A knife has long been a reliable companion of hunters and travelers. And if earlier it was used in general as a weapon and for processing animal carcasses, today it is used to solve completely different tasks. Cut food, clear the path of branches, prepare wood chips for the fire - all this can be done using a hiking knife.

Experienced outdoorsmen and military personnel always have a small knife or a multifunctional multitool in their backpack. Regardless of the type of activity, it will be equally useful to both a tourist in the mountains and a military person during a special operation.

Where knives and multitools are used

Today you can find knives from a fan of any active recreation. Depending on the format, it can be a small folding knife, a multitool, models with a fixed blade or even a machete.

Different activities require different tools:

  • Cyclists prefer compact folding options and multitools, they take up minimal space in a backpack or saddlebag, they can be used to twist parts, cut a branch or cut food during a stop.
  • Tourists choose models that are larger in size, in the mountains and on trekking you have to cut the rope, sharpen the pegs for the tent.
  • Mountaineers and rock climbers prefer multifunctional multitools with a file or even a compact saw. This allows you to sharpen the teeth of cats, cut a rope or a sling.
  • Fans of winter sports choose multi-tools with many screwdrivers and sometimes even interchangeable bits. They are used to tighten fasteners, tighten nuts.
  • For a hunter, it is important that the knife is very sharp. The reliability of the blade depends on whether it can disassemble the carcass and remove the skin.
  • Anglers prefer models with a long, sharp blade so you can descale fish or cut line.

When developing specific models, manufacturers are guided by the purpose of the knife and the requirements of the end user. A weekend hiking knife will be different from a hunting knife, and a military multitool will be different from a cycling one.

Based on this, the American company SOG develops its models for three main categories of users:

For outdoor activities, they are suitable for tourists, climbers, rock climbers and hunters. Here are camping knives, hunting knives, survival knives, fixed blade models, throwing knives, camping axes, machetes. Small multitools can also be included here. All these tools make camping life easier and allow you to enjoy your vacation. The KIKU line of knives from SOG is designed for the outdoor sector.

For everyday use they are small in size and weight. Manufacturers include small pocket, folding, compact automatic knives in this category. There is also a separate line of multi-tools for those who want to solve minor repair problems on their own.

For professional use are chosen by military, medics, and firefighters. This includes tactical knives, automatic, fixed-blade models, self-defense and combat, multi-tools, and tactical axes. The most popular knife of the SOG brand – SUPER BOWIE belongs to this category.

But this gradation is very conditional, because a military man can turn out to be an excellent hunter or a fan of mountaineering. Therefore, the functionality of SOG models is not limited only to its purpose.

Before you buy a quality SOG knife or multitool, be guided by the tasks that will need to be solved. A bicycle traveler does not need to carry a large cleaver with a solid blade, it will cause him inconvenience and problems on the road. It is better to choose complex small models with an additional tool.

Knives

A knife is a sharp and cutting tool. But for it to perform its function, there are a number of requirements:

  • Durability. Frequent use of knives leads to their unusability. To avoid this, strong wear-resistant materials should be used for production.
  • Sharpening should be as long as possible. There is no way to sharpen working tools in the mountains or hunting, so when choosing, pay attention to the quality of the steel, how long it can keep sharpening.
  • The handle should fit comfortably in the palm of the hand, should not rub, should correspond to the size and shape of the palm. Metal with a corrugated surface, wood, plastic are used as materials. To make the handle of the knife more comfortable and reduce the likelihood of calluses on the palm, the SOG brand uses multi-layer leather (SUPER SOG BOWIE) in some models.

Features of tourist and hunting knives

Blade material

The blade and its material deserve special attention when choosing a knife. The main part of the tool is its blade, and ease of use, cut quality, and strength depend on its quality.

Today, two main types of material are used to make a blade: stainless steel and carbon steel.

Stainless steel does not corrode and lasts a long time. But at the same time, it does not hold the sharpening well. If you decide to buy a tourist knife made of stainless steel, be prepared for the fact that it will have to be sharpened often, at least refresh the sharpening before every serious outing. Although there are certain types of steel, such as BG42 stainless, that do not require frequent sharpening. This steel is used by the SOG brand to make knives and some multitools.

Interesting fact: BG42 steel was previously used only in the aerospace industry, where the founder of the SOG brand Spencer Frazer worked.

Carbon steel is stronger. Blades from it are strong and reliable. The steel holds the sharpening well, although the sharpening process itself is more time-consuming. The SOG company uses carbon steels AUS-8, D2.

In addition to the main types of steel, alloys with additional materials are used. Thanks to this, it is possible to improve the main characteristics of strength, wear resistance and maintenance of sharpening. For example, S35VN steel is made with the addition of vanadium and niobium carbide. It is used to make the SOG Terminus XR knife model.

Features of the handle material

When choosing a material for a handle, pay attention to its strength and wear resistance.

  • Wooden handles are pleasant to the touch, do not cool the hand, but quickly dry out and wear out without appropriate treatment.
  • Metal handles - durable, strong. So that they do not slide in the palm, they use the application of corrugations. SOG prefers anodized aluminum.
  • Thermoplastic and fiberglass-reinforced nylon - pleasant to the touch, wear-resistant. If choosing between thermoplastic and nylon, it is better to give preference to the second. Thanks to the use of reinforced fibers, such a handle is stronger and quite wear-resistant.
  • Leather, as a material, has proven itself well in use, despite the high cost of processing. Such handles are durable, pleasant in the hand, and do not slip. SOG uses multi-layer epoxy leather for some models. The entire line of BOWIE knives is made with leather handles.

Fixating locks

The compact folding knife is equipped with a special lock that prevents its accidental opening. The lock can be automatic or semi-automatic, with or without a catch. The most popular are Liner Lock, Frame Lock, Back Lock, Tri-Ad Lock, Compression lock.

In addition, manufacturers develop their models. This allows you to adapt one or another type of lock to a specific knife model. In the SOG brand, the most popular locks are Back Lock, XR Lock, Axis Lock, AT-XR Lock, AU-XR, AT-XR, Frame Lock, XR.

Each of these locks is designed for a specific category of users. For example, the AT-XR Lock is used in the TRIDENT professional series. Its reliable fixation and simple mechanism allow you to use the knife in the most difficult situations without any problems with opening.