SOG Specialty Knives and Tools came to prominence in 1986 within the Tactical Knife realm for their amazing military-style fixed blades either based on classic fighting knives or their own unique designs. Their name came from the Studies and Observation Groups during the Vietnam War.
They followed this up in the 1990s with a number of innovative multi-tools and assisted-opening folding knives. Most recently they moved into the space of automatic knives and the Pentagon OTF may very well be their best of these designs.
The Pentagon name hearkens back to one of SOG’s original tactical fixed blades that was a dagger with a rubber coated handle and one side was completely serrated. This may have been a way to get it into military inventory as a multi-function survival piece. The name was subsequently used a decade or 2 later to name the company’s boot dagger style fixed blades with true double edges.
It only made sense to carry this tradition forward with their latest double-edged OTF profile.
OTF means “Out the Front”. They are sometimes referred to as stilettos because the double-edged dagger blade is prominent with these designs. Most OTF designs are criticized for their rather light locking ability. Sure, the deployment is cool and still has an exotic air to it, but the majority of these types of knives can be subject to lock failure, unless you go the higher end production or custom route.
SOG addressed that issue head on and the Pentagon OTF Blackout probably has the most complex inner workings and lockup of any production OTF that’s on the market. This is largely due to SOG’s Dynamic Locking Mechanism. It definitely makes for a heavier knife than a typical OTF, but it is one of the most solid types you will ever encounter.
The Dynamic Locking Mechanism means that the Pentagon OTF Blackout has the least amount of blade play ever seen on a production OTF. It truly locks up like a fixed blade while featuring very rapid opening and closing. Initially the button may seem a little resistant with regard to pushing it open or pulling to retract the blade. For this knife you need to work it a few times for it to wear in and then you have a true pocket rocket after a week or two.
Construction
For blade steel, SOG chose Cryo CPM (Crucible Particle Metallurgy) S35VN. This proved to be an excellent choice for this model because it’s sharp, tough, and corrosion resistant. It is an improvement over CPM S30V by reducing the amount of Vanadium by 1% and increasing the Niobium content by 0.5%. While these percentages sound very small, it makes the steel easier to work with from a sharpening and maintenance perspective as S30V could be a bear to sharpen.
The Cryo in the name of this steel refers to the Cryogenic stages implemented during the heat-treating process. This treatment is usually performed after the quench and before or between tempering cycles to enhance hardness, toughness, and wear resistance of the steel by using liquid nitrogen to bring the steel to extreme cold levels.
As for the handle, SOG went with 6061 T-6 aluminum with a hard coat anodizing. The feel of the flats is very similar to a fine checkering while the sides have a rich grooving in all the right places allowing for a secure no slip grip.
The heavy button can be worked while wearing gloves. As stated, it is not an easy push at first and even after working in, it still requires a bit of force on behalf of the user. The upside to this is that it prevents accidental deployment while being carried in the pocket.
Performance
The SOG Pentagon OTF Blackout is a very rugged and capable knife. Most of the lower priced OTF knives are just glorified letter openers but the Pentagon OTF Blackout is a serious tool that demands to be used. Granted, you’re not going to filet steaks, baton firewood or use it to punch through the fuselage of a downed aircraft but there are plenty of other knives for that purpose. This should cover most of the basic EDC tasks that come your way with ease.
The best aspect of this knife, and most other OTF designs, is that it is truly ambidextrous. Whether you are left-handed or right-handed, the knife can be withdrawn from the pocket with the corresponding hand and put to use immediately and effectively without switching placement of the clip
If there is a downside to the Pentagon OTF Blackout, it is the spear pint style blade. While the profile is effective for stabbing as well as slicing, it is prohibited in certain jurisdictions as a double-edged dagger. This is a shame and if anything proves how knife legislation in the US is so poorly written. Perhaps SOG may take this great design and offer blades with single edge profile for users who cannot carry a spear point or dagger style blade legally.
Brand: SOG Specialty Knives and Tools
Knife Type: Automatic Double Action OTF
Blade Style: Spear Point
Blade Edge Type: Plain
Blade Material: Cyro CPM S35VN
Blade Finish: Black Titanium Nitride
Open Style: Auto
Blade Length, Inches: 3.79 in.
Overall Length, Inches: 9.08 in.
Closed Overall Length: 4.06 in.
Lock Type: Dynamic Locking System
Handle Material: Anodized Aluminum
Handle Color: Black
Pocket Clip: Spring Clip
Blade Thickness: 0.11 in.
Weight: 0.66 oz.
Country Of Manufacture: USA
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