SOG Quake XL Assisted Folding Knife Review

The SOG 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 Quake XL Assisted Folding knife.

The Blade:

The blade on this knife is made out of VG-10 steel. This steel is pretty similar to the popular 154CM as well as the less popular ATS-34 steel. Although, VG-10 steel does have more chromium, which works for enhanced corrosion resistance. This steel also contains more vanadium than the other two steels which does make it a little bit tougher than those other steels. This steel originated from Japan and has been introduced into the American market slowly. This steel is a pretty hard steel that has good toughness and with the correct tools, you can get your blade incredibly sharp. This steel has been hardened to a RC of 58-60.

The blade on this knife has been finished with a satin finish. The satin finish is the most popular blade finishes that you can come by today. This finish gives the knife a very traditional look that is not going to go out of style. The satin finish is created when the manufacturer repeatedly sands the blade in one direction with an increasing level of a fine abrasive. The most common abrasive that is used is a sandpaper. The satin finish is used to show off the bevels of the blade while also showcasing the fine lines of the steel. The satin finish also slightly reduces glares and reflections while also increasing the blades ability to resist rust slightly.

The blade on this knife has been carved into a clip point blade shape. The clip point is a great all-purpose blade and is also one of the most popular blade shapes that is in use today. You are most likely going to find more clip point blades on Bowie knives, although they are often used on plenty of fixed blades and pocket knives such as the Quake XL. The shape of the clip point is unique, with the back of the knife running straight from the handle before it stops about halfway up the knife. At this point, it turns and continues to the point of the blade. This portion looks as if it got clipped out of the blade and is referred to (appropriately) as the clip. This portion of the knife is where the blade shape got its name from. Because of the clip, the point that the shape has is lowered, which means that the user is going to have more control when they are using this knife. The clip point is designed to excel at piercing. This is because the tip is controllable, sharp, and thinner at the spine, which means that there is less drag during insertion as well as faster withdrawal. One of the other reasons that clip points are so popular is because they sport a very large belly, which makes slicing easy. Of course, just like every knife blade shape, the clip point does have one major disadvantage. Because of its narrow tip, the blade does have a tendency to be weaker and can break pretty easily, especially when used on harder targets. This is the portion of the knife that differentiates itself from the drop point. However, the clip point blade is going to prepare you to really take on almost anything that comes your way.

The Quake XL does have a plain edge. The plain edge comes in handy when you want this knife to be versatile, because the plain edge is equipped to take on a wider variety of jobs than the serrated blade is. While the serrated blade can saw through thicker materials, if you can get this knife sharp enough (and you should be able to) than you will be able to slice through those same thick materials with the Quake XL. It helps that the knife is so big as well. The plain edge is going to give you much cleaner cuts than the serrated edge would. The plain edge is also going to be much easier to sharpen.

 

The Handle:

The handle on this knife is made out of anodized aluminum. Aluminum is a low density metal that is often used in knife making. Because it is a softer metal, it is mostly used for just the handles, not the blade. A fun fact about aluminum is that it is the most abundant metal that can be found in earth’s crust. This material is used for its hardness and durability. Although it is a low density metal, it does give a nice, hefty feel to the knife without actually weighing the knife down. This is a major benefit because you will have the heft that makes you confident in taking on your tasks, but you won’t feel like the knife is a brick. Of course, since this is such a large knife, it is going to have some significant weight to it. However, it would be considerably heavier if it were made out of something denser than aluminum.

When an aluminum handle is textured correctly, it is going to give you a secure grip that is not only secure, but also comfortable enough to use for long periods of time. The overall pros to an aluminum handle is that it is strong, light, durable, and is resistant to corrosion.

Unfortunately, like most materials, aluminum does have its drawbacks. For starters, it has very high conductive properties. This means that if you were planning on using this knife in colder environments or months, it can become painfully cold to hold. Aluminum can also be slippery, and it is susceptible to scratches and dings.

The knife has been anodized, which is a protective oxide layer which is applied in an electrolytic process in which the metal forms the anode. This process makes the knife tougher, more durable, and less prone to scratches. The handle has been anodized a Flat Dark Earth color.

The handle has plenty of texture to give you the grip that you need when you are relying on this knife. The spine of the knife angles from the blade to the butt with a small peak in the center of the handle. The belly of the handle is pretty similar. There is a huge finger guard that is attached to the blade. There is a slight indent for you to comfortably rest your fingers. The knife does bulge out slightly in the middle and then it angles towards the butt of the handle. The face of the handle is covered in an intense pattern. This means that in almost any environment, you are going to have the grip that you want.

 

The Pocket Clip:

The pocket clip on this knife is reversible for either left or right handed carry, which helps to make this knife more fully ambidextrous. However, the clip is attached only for tip-up carry, which is a little more dangerous than tip-down carry. This is a low carry clip, which means that the knife is going to sit more deeply in the pocket. With a knife this big, that is a definite advantage. It also means that the knife is going to be easier to conceal. And, if you are worried about the knife falling out of your pocket, you shouldn’t be, because the low carry clip will help keep it more securely in place as you move about your day. The clip has been slightly skeletonized because the “SOG” logo has been carved out of the middle. The clip is black, which matches the hardware on this knife

 

The Mechanism:

This is an assisted folding knife which is a type of folding knife that uses an internal mechanism to finish the opening of the blade after the user has partially opened it. To help the user open this knife, SOG has equipped the knife with a thumb hole. This is an opening in the blade that extends in the middle of the upper portion of the blade. This replaces the nail nick that is more common on knives as well as the thumb stud, which is the most common. The hole in the blade allows you to get a better grip on the knife so that you can really flip the knife open, where it will lock into place. Another advantage is that the hole does not stick out of the knife and get in the way.

This knife has been equipped with the SOG assisted technology. This is often referred to as the S.A.T. and 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.

Spring assisted knives have plenty of advantages. For example, they open almost as smoothly as a fully automatic knife, or a switchblade, but because they are not, they do not fall under the strict laws that switchblades do. Spring assisted knives can also be brought into play more quickly than a purely manual knife, because you do not have to struggle as much with the opening of the knife. That being said, they are going to be harder to maintain, because unlike a purely manual knife, you will now have a spring that you have to take care of.

 

The Specs:

The blade on this knife measures in at 4.5 inches long with a blade thickness of 0.126 inches. The overall length of the Quake XL is definitely extra-large, measuring in at a whopping 10.3 inches long. Of course, with that much length does come some heft. This knife weighs in at 7.8 ounces, which is not a lightweight knife. This knife originated in Taiwan.

 

Conclusion:

             SOG says, “Just by opening this knife, you’ll know how it got its name. The Quake XL is one of our largest folding knives. With that, it is powered by our SAT 2 (SOG Assisted Technology) that propels the blade open with just a push of a thumb. Instead of a thumb stud, the cross guard folds in when closing the knife and is used as the lever to assist with the opening motion. Combined with a thick dual-tone VG-10 blade, forged aluminum handles, full length stainless steel liners, the Quake XL is one formidable knife that packs a punch.”

From SOG is the extra large-format SAT-assisted opening knife called the Quake XL. It is sizeable, simple and fast to open. It comes out quickly because it uses the SOG Assisted Technology™ (S.A.T.), which employs a powerful piston lock that is easily released with a sliding button. And the Quake XL is the larger brother of the Quake and is big enough to handle any task. SOG designed it with a bayonet mounted reversible clip that gives you the ability to carry this knife extremely low and discreetly. The handle is ergonomically contoured and the straight edge, satin blade is X-large with a locking safety. It features a cross guard that not only protects the hand when open, but also actuates the opening of the blade. You can pick up this knife today at BladeOps.