- a lightweight gem
How SOG should be pronounced varies over time. Sometimes as the abbreviation and sometimes they want it to be readout. It is the latter that applies at the moment. The full name will then be Studies and Observations Group. I have very few knives from them, which is something I intend to correct. But one of the reasons I do not have more is actually their last attempt to make a really lightweight folding knife. The model was called SlimJim and I have the XL version of it. There is a lot to say about it, most things are less good.
But when SOG now launches a completely new series of knives, of which one is an extreme air weight where everything is upgraded in relation to the older knives. Then I get curious. The model is called Ultra XR.
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| SOG Ultra XR |
In which category the knife should be placed is not difficult to figure out. "Ultra" in this case refers to the weight which is extremely low and pushes the boundaries of what an EDC knife can be, as SOG says on their home page. And that's exactly where it belongs. As a tool to keep in your pocket without being noticed until needed. However, there are quite a few knives that aim in that direction.
But not many have these fine materials combined with this weight and thinness. Of course, some knives are almost as light but not that boast such a competent blade. So overall, it's a very appealing combination and also an attractive piece to look at.
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| Ultra XR offers a lot of attitude in a small package |
Twitter version: Light, lighter, SOG Ultra XR. One of the lightest EDC knives available!
Blade
The blade of this knife is one of the best bits of the whole knife. Because if there is one thing that SOG masters, it is to make nice blades and grind them well. Even when models, in general, have been so-so, this part is always well done. So also in this case. Ultra XR offers a distinct clip point blade that measures 7 cm in length and 2.8 cm in height. The thickness is a modest 2 mm. A must if you want to bring the weight down to the levels sought. The "cut" part of the blade is completely straight and the appearance is enhanced by a distinct swedge.
Of course, the hole in the blade for opening and the row of rather soft grooves that are found on the blade back is also clearly visible.
The finish is a bit special and is called "graphite". The dark gray surface has been shown to resist scratches fairly well even if it has been chafed when opened. The blade contains quite a lot of information, including the full name, model name, and steel type. But in this case, I do not see it as negative as it has been done with a method so that it is mostly visible at certain angles and thus nothing that stands out.
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| A clip point blade that is both nice to look at and practical |
As steel, SOG has chosen S35VN and it is emphasized that it is "cryo" -treated, which means that it has cooled down considerably in the heat treatment process. Whether it contributes to the good properties or not is difficult to answer as S35VN is generally fine steel and the thin blade is extremely well ground. The factory edge is really elegant with a fairly even height and angle and good centering with only the smallest tendency to "smile" at the ricasso. Thanks to the lock type, it also provides an excellent sharpening choil.
This blade is, by the way, saber ground which is almost a must with such a thin blade. As it is now, the tip is really delicate in any case.
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| The steel is S35VN which has been given a gray TiNi surface |
As an EDC knife, the Ultra XR is really sympathetic. All those little chores that need a sharp and good knife blade but do not require violent strength are the forte of this knife. Not least, I have noticed it after having to remove several splinters out of my hands after spending a lot of time in the woods throwing knives. Then the lightweight is appreciated and not least the thin and sharp tip.
It is also quite good at cutting cardboard and the like. The thin blade and the fact that it is S35VN make it easy to ensure that boxes fit in the recycling bin. In the same way, it is good at cutting cords and ropes as long as the dimensions are not too big. In these situations, the handle sets the boundaries fairly immediately. For the same reason, I have not set out to cut wood with this knife. I leave that to someone who is more masochistic.
Handle
The most unique thing about the SOG Ultra XR is the handle. From the side, not much reveals the odd format. We have all seen a carbon fiber handle before. Although it is a very fine carbon fiber in this case. But when Ultra turns the other cheek, it almost disappears. I have never seen such a thin knife in this material before. The thickness or rather its opposite if there is one, is extreme. It measures only 5.7 mm in total! Then, there are screw heads sticking out and not least a clip adding some thickness.
The shape is simple and almost box-like. Fairly square, in other words, although a slight curve on the underside means that the handle swells at the back and there is a clear finger guard at the front. So in all simplicity, it works well under the circumstances. It measures 8.9 cm in length and the height is fairly high at 2.7 cm. It is almost a must to accomplish something to grasp around. Then the clip helps to fill the hand. Its increased size and shape helps rather than overturns in this case, which is unusual.
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| The knife has sides in carbon fiber |
To make the knife so thin, one has started from a construction where the sides are self-supporting without a frame. In addition, they are measured to a meager 1.5 mm. Despite that, they are fairly stiff. You can make the sides spring if you press hard on the middle of the handle. But the knife is short and it does not flex in the back or around the pivot screw where it matters and there is nothing noticeable when the knife is used.
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| From this angle, part of the explanation for the extremely low weight can be seen. The sides have no frame and are extremely thin |
The handle is of course open in the back to reduce weight. The sides are mounted with two spacers in addition to the pivot screw and they are screwed with perhaps the smallest screws I have seen on a folding knife. The heads are T4 and the pivot screw, clip, and lock bolt are of size T6. Normally I would have said that it is too small but in this case, there is nothing I object to. I do not belong to those who feel that I have to dismantle knives all the time. If you do, be aware. Such small screw heads are likely to wear out quickly even if quality tools are used.
But you can't do the impossible. It would therefore be wrong to say that the knife is ergonomic. On the other hand, it is much more comfortable to work with than it first seems to be. The relatively high handle does its best to compensate for the extreme dimensions in general and the clip helps as I said. This makes it possible to hold the knife in a hammer grip without problems, but it does better in a saber grip with a thumb on the back of the blade. However, it works best with a guiding index finger on the blade or in a pinch grip. Then the extremely thin handle is an advantage rather than a disadvantage. And since this is an EDC knife for lighter tasks, it's an excellent way to hold it.
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| You can hold the knife in a hammer grip, but as you can see, the little finger runs out of space. Ultra XR is best when held in a pinch or in a saber grip. The balance is completely neutral |
Opening and Lock
I like the Ultra XR because it does not open with either a flipper tab or thumb stud. It had disturbed the format of this knife. A flipper ruining the look and a thumb stud by protruding too much. The elongated hole works well for opening the knife as it is easy to find and provides a comfortable arch for the thumb. Less good is that because of the thinness of both the sides and blade, you have to push against the handle and press the thumb down and then outwards to succeed in getting the blade out. Just moving your thumb forward is not possible, then you slip. The consequence is that the blade is pressed against the inside of the handle and rubbed against it every time the knife is opened. The tolerances are that tight.
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| The blade hole is elongated, narrow, and well chamfered |
Initially, the Ultra XR was actually not entirely pleasant to open. It felt a bit gritty. A little oil and some work solved most of it. But it is in the nature of things that this type of lock prevents the opening from being completely frictionless. The spring pressure from the lock bolt acts as a detent as well. But of course, just like any other similar lock, you can use it to gravity open the knife as well. Just release the lock and a flick of your wrist will make the blade come flying out.
In the same way, the knife can be closed. Otherwise, it can be done calmly and quietly even if it requires a little fidgeting. The back end of the knife is best placed inside the hand while the thumb and middle finger grip around the lock bar and release the lock while you press the blade closed with the middle finger.
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| SOG's solution on a lock with a transverse bolt is called XR |
The actual function of the lock is otherwise very good. The blade is completely rigid laterally, although a slight movement can be provoked vertically. Something fairly common with locks that are based on a parallel bolt such as XR and Axis for example. To avoid it completely, you would need to have extremely strong springs that press the lock bar against the blade, which might cause other problems.
To Carry
To carry, what to say about it? Maybe that it will not get better than this. This is one of the few knives that can compete with an Al Mar Falcon UL Ti in that regard. Ultra XR is certainly wider but in return thinner than that knife. The weight is only 37 grams and when combined with being the thinnest knife I own and an excellent clip, the result is brilliant.
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| The wide clip is excellent and is also intended to double as a money clip |
The clip is oversized on this knife. However, there are several reasons for this. As mentioned earlier, it helps to both fill the hand and act as an anchor point when the knife is to be opened. In addition, it can double as a money clip as the knife is otherwise so small, elegant, and discreet. Although physical money is not very common in at least my part of the world anymore.
The material in the clip is titanium and it is a "loop over" clip attached to the back end and the inside of the handle. It is movable, which makes the knife completely ambidextrous, as both the opening and the lock can also be handled with both hands.
Thanks to its intended double role as a money clip, the clip has generous space underneath and a hefty ramp, which makes it suitable for any pair of pants, including work pants. Or maybe rather the edge of the inner pocket of a jacket in this case.
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| This is what the knife looks like when it is in a leg pocket |
The clip leaves the knife completely hidden in the pocket and none of the handle is visible when the knife is carried. On the other hand, the clip is eye-catching as it is large. The finish itself is an anthracite gray that matches the blade fairly well, even if this surface is shinier. At the far end, a logo is found, but it is so discreetly applied that you have to make an effort to see it.
To Conclude
Ultra XR was a knife that actually surprised me a bit. Even though I did my homework or at least thought I did, I was nevertheless shocked by how thin and light the knife is. Then we rubbed each other the wrong way for a while as I thought the opening was a bit awkward. The small blade hole requires the right angle and technique to function well. Then the knife was a bit stiff initially. And the thin handle required its habituation period as well. More forgiving, however, was the overall build quality and not least the look that I liked from the first moment.
But after a while, the knife started to grow outside its diminutive dimensions and today it is used quite a lot. It often sits in the leg pocket of my trousers and has therefore been washed more than once as it is not noticeable if you do not really look for it.
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| Ultra XR is a knife that goes well with espresso, small and black as it is |
Unlike the lightweights of yesteryear, the Ultra XR has consistently been fitted with top materials. The carbon fiber handle is of the highest class, the blade is made of S35VN which has been cryo-treated and the lock is well thought out and functional.
The labeling is significantly more discreet than before. SOG made themselves known for a while to literally overflow their models with logos and text. They were found on handle sides, blades, clips, and sheaths. In this case, the logo can be found on both blade and clip, but it is discreet and nicely done. An essential step forward, at least in my eyes.
This is a self-supporting folding knife without a frame. But it is actually stiffer than Benchmade Bugout which is another lightweight competitor that received some criticism for a handle that flexes too much. But unlike BM, SOG has chosen not to make the handle in FRN but in substantially harder carbon fiber. And in addition to being stiff, it is a nice material that unsolicited brings us to talk about appearance.
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| SOG Ultra XR, an EDC knife for the style-conscious who is looking for something extremely light that is not found in everyone's pocket |
One of Ultra XR's biggest strengths is how well it fits into EDC equipment for the style-conscious. The neat format and the exclusive appearance make it an excellent daily companion even for those who do not belong to the knife enthusiasts. For the same reason, it is also an excellent gift, why not to someone who is to turn an important age?
Specification:
Length Overall: 160 mm
Length Folded: 89 mm
Weight: 37 g (weighed by me, stated 34g)
Blade Length: 71 mm
Blade Thickness: 2 mm
Blade Steel: CPM S35VN with TiNi coating
Handle Material: Carbon fiber
Lock: XR lock
Produced by: SOG, made in China
/ J
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