SOG Quake XL Assisted Folding Knife IM1101-BX - Dual Finish 4.5" VG-10 Blade, Aluminum Handle

I prefer this XL version of this SOG Quake model to the standard size. Although some reviews caution prospective buyers that this XL version of the knife might be too large, I find its size suitable for carry and functionality. SOG makes well made and well designed knives that I enjoy using.

I want to love this knife. The design, the weight, even the edge on the blade were all great day 1. But the assisted open is near impossible to use. The black hilt that is used to trigger the spring is slotted, feels like I'm pushing my thumb into a pile of Lego bricks repeatedly. Not comfortable at all. Then there's the force required, near Hulk smash power. The blade feels amazing in my hand but currently the hyper restricted assisted open is ruining it for me.10/13/2016Follow up to my previous review. As many other people have said, over time the assisted open does become easier to activate, however its still not a hair trigger like I want, maybe another month of working it and oiling it. I will say the vertical play in the blade has seemed to become more pronounced since I've gotten it, not a positive. but the edge on the blade has remained A+ sharp without any servicing, I do like that.

This is a quality knife with good steel, pointy with a sharp edge, a grippy handle, a functional cross-guard, a deep pocket clip and cool, unique design. Now the cons. The pocket clip grabs your pocket and won't let go very easily, so it doesn't deploy and get into action quickly. Also, as many have mentioned before me, this knife is very difficult to open. I've tried moving my thumb to the furthest end of the cross-guard to get more leverage to actuate it, using thumb on the front side and forefinger on the reverse, and a two handed technique with a firm grip in both hands with my thumb on the front side and forefinger on the reverse. Each opening method usually takes some serious effort - and I am not a weak-handed guy. I tried lubricating the pivot points with some good triflon type lube and have opened the beast maybe several dozen times but it hasn't gotten much easier. The pivot screw has a tiny torx slot too small to allow any real torque and I'm reluctant to try a major lossening. It now sits in a drawer where I may elect to retire it in the interesting collectible/not especially useable category.

Spring assist is broken.

The knife I've carried for the past 15 years is the Emerson SOCFK, which is a ~$300 knife made by one of the legends in the business. So this is my basis of comparison.First, the materials and quality seem pretty amazing for the price. Everything appears to be billet machined aluminum or steel, including the black handguard/opening levers. On mine, the safety seems to lock securely in place. Blade lockup is pretty good, but not perfect. I think this has no practical impact since it seems solid and secure.The downside to this knife is that the spring tensions when closed is way too hard. The black opening handguard levers don't provide enough leverage to get it open quickly. I don't think "breaking it in" will help because it seems to be an intentional design decision to provide so much spring tension.The other downside is that the pocket clip gets hung up in my pocket, so I can't actually get it out. This appears to be a consequence of having the low sitting pocket clip that seems to be in style for discrete carry. I don't like it. I can't get the thing out quickly.Overall,

Best damn pocket knife you can get for the price ... new out of the box is a little tough to open but it loosens up in no time and opens up just as fast if not faster than an OTF knife .. worth every penny SOG makes exceptional blades

love the open mechanism, sharpens easily, easy to carry, own lots of knifes and this is one of my favorites

While the knife is good the clip is terrible. Unless you plan on keeping the blade inside the belt or secured in your kit resign it to being lost because the clip is entirely too thin and loses it's grip.