The Atom is a new unibody multi-purpose keychain tool that has been presented on Kickstarter for funding. It features screwdriver tips that can work triple duty as package openers and a pry bar, a bottle opener, 1/4″, 5/16″, and 3/8″ hex wrenches, a ruler scale, rough protractor with 45° graduations, coarse and fine-cut filing surfaces, and a finger-safe cardboard and soft wood saw.

The Atom multi-tool is made from stainless steel (440C) that is injection molded and then heat treated for strength and durability. All markings are laser etched.

You can pledge $10 for the silver Atom, $15 for the black finished Atom, $25 for both, $60 for a 5-pack, or $100 for a 10-pack. USA shipping is $6 for the 1- and 2-Atom packs, and is included in the other multi packs.

Update: the pledge pricing has changed – it’s now $15 plus $6 shipping for a single Atom, and the 2-packs, 5-packs, and 10-packs are no longer available.

ETA is July 2013.

Pledge Now(via Kickstarter)

At the time of this posting, 1,102 backers pledged $23,628 of the $40,000 goal. If the $40,000 is not reached by 6/20/13, then the project will not be funded and your credit card will not be charged.

Here are a couple of keychain-sized multi-tools we have wrote about in the past: Shard, Barbar, Carabiner V3, GDC, Brewzer. Although their names are not quite as charming as Atom, they’re available now.

"Kickstarter: The Atom, a Multi-Purpose Keychain Tool" was published on ToolGuyd. Question? Comment? Feedback? Visit the full article page or connect with us via Facebook or Twitter.

Crescent’s Flip and Grip folding ratcheting wrench set (CFW2) is more compact and quicker to use than an ordinary adjustable wrench. They can fit a wide range of fastener styles and sizes, and fold up for storage and transport.

You can pivoted and lock in the wrench heads at different angles, which can be useful for reaching fasteners in tight spaces. Spring-loaded jaws provide a ratcheting action for speedy wrenching.

The wrenches are sold in sets of 2 sizes: a 6″ wrench that can fit fasteners with 1/4″ to 7/16″ flats (6-11 mm), and an 8″ that can fit fasteners with 1/2″ to 3/4″ flats (12-19 mm).

Buy Now(via Amazon for ~$24)

These wrenches appear to be identical to Craftsman’s ratcheting clench wrenches, which are presumed to have also been manufactured by Crescent. I wouldn’t use them for heavy duty fastening tasks, but they do seem fairly versatile for casual on-the-go applications.

"Crescent Folding Ratcheting Wrench Set" was published on ToolGuyd. Question? Comment? Feedback? Visit the full article page or connect with us via Facebook or Twitter.

Milwaukee’s FastBack utility knife has been quite popular, and it’s easy to see why – it is a very effective, well-designed, and compact enough for pocket-carry. But it’s not perfect, most notably in how it doesn’t have on-board blade storage. The good news is that the FastBack 2 does.

The FastBack 2 is a slight redesign that includes on-board replacement blade storage for those who want it. I handled a prototype FastBack 2 in June of last year, and found that the knife was only slightly thicker than the original FastBack.

Official press materials confirm that the FastBack 2, or II, expands upon Milwaukee’s utility knife segment, and is not a replacement. In other words, if you don’t care for on-board blade storage, the original FastBack is slightly thinner. If you want the option for on-board blade storage, go for the II.

As with the FastBack, the FastBack 2 also features an integrated cutting hook, wire stripper, and wire form belt clip. Blade deployment is also as quick and easy with a press of the button and flick of the wrist.

Blade storage is accomplished via a flip-out magnetic dock that can hold one spare blade at a time. This helps keep the knife profile as slim as possible.

Buy Now(FastBack 2 via Home Depot)
Buy Now(FastBack via Home Depot)

The FastBack 2 is available now for about $15, and the FastBack has dropped in price to $10. Both are available at Home Depot with free shipping ($45+ orders), or with free in-store pickup.

This post was first published as a sneak preview on June 18th, 2012, and republished on May 13, 2013 with new information.

"Milwaukee FastBack 2 Utility Knife" was published on ToolGuyd. Question? Comment? Feedback? Visit the full article page or connect with us via Facebook or Twitter.

Father’s Day and graduation day are both coming up, and there’s still plenty of time to shop for thoughtful and practical gifts. In my opinion, one of the best gifts you can give is a Leatherman multi-tool. They’re packed with functionality, they’re durable, they’re sturdy, and they’re something almost everyone can use.

Leatherman’s Wingman multi-tool is currently just $22 via Amazon. It’s a great option for a first multi-tool, given its low price and how it doesn’t at all feel cheap or flimsy. Here’s a (not so quick) comparison I put together about the Wingman and slightly pricier Sidekick.

I have two Wingmans myself, with one in the car and one in the kitchen. The best feature is the clamshell package opener, but I tend to use all of the functions occasionally as well. When it comes to EDC (everyday carry), I tend to travel with a Wave, Charge TTi, or OHT.

Buy Now(via Amazon)

If your budget is in the $50+ range, take a look at some of our other multi-tool reviews. As you can imagine, higher priced multi-tools often more features and more premium materials.

"Dads and Grads Gift Idea: Leatherman Wingman Multi-Tool ($22)" was published on ToolGuyd. Question? Comment? Feedback? Visit the full article page or connect with us via Facebook or Twitter.

Maglite recently came out with LED versions of their small Solitaire 1AAA flashlights. It’s about time! Previously only the incandescent version was available, despite Maglite’s adoption of LED technology in most of their other lights, and it seemed like an LED version was never going to come.

Fenix’s E01, one of the best flashlights under $20, has been my go-to recommendation for keychain lights, but it can be a bit dim at times. The new Maglite Solitaire LED flashlights are several times brighter, with a maximum output of 37 lumens. That’s pretty good for a 1AAA light that costs less that $20.

Runtime is said to be 1 hr 45 minutes. The weather resistant body is made from anodized aluminum.

Color options: black, silver, gunmetal grey, red, blue.

Buy Now(via Amazon)
More Info(via Maglite)

While I don’t *need* any more flashlights, I’ve been looking and waiting for an LED version of Maglite’s Solitaire lights for so long that I just ordered one. $17 is a bit more than the $6 or so the incandescent versions go for, but it looks to be worth it.

In case you’re wondering, Maglite also came out with LED versions of their 2AAA flashlights, but I don’t find that to be as exciting.

"Maglite Finally Comes Out with Solitaire LED Keychain Flashlights!" was published on ToolGuyd. Question? Comment? Feedback? Visit the full article page or connect with us via Facebook or Twitter.

I have a number of pocket and technician screwdrivers, with Stanley’s 4-in-1 driver (66-344) being one of my favorites. It’s thin, so it doesn’t take up a lot of space in my pocket and bag, it’s comfortable to use, and it’s fairly inexpensive.

Since the 4-in-1 is only equipped with smaller bit sizes, it is not suitable for general purpose household or office use, but it’s a great complement to full-size multi-bit drivers like the Wera Kompakt or Picquic SixPac.

Stanley says that the driver is ideal for toy assembly, battery compartments, eye glasses, and cell phones. I don’t really see how, as the screws found in eyeglass frames and cell phones are much smaller than these bits can fit, but it does give a sense of the type of usage the driver was designed for – smallish low-torque fasteners.

Buy Now(via Amazon)

The Stanley 4-in-1 technician screwdriver is typically priced at about $4-5. Included bit sizes: slotted 5/32″ and 1/8″, Phillips 1pt and 2pt.

There is also a General Tools version of the 4-in-1 pocket driver, and while it works okay, I feel its build quality to be a little behind Stanley’s.

Although small multi-bit screwdrivers like this one come in handy, I don’t recommend them as replacements for precision screwdrivers, except perhaps in a pinch. I would say that this falls between precision screwdrivers – including precision bit holders – and full size screwdrivers.

"Stanley 4-in-1 Pocket Screwdriver" was published on ToolGuyd. Question? Comment? Feedback? Visit the full article page or connect with us via Facebook or Twitter.

Victorinox is now offering a rebranded version of the PB Swiss Bike Tool ($47.51 via ToolLady), just in time for the new riding season. While the tools, features, and quality should be just as stellar as the PB Swiss version, hopefully this will improve the tool’s availability.

It features two tire levers, a 5mm hex key, stainless steel 5mm to 1/4″ hex adapter, 8 standard 1″screwdriver bits, and a case that keeps everything tidy and compact.

The list price is $48 but if you shop around you can get it for $40, maybe less.

Model number is 4.1329US1.

Buy Now(via Victorinox)

For those of you who are looking for a new on-the-go bike tool but don’t want to spend $48, the Crank Brothers 19-function tool is what I carry, and I definitely recommend it ($24 via Amazon).

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Gerber has come out with a couple of new EDC tools under their GDC (Gerber Daily Carry) branding. Most of the GDC tools feature quick-release clips for attachment to zippers, keychains, and backpacks.

1. GDC Zip Blade ($12) - 0.68″ blade with frame lock
2. GDC Zip Driver ($12) - Phillips #1, #2; slotted 1/8″, 3/16″; ball detent lock
3. GDC Zip Hex ($12) - 2.5mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, ball detent lock
4. GDC Zip Light ($12) – white LED, 8 lumens, 3.5hrs runtime, user-replaceable batteries, bonus bottle opener
5. GDC Hook Knife ($11) – 2″ hook blade, stainless steel, Zytel sheath with keyring
6. GDC Tech Skin Pocket Knife ($32) – 2.52″ plain edge drop point blade, rubberized Zytel handle, lock back safety function

Except for the pocket knife, the GDC tools are all about 1.8″ to 2.3″ long, which is small but not miniscule.

Some of the tools actually look quite appealing, such as the Zip Hex which would be perfect as a compact bike tool, and $12 pricing seems pretty reasonable.

Buy Now(via Amazon)
More Info(via Gerber)

Related: EDC Tool Previews and Reviews

"New Gerber GDC Everyday Carry Tools" was published on ToolGuyd. Question? Comment? Feedback? Visit the full article page or connect with us via Facebook or Twitter.

A reader tipped us off about these new Witte Ratchet Drive screwdriver kits, which come with a ratcheting bit holder and six 1/4″ hex insert bits. This compact bit kit looks easy to pocket and convenient to use.

The Ratchet Drive is similar in nature to Wera’s Bit Checks, but perhaps even smaller. Although some of the Wera sets come with locking bit holders, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a ratcheting version.

I could not find a USA source for these sets, but it does take time for new products to trickle in from Germany.

More Info: via Witte, via Service Vehicle Pros

Thanks to Dana for the heads-up!

"Witte Ratchet Drive, a Pocketable EDC Screwdriver Set" was published on ToolGuyd. Question? Comment? Feedback? Visit the full article page or connect with us via Facebook or Twitter.

Skinth Solutions sent me an email, telling me that they have some new Shield designs coming out. Shields are their new belt-mounted minimalist multi-tool sheaths. I suppose some of the sizes could also work well with pocket knives and maybe even flashlights.

I’m pretty pleased with last year’s Skinth OG, but it can sometimes be a bit empty if I just want to carry a multi-tool. Plus I requested it with a 1.5″ belt loop, which is perfect for my webbing belt, but a tad too small for my favorite 1-5/8″ leather belt.

Uh-oh, they want to send a review sample and want to know what size I want to test out and evaluate.

Recently I’ve been carrying a Leatherman OHT. Other times, a Wave. I also have a Juice that I’d like to carry around some days but lack a proper sheath for. ToolGuyd’s multi-tool review page is also looking a bit empty, but to review some of my older tools I need to first carry and use them more. Except for a few exceptions I don’t like the sheaths that come standard with most multi-tools.

The small size could carry my Juice or a small Victorinox Swiss Army Knife. The medium seems great for my Charges, Wave, or the Rebar sample I still have around. The large size can fit the same tools the medium sheath is sized for, plus another flat accessory or two. The extra-large is sized for a Surge, Super Tool 300, or OHT.

Skinth offers several larger sheaths as well, but beyond the XL they stop being minimalist tool sheaths in my opinion.

So size which did I pick to review?

I couldn’t decide, so I purchased a small, medium, and large. I couldn’t add a fourth Skinth to my cart, so I requested an XL as a media evaluation sample.

Buy Now(via Skinth)

Skinth Shields are made from 1000D CORDURA and are laser-cut and assembled in Canada. They are completed with heavy duty nylon thread, stainless steel belt clips, and one or two button snap closures.

Prices range from $25 to $35, with USA shipping at $5 for up to 3 Shields per package.

If I wasn’t able to consider my sheath purchase as a business expense, I probably would have purchased just the small and the large. Or maybe the small and medium. Medium and large? Large and a “Juice Box?”

"Skinth Shields, Multi-Tool Sheaths" was published on ToolGuyd. Question? Comment? Feedback? Visit the full article page or connect with us via Facebook or Twitter.

Someone emailed in, asking for a quick AR15 multi-tool recommendation. I’ve previewed a couple of strong options on ToolGuyd before – the Leatherman MUT, Gerber e-FECT, and upcoming Leatherman Rail - but I also want to direct some attention to the Multitasker.

Right now we’re still reviewing the Multitasker, and the consensus is that it’s a very good tool. The review is almost ready, but with a product of this type multiple second opinions are absolutely necessary before we can fully recommend it.

We’ve seen enough of the Multitasker thus far that I’m confident recommending that anyone looking for an AR multi-tool to strongly consider it.

I don’t remember how I found out about the Multitasker, but I believe I first saw the bit holder, which I described as leaps and bounds better than any other compact 1/4″ bit holder I’ve seen.

The Multitasker Series 2X tool is focused towards AR cleaning and maintenance, so it includes a number of specialty features. It’s so nicely put together that you might want to carry it on your non-shooting days.

Multitasker Series 2X Features

• robust CNC-machined needlenose pliers with fine-groove tip, aggressive middle serrations and wire cutter
• G-10 handle scales
• 2.5″ 440C tanto-tipped plain-edge liner-lock knife blade
• stock/castle nut wrench
• 3/8″ 6pt wrench (LaRue tension nut adjustment)
• double-sided file with 5/16″ screwdriver tip
• 4-prong tool (front sight adjustment)
• bit holder with bit caddy and 10x 1/4″ hex bits
• bent-tip carbon scraper
• removable pick hook
• 8-32 threaded male OTIS mount
• MOLLE-compatible sheath
• lanyard loop

A lot of people might want to compare the Multitasker to Leatherman’s MUT, but I don’t feel that’s appropriate. The Multitasker feels more like a custom tool than a mass production multi-tool. While it doesn’t quite exactly have the same level of design refinement as a Leatherman it feels to be built tougher than the average Leatherman.

List of where to buy (via Multitasker Facebook page)
Multitasker

"Meet the Multitasker, an AR Multi-Tool" was published on ToolGuyd. Question? Comment? Feedback? Visit the full article page or connect with us via Facebook or Twitter.

After writing about the Felo pivoting T-handle screwdriver handle earlier in the month, I realized there were a bunch of unanswered questions. How well does the pivot work? Can it be used with regular 2″ power bits? Bit holders?

The handle is normally a part of Felo’s interchangeable shaft screwdriver sets, but it is also available separately. Ashkon from German Hand Tools sent over a sample for testing.

Just to make it clear, I only tested the Felo Smart handle, model 60427. None of these bits are Felo bits, they’re whatever I had in my toolbox.

The Smart handle has a ball bearing on the inside, meant to help lock in Felo’s double-sided  screwdriver bits in place. It’s too close to the front of the 1/4″ hex socket to lock onto standard 2″ power bit grooves, so the bits must be pushed past the ball detent until they bottom out.

I first tried the Smart handle with my Wera Rapidaptor locking bit holder. The bit adapter was seated deep within the Felo’s 1/4″ hex socket, which didn’t work out too well since it made it awkward to operate the Rapidaptor’s push-pull quick release mechanism.

If you want to use a Rapidaptor or other locking bit holder that has spring-loaded or push-pull mechanisms, make sure they’re longer than 2″.

The Smart handle worked quite well with my Craftsman 4″ bit holder. I found that the bit holder attached securely, with no wobbly movements.

Switching from inline driving mode to T-handle mode is quite easy.

Step 1: Push forward to unlock the bit socket shaft. It’s spring-loaded and will swing into the 90° T-handle position by itself.

Step 2: Push down again to lock the shaft in place.

To switch the handle back to inline driving mode, pull the shaft out to unlock it, fold it back to the 0° position, and then press down to lock it in place.

Following are two more examples of the types of bits and bit holders you can use with the Felo Smart handle.

Ordinary 2″ power bits? Yes, no problem.

2″ and longer bit holders? They fit with no problem, as long as there are no complex push-pull or sliding mechanisms on the outside.

Technically I can use this handle with my short Wera Rapidaptor and other bit holders that have sliding parts, but switching bits is a greater hassle.

I am generally fond of Felo’s ergonomic screwdriver handle profiles. They fit my hand well and allow for moderate torque delivery. In the 0° position the driver feels just as good as any of my other Felo hard-handled screwdrivers.

The handle’s design allows for quick switching between inline and T-handle positions. This means that you can quickly spin the handle when low torque is required and switch to T-handle mode when a task calls for more torque.

Symmetrical T-handle drivers are going to be easier and more comfortable to use, but that’s not to say that I’m displeased with the Felo Smart handle.

Verdict

For $12 you get a bit holder that works well as a straight driver and reasonably well as a T-handle driver. It fits standard 2″ bits and bit holders just fine, and is comfortable to use. I wouldn’t want to use this handle for long periods of time, but it seems ideal for mobile tool kits and casual use.

Buy Now(via German Hand Tools)

Thank you to Ashkon/GHT for providing the review sample unconditionally. Review samples are typically given away, donated, or retained for benchmark and comparison purposes.

"Felo Smart T-Handle Pivoting Screwdriver Review" was published on ToolGuyd. Question? Comment? Feedback? Visit the full article page or connect with us via Facebook or Twitter.

Spyderco’s new Southard folding knife, their first ever flipper, is a collaborative design between the company and knifemaker Brad Southard. I am a fan of Spyderco, titanium frame lock knives, and flipper folding knives, so I had to give the Southard a try.

I normally prefer to use and carry pocket knives for an extended period of time before reviewing them, but I am so thoroughly impressed with the Southard that I just can’t wait that long.

The knife featured in this review was purchased from BladeHQ for close to its full retail price. I have ordered quite a few knives from BladeHQ in the past, and have had nothing but great experiences.

First Impressions

The Southard is absolutely amazing, from top to bottom.

There is no shortage of descriptors for the Southard knife. It’s beautiful. Elegant. Interesting. Unique. Superbly balanced. It’s practically a work of art.

While waiting for the knife to arrive, I had wondered about whether I made a bad call. Spyderco makes great folding knives, but there’s always a risk with new design explorations. Would Spyderco’s first flipper knife be a faulty flop?

The styling also had me a little worried as well. Mud-brown G-10 scales with stonewashed titanium? In the back of my mind it seemed that Spyderco was maybe trying a little too hard to be trendy.

After it had finally arrived, one minute with the Southard and all my concerns, worries, and predictions proved to be for naught.

Click for More ToolGuyd Knife Reviews

Stonewashed Titanium Finish

It’s difficult to capture the subtleties of the stonewashed titanium finish, but hopefully I did the Southard justice.

On the back side of the knife you can see the single-position pocket clip, lanyard loop, G-10 fame lock overtravel stop, and the curvature of the handle.

Handle and Grip

The jimping (grooves) on the back of the blade is subtle and easy on the hands. Some users might prefer more aggressive jimping, but I honestly feel that deeper or sharper grooves would be out of place on a knife this size.

The textured G-10 handle scale is a bit rough, but should soften slightly with more usage. It offers a solid and comfortable grip without tearing up my hands.

Blade Quality

The hollow-ground ~3.5″ blade is made from CTS 204P stainless steel. A quick Google search shows that this is a Carpenter alloy that’s designed to be highly wear and corrosion resistant.

Like Elmax, CTS 204P is produced using powder metallurgy. CTS 204P is sometimes described as offering slightly better edge retention than Elmax, while being a tad more difficult to sharpen.

I can’t tell right away how CTS 204P fares against other premium alloys, such as Elmax. But what I can tell for sure, both from the material data sheet and initial cutting tests, is that the Southard blade is made with one of the finest knife steels available.

This isn’t a complaint, but at 0.157″ thick, the blade is a bit stouter than I’m used to with folding knives. That’s about 5/32″.

Knife Opening and Closing

The Southard can be opened and closed with one hand.

The flipper mechanism started off a tad slow, but settled in rather quickly. I’m still just getting used to the knife, but I don’t have any difficulty deploying the blade, which glides open by means of a ball-bearing pivot system. The flipper nub is also nicely rounded and easy on the fingers.

Spyderco knives are well recognized for having large holes instead of thumb studs to aid in blade deployment. The Spydie hole on the Southard seems to be more for decoration than function, but it can be used to deploy the blade if you don’t want to use the flipper. Personally I find the flipper to be far more reliable and comfortable to use.

Blade lock-up is excellent, and I can find nothing to complain about. There’s no play or wobble in any direction.

Closing the knife is also quick and easy, with a small G-10 insert preventing you from bending the titanium frame lock bar too far.

Aesthetics

Here you can see some more of Spyderco and Bard Southard’s attention to details. The frame lock cutout is grooved and sports the same attractive finish as the rest of the titanium handle. All outer edges are smooth and rounded for improved comfort.

The Southard sports hourglass-shaped spacers and a flush-mounted bushing that’s more than wide enough for standard paracord.

Size and Comparison

It is my opinion that the Spyderco Southard will be an excellent EDC/everyday carry knife. It’s somewhat of a big knife (~3.5″ blade), but at the same time it’s also light and compact, if that makes sense.

Here’s what the Southard looks like next to my Preon 2 LED flashlight (check out my review of the Preon 2). The Southard is definitely pocketable.

The removable pocket clip is placed for tip-up carry.

I hope you can see why I consider the Southard to be compact for a knife its size. It’s not dwarfed by the Zero Tolerance 0550, but it is appreciably smaller.

And in case you wanted to see some more flippers, here is the Southard nested between a Zero Tolerance 0350 on the left, and Hinder-design Zero Tolerance 0560 on the right.

Although the Southard’s G-10 scale looks tan in many of the photos, it is actually a medium-dark brown. I didn’t think I would like the color, but it quickly grew for me.

Verdict

I have owned the Spyderco Southard folding knife for exactly one day now, but I can already tell it will give me many years of reliable service. It is exquisitely designed, but at the same time it feels strong and sturdy.

This is Spyderco’s first flipper knife, and I sure hope it’s not their last.

Recommended for: everyday carry
Not recommended for: users who need a thinner blade for making long deep cuts

Buy Now(via BladeHQ)
More Info(via Spyderco)

MSRP is $400, street price is about $250.

One final comment – the Southard is manufactured in Taichung, Taiwan. While I typically prefer USA-made and Japanese-made knives whenever possible, the phenomenal construction of this knife has deeply impressed me.

Specifications

"Spyderco Southard Knife Review" was published on ToolGuyd. Question? Comment? Feedback? Visit the full article page or connect with us via Facebook or Twitter.

We previously posted about Anso’s Barbar Ti multi-tool, and a few commenters were aghast at its $75 price. Anso just came out with their third generation titanium carbiner bottle opener, and it’s priced even higher, at $125.

Titanium is a strong, light, and even beautiful material, but it’s tough to work with and requires expensive tooling and a lot of machine time. That’s why titanium tools are often quite pricey.

The Carabiner V.3 is CNC milled from 0.200-inch thick 6Al4V titanium and measures about 3-1/2-inch long and 1-1/2-inch wide. The spring gate is made from stainless steel.

As for the finish, the titanium goes through bead-blasting, stone-washing, and then anodizing. You have the choice of blue, green, bronze, grey-greenish, and natural grey. The carabiner also features a pry bar that’ll work on drinks with pull tabs.

Each carabiner will set you back $125 plus $10 international shipping.

More Details(via Anso)

Personally I would rather have a stainless steel Leatherman Brewzer at 1/10th the price, but I’m also not especially crazy about titanium.

"Anso Titanium Carabiner Bottle Opener" was published on ToolGuyd. Question? Comment? Feedback? Visit the full article page or connect with us via Facebook or Twitter.

I have heard some good things about the SOG Flash II assisted-opening folding knife and wanted to see what the buzz was all about. It seems like a decent tradesman and jobsite knife – it’s inexpensive (less than $50), it has a good blade length (3.5″), and it opens quickly.

Our friends at BladeHQ were able to send over a test sample that I included in my EDC rotation for a couple of months. (Thanks, guys!)

First Impression

The first thing I noticed is that the Flash II is lightweight. Lightweight, but not light-duty.

The handle is made from textured glass-reinforced-nylon, GRN, which is a hard, somewhat dense, and very dimensionally stable plastic. I have also seen the handle material identified as Zytel, a Dupont brand name, in recent product listings. It feels light and cheap, but it’s tough and durable.

Blade Style and Opening

I was not very appreciative of the rather simple plain-edged blade at first, but its long straight section proved to be great for making exceptionally clean cuts in thinner materials.  It was mostly used and tested on small wires, paper, cardboard, plastic sheeting, thicker plastic, packaging materials, and foam.

The blade is 3.5″ long and is made from AUS-8 stainless steel. It can be sharpened easily and keeps an edge reasonably well. There are better steels that hold an edge much longer, but SOG really does a good job taking full advantage of this alloy. Luckily the long straight design of the blade makes the Flash II a relatively easy knife to sharpen and hone.

Some users prefer spring assisted openers to have safety locks, others don’t need or want them. I like knowing that I can lock the knife closed. It’s better to have a safety lock and not need it than want one that doesn’t exist.

Blade deployment is quick – so quick it took me longer than usual to get comfortable with the knife. The knife really does open in a flash. Push on the thumbstud a little bit to overcome the spring tension, and it flies right open. The spring-loaded lock pops up when the knife is fully deployed, wedging itself between the blade tang and knife handle.

The combination of high spring tension and needing to keep my thumb near the blade as it swings open is probably what caused my initial uneasiness. I didn’t need the same learning period with the Gerber Instant (check out the review here), and all my other assisted-openers can be deployed via rear flippers.

Pulling down on the lock button releases the blade, allowing it to be folded closed. If the safety is not engaged, it reveals a red tab to indicate the knife is ready to be opened.

Handling and Carrying

The handle is textured on both sides and also features molded grooves along the back. The grooves are not deep enough to provide much grip, but they’re better than nothing.

Although simply designed, the pocket clip works quite well and allows for deep carry. If you want to carry it on your tool belt, either clip it inside a pouch or drop it into a holster or sheath.

The pocket clip can be reversed to the opposite side, and to do so you’ll need to partially disassemble the knife with a 5/64″ hex key.

The knife is about 4.5″ long closed, and 8″ long open, but it feels much more compact in person.

Looking for something a little different? Check out our other knife reviews!

Conclusion:

My feeling is that the SOG Flash II is a good everyday knife for tradesmen and other users that want a simple but reliable assisted-opening folder. I don’t really have any problems with the design, aside from needing more time and practice with the knife before I became perfectly comfortable with the blade deployment.

The Flash II is well suited for light and medium-duty tasks, but it does feels a bit light and awkwardly shaped in-hand for heavier-duty tasks. Overall I find the Flash II to be a good performer.

Buy Now(via BladeHQ)
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Product Info(via SOG)

Recommended for: tradesmen, workshop use, outdoors use.
Not recommended for: heavy-duty tasks, urban EDC.

Specifications

If you’re looking for something like this but a little smaller and more easily pocketable, SOG’s Flash I has a similar design but with a 2.5″ blade length.

This knife is said to be assembled in the USA. After what happened last time I didn’t even bother asking SOG for clarification.

Thank you very much to BladeHQ for providing the review sample unconditionally. Review samples are typically given away, donated, or retained for benchmark and comparison purposes.

"SOG Flash II Knife Review" was published on ToolGuyd. Question? Comment? Feedback? Visit the full article page or connect with us via Facebook or Twitter.