Knife Review: SOG Tomcat 3.0 Folder

The SOG Tomcat 3.0 Folder Knife

“SOG started some 25 years ago in my apartment with a simple mission: To create innovative products that stand apart from the pack. While SOG has grown, our commitment to that original mission has remained the same. Today, it's one of my greatest satisfactions to receive letters from SOG enthusiasts the world over, expressing the fact that our products have lived up to their highest standards. It inspires us to continue to build superior products that last... knives and tools that help you meet the challenges of a demanding world."

Born in 1955, Spencer Frazer was a creative kid with a great curiosity for how things worked. As he grew older, while in the Boy Scouts, he gained an affinity for knives and axes. But it wasn't until much later that this interest would be channeled into actually creating knives and tools.

After graduating from UCLA as a math and science major, Spencer started his own company in the professional audio industry, designing a whole new style of speaker system.

"I learned to work with many different materials as I built models and prototypes," he says.

Then Spencer went on to work in the aerospace defense industry - in the Top Secret Black Projects Division - as an R&D tool/die and model maker. He recalls, "I saw things there I still can't talk about."

At about that same time, while becoming involved in the modern art movement and meeting with top artists, Spencer learned a lot about scale and color. He went on to work in product development, creating toys and consumer products. All these life experiences converged the moment Spencer saw his first Vietnam SOG Bowie: "The knife was magical in how it looked and felt. You could see the history as well as the functional aspects of the knife." That single knife spawned the birth of SOG Specialty Knives & Tools, Inc. His one goal: to reproduce the mystical knife... the SOG Bowie.

"We started our company by having to sell a one-knife line at the very high price of $200 retail!" Today, SOG is a true innovator in the knife industry. Having won many industry awards, SOG was one of the first companies to be synonymous with a high-tech modern image. "SOG was the first company," says Spencer, "to produce a sculptural faceted folding knife. We called it the Tomcat. With the Paratool, SOG became the second company ever to produce a folding multi-tool. And we remain the only company that uses compound leverage in our multi-tools; the only company to have adjustable lock-on clips on our folding knives; the only company to employ one of the strongest locks in the industry with the Arc-Lock; the only company to use exotic BG-42 steel cost effectively in the production of our knives; and the first company in the world to offer an automatic opening multi-tool."

But those are just a few of the landmarks Spencer Frazer has helped SOG achieve. "I design each one of our products," he says, "to be functional and comfortable to use, as well as aesthetically pleasing. If I personally don't like them or wouldn't use them, they don't make it into production."

Today, SOG is distributed and sold throughout the world. Law enforcement specialists, military, hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, industrial professionals, and everyday carry knife enthusiasts have come to rely on SOG in the most extreme conditions. "We don't settle for ordinary," says Spencer. "We never did, and we never will."

We will be discussing the SOG Tomcat 3.0 folding knife today, which is a new release at BladeOps.

The Blade:

The blade on this knife is made out of VG-10 stainless steel. This is a high-end steel that is very similar to 154CM 

and ATS-34, except that it has slightly more chromium. This added chromium makes for enhanced corrosion resistance. However, this steel also contains vanadium which is going to make it tougher than the other two similar steels. In all reality, the amount of toughness is not going to make a huge difference in your day to day life, because it is just a fraction tougher. This steel came from Japan and has been introduced into the American cutlery industry slowly but surely. Spyderco was one of the first few brands that really made this steel stand out and put it on the map here in the states. Some of the overall benefits to this steel is that it is relatively hard and can get needle sharp when sharpened correctly. Also, this steel does have the toughness to get the job done.

The blade has been finished with a satin finish. This finish is created by sanding the blade in one direction with an increasing level of a fine abrasive, which is usually a sandpaper. The satin finish is used to show off the bevels of the blade while also showcasing the lines of the knife while reducing its reflective glare. As a key, the finer the abrasive and the more even the lines, the cleaner the satin finish is going to look. A satin finish is going to be one of the most traditional blade finishes that you are going to find in the cutlery industry.

The blade has been carved into a clip point blade shape. This is one of the more common blade shapes that you are going to come across in the cutlery industry. There are a few main elements to the shape. The clip is a portion of the spine that looks like it was actually clipped out. On the Tomcat 3.0, this is curved. The clip creates a lowered point, which is going to give you more control.

The tip is also incredibly fine and sharp, which means that this knife is going to excel at piecing. This is because there is not going to be as much drag during the piercing process. That being said, because the tip is finer, you do have to be a little bit more careful. It may be prone to breaking.

Lastly, there is a large belly that is perfect for slicing. With the clip point blade shape, you really can do almost everything.

The Handle:

The handle on the Tomcat 3.0 is made out of stainless steel and Kraton. The Kraton makes up the bulk of the handle, while the stainless steel is simply the bolsters.

The handle on this fixed blade is made out of Kraton. SOG describes this material by saying, “Kraton is a synthetic replacement to rubber. It offers many of the same properties that natural rubber offers, such as flexibility, high traction, and sealing abilities, but with increased heat resistance, weathering, and chemicals. Typically, it is over-molded on the knife handle to provide added grip and comes in various degrees of hardness.”

This all means that it is going to offer you superior grip. In almost any environment, you are not going to have to worry about slipping. In fact, the Kraton has been roughly textured in a diagonal pattern to add in an even more secure grip.

The stainless steel is what makes the bolsters. Stainless steel is a great material because it helps add high levels of durability to the knife, which is ideal for an EDC knife, because you never know what you are going to encounter and you are going to be using this knife almost every day for little odds and ends. Stainless steel is also going to be very resistant to corrosion, which cuts down on maintenance considerably. With an EDC knife, corrosion isn’t a huge problem that you are going to encounter every day, but when you do, it will be easy to take care of because of how corrosion resistant it really is. Unfortunately, stainless steel is incredibly heavy and is going to add a lot of weight to the knife. With the Tomcat 3.0, this isn’t a massive issue, because Kraton is pretty lightweight and the stainless steel just makes up the bolsters. It should add in a good amount of heft, so that you can feel extra-secure while working with this knife.

The handle itself is rather simple. The ergonomics have been designed so that you feel your most comfortable while working with this knife. There is a finger guard to protect your fingers if you accidentally slip. There are also two finger grooves, which will add an element of comfort and grip. There is a lanyard hole.

The Mechanism:

This is a manual folding knife that has been equipped with a thumb stud. The thumb stud is the most common knife opening mechanism that you are going to come across for some big reasons. For starters, the thumb stud does allow you to open the knife with one hand. All you have to do is push against the stud with your thumb, which will swing the blade open, locking it into place, where it will be ready for use.

It is easy to get the hang of and easy to continue using. This is a super simple mechanism to perform—there is nearly no learning curve like there is with a flipper.

However, there are two drawbacks to the thumb stud. The first is not that big of a deal. Some people feel that the stud does get in the way once the knife has been opened and is ready to use. This is because it extends off the blade. Many people don’t worry about this aspect of it. The other is a bigger deal: while swinging the knife open, the thumb stud does put your fingers in the path of the blade. If you aren’t being careful, this can lead to accidentally slicing yoru fingers. This shouldn’t be an issue as long as you are always paying close attention to what you are doing when opening the knife.

The Sheath:

The sheath on this knife is made out of nylon. The nylon sheath is one of the more commonly used knife sheath materials. They are often compared to leather, because they are very common and have been around for longer periods of time. Just like leather, nylon sheaths are known for being tough as well as strong. However, nylon does take the lead because they are resistant to rot and mildew as well as not being as vulnerable to water as leather sheaths are. As we all know, leather’s biggest enemy is the sheath or the water. Next, nylon sheaths are not easily scuffed or torn because of how durable the material really is.

Of course, the sheath material is going to have its disadvantages. For example, nylon sheaths are not going to last as long as leather sheaths are. Plus, the longer you have a leather sheath, the better your knife is going to fit in it. When it comes to nylon, it is almost the exact opposite. Nylon sheaths get stretched out over time, which means that while the sheath will continue to work, it is not going to give your knife a snug or secure hold. In some cases, the sheath will get so stretched out that it is much safer to just go out and buy a new sheath.

The Specs:

The blade on this knife measures in at 3.75 inches long with a handle that measures in at 4.9 inches long. This means that when the blade is fully deployed, the overall length of the knife is going to come in at 8.65 inches long. This knife weighs in at 6.5 ounces, which is definitely on the heavier side of things.

Conclusion:

This folder model features a black Kraton handle with stainless steel bolsters and a clip point style blade in a satin finish.

This heavy-duty folder features SOG's patented Arc-Lock which has been tested to withstand over 100 lbs. of force while its handle material is made up of a non-slip synthetic rubber which is both heat, wear and chemical resistant. Additionally, this knife also includes a nylon sheath since it does not include a pocket clip.

This new release is currently in stock at BladeOps. However, it is going quickly. To get your hands on one of these, you will want to act fast. Click here to secure yours.