Knife Review: SOG Slim Jim XL

The SOG Slim Jim XL

Their story begins in Vietnam, where members of a highly classified US special ops unit - known as MACV-SOG - carried a unique combat knife into the jungle on covert missions. Years later, in 1986, that knife inspired a young designer, named Spencer Frazer, to found SOG Specialty Knives. His mission: to reproduce the original SOG Bowie knife and pay tribute to the special ops unit that created it. What began as a single commemorative model soon became a full line of innovative tools - field-proven by US Special Forces, even honored as the Navy SEAL knife of choice. Today, SOG knives are carried with confidence into the most demanding situations. SOG says, “Forged out of tradition, hardened in the field, honed for you. So whether you're protecting others or leading an epic hunting expedition, tackling one of life's everyday challenges or facing your most extreme conditions yet, lead the way with SOG.”

Today we will be discussing the SOG Slim Jim XL.

The Blade:

The blade on this knife is made out of AUS-8 steel. This is a steel that is produced by Aichi Steel, which is a Japanese manufacturer. In terms of how it is made and what it can compare to, it is most similar to 440B steel. However, 440B steel is going to be more resistant to rust and corrosion. This steel is going to be a similar toughness to 440B, which means that it is going to stand up to your typical daily tasks and then some. However, this is not a high carbon steel, which does mean that it is not going to hold its edge as well as some of the more premium steels would. When it comes to knives, the higher the amount of carbon in a steel, the harder the steel is going to be and the easier it is going to hold its edge. That being said, AUS-8 steel is very easy to sharpen and can get incredibly sharp.

The blade has been finished with a bead blasted finish. The bead blasted finish is created when the manufacturer takes abrasive glass or ceramic beads and blasts them at the metal with a high pressure. This process results in an even, grey finish. A blasted finish is going to reduce reflections and glares because of its even matte finish. However, the blasting does create an increased surface area and the micro-abrasions are going to make the steel more prone to rusting and corroding. That being said, a blasted finish, even from a stainless steel such as this one, can rust overnight if left in a wet or extremely humid environment. This means that you are going to need to really keep the knife dry and try to not bring it into wet environments if you can help it.

The blade has been carved into a clip point blade shape. This is the second most popular blade shape that you are going to find on the market, only coming in second to the drop point. Like the drop point, it is known for being versatile. However, unlike the drop point, the clip point is going to excel at piercing.

The spien of the knife comes out of the handle in a straight line until about ¾ of the way up the blade. At this point, it turns and angles downward. This portion that has been angled downward is known as the clip, because it looks like it has literally been clipped out of the blade. On the straight portion of the blade, there is a row of fine jimping which will give you more control when you are using the knife.

The clip not only is where the blade shape got its name form, but it is also an integral characteristic of the blade. This is because it first creates a lowered tip, which is going to allow you to perform fine detail work with ease. This is because the lowered tip is going to give you more control over the tip, which is crucial for the fine detail work. Also, though, it creates a finer and sharper tip. This is the main characteristic of the SOG Slim Jim Xl’s blade. The fine point is going to allow you to excel at piercing because it cuts down on drag during insertion.

The fine tip can be a disadvantage though, because it does create a weaker tip. When using this knife on harder targets, you should be a little bit more careful, so as not to break the tip.

The last big feature that the clip point blade shape has is that it has a large belly. The large the belly, the more surface area the belly has. And the more surface area the belly has, the easier it is going to be to slice with the blade.

The clip point is versatile and makes a great all-purpose blade shape. There aren’t many things that you won’t be able to do with the clip point, which helps to make the Slim Jim XL a fantastic option for you to have with you at all times.

The blade has been sharpened into a plain edge, which is the more common blade edge. It is going to equip you to perform a wider variety of tasks, because it will give you cleaner cuts as well as excel at push cuts, which include slicing, skinning, and peeling. The plain edge is also going to be easier to sharpen than a serrated edge.

The Handle:

The handle on this knife is made out of 420 stainless steel. This is a mid-range steel that is going to get the job done. It is resistant to rusting and corrosion because it is a stainless steel, which helps to cut down on time and maintenance. However, since it is not a high-end stainless steel, you do need to keep up on keeping the knife dry and clean. This is also a tough steel, which allows you to take on some of the harder tasks that you might want to with this knife.

The handle has been finished with a bead blast. The bead blasted finish is going to provide the same benefits for the handle that it provides the blade. However, the blasted finish on the handle is a little bit darker than that of the blade. Since the hardware has not been blasted, it draws your attention to the sheen that it sports.

The handle has been texturized so that you don’t feel like you are going to slip when using it. The belly of the knife does have a long row of jimping, which is going to give you some grip and control when slicing with this knife. There is a finger guard, which will protect against the accidental slippage. On the face of the handle, there are four vents cut into the handle which will provide some texture. On the bottom of the handle, “SOG” has been carved out, which will also provide texture. There is also a lanyard hole in the bottom corner of the knife, which is on the smaller side, but should fit your basic lanyards. The butt is straight, the spine is mostly straight, and the belly sports two shallow and elongated finger grooves.

The Pocket Clip:

The pocket clip on this knife is reversible for either left or right-handed carry. This helps to create a more comfortable knife to use for almost everyone. You can feel like you are carrying the knife in the way that you like, so you don’t ever have to really fumble with the knife while you try to pull it out. While it is reversible for either left or right-handed carry, this knife is not reversible for tip up or tip down carry. It can only be attached for tip up carry, which is a drawback. Tip up carry is the more dangerous styles of carry between the two because if the knife accidentally opens in your pocket, when you reach in, you are going to be greeted by a sharp blade. To avoid this, just always approach it like you aren’t sure if it is going to be opened or not and you shouldn’t have any problems. Never thrust your hand into your pocket.

The pocket clip is also a deep carry clip, which is a major benefit. This is a big knife and you are going to want it to feel as secure as it possibly can. The deep carry is going to ensure that it rides low in your pocket which keeps it snugger as well as more concealed. One of the only disadvantages of a deep carry (although it is not much of a disadvantage) is that it is going to take a little bit longer for you to remove this knife from your pocket.

The clip is attached with two silver screws, which match the rest of the hardware. The clip is attached on the opposite face of the handle than it sits on, and then curves over the top of the handle. This creates a little bit more of a snug fit, so your knife is even better attached.

The Mechanism:

This is an assisted opening knife that has been equipped with a thumb stud as well as SOG’s Assisted Technology.

An assisted opening knife sits almost right in the middle of an automatic knife and a manual knife. You have to begin to open the knife manually, which then triggers the response and the knife will open on its own after that. The good news is that since this style of knife is not a fully automatic knife, it does not fall under the same strict laws that an automatic knife would.

The thumb stud is a small barrel that sits on the blade near where the handle begins. This barrel is used to give your thumb some traction so that you can swing the knife open with it. Some of the disadvantages to using a thumb stud is that it doesn’t take your fingers out of the path of the blade when you are opening this knife, so there have been reports of people cutting themselves while trying to open the knife. Also, some people do not like the way that it extends off of the blade and gets in the way when you are trying to use the knife.

SOG Assisted Technology or SAT works through the balance of opposing high-tension coil springs. As you initiate the opening action, the force propelling your blade open becomes greater than the force keeping it closed. The result is a blade that springs open instantly once it is engaged, seemingly on its own.

The Specs:

The blade measures in at 4.18 inches long with a blade thickness of .078 inches. The overall length when the knife is opened comes in at 9.36 inches long, which is definitely on the larger size, which is where the XL in the name comes from. However, due to the incredibly lightweight materials that are used to make this knife, it only weighs in at 2.7 ounces.

Conclusion:

The SOG Slim Jim is a technical assisted folder knife by virtue of its simplicity and minimalistic style. This model, the SJ-51, features a bead blast finished blade. This knife is always there when you need it. Built from a single piece of steel, the Slim Jim is the slimmest assisted knife in the world. Give the blade a start, and the SOG Assisted Technology (S.A.T.) finishes the action with a bang, using one of the surest assisted technologies out there. Tactile bumps and cutouts aid in control while all features are purposeful and functional. The patent-pending safety is used to insure the retention of the blade in the handle as well as acts as a double lock in the open position. The stealth carry clip is reversible.

This knife is currently in stock at BladeOps, but there are only a few left. To shop for SOG Knives, go here.