SOG Baton Series Review

While many knife companies begin when the company is founded, SOG began years before in Vietnam. There was a group of highly classified US special ops, named MACV-SOG. The members in this highly specialized group were working mainly in the jungle on covert missions. To tackle the challenges that the jungle presents, these members owned a unique combat knife called the SOG Bowie. It was this knife that inspired Spencer Frazer to begin his own knife company with the mission to recreate this knife and pay tribute to the special ops unit that had created it. And it was that company that quickly branched out from having a single commemorative knife to having a full line of innovative tools. A line of tools that is field proven by US Special Forces. A line of tools that has been honored as the Navy SEAL knife of choice.

When you carry the knives or tools produced by SOG, you can carry them with confidence. Because these knives will get you through any challenge, from a hunting expedition to just your simple everyday carry blade. These knives and tools are forged out of tradition, hardened in the field, honed for you. SOG has recently released a new series of tools for you. They call this series of tools the Baton Series.

 

The Steel:

The steel that has been used for each of the four multi tools is 5Cr15MoV steel. This steel is a Chinese steel that comes in a series with other Cr steels. This type of steel has been widely used in kitchen knives, high end scissors, folding knives and hunting knives. This steel has a Rockwell hardness of 55-57 HRC. This steel is pretty resistant to staining or rusting, which is one of the reasons that it is often used in kitchen knives. However, this steel does not hold an edge for long periods of time. The only plus side to it being soft enough to lose its edge often is that it is a very easy steel to sharpen. While it does have the fact that it is very resistant to stains, rusting, and corrosion, this is steel considered a lower end steel, because of how soft it is. With the softness, the longer the blade/tool made with this steel, the softer the steel is going to be.

 

The steel on all four of the different batons have been finished with a satin finish. This is one of the most common finishes that is available on the market today. The satin finish is created by sanding the blade in one direction with increasing degrees of a fine abrasive, which is usually a sandpaper. The satin finish shows off the lines of the steel, while reducing reflections and glares. This finish is pretty medium when it comes to everything: It does provide a little bit of resistance to rusting, but not a whole lot. And it does reduce the steels reflections and glares, but again, not a whole lot. It gives the steel a classy look without distracting you from the rest of the tool.

 

The Handles:

The handles on all four of these batons is made out of anodized aluminum. Aluminum is a very durable material, especially when it is being used for knife handles. This material is strong and gives you a very hefty feel behind it. However, because aluminum is such a low density material, the handle is actually extremely lightweight. Aluminum is also very resistant to corrosion. The anodization process adds a variety of different benefits. The most obvious benefit is that is adds a color to the handle. On each of these batons, the handles are two toned. One has been anodized black and the other side has been anodized gray. The anodization process also adds more hardness and protection. The anodization helps to prevent scratches, which is a huge plus, because aluminum is very prone to scratches and dings. Another bummer about aluminum is that it is a very cold material because of its conductive properties. If you work in a cold environment, the handle is going to feel bitter in your palm. Also, aluminum is a slipper material, which doesn’t provide you with exceptional gripping abilities. However, on the batons, that isn’t going to affect you as much as if this were a knife handle, because there are two handles to each of the batons. These handles act as scissor handles, where you hold both of them in a single hand and clamp them together.

 

The Baton Q1:

The Specs:

This tools originated in China. It has four different tools combined into the single multi tool. When this tool is closed, it measures in at 5.6 inches long. This tool weighs 2.4 ounces. This tool will easily fit inside of your pocket or a close by pen pouch.

The Tools:

This multi tool has four different tools inside of it. The Baton Q1 sports a sleek minimalist design and opens up efficiently. This specific tool of the Baton Series is aimed at being used every day, in the home or the office.

1. The Ballpoint pen:

On the bottom of the longer handle (the black side), there is a small switch. When you push this switch, or lever, down towards the butt of the handle, a ball point pen emerges. This is a pressurized ball point pen with a fine point. The Ink cartridge carries blue ink. And the cartridge is actually replaceable with any D1 pen refill. You can use this pen when the Q1 is unfolded revealing the scissors, or you can fold the Q1 up, so that the pen feels more like the classic pen shape.

2. The Bottle Opener:

On the other handle (the shorter, gray side), there is a bottle opener that unfolds out of the handle. You can use the bottle opener when the tool is unfolded or folded. If it is folded up, the bottle opener and screwdriver will extend out of the opposite end than the ball point pen.

3. The Flat Screwdriver:

On the same area that the bottle opener lies, there is a flat screwdriver in a medium size. The bottle opener and the screwdriver are actually one piece of metal. The flat screwdriver extends further with the bottle opener coming off of the side at the bottom, closer to the handle.

4. The Scissors:

The scissors on this multi tool are spring assisted. You can access these scissors when the multi tool has been unfolded, because the scissors lie in the middle of the tool when it is closed.

 

The Baton Q2:

The Specs:

The Baton Q2 originated in China. When the tool is closed, it measures in at 6.3 inches long. This tool weighs 3 ounces. There are four separate tools on this multi tool.

The Tools:

Each of the different Baton series tools cater towards specializing in a different area of expertise. The Q2 has been geared toward helping in an Urban Emergency features four different tools for you to use.

1. The Blade:

The first tool that you can use on this multi tool is a straight edge blade. Instead of having the scissors located in the middle of the tool, the Q2 sports a blade. You can access this blade when you have opened the multi tool.

2. The Bottle Opener:

Just like the Q1, the Q2 also features a bottle opener. This is located in the same area (the shorter handle, which is the gray one), and it folds out of the end of the tool.

3. The Flat Screwdriver:

This is another thing that the Q1 and Q2 Batons have in common. This multi tool also sports a flat screwdriver in a medium size. This tool also folds out of the end of the gray portion of the handle and is built on the same piece as the bottle opener is.

4. The LED Flashlight:

On the Q2, the LED Flashlight is located where the pen is on the Q1.

These tools work to provide you with the essentials in an Urban Emergency. If you carry this multi tool with you every day, you will always be prepared for the expected and unexpected.

 

The Baton Q3:

The Specs:

This Baton also originated in China. The closed length of the Q3 is 5.8 inches long. This tool weighs in at 6 ounces even. At 13 tools embedded in this multi tool, the Q3 features the most.

The Tools:

Each of the four different batons are targeted to help you in different circumstances. The Q3 is designed to help you in Basic Wilderness and Urban essentials.

1. The Awl:

The awl folds out on the grey side of the handle. This specific part folds out of the very butt of the handle.

2. The Blade:

The blade also folds out on the grey side of the handle. This blade is a straight edge blade and comes out of the very butt of the handle.

3. The Bolt/Nut Gripper:

This is in the center of the tool. When you unfold it, it appears at the top of the tool. This is similar to the scissors, but instead of being sharpened, they are thick and ready to grip the bolts.

4. The Bottle Opener:

This tool also comes out of the grey side of the handle. This comes out of the inner side of the handle. And has a flat screwdriver attached to it.

5. The Can Opener:

This tool is also on the inner side of the grey handle. This lies right underneath the bottle opener and also has a flat screwdriver attached to it.

6. The Chisel:

The chisel is actually on the opposite side, located at the butt of the black handle.

7. The File:

This file is a =here sided and comes out of the inner handle of the black side.

8. The Flat Screwdriver:

This tool is on the grey side of the handle. It is a medium sized flat screwdriver that is attached to the bottle opener.

9. The Flat Screwdriver:

This is a smaller flat screwdriver. It is on the gray side of the handle, and juts off of the can opener.

10. The Jewelry Driver:

This comes out of the inner side of the black handle. It lies right above the file.

11. The Phillips Screwdriver:

The Phillip’s screwdriver comes out of the black side of the handle, on the butt.

12. The Pliers:

The pliers are at the top of the tool, when it is unfolded. Or the center of the tool, when it is closed.

13. The Wire Cutter:

This is a soft wire cutter located at the top of the tool when it is unfolded. Or located in the middle of the tool when it is folded.

The Baton Q3 provides you with all of the necessary tools to take on a wilderness or urban adventure. With this baton, you will be prepared for the expected as well as the unexpected.

 

The Baton Q4:

The Specs:

This tool originated in China. It has a closed length of 5.8 inches long and weighs 6 ounces. It sports ten different tools.

The Tools:

Each of the Baton’s in this series has been designed to take on a specific challenge. The Baton Q4 has been create to work well in Advanced Wilderness and Urban Essentials.

1. The Blade:

This is a straight edged blade that comes out of the butt of the gray handle.

2. The Bolt/Nut Gripper:

This tool is at the top of the unfolded tool or in the middle of the folded tool. It is made up of the pliers, but sits at the bottom portion of the pliers.

3. The Bottle Opener:

The Bottle Opener comes out of the inner side of the gray handle, and has a flat screwdriver extending off of it.

4. The Can Opener:

The can opener sits right below the bottle opener on the inner side of the gray handle. It has a flat screwdriver extending out of it.

5. The File:

The File is a three sided file that extends out of the butt of the gray handle.

6. The Flat Screwdriver:

This flat screwdriver comes off of the bottle opener. It is in a medium size.

7. The Flat Screwdriver:

This is a small flat screwdriver that extends off of the can opener.

8. The Hex Bit Driver:

This tool is at the butt of the black handle. This tool is magnetic, ¼ inch. And has a ratchet. It also comes with a 12-piece Hex Bit Kit.

9. The Pliers:

The Pliers are at the top of the unfolded tool or in the middle of the folded tool.

10. The Wire Cutter:

This tool is also at the top of the unfolded tool or in the middle of the folded tool. These can cut through soft wire.

 

Conclusion:

This Baton Series has been designed to get you through almost any situation. Each of the four in the series are geared towards different aspects of life. You can get one that is geared towards Office and Personal, Urban Emergency, Basic Wilderness and Urban Essentials, or Advanced Wilderness and Urban Essentials. These are reliable tools that come from a reliable company. They would make a great addition towards what you have with you every single day.