Editor's Review: The SOG-TAC XR Knife

For perhaps thousands of years, the knife (or similar cutting tool) has been one of man’s most basic tools. Obviously we’ve come a long way from chipped rock or flint. The metallurgy of today is far beyond the average individual’s knowledge and comprehension. But do you have to know the chemical mixture of a blade to know that it cuts? For most of us in law enforcement, there are a few things that are required of a knife.

A law enforcement knife has to be:

Reliable
Within department limits
Comfortable in the hand
Easy to open
Easy to close (but only when we want it closed)
Ambidextrous

The XR Locking mechanism is a spring-loaded slide button. The thumb-stud optional opening devices are ambidextrous.

Enter the Studies & Observations Group (SOG) TAC XR folding lock blade. Long known for their dependable and high quality blades, SOG Knives has returned to their roots (so to speak) and is once again labeling themselves as the Studies & Observations Group. The only real change this has on their products is in the written reviews (like this one) where the person doing the writing has to type more.

The SOG-TAC XR is 100% metal construction for the blade, liner and all hardware with G10 scales for the grips and obviously built for abuse. The “XR” specifications for the model comes from the locking mechanism which is ambidextrous and spring loaded. It’s essentially a slide lock that slides out of the way on opening and locks into place when the blade is fully rotated out. To unlock the knife you simply pull the XR nub back away from the blade. With practice, you can unlock and fold the knife shut with a small wrist movement.

Early testing revealed one challenge with the XR locking system—but it wasn’t a challenge with the lock itself; it was a challenge with the user. Holding the knife as you normally would to open it, you can “push” the blade open by pressing on the flipper. You can also open it by pressing on the thumb stud on whichever side of the blade is appropriate, depending on which hand you have the knife in.

When we first received the test knife for review, one operator had no issue opening it with the flipper but another operator (term VERY loosely used) couldn’t get it to open no matter how hard he pushed on the flipper. After several attempts to do so, that second operator gave up in exasperation. An observer noted that hand position matters. The second person, who failed to open the knife with the flipper, was putting their thumb against the XR lock while trying to push on the flipper to open the blade. In doing so, they effectively locked the blade in the closed position.

When the knife is closed, the crossbar of the XR lock is inside a curved channel in the back end of the blade. It has to move out of the way for the blade to open. The same spring that holds the XR into the locked position when the blade is fully open is the same spring that holds it into position when the blade is fully closed. If you block the XR lock from moving, you can’t open the knife. This seems such a simple concept but it defeated more than one person trying to open the knife.

Specs. Will it cut?

Once locked open, the knife measures 8” in length. 4.65” of that is the handle/grips. The blade length is specified as 3.4” according to the published materials. The 5/100 inch that’s lost in grip length and blade length to total 8” open is a function of how it pivots and locks. Our test model was a plain edge but a partially serrated version is available. The blade steel itself is cryogenically treated D2 and the blade is 0.13” thick (that’s 1/8th of an inch). The clip point blade is suited for most work anyone in law enforcement would need and there is about an inch of jimping at the base of the spine, just about centered over the thumb studs.

The 3.4' straight edge does its job. There is also a partially serrated option. — The 3.4" straight edge does its job. There is also a partially serrated option.

As was mentioned earlier, the grip slabs are G10 and also black (although at least one OD Green option was found online). The slabs and liners are ergonomically shaped to provide a good secure grip even when the knife is wet or slick. When the blade is locked open, the flipper serves as a continuation for the index finger groove adding extra security if the cutting motion is a thrust or press.

The skeletonized clip is reversible for right or left hand carry.

All of the hardware—the screws that is—are torx head, including the one you need to remove if you want to move the steel skeletonized clip from one side to the other. Our test unit was sent set up for a right handed person. If you’re a lefty or want to carry it on that side, you only have to remove the one screw and use it to secure the clip on the other side of the grips.

All that information is well and good, but how does the knife cut? That is, after all, the primary purpose of such a tool, right? To test its cutting ability it was used to cut a variety of items from twine to 1/2” braided rope, 1” nylon webbing and we even beat the blade up on some old plastic buckets. The knife cut as was expected—cleanly—and after we washed it we used it to cut a ripe tomato. That has to be one of the toughest tests of a blade holding its edge and this one performed well. It sliced the tomato just cleanly as it had the braided rope.

A quick search online revealed several outlets that carry this knife with a price of $79.95 plus shipping and handling. While the online information shows that this knife is made in China, the quality of craftsmanship is high-end and, especially for that price, the knife is a good value. For more information, visit sogknives.com.