SOG Twitch II Review

It’s not a secret that SOG has always been a company known for making stand-out products. Automatic multi-tools, ingeniously stiff Arc-Lock, adjustable belt-clips, BG-42 steel blades – you name it. The SOG’s Twitch series is not an exception. Designed by Spencer Frazer, it is out there to define an excellent everyday carry tool with the modern innovations that are not just fancy but really useful.
The whole bunch of Twitch II knives comes in various blade shapes and handle materials. However, today’s review is about the Black Tini version of a Twitch ‘older brother’. It comes in standard clam packaging, American made and with a lifetime warranty. It has an overall length of 6.20″ and weighs about 2.60 OZ.

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Key specs

  • Blade length: 2.65″
  • Overall length: 6.2″
  • Closed length: 3.55″
  • Weight: 2.6 oz.
  • Blade material: AUS8 Stainless Steel
  • Country of origin: USA

SOG Twitch II
  • Blade
  • Handle
  • Design
  • Price
4.4

Summary

The blade is wonderful, but the knife is a little heavy and the fit and finish could be better. Still, if you are looking for a mid-priced, mid-sized pocket knife you could do a lot worse than the Twitch II

Here’s a great video  SOG Twitch II Review

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The Blade

SOG Twitch II blade is 2.65″ long and 0.1″ thick which is just enough for simple EDC tasks and home chores. Add the full flat grind geometry with the drop point shape to the metrics above, and you will get a good (if not excellent) slicer that will go easily through any material. Without a doubt, the knife arrived hair-shaving sharp from the box and that is another thing to write about.

The blade steel is standard Japanese AUS-8. Nothing outstanding – makes it easier to sharpen and maintain the edge. A thing worth mentioning is SOG’s ‘cryogenic heat treatment’. According to the official website info, the blade temperature is first slowly reduced to -300 degrees Fahrenheit. Then it is brought back up to the room temperature. This process helps to boost blade’s overall strength and edge retention. Thus putting SOG’s Twitch II one stair above all other knives with the same steel material on the blade.

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Another advantage of the Twitch II Black Tini comes from the coating. As I’ve mentioned before – AUS 8 is ordinary steel with good but not great stain resistance. The coating, however, helps to protect blade’s steel not only from moisture but also sand and hard surfaces. Plus, its matte-black color, along with the scales, looks good and simple. “This makes knife pretty tactical,” some might say. Bearing in mind the overall length of the knife, I’d consider it more of a gentleman’s suit EDC that won’t be an eye-catcher in crowded places and parties.

The Handle

The handle material is anodized aluminum 6061-T6. And it’s exactly the same type of alloy used for making bike frames, aircraft components and what not. In other words – it’s light, it’s strong and it won’t rip your pockets with texturing. Which is both good and bad. On the one hand, the overall width and shape of the scales make Twitch II quite slippery. On the other hand – it is not the kind of knife that you will use in extreme situations, rain, mud, etc. This is a small (not even an average) reliable EDC blade for minor urban EDC tasks. So don’t expect batoning and outdoor-purpose use cases from it.

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Styled to look like titanium, SOG’s classic Twitch II models have so called ‘graphite’ scales. And they are plain grey. Not much of an interest if you find the Black Tin version of Twitch II. The scales on our model have the wet-black-stone color and they look absolutely fantastic with the blade, lock and bolts’ coating. Additionally, this hard anodized shell offers superior scratch resistance, as mentioned on the official website. So it won’t wear off pretty fast. With or without keys and coins inside, you can just clip it to the pocket and go out there. No worries.

Ergonomics (lock, clip and deployment)

What I really found quite surprising is the way this knife actually works. For its overall length, price point and place of origin it is quite a gem to dig. However, let’s cover all the points step by step.

The first thing that should be mentioned is how damn good this knife feels in hand. Bear in mind – we are now talking about 3.55″ closed length. With the flipper on the blade and quite a belly on the handle Twitch II just sits tight in the medium palm. And there is literary nothing wiggling or moving it there. It’s stiff and firm. Same goes with the clip. It is right or left-side, tip-up carry only and is quite wide. In fact, its shape is distinct and you probably won’t see a similar one on any other knife. But again – it works and functions well enough, and that is what you expect from a belt clip.

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Another point is deployment and locking mechanism. This is where SOG shows us the trick again. We all know knives with good old back lock and pins on the blade. Well, says SOG, here you can have it all but with a flipper and assisted opening. What can I say, it’s like Kershaw and Buck got married and had an indigo child. You can flick it open with a thumb using studs or with an index finger using a flipper. Anyway, the blade just flies open gently and is there to do the job. And when I say ‘gently’ I mean it doesn’t rip the knife from your hand (yes, Blur, I am looking at you). Closing Twitch II is, however, a task for both hands: there is no way you can fold an assisted back locking knife with one hand.

What makes this knife sort of unique is a switch just behind the lock. It is also called a twitch, which is why the knife is called as such. The idea was to bring additional safety feature to a tip up carry knife with assisted opening. When opened, the knife won’t accidentally close which I personally find hard to happen, since it’s a lock-back design after all. However, when closed – that is when the twitch actually comes in hand and saves its user from opening inside the pocket. Grade ‘A’ for the job, SOG, you did it again, brilliant as ever.

Conclusion

The SOG Twitch II has the suggested retail price of $72 but actually hit the streets at about $37. As for the American-made knife this is a great price. Size-wise it can be legally carried practically everywhere and its ergonomics makes Twitch II just excellent for daily EDC. So if you are looking for a lightweight, small but handy pocket knife, the SOG Twitch II is about to be the answer.

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24 thoughts on “SOG Twitch II Review

  1. Helpful info. Lucky me I discovered your website by accident, and I am surprised why this coincidence did not happened earlier! I bookmarked it.

  2. After your comments on SOG’S Twitch there is Very Little Left to add. I own 4 Twitch’s and given 2 away for gifts. There are knives from other companies at twice the price that the Twitch compared to, WHY spend the extra cash?, However Once I did encounter a problem with one knife, I sent it back, explain the problem, it was repaired and returned to with very Little Difference, I called and complained, Customer Service listened to my concerns, WELL they Fixed the Problem by sending me a Brand New Blade and GET THIS, they told me to just keep the Old One. What Else can Anyone ask for?

  3. The blade of the SOG Twitch II is made from AUS-8 steel. AUS-8 is a high-quality Japanese stainless steel that is known for its toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. It is a popular choice for many knife manufacturers because it is relatively easy to sharpen and maintain.

  4. Yes, the SOG Twitch II has a reversible, low-carry pocket clip that allows for convenient and discreet carry of the knife in your pocket or on your belt. The clip can be mounted on either side of the handle for left or right-handed carry, and it is designed to keep the knife secure and easily accessible.

  5. Yes, the SOG Twitch II is an assisted-opening knife. It features SOG’s patented S.A.T. (SOG Assisted Technology) which uses a spring mechanism to assist with the blade’s opening when the user initiates the movement.

  6. The weight of the SOG Twitch II varies depending on the specific model and materials used in its construction. However, on average, the SOG Twitch II weighs around 2.6 to 2.7 ounces (73 to 77 grams).

  7. The handle material of the SOG Twitch II also varies depending on the specific model. However, the standard version of the SOG Twitch II features a handle made from anodized aluminum with a hardcased black finish. This provides a durable and lightweight construction for the knife.

  8. The overall length of the SOG Twitch II also varies depending on the specific model. However, on average, the SOG Twitch II has an overall length of around 6.2 to 6.5 inches (15.7 to 16.5 cm) when open and around 3.5 to 4 inches (8.9 to 10.2 cm) when closed.

  9. Yes, the SOG Twitch II features a reliable lock to keep it closed when not in use. Specifically, it has a lockback mechanism, which locks the blade in place when it is fully opened or fully closed. This helps to ensure safe and secure use of the knife, as well as preventing accidental opening or closing of the blade.

  10. The warranty on the SOG Twitch II can vary depending on where and when it was purchased, as well as the specific model of the knife. However, typically SOG knives come with a limited lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. This means that if your SOG Twitch II has any defects or issues caused by manufacturing, SOG will repair or replace it at no cost to you. It’s always a good idea to check with the retailer or SOG directly for specific warranty information on the exact knife you’re interested in purchasing.

  11. The sharpness of the SOG Twitch II out of the box can vary depending on the specific knife and the quality control measures of the manufacturer. However, SOG is known for producing knives with a very sharp edge right out of the box. The SOG Twitch II features a 2.65-inch blade made of either AUS-8 or VG-10 steel, which are both high-quality steels known for their sharpness and durability.

    In general, most customers who have purchased the SOG Twitch II have reported that it arrives sharp and ready to use, but some have noted that it may require a little bit of sharpening or honing to get it to their desired level of sharpness. As with any knife, the sharpness can also depend on how the knife is used and maintained over time.

  12. The SOG Twitch II is a folding knife, and its blade is typically made from AUS-8 stainless steel. AUS-8 is a Japanese steel known for its good balance of edge retention, corrosion resistance, and ease of sharpening. It’s a popular choice for budget-friendly and mid-range folding knives, providing a good combination of performance and affordability.

    However, keep in mind that product specifications can sometimes vary, and newer versions or special editions of the SOG Twitch II may use different blade steels.

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