Mike
Gambrills, md

Feb 25, 2023

Pros: None

Cons: None

Solid knife

Glad this has a flipper tab to open. That is my primary way to open it. Close is like butter, smooth and easygoing. I would like it even better if the blade was a bit longer. If you have under 3-inch laws in your area, check this out. Lock-up is good and tight when open.

Lee
Richmond

Jan 02, 2026

Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Ease of Opening, Handle Feel, Handle Material, Lock Ease of Use, Lock Type, Overall Quality, Pocket Clip, Sheath, Weight

Cons: None

SOG

Nice quality knife the action was stiff but worked it self out.

Geck
Colorado

Feb 23, 2024

Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Ease of Opening, Handle Feel, Handle Material, Lock Ease of Use, Lock Type, Overall Quality, Pocket Clip, Sheath, Weight

Cons: None

Good work knife

Good work knife. Bought it more than 3 years ago. Though I don’t use it every day now, there was a time I used it for 6 months straight without a single issue. Holds an edge, even in my line of work. No chips in the blade or issues with opening or closing. Just an all around great little knife. I work in the rain, snow, and wind, with no issues of slipping. The handle bites nicely into skin and gloves. The lock is great. Giving this knife another way of flicking it into play. Just a good work carry. Take care of it and it will take care of you.

Richard
R.I

Jan 24, 2021

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Great SOG

I have owned SOG in the past and this is the best one yet love the d2 steel blade and the look and the feel of the knife I know a lot of people had problems with the action of the knife I did not after a couple of days it broke in nice I will say the pocket clip is tight but I can get used to that this will definitely not fall out of your pocket

J
US of A

Mar 19, 2021

Pros: Overall Quality

Cons: Pocket Clip

Not Bad

I like it, not as much as I thought though. The blade could come sharper. Blade jimping is done right. The "xr" bar lock works well. Good lock up. Smooth lock/bar wrist deployment(fidgety). The detent is a little too good, therefore the flipper is stiff. I find myself forgetting the thumbstuds are even there. The pocket clip does allow for fabric to pinch up top and make it a little more difficult to remove from ones pocket. I expected the scales to be a little brighter. All in all, a good little knife for the price.

Russ
Ohio

May 21, 2020

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Pocket Clip

Really great materials and finish for the price. Good EDC

I thought I'd take a chance with this knife since I love the look and the materials for the price. I really like some of these alternative colors that SOG offers now. I was a little apprehensive after seeing complaints about the flipper action, but after getting this and using for a few minutes, I find it is just fine for my one hand opening needs. First, the flipper is a little weird in that if the knife is level or pointed down, it fires all the way open. Pointed up, it doesn't make it. I guess that little extra help or hurt from gravity makes all the difference. Using the thumb stud or flipper with a flick of the wrist also works well, albeit with a fairly big flick. I expect it will become easier over time, but it would have been great if it delivered better performance right out of the box. Closing is great. Just pull back on the lock and flick it closed. Or I can just pull back on the lock and fold closed by push against something like my leg. I like the fact that it comes with a deep carry pocket clip, although it could be a little longer. We'll see how well it is retained as I use it.

Tdog
Whitehall, Mt

Aug 03, 2020

Pros: Handle Material, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Like it

Had the same opening problems as everyone else. Went to SOG website and they claim that the lock adjusts with time. After a few days of breaking in my knife seems to be flipping better ..... anywho there you go

Kab
Vermont

Dec 16, 2019

Pros: Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Benchmade Bugout killer

Just received my terminus xr today. The over all finished assembly of the knife was poor, screws were loose and blade had a little play. Once I fixed those issues and fiddled the flipper a few times, boy oh boy do you have a benchmade bugout killer! It may not be as light, but for half the price w several deployment options for the blade "riding on ball bearings", it is a no brainer.

Merle
Holly Hill, Fl

Mar 29, 2020

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Blade Material, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Lock Ease of Use, Pocket Clip

Very Disappointed in the SOG Terminus XR

I really wanted to love this knife. In hand, it's absolutely gorgeous. The crimson G10 is stunning; the blade was well centered and sharp out of the box. SOG's axis lock (they call it the Arc Lock) holds the blade securely and, when deployed, lets the blade hang free. However, getting the blade to flip is a screaming nightmare. Remember, this knife runs on ball bearings--and it's called a "flipper knife." But it simply will not flip without the appropriate wrist action. When I pull back on the lock, the blade hangs free and clear. I have the traced the problem to this: the tension spring is putting pressure on the lock bar so that it comes into contact with the back of the blade when disengaged, with just enough pressure to prevent the blade from flipping/opening smoothly. Lubrication is futile. My index finger is sore, the thumb studs (overall a stupid design feature, I think) do not help in any smooth opening of the blade. I will hazard a guess that this problem is either a manufacturing defect or an issue of poor quality control. This is really unacceptable--especially for the price SOG demands for the Terminus XR. Still, I may keep the knife, with the deluded hope that the tension spring will be forgiving over time and use. But no one should have to suffer with a flipper knife on ball bearings that doesn't freaking flip. I have several flipper knives and the SOG Terminus XR is the worst of the group. My Kershaw Chill, which has a phosphor-bronze washer on one side of the pivot and a nylon washer on the other side, is still the smoothest flipping knife I own. Got that, SOG? Good design and proper manufacturing controls go a long way to a successful knife and deployment experience. One final thing about the knife's design. The clip is painful. It's short, tight, and the curve at the end guarantees you will cry out in pain and frustration when you try to pull it from your pocket. Oh, and a notice to all you YouTube knife reviewers who glowed with effusive praise for this specific piece of SOG cutlery: I will be culling my subscriber list!

Peter J
IL - Illinois

Feb 09, 2023

Pros: None

Cons: None

Blade not as depicted

The knife performs well for light to moderate use. Mine feels solidly constructed. Knife collectors can be a bit temperamental, and I am no exception. I got the Terminus directly from SOG and on the site the blade is clearly marked with "Studies and Observations Group". My knife was NOT so marked. It is a disappointment. They should send what they advertise. SOG refused to publish my review. Maybe my last SOG.

Mjk
New Jersey

Mar 01, 2024

Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Handle Feel, Handle Material, Lock Ease of Use, Lock Type, Pocket Clip, Weight

Cons: Ease of Opening, Overall Quality, Sheath

Not so hot

Other reviews mention that this knife is hard to flip open. I ignored that information and bought the knife anyway. When I got the knife I found it to be hard to flip open, as the other reviews correctly noted. So, I tried some very light oil on the bearings. That did not help. Then I tried to loosen the screws on the pivot. They are plastic, and quickly stripped, making adjustment impossible. I am disappointed with this knife. However, it is a reasonably priced D2 knife and is good looking, so not a total loss, and there are two other ways to open the knife, thumb stud and cross bar lock.

Don
Canal Fulton, Oh

Apr 09, 2020

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Lock Ease of Use, Lock Type

An Axis lock it's not

Really wanted to like this knife and there are things to like. Great steel and edge, handle scales are good, feel and color. Overall fit and finish are very nice. Planned for a light use EDC but the flipper is such a pain, literally. Figured the thumb studs were there to finish the job the flipper started. The spring/closed detent has just too much resistance. I have the OD Green one and it's the same. But it's engraved for display so no problem. I won't carry this one and will probably add to the display of the OD Green.

Ed
Portland

Jan 23, 2023

Pros: None

Cons: None

My last SOG

Slick in the hand. XR lock flexes between the buttons on each side unlike other axis-style locks, so one handed operation can be spotty. Open/close action is definitely unique to this knife. The attempt to combine flipper and crossbar lock actions yields something less than either type alone.

Jake
Western NY

Feb 01, 2021

Pros: Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Pocket Clip, Lock Type

Pass

I really liked this knife. It easily opens with the flipper to the locked position. Holds a good edge. I feel naked without it. However, it started with the clip. Stamping your logo into the clip weakens it. Right near the S in SOG, it cracked on one side of the clip. Thereby having a sharp edge chewing on your pants. Then when you make a warranty claim for a clip, they are all working from home and now your waiting, and waiting, and waiting. I get it, COVID, but there is nobody to fill claims? One of the bearings occasionally has a hitch and gets stiff. It does not affect the opening, but when you pull back on the release, it will fall back but then "stick" shortly before it can fully close. Annoying. And the killer, one of the return springs on the blade lock broke. The spring that pushes the lock forward no longer works. The blade will not even lock in the closed position as it is. It just flops around. As much as I loved this knife, the quality and long term durability is not there. Pass!