SOG Ultra C-Ti Knife Review

The story of SOG Specialty Knives does not begin with the founder, Spencer Frazer, and his love of knives, although that does play a big part of it. It actually all started in Vietnam, with members of a highly classified US Special Ops unit. This unit was known as MACV-SOG and the member had to carry a unique combat knife because of their covert missions in the jungle. It was in 1986, years later, that Spencer Frazer happened across that bowie knife and founded SOG Specialty Knives. His mission was 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. These tools are field proven by US Special Forces and have even been honored as the Navy SEAL knife of choice

Today, SOG knives are carried with confidence into the most demanding situations. From protecting others, leading an epic hunting expedition, tackling one of life’s everyday challenges, to facing your most extreme conditions yet, your SOG knife will stand up to the demands needed. So no matter your situation, you should lead the way with SOG. These knives are “Forged out of tradition, hardened in the field, honed for you.”

Spencer Frazer is not only the founder of SOG, but also the chief designer. He has always been a creative person and since he was a young boy, he gained an affinity for knives and axes. Throughout his life he has graduated from UCLA as a math and science major, started his own company in the professional audio industry, worked in the aerospace defense industry, and has been involved in the modern art movement. Spencer says that he felt like all of his life experiences converged the moment he first saw the Vietnam SOG Bowie. Spencer has said, “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.”

They have recently released a brand new knife called the Ultra C-Ti. This product is just as innovative and durable as you would expect from a SOG knife.

The Blade:

The blade on this new knife has been carved out of VG-10 steel. The G in the name actually stands for “gold” as in the “gold standard” that this steel has reached. It is a stainless steel that is considered to be premium. This is a Japanese steel that is commonly used in the Japanese cutlery market. However, because of the many high qualities that this steel possesses, it is also commonly used in top of the line pocket, hunting, and tactical knives. This steel does contain vanadium, which is renowned for its toughness. The blade on this knife can be sharpened to a fine edge that is very durable and can maintain a high level of hardness without feeling or becoming brittle. This is a huge advantage, because many steels that have a matched hardness are very brittle and very prone to breaking. Plus, this edge on this blade will last long periods of time in between sharpening’s, even if you are using it on the daily. Another huge benefit to this steel is that it is easy to sharpen; many beginners would be able to handle it.  Another one of the great qualities that this steel possesses is its ability to resist rusting. Many knife users that own knives with blades made out of VG-10 steel can go a solid week, using it lots every day, without washing and/or oiling them. This steel refuses to rust. And while this type of steel is more expensive than many, it is on the inexpensive side of things when compared to the other premium steels.

The blade has been finished with a black TiNi coating. This is short for Titanium Nitride and is by far the best coating that can be applied to your blade steel. This finish is commonly used for the black look, but also because it increases the durability of the steel. This specific type of finish is known to be both extremely scratch and peel resistant. Something that sets this coated finish apart from the rest is how it is applied; the TiNi finish is applied to the steel through a unique process of plasma deposition performed in a complete air sealed vacuum. Because it is applied in a vacuum, the application is going to be extremely smooth and even. A common problem with coated finishes is that during application, the edges sometimes receive more of the coating than the other areas. This creates an uneven, lumpy finish that is more prone to chipping off.

The blade on the Ultra C-Ti knife has been carved into a clip point blade shape. This shape is the prefect all-purpose blade shape. This is also one of the most popular blade shapes that is sold on the market today. One of the usual places that you will find this blade shape is a Bowie knife, but it is also popular on many pocket knives and fixed blade knives. To form the shape of this knife, the back edge runs straight form the handle and then stops about halfway up the knife. It then turns and continues to the point of the knife. This area looks to be cut out or “clipped out” which is where this blade shape got its name from. The clipped out portion on the Ultra C-Ti is straight, although on some knives, you will find a curved portion. Because of the clipped out portion, the point on this knife is lowered, which helps to give you more control over your slices and cuts. And, because the tip is controllable, sharp and thinner at the spine, this knife will lend itself to quicker stabbing with less drag during insertion and faster withdrawal. The clip point blade shape is often confused with a drop point blade shape. These are both very versatile and popular blade shapes. However, they are different blade shapes and the biggest difference between the two is the tip. A drop point has a lowered tip, but there is a good portion of metal near the tip, which creates a broader tip. Because of the broader tip, you do have more strength behind it, but you also lose out on most of your stabbing capabilities. A clip point also has a lowered tip, but the point is sharper and thinner than a drop point. So while you do lose a good chunk of the strength behind the tip, you gain back your stabbing capabilities. Both of these blade shapes make fantastic knives because of the versatility behind them, but you should look at what you are most expected to do and then choose the appropriate blade shape between the two. One of the reasons that a clip point is such a perfect all-purpose blade is because it sports a large belly area that provides you with plenty of length for slicing. The only disadvantage is something that we have already mentioned—the thinner tip. While you do have full stabbing capacities, your tip will be more likely to break.

The edge on this knife is a straight edge, which is definitely the more traditional edge for knives. Straight edges are easier to sharpen, while also having the capabilities of achieving a finer edge. The straight edge is the perfect edge for push cuts, while also making skinning, peeling, and slicing easier. While the serrated edge is the ideal edge if you are going to be working with thicker or tougher materials, such as branches or rope, when your straight edge is sharp enough, you can manage to cut through those materials as well.

 

The Handle:

The handle on the Ultra C-Ti is made out of Carbon Fiber. This is a material that is made when thin strands of carbon have been tightly woven and then set in a resin. What you get when you purchase a knife with a carbon fiber handle is a carbon fiber reinforced polymer. This material is extremely strong, but also lightweight. However, because of the time that has to go into manufacturing it, it is a pretty expensive material. While it is extremely strong, it is also far from indestructible because it suffers from being brittle. This is because all of the fibers have been woven together in a single direction, so while it is crazy strong in that specific direction, if the fibers are stressed in a different way, the material will start to break apart. Because of its level of brittle ness, it can crack if it is subjected to sharp impacts.

Something unique about carbon fiber is that depending on the way that the fibers are woven and the way that the light reflects off of the carbon, you can get a variety of different patterns. On the Ultra C-Ti, it looks like a classic woven pattern, like something that you find on a basket. This weave offers texture to provide you with a secure grip in almost any situation. Another thing that SOG did to provide you with a secure, comfortable grip, was to carve three deep finger grooves in the handle. There are a variety of other carved out portions on this handle, but those don’t work to give you a better grip. These etchings work to carve out every bit of excess weight on the knife, to provide you with a powerful knife that won’t weigh you down.

 

The Pocket Clip:

The pocket clip on this knife has been designed out of titanium and is a solid pocket clip. “SOG” has been etched into the clip. This is a thick clip that covers almost half of the pocket clips handle. This pocket clip is the perfect shape to also work as a money clip. The clip has a satin finish.

 

The Mechanism:

This knife is a folding knife that features SOG’s Arc-Lock. This is an extremely strong locking mechanism that has been tested at over 1000 pounds of force (measured at the lock), which far surpasses a conventional lock strength. This is an ambidextrous locking mechanism and is quick to open and close. SOG describes the speed of this locking mechanism as lightning-quick, even when you are just using one of your hands. The safety that this locking mechanism sports is a spring action that securely retains the blade closed, which keeps finger safely clear while unlocking. This locking mechanism is also extremely durable, because it is self-adjusting over time and is easily cleaned for long term optimal performance.

 

The Specs:

The country of origin for the Ultra C-Ti knife is Japan. The blade on this knife is 2.8 inches long, with a blade thickness of 0.08 inches. The overall length of this knife is 6.2 inches long, with a closed length of 3.4 inches long. This knife is very lightweight, weighing in at 1.3 ounces.

 

Conclusion:

At just 1.3 ounces, the Ultra C-Ti makes a great, lightweight folder that doubles as a money clip. The minimalistic design of the Ultra C-Ti does not take up much space and even fits comfortably in the small watch pocket of jeans. The 2.8-inch clip point blade opens and closes with one hand smoothly and locks open with SOG’s exclusive Arc-Lock. The high quality VG-10 steel ensures that every cut is as sharp as the first. Utilizing carbon fiber for the handle and titanium for the clip, it is light yet strong and durable. Although every bit of excess weight has been engineered out of the Ultra C-Ti, you will be surprised at the power it conveys.