SOG is an American knife and tool manufacturing company that is famous for producing the SOG Knife from the Vietnam era. The company has an excellent reputation and has largely focused on tactical and everyday carry (EDC) knives. In the last few decades, SOG has expanded to multi-tools as well. In this review, we will take a look at the SOG Seal XR folding knife which is a heavy-duty folder marketed towards professional users.
The SOG Seal XR is a big knife, it feels think and has a good length to it. The specifications are as follows:
Closed Length: 5.3″
Engravable: Yes
Blade Length: 3.9″
Blade Thickness: 0.19″
Country of Origin: USA
Locking Mechanism: XR
Opening Mechanism: XR, Thumb Hole, Kick
Belt Clip Type: Reversible Low-Carry
Finish: Black Cerakote
Edge Type: Straight
Blade Steel Type: S35VN
Blade Shape: Clip Point
Hardness: Rc. 59-61
Handle Material: Glass-Reinforced Nylon
Handle Color: Black
As you can see the blade is 3.9” in length alone and 0.19” in thickness which makes it an extremely thick blade for a folding knife. The knife is clearly overbuilt and very much feels like it could take a serious beating. To top it off, the blade is made from S35VN steel which is a high-end martensitic steel. It consists of high Carbon, Chromium, and Vanadium and it has been designed to provide a balance between toughness, corrosion resistance, and hardness. Make no mistake about it, this steel is designed to be durable and used for long-wear.
This is a common theme for the review of this knife. I have reviewed many knives, including many folders and this is easily the most overbuilt folding knife I have reviewed or used. When I review any knife, I like to start with the blade because well that is the most important part of any knife. The SOG Seal XR is interesting to me because it is designed to be a military knife first and foremost which made me think it would have a partially serrated blade. I was a bit disappointed when I first got my hands on it and saw it did not have a partially serrated blade but instead was a straight edge knife.
But to really understand why SOG didn’t go for serrations I took a deeper look at the blade and tried to better understand the job it was designed for. Like I said earlier, this blade is thick at 0.19” and it’s long at 3.9” in length. This is important because it gives it a great cutting edge and no serrations make it easy to sharpen. If you are thinking of the use this knife was designed for, military use, you aren’t going to have time to sharpen a serrated blade if shit hits the fan. This is true down to the steel SOG used for the Seal XR which is the S35VN. The edge retention on this steel is top notch and it is a tough and durable steel that resists chipping. SOG obviously wanted the Seal XR to be extra tough so they made the blade thicker than normal. You won’t have any twisting or torsion issues with the Seal XR even in tough situations.
Next I looked at the grip which when grabbing a knife I like to do a first and final grip much like I am grabbing my pistol out of a holster. The SOG Seal XR is a big knife with a girthy handle at .696” in thickness. This is nice because when you go to grab it you have lots of surface to get a hold of. The ergonomics on the handle offer great comfort and retention for you. I had no issues using this knife with my bare hands or with gloves.
The more I used the knife the more impressed I was with it. The SOG Seal XR is a tough knife that wants to be beaten up and abused. SOG wanted military personnel, law enforcement and other professionals to feel comfortable relying on this knife and I can tell you I would definitely take this with me. I love the larger size and thickness that makes it bulky yet it can still be used and controlled for any task you want from a knife. Finally, I love that they choose a heavy duty steel to compliment the ideology of this knife. If you are looking for a heavy duty, over built folding knife, look no further than the SOG Seal XR folding knife. 9/10.
Ben