REASONS TO BUY
Assisted opening
Reversible
Low-hanging pocket clip
REASONS TO AVOID
Lock is not ambidextrous
Handle is low profile in hand
Full size in your pocket
SOG Flash II Review
With assisted opening technology and a full-size handle and blade, the Flash is a stout every day knife
Credit: SOG
RELATED: Best Pocket Knives of 2024
Our Verdict
This is an average pocket knife, with some important attributes that bump it up. We like assisted opening knives. The SOG Flash II has this function, and fits it in a relatively affordable package with proven blade materials and geometry. We like that too. There are better value options available, and other, more expensive options work much better, but the SOG hits a pretty sweet spot. We think that assisted opening function is a worthy addition to any pocket knife. If you share that preference, the SOG Flash II rises toward the top of our tested heap.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The SOG Flash II is a full-size, assisted opening, basic pocket knife. For the price, it offers good quality and reliable function.
Performance Comparison
The Flash II is a typical pocket knife, with assisted opening function.
Credit: Rosie De Lise
Blade and Edge Integrity
SOG is known for excellent blades across a dizzying array of portable cutting tools. They tailor each blade to its function, price point, and target market. The AUS 8 steel they use in the Flash II is highly regarded and strikes a great balance of function and value. It will hold an edge far better than ultra discount products (and even better than some boutique products). It resists rolling and chipping but is still easy enough to sharpen at home with standard methods and equipment.
Cutting into a package with the Flash II.
Credit: Rosie De Lise
Remember, all knives will require periodic sharpening. No knife, despite lofty claims, will stay sharp without maintenance. In our usage, there is very little difference in edge hold between the different products.
Ergonomics
We have high standards for the ergonomics of full-size pocket knives. If it is going to take valuable pocket real estate, it had better be slick to operate. With the Flash II, we like the assisted opening and ambidextrous thumb stud. In these ways it is similar to our favorite full-sizers. Others, though, have a lock that works from either side and a handle profile that is just a little more rounded. We can apply greater pressure to the blade with rounded handle knives than we can with the SOG Flash II. The rounded handle takes up just a little more space in your pocket, but is far more user-friendly than the Flash handle.
The SOG has a construction that is stout and stiff for heavy use like whittling.
Credit: Rosie De Lise
Portability
We don't expect unobtrusive portability from a full-size folder like the Flash II. One chooses a knife like this for maximum utility and accepts portability compromises along the way. That being said, we are pleased with the light weight of the SOG. It is 75% the mass of Top Pick tactical knife, for instance. It weighs a little less than the more compact Editors' Choice. Also, in terms of portability, we like the pocket clip on the Flash II. It is reversible and allows the knife to hang low and out of sight in your pocket.
When you clip the SOG Flash to your pants only the clip itself is visible. The entire knife hangs out of sight.
Credit: Rosie De Lise
Other Features
There are no other features on the Flash II. Close cousin SOG Trident Elite wins our Top Pick award for its additional “tactical” features. The Trident Elite has a glass breaker and a cut out in the handle that allows one to slice webbing without deploying the blade. These additional features might be what you are looking for. If all you want is a blade, the Flash II has it.
Construction Quality
After about a month of testing it, we see absolutely no signs of any wear, much less damage. Our experience with other SOG gear indicates that this integrity will likely last. SOG makes stout equipment. We will ponder longer-term testing of the Flash II, but anticipate no issues.
The piston style lock of the SOG Flash works reliably, but only from one side. The Benchmade lock appears the same, but is actually entirely different enabling locking from either side.
Credit: Rosie De Lise
Value
Among knives with assisted opening function, the Flash II is a pretty good deal. There are certainly knives that are a lot less expensive, but lack assisted opening.
Cardboard is deceptively hard on a knife blade. Impurities in the cardboard dull the blade way more dramatically than you might expect. The SOG held up pretty well to this test.
Credit: Rosie De Lise
Conclusion
The SOG Flash II takes pocket knives in a good direction. It is relatively inexpensive, uses proven materials, and incorporates test-team-preferred assisted opening function. The Flash II from SOG is a relatively affordable, assisted opening, full-size pocket knife. Overall, its scores on our matrix don't really stand out, but it deserves your consideration. If you are looking for mid-priced reliability, have room in your pockets, and maybe even have some brand loyalty to SOG, the Flash II jumps right out. For more money our Editors' Choice winner will be a better choice, for sure.
—
Jediah Porter
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