I don't know about you, but if I am wearing pants then I have at least two knives on me. Pocket knives are just incredibly useful tools. Almost every day I find myself needing to open a box, trim some cardboard, cut a rope to length, or accomplish any of a myriad of other precise cutting tasks and I find myself extremely grateful that I have an appropriate tool on my hip that I can access, one handed, in a matter of seconds. That convenience and efficiency is the primary reason why clipping a pocket knife into my right hip pocket has become as much a part of my morning routine as shaving or putting on my socks.
There are of course fringe benefits to having such an essential tool on your person at all times. These will be realized if you ever find yourself in a survival situation, be that situation of the wilderness, trapped-by-seatbelt, or two legged predator variety. Another fringe benefit comes from watching your metro-sexual coworkers nearly faint when you deploy one of these blades to make quick work of a task that would have sent them running for their safety scissors.
I've been through a fair number of daily carry knives, but for the last few months I've been carrying the SOG Twitch II and I've been very happy with it. The edge of the 2.68" blade was razor sharp out of the box and has so far proven itself to be quite durable despite frequent abuse. In the past I've usually carried significantly larger knives in the 4" range and I was initially skeptical of the comparatively compact blade. However, I am happy to report that I've been using the knife for nearly four months and I have yet to encounter a situation where I caught myself wishing for a longer blade. I should also note that the Twitch II has a straight edge from tip to base. I consider this feature a must-have in my carry knives, I find that pocket knives which have both serrated and straight edges on the same knife offer too little blade real estate to function effectively in either capacity.
The hinge mechanism has also impressed me. The fit and finish of the knife in general and the hinge in particular is exceptionally good. There is absolutely no noticeable play in the hinge joint and the overall machining quality is higher than you would expect for its reasonable (~$50) price point. The opening is a lightning fast spring assisted affair that can be initiated either by using your index finger on the "kick" that protrudes from the back or by using your thumb on the more traditional stud. There is a safety lock on the back of the knife that prevents the spring assist mechanism from opening the knife. However, employing this feature dramatically impedes your ability to quickly press the tool into action. So, I employ Glock safety philosophy and keep my finger off the "kick" until I'm ready to get the party started. Your mileage may vary, enter at your own risk.
Now, I don't use the Twitch II as a hunting or a fishing knife. For those specialized applications I have fixed blades that I carry on my belt. But, for an everyday carry knife, I've yet to come across a product that I would recommend over SOG's Twitch II, and that's saying something given the pile of worn out and broken folders I've left in my wake.
Pros:
There are of course fringe benefits to having such an essential tool on your person at all times. These will be realized if you ever find yourself in a survival situation, be that situation of the wilderness, trapped-by-seatbelt, or two legged predator variety. Another fringe benefit comes from watching your metro-sexual coworkers nearly faint when you deploy one of these blades to make quick work of a task that would have sent them running for their safety scissors.
I've been through a fair number of daily carry knives, but for the last few months I've been carrying the SOG Twitch II and I've been very happy with it. The edge of the 2.68" blade was razor sharp out of the box and has so far proven itself to be quite durable despite frequent abuse. In the past I've usually carried significantly larger knives in the 4" range and I was initially skeptical of the comparatively compact blade. However, I am happy to report that I've been using the knife for nearly four months and I have yet to encounter a situation where I caught myself wishing for a longer blade. I should also note that the Twitch II has a straight edge from tip to base. I consider this feature a must-have in my carry knives, I find that pocket knives which have both serrated and straight edges on the same knife offer too little blade real estate to function effectively in either capacity.
The hinge mechanism has also impressed me. The fit and finish of the knife in general and the hinge in particular is exceptionally good. There is absolutely no noticeable play in the hinge joint and the overall machining quality is higher than you would expect for its reasonable (~$50) price point. The opening is a lightning fast spring assisted affair that can be initiated either by using your index finger on the "kick" that protrudes from the back or by using your thumb on the more traditional stud. There is a safety lock on the back of the knife that prevents the spring assist mechanism from opening the knife. However, employing this feature dramatically impedes your ability to quickly press the tool into action. So, I employ Glock safety philosophy and keep my finger off the "kick" until I'm ready to get the party started. Your mileage may vary, enter at your own risk.
Now, I don't use the Twitch II as a hunting or a fishing knife. For those specialized applications I have fixed blades that I carry on my belt. But, for an everyday carry knife, I've yet to come across a product that I would recommend over SOG's Twitch II, and that's saying something given the pile of worn out and broken folders I've left in my wake.
Pros:
- Lightweight (2.6oz) without being so light that it feels flimsy in your hand
- Fast, easy opening
- Fit and finish second to none
- Full length straight edge
- Full stainless steel and Aluminum construction (nearly corrosion proof)
- Blade length is on the small side for hardcore backwoods use
- "Safety" is difficult to quickly disengage with one hand
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