SOG Flash 2 Review

SOG Flash 2 Knife Review:

SOG is a company that has always fascinated me. They have steered clear of the mainstream model of production of knife design. All of the SOG’s knives are designed by the president and founder Spencer Frazer. This has resulted in some unique design elements and ultimately, some very unique knives.

Back in the mid-eighties, SOG Specialty Knives (generally known as SOG) was established. Spencer Frazer, a budding knife designer from California, brought a change in knives design. He preferred his knives to be one of a kind so he went for unique designing elements.

The name SOG is derived from the Studies and Observation Group, which used a particular type of bowie knife on their missions. Spencer wanted to pay homage to this unique knife created by the SOG team and his business slowly grew into bigger and better things as it gained traction. So much so, SOG became the official brand of the knife carried by the Navy SEALs and other military forces, particularly in the US.

The sog Flash II is a shining example of this, a knife that is conventionally SOG and undoubtedly different. This sog knife has been around the block for some years.

I first had my hands on this sog Flash ii pocket knife many years ago and found multiple issues that put me off the knife entirely. But the blade has passed through the hands of thousands in its various iterations. Today I turn back to the classic drop point version with a plain edge and black handle. A very usable blade in a minimalist design.

So after a lot of requests, today I have decided to share my experience, and here is the sog flash ii review. Right of the SOG Flash ii is a very utilitarian knife. The design is very minimal, a very standard drop point blade with a handle that is designed relatively benign. If you are someone who wants an edc knife or a folding blade with an aesthetically pleasing design, this one is not for you.

The Flash II is a straightway functional edc knife. With proven blade materials and geometry, you can pretty much get your jobs done easily with this tactical knife.

The unique handle of the Flash II is made from thick fiberglass reinforced nylon, which is essentially a reinforced plastic. The FRN versions are available in over a dozen colors, but certain versions also feature an aluminum handle.

I prefer the FRN version because it helps the knife maintain its lightweight without looking or feeling cheap. This is largely due to the fact that the knife uses a much denser FRN than the FRN used for other knives like the Benchmade Griptilian.

Key specs of SOG Flash II

• Blade length: 3.5 inches
• Overall length: 8 inches
• Closed length: 4.5 inches
• Weight: 3.1 ounces
• Blade material: AUS-8 stainless steel
• Country of origin: Japan
• Price range: About $69

Blade and Edge Integrity

The knife’s length is 4.5 inches when closed and the blade is 3.5 inches. It’s a decent size in my opinion. The blade implementation is complemented by sog-assisted technology. This technology basically means spring-assisted blades which open faster.

The blade shape is drop point which is an excellent blade shape for curving specific things. The blade is made of AUS 8 steel. The AUS 8 steel they use is highly regarded and strikes a great balance of function and value. this stainless steel holds an edge so much better and has great rust and corrosion resistance.

AUS 8 stainless steel is reasonably good quality and will sharpen quite well. On some variants, the blade is coated with Titanium Nitride (TiNi), which gives a smooth satin finish and it also comes in a partially serrated version which many of you will prefer to enhance overall usefulness.

SOG is known for excellent blades across a dizzying array of portable cutting tools. They tailor each blade to its function, price point, and target market. The result is a fairly simple-looking blade but one that’s pretty effective, particularly at slicing.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handle of the knife is typically fiber glass reinforced nylon (FRN or GRN) which is also known as Zytel. This is a tremendously tough material that is extremely difficult to damage or break.
Although the handle of the Flash II may be oddly shaped, the knife’s ergonomics are rather intelligently crafted.

Overall, the knife utilizes a chunky design that perfectly fills the hand.
The corners are also slightly rounded, which makes the knife quite comfortable for normal use. I particularly like the dual coils and the thumb ramp for added control while performing detailed work.

In general, we do prefer G-10 handles which tend to add a little more grip but are typically slightly more expensive. Still, we found the handle is somewhat chunky but reasonably comfortable and sits well in the hand. One thing to point out is that the handle does not contain any liners.

The diamond texture of the handle also improves the knife’s overall grip. Even when I was tightly gripping the knife and peeling off slices of wood, the knife did not feel uncomfortable in my hand. The Flash II can comfortably handle most tasks, but I wouldn’t necessarily choose it for building a treehouse.

I always have high standards for the ergonomics of full-size pocket knives. It better has a slick operation if it,s going to take a space in my pocket. The assisted opening and ambidextrous thumb stud feature of sog flash ii is appealing to me.

The pocket clip is an often overlooked feature of pocket knives, and the clip on the SOG Flash 2 deserves to be mentioned. The tip-up only clip is reversible and utilizes an ultra-deep design for strong tension.

It may look funky at first, but it is easy to appreciate another distinct look from the SOG brand. For added flexibility, there is also a small lanyard hole located beside the clip.

Portability

Of course, you can not expect much unobtrusive portability from a full-size folder knife like the Flash II. One chooses a knife like this for maximum utility and accepts portability compromises along the way.

That being said, I am pleased with it being super lightweight. It is 75% the mass of Top Pick tactical knife, for instance. It weighs a little less than the more compact Editors’ Choice. Also, in terms of portability, we like the pocket clip on the Flash II. It is reversible and allows the knife to hang low and out of sight in your pocket.

All in all, I find myself agreeing with the thousands of other reviewers who have been pleased with the SOG Flash 2 and say it’s a great knife. The blade is fantastic, it has a light carry weight, and the assisted open is both convenient and fun.

The uniqueness of the knife definitely allows it to stand out in a crowd, but I actually feel that this is a positive attribute. There is a slight amount of blade play, but that hasn’t stopped the Flash II from becoming a classic folding knife that has been enjoyed by thousands of people around the world.

If you are looking for a practical, lightweight, and unique knife, then the SOG Flash II may be the perfect knife for you.

The assisted opening of the Flash II was a welcome feature. To open the knife and watch the blade snap out in no time at all, you simply need to apply a little pressure to either of the thumb studs.

Most of the time, the topic of assisted openings comes down to a matter of taste, but the feature works out perfectly for this knife, especially as a folder in emergency survival situations.

When I’m in the market for an emergency survival knife, I look for a knife that can be deployed rapidly while under stress, and the Flash II does not disappoint in this regard.

There is also a safety lock located on the side of the handle. When this lock is engaged, it is nearly impossible to open the knife accidentally.

This feature will prove useless for many users, but it has allowed SOG to produce a knife that can be carried with the tip up, so I don’t mind leaving mine in the off position as I go about performing my daily tasks.

Unlike most knives that either utilize a lock back or a bolt lock, the SOG Flash II seems to use a combination of the two. In truth, it’s difficult to tell without stripping the knife apart, which I have yet to find myself willing to do.

However, I did notice a little side-to-side- movement when the blade was open and in the additional safety lock position. I was able to reduce the play somewhat by adjusting the pivot, but a little play was still evident.

Given the fact that the knife does not have a liner and a type of bolt blade lock is used in the design, a little play did not really come as much of a surprise. On the other hand, if an up-and-down play was evident, I would be a little concerned that the lock could potentially fail.

Summary of SOG Flash II Knife

Our  Final Verdict:  This is an average good knife, with some important attributes that bump it up. We like assisted opening knives. The SOG Flash II has this function and fits it in a relatively affordable package with proven blade materials and geometry.

We like that too. Better value options are available, and other, more expensive options work much better, but the SOG hits a pretty sweet spot. We think that assisted opening function is a worthy addition to any pocket knife.

If you share that preference, the SOG Flash II rises toward the top of our tested heap. Unlike most knives that either utilize a lock back or a bolt lock, the SOG Flash II seems to use a combination of the two. In truth, it’s difficult to tell without stripping the knife apart, which I have yet to find myself willing to do.

Given the fact that the knife does not have a liner and a type of bolt lock is used in the design, a little play did not really come as much of a surprise. On the other hand, if an up-and-down play was evident, I would be a little concerned that the lock could potentially fail.

All in all, I find myself agreeing with the thousands of other reviewers who have been pleased with the SOG Flash 2. The blade is fantastic, it has a light carry weight, and the assisted open is both convenient and fun.

The uniqueness of the knife definitely allows it to stand out in a crowd, but I actually feel that this is a positive attribute. There is a slight amount of blade play, but that hasn’t stopped the Flash II from becoming a classic folding knife that has been enjoyed by thousands of people around the world.

If you are looking for a practical, lightweight, and unique knife, then the SOG Flash II may be the perfect knife for you.

Taras Kulakov

Hi, my name is Taras Kulakov and I’m a knife enthusiast. I have been collecting knives for over 30 years and I’ve owned literally thousands of different models over that time. My goal with this site is to share some of what I’ve learned about knives. You can find more info about Taras Kulakov here.

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