The SOG Kiku fixed blade knife is built like a tank! Until you hold the knife in your hands it’s hard to know just how solid and tough this knife is.
The sheath design and retention are top notch. With most fixed blade knives – even the higher end ones – you get a really nice knife, but the sheaths are typically crap. Not in this case. SOG really came through with the Kiku fixed blade. Usually I get my first impressions of a knife by the knife itself, but when I pulled this knife out of the box I was blown away by the quality of the sheath – I was sold!
The retention is outstanding. Once this knife locks into the sheath and you snap the handle strap down it’s not going anywhere. You could roll down a hill or get submerged under water and the knife won’t leave your side!
The scaled handle is made from linen micarta and feels great in the hand. I have no doubt that you’ll have a secure grip, even in wet conditions.
The blade of the Kiku is a cross between a recurve and tanto design. It’s like a bad car wreck – you can’t look away from it once you see it! It’s made of AUS8 steel, which is a very easy steel to maintain in the field. It holds an edge well and takes an edge well if you need to hone the blade while in the field.
Yes the SOG Kiku fixed blade is a bit more expensive than some other fixed blade knives out there, but you’re getting a knife that will more than likely outlast you. If you had to choose a single knife to bring in the field this would be an ideal choice for several reasons.
First, the blade is 5.6″ in length and is full tang, which will allow you to process larger pieces of wood all the way down to the smaller kindling pieces in the event you need to make a fire. The grip of the knife allows you to choke up on the blade and do finer carving or notching work. The pomel on the end of the handle can be used for breaking glass, bricks, or whatever else you may need crushed.
If I had to choose a larger fixed blade knife as my only one tool option, I’d go for the SOG Kiku fixed blade every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
Features
- Full Tang Construction
- Hard Nylon Sheath
- Collaboration Between Kikuo Matsuda & SOG Design Team
Specifications
- Blade Length: 5.6″
- Thickness: 0.20″
- Overall Length: 10.76″
- Weight: 11.2 oz.
- Blade Steel: AUS-8 Stainless Steel, 56-58HRC
- Finish: Hardcased Black TiNi
- Handle: Linen Micarta
