SOG Medium Slim Jim Knife Review

Their story begins in Vietnam, where members of a highly classified US special ops unit – known as MACV-SOG – carried a unique combat knife into the jungle on covert missions. Years later, in 1986, that knife inspired a young designer, named Spencer Frazer, to found SOG Specialty Knives. His mission: to reproduce the original SOG Bowie knife and pay tribute to the special ops unit that created it. What began as a single commemorative model soon became a full line of innovative tools – field-proven by US Special Forces, even honored as the Navy SEAL knife of choice. Today, SOG knives are carried with confidence into the most demanding situations. SOG says, “Forged out of tradition, hardened in the field, honed for you. So whether you’re protecting others or leading an epic hunting expedition, tackling one of life’s everyday challenges or facing your most extreme conditions yet, lead the way with SOG.”

Today we will be discussing the SOG medium Slim Jim knife with a tanto blade.

 

The Blade:

The blade on this knife is made out of AUS-8 steel. This is a steel that is produced by Aichi Steel, which is a Japanese manufacturer. In terms of how it is made and what it can compare to, it is most similar to 440B steel. However, 440B steel is going to be more resistant to rust and corrosion. This steel is going to be a similar toughness to 440B, which means that it is going to stand up to your typical daily tasks and then some. However, this is not a high carbon steel, which does mean that it is not going to hold its edge as well as some of the more premium steels would. When it comes to knives, the higher the amount of carbon in a steel, the harder the steel is going to be and the easier it is going to hold its edge. That being said, AUS-8 steel is very easy to sharpen and can get incredibly sharp.

The blade on this knife has been finished with a satin finish. A satin finish is created by when the manufacturer repeatedly sands the blade in one direction with a very fine sandpaper. This creates the classic look that the satin finish is known for. The satin finish is used to show off the bevels of the blade while also showcasing the fine lines of the steel. Not only that, but the satin finish is also going to cut down on glares and reflections and can even increase the corrosion resistance of the blade slightly. What really matters though is how simple this finish is. It is going to give your knife a look that is not going to go out of style at any point in time.

The blade on this knife has been carved into the tanto blade shape. The tanto blade shape is not designed to do everything like a drop point or a clip point would. In fact, instead of being versatile, this blade shape has been designed to do one thing and do that one thing extremely well. This blade shape originated from the Japanese long and short swords which had been specifically designed to pierce armor. In the 1980s Cold Steel revamped the shape of the blade and then released it to the public. Many people give Cold Steel the credit for popularizing this blade shape. The shape of the knife is created from a high point that has a flat grind, which leads to an extremely strong point that is perfect for stabbing into hard materials. It is this thick point of the tanto blade that is able to absorb the impact from piercing over and over again that would cause most other knives to break. The tanto knife also doesn’t really have a belly because the front edge meets the spine at an angle, rather than the traditional curve. While this means that you are not going to want to use this knife for a general utility knife and you might have some struggles slicing with it, you will be able to pierce through hard materials. While this knife is not going to prepare you for any situation that happens to pop up, it is going to prepare you for any situation that requires piercing or stabbing, because of the excess metal in the tip of this knife design.

 

The Handle:

The handle on this knife is made out of 420 stainless steel. This is a mid-range steel that is going to get the job done. It is resistant to rusting and corrosion because it is a stainless steel, which helps to cut down on time and maintenance. However, since it is not a high end stainless steel, you do need to keep up on keeping the knife dry and clean. This is also a tough steel, which allows you to take on some of the harder tasks that you might want to with this knife.

The handle has been finished with a bead blast. The bead blasted finish is created when the manufacturer takes abrasive glass or ceramic beads and blasts them at the metal with a high pressure. This process results in an even, grey finish. A blasted finish is going to reduce reflections and glares because of its even matte finish. However, the blasting does create an increased surface area and the micro-abrasions are going to make the steel more prone to rusting and corroding. That being said, a blasted finish, even from a stainless steel such as this one, can rust overnight if left in a wet or extremely humid environment. This means that you are going to need to really keep the knife dry and try to not bring it into wet environments if you can help it.

The handle has been texturized so that you don’t feel like you are going to slip when using it. The belly of the knife does have a long row of jimping, which is going to give you some grip and control when slicing with this knife. There is a finger guard, which will protect against the accidental slippage. On the face of the handle, there are four vents cut into the handle which will provide some texture. On the bottom of the handle, “SOG” has been carved out, which will also provide texture.

 

The Pocket Clip:

The pocket clip on this knife is reversible for either left or right handed carry. This helps to create a more comfortable knife to use for almost everyone. You can feel like you are carrying the knife in the way that you like, so you don’t ever have to really fumble with the knife while you try to pull it out. While it is reversible for either left or right handed carry, this knife is not reversible for tip up or tip down carry. It can only be attached for tip up carry, which is a drawback. Tip up carry is the more dangerous styles of carry between the two because if the knife accidentally opens in your pocket, when you reach in, you are going to be greeted by a sharp blade. To avoid this, just always approach it like you aren’t sure if it is going to be opened or not and you shouldn’t have any problems. Never thrust your hand into your pocket.

The pocket clip is also a deep carry clip, which is a major benefit. This is a big knife and you are going to want it to feel as secure as it possibly can. The deep carry is going to ensure that it rides low in your pocket which keeps it more snug as well as more concealed. One of the only disadvantage of a deep carry (although it is not much of a disadvantage) is that it is going to take a little bit longer for you to remove this knife from your pocket.

The clip is attached with two silver screws, which match the rest of the hardware. The clip is attached on the opposite face of the handle than it sits on, and then curves over the top of the handle. This creates a little bit more of a snug fit, so your knife is even better attached.

 

The Mechanism:

This is an assisted opening knife that has been equipped with a thumb stud as well as SOG’s Assisted Technology.

An assisted opening knife sits almost right in the middle of an automatic knife and a manual knife. You have to begin to open the knife manually, which then triggers the response and the knife will open on its own after that. The good news is that since this style of knife is not a fully automatic knife, it does not fall under the same strict laws that an automatic knife would.

The thumb stud is a small barrel that sits on the blade near where the handle begins. This barrel is use to give your thumb some traction so that you can swing the knife open with it. Some of the disadvantages to using a thumb stud is that it doesn’t take your fingers out of the path of the blade when you are opening this knife, so there have been reports of people cutting themselves while trying to open the knife. Also, some people do not like the way that it extends off of the blade and gets in the way when you are trying to use the knife.

SOG Assisted Technology or SAT works through the balance of opposing high-tension coil springs. As you initiate the opening action, the force propelling your blade open becomes greater than the force keeping it closed. The result is a blade that springs open instantly once it is engaged, seemingly on its own.

 

The Specs:

The blade on this knife measures in at 3.18 inches long with a blade thickness of 0.08 inches. The handle on this knife measures in at 4.22 inches long. The overall length of this knife measures in at a large 7.4 inches. Although this knife is very long, it is not very heavy; weighing in at only 2.4 ounces, this is going to be one of the lightest knives you are going to come across. This knife was made in Taiwan.

 

Conclusion:

SOG says, “Our new technical assisted folding knife line, stands out by virtue of simplicity and minimalism. It doesn’t try to be the biggest or the loudest in the crowd. It is unobtrusive but always there when you need it. Constructed from a single piece of steel, SlimJim is just that, the slimmest assisted knife in the world. Start to open the blade, and let SOG Assisted Technology (S.A.T.) finish the action with a bang, using one of the surest assisted technologies out there. Tactile bumps and cutouts aid in control while all features are purposeful and functional. The patent-pending safety is used to insure the retention of the blade in the handle as well as acts as a double lock in the open position. The stealth carry clip is reversible. Available in multiple sizes and with fully blacked out version. SlimJim, don’t let its size fool you!”

The SOG Slim Jim is a technical assisted folder knife by virtue of its simplicity and minimalistic style.  This model, the SJ-33, features a satin finished tanto blade.  This knife is always there when you need it.  Built from a single piece of steel, the SlimJim is the slimmist assisted knife in the world.  Give the blade a start, and the SOG Assisted Technology (S.A.T.) finishes the action with a bang, using one of the surest assisted technologies out there. Tactile bumps and cutouts aid in control while all features are purposeful and functional. The patent-pending safety is used to insure the retention of the blade in the handle as well as acts as a double lock in the open position. The stealth carry clip is reversible.

You can pick up this knife today at BladeOps.