pose this noob question after searching the forum. I also trust the many expert opinions here cause in the past you fine people have been good at swaying me for, or against knives I thought I wanted.

I appreciate the help. Thanks!

(also, I think my Vex is way big.. and even my mini grip could be smaller. I like the size of my Featherlite, but not the handle. haha)
 
I like it. Not sure what steel they use, but it's probably not the greatest. I think the design has been around for a while, so people must still be buying it. Don't think it has a pocket clip if that's an issue.
 
Likely, you would get more feedback in the SOG forum in the Manufacturers section.

I don't have direct experience with this knife, however I have had a few SOG folders in my time. The Gentleman looks like it's part of the Sidewinder series from SOG--I have a large Sidewinder and also a Stingray, which is essentially the same as the small sidewinder but with a different blade pattern and sans the thumbstud. Overall, the fit and finish from SOG tend to be very good, and all of their lockbacks that I have tried have a fair amount of "walk and talk" meaning the blades snap into place very positively and securely. Again, I'm not sure about the Gentleman--but the blade profiles on the other medium/large lockbacks from SOG tend towards rugged utility versus precision cutting--fairly thick behind the edges. However, the Gentleman seems to use AUS-8 which is a step up from the AUS-6 blades in the other folders, so perhaps it is enough seperate from them to have a blade thickness a little more tailored to a smaller knife. In this steel it is far from being "cutting edge" if you'll forgive the pun, but AUS-8 is a solid cutlery steel that sharpens easily and holds its edge fairly well for most uses.

The handle looks a tad on the thin side for my personal preferences, but the edges look radiused and I doubt it'd be an uncomfortable knife to use. For me, the main concern would be--since it's so smooth--if it is difficult for your fingers to hold on to while you're one-hand opening the knife; not saying that it is or isn't, it's just the first thought I had when I pulled it up and looked. Again, somebody on the SOG forum would likely be able to provide better insight.

If you like it (and especially if you've had the chance to handle one and you still like it just as much) I'd say go for it--like I said, SOG is not necessarily leading the pack in terms of design innovation or materials, but they make solid patterns and make them well.
 
Siggyhk said:
I like it. Not sure what steel they use, but it's probably not the greatest. I think the design has been around for a while, so people must still be buying it. Don't think it has a pocket clip if that's an issue.
Click to expand...

Nice. Thanks. Any ideas on how thin it is?
 
t1mpani said:
Likely, you would get more feedback in the SOG forum in the Manufacturers section.

I don't have direct experience with this knife, however I have had a few SOG folders in my time. The Gentleman looks like it's part of the Sidewinder series from SOG--I have a large Sidewinder and also a Stingray, which is essentially the same as the small sidewinder but with a different blade pattern and sans the thumbstud. Overall, the fit and finish from SOG tend to be very good, and all of their lockbacks that I have tried have a fair amount of "walk and talk" meaning the blades snap into place very positively and securely. Again, I'm not sure about the Gentleman--but the blade profiles on the other medium/large lockbacks from SOG tend towards rugged utility versus precision cutting--fairly thick behind the edges. However, the Gentleman seems to use AUS-8 which is a step up from the AUS-6 blades in the other folders, so perhaps it is enough seperate from them to have a blade thickness a little more tailored to a smaller knife. In this steel it is far from being "cutting edge" if you'll forgive the pun, but AUS-8 is a solid cutlery steel that sharpens easily and holds its edge fairly well for most uses.

The handle looks a tad on the thin side for my personal preferences, but the edges look radiused and I doubt it'd be an uncomfortable knife to use. For me, the main concern would be--since it's so smooth--if it is difficult for your fingers to hold on to while you're one-hand opening the knife; not saying that it is or isn't, it's just the first thought I had when I pulled it up and looked. Again, somebody on the SOG forum would likely be able to provide better insight.

If you like it (and especially if you've had the chance to handle one and you still like it just as much) I'd say go for it--like I said, SOG is not necessarily leading the pack in terms of design innovation or materials, but they make solid patterns and make them well.
Click to expand...
Nice. Thanks for the write up. I am looking for a small folder. I will try the SOG section. Thanks again.
 
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