Customer Reviews

SOG Specialty Knives & Tools PE14 Pentagon Elite

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Great knife. I think it's skirting the lines of legality in my state because you can flip it open, but it's not a "gravity knife" -- it holds itself closed and it has a locking mechanism to hold the blade open, so it seems to fit within the letter of the law.

The "shark tooth" tip is a neat design idea that gives it a VERY sharp point, there are serrated edges towards the handle that help out if you're trying to cut through something like twine or wires, it has a belt clip if you're toting it around as a utility knife but is also small enough to easily fit within your pocket.

If you're looking for a good utility "buck knife" you might as well get something like this. The flipping action and one-finger lock disengage means you can easily use it one handed and it seems rugged enough for everyday use in the tool belt. No more dropping what you're doing so you can pry the blade out or safely close it, just a little wrist and thumb action will do it.

Edit:
I've had this knife for almost 2 years now and I still like it. I use it frequently (primarily for cutting open boxes from Amazon... *cough*) and can't get enough of the wrist action on it. It's so nice to be able to open and close it without having to pry the blade out 2-handed style like other utility knives. Can't say I can really comment on the whole "knife fighting" aspect other reviewers mention (don't do much knife fighting myself... you know... busy busy...) but as a simple utility knife, it's hard to beat. Still sharp, too.

Edit 2 (Dec 2007) --
Still have the knife. Still like it. Another reviewer said this knife was double bladed (I assume that means "sharp on both sides") but it's not. You might think it was from looking at the picture, but mine, which I ordered from this page a few years ago, is only sharp on the bottom, with the exception of the "shark tooth" tip, which is sharp on both sides, but only for a distance of like 1/8" or so (the very sharp tip is great for getting started on those highly annoying, nearly invulnerable hard plastic packages everything comes in these days).

You can open it almost as fast as a switch blade and close it even faster. I have had it for about 6 months and it is still sharp. It is light weight and comfortable to use. This knife is perfect if you want a well built knife that opens fast and is legal.

I was worried that the SOG PE14 Elite might be a bit large for "pocket clip" use, but it really carries well. Light weight and always handy, it's never in my way. The action is smooth and slick with the lock being sure, certain and quiet. Smaller one handed knives that I've used seem a bit fiddly, but the PE14 is large enough to be easily manupulated without having to look directly at it (to open or close it). It's a keeper.

First things first: the SOG Pentagon Elite is a premium knife. VG-10 Stainless Steel, Zytel handle, Arc-Lock system. This thing is a top-of-the-line SOG product (which are all excellent quality products).

That said, if you are looking for something beyond your typical inexpensive knife, this is the way to go. Not much more expensive than a mid-range knife and oh-so-awesome! The looks are sleek and understated. Refined, even.

The blade itself is the same length as the handle (the tip almost touches the bottom of the handle when folded), so it is LONG. Speaking of tips, the tip is a "shark tooth" style tip, where both sides are sharp, perfect for opening boxes without damaging their contents. The blade is, as mentioned, VG-10 stainless, made in Japan. Then comes the Arc-Lock.

The Arc-Lock is so awesome, I had to give it its own paragraph in my review. First thing you'll notice is how smooth it is. Opening the knife takes no effort at all (though, due to the design of the Arc-Lock, the blade stays in until you flick it out). The design of the lock makes this knife perfect for one-handed use. I have learned to close the knife not just with one hand (like all my other knives), but with nothing more than a push of the lock and a flick. Since your fingers never get in the way of the blade like on a liner-lock knife, the blade can be flicked closed in just the same way any decent knife can be flicked open. In addition, the design of the lock (and the thumb studs) means this knife is TOTALLY AMBIDEXTROUS! Just a quick switching of the pocket clip to the other side of the knife and lefties are good to go. I'm a rightie and I can use this knife left handed no problem (something I wish I could say with my other knives).

I also own a SOG Kilowatt that I've had for a year and a half now and while that thing is also and excellent quality knife (AUS-8 stainless steel, a step down from VG-10, and a Zytel handle), this one knocks it out of the park. While the Kilowatt looks a little goofy, you'll never find yourself questioning the looks of this knife. It. Looks. Slick. Plus, the Arc-Lock system is just totally unbeatable. I wasn't sure if it was really a selling point for me before buying, as I'd never used it, but now that I have, I have a hard time going back to liner-locks.

All in all, a great knife and a great buy. IF THIS REVIEW IS TOO LONG, AT LEAST READ THIS: this is an excellent quality knife that looks great and functions even better, thanks in huge part to the Arc-Lock system.

Very light weight, well balenced, and quick to open. The first thing I did was to remove the "clip" on the side (pictured above), which just served to catch on things in my pocket, but could be useful to those of you that want to belt-mount it. I have been useing it regularly for months and it is still sharp.

I bought this knife about 2 years ago and it has been my daily carry knife ever since. the Arc-Lock mechanism has got to be one of the best innovations in locking technology I have ever come across. It opens and closes faster than a switchblade but is completely legal. Once you get used to the fully ambidextrious action, it can be operated with one hand by feel with ease. The blade design and balance is perfect for a work knife. The shark tooth tip keeps it from being bent easily and the bead blasted finish keeps it looking good. Due to the fact that it is a high carbon, non-stainless material, small rust spots do appear but can be buffed out easily with emory cloth.

The only weaknesses that I see in this knife are that the shark tooth tip does make it a bit harder to perform delicate tasks such as cleaning under your fingernails. Also, the leaf springs used in the Arc-Lock are prone to breaking which make the mechanism not as smooth. This however, has only happened to me once in the 2 years of heavy use and SOG mailed me new springs no questions asked.

Overall, I cannot recommend this knife strongly enough, especially the Arc-Lock. If you are in the market for this size/type of knife, you will fall in love with it.

Very well built and sharp as a razor. One hand opening is quick and smooth and the ArcLock is solid as a rock. I also own the Elite II and while I would prefer its size if I had to defend myself, this is the perfect size for everyday carrying.

Absolutely the best folder I have owned. I have used and collected knives for 30 years and the SOG Pentagon Elite I is my favorite. Multiple features combine to make this the top of the line. (1) The blade steel is tough and holds an edge even with hard use. (2) The half straight / half serration edge allows good normal slicing cuts and positive cutting for fibrous material such as rope. (3) The shape of the point is unique in that it is a short inverted "V" design. I like this because it has less chance of the point breaking, always a concern, over the long thin stiletto points seen in other designs.

I searched probably 100 knives when shopping for this back in 2001. I got it because I loved the blade style. Now, after having used it for daily carry for 6 of the past 8 years (I got a Kershaw Cyclone, black, serrated blade about a year and half ago) I see several other benefits to it.

First, I should probably make the distinction that this is a TACTICAL knife, not a FIGHTING knife. If you want a knife designed with fighting in mind, look at Gerber/Applegate's Covert folders, or Cold Steel's Ti-Lite. This knife was designed more for law enforcement than an assassin. As other reviewers have mentioned, the shark-tooth tip was a genius idea and perfect for punching into boxes and tough plastic packages before cutting. There's no doubt in my mind that you could do some serious damage to the human body with it, but its thicker Zytel handle and wider, thicker blade seem designed more for wood, rope, plastic, etc., all of which it handles very well.

I really like the arc-lock, which is similar to some Benchmade knives. It opens and closes easily, yet it's very firm with no play or rattle when extended. As other reviewers stated, this knife can be opened in the blink of an eye, and I've made the mistake of frightening people when going to open a box. It does NOT have a spring or torsion bar - no assisted opening, the blade simply pivots easily when using a quick half-circle flicking motion.

When they ask why I have to carry such a big knife I reply "Because I never want to be caught with a knife to small to handle the job." I would call this a medium sized folder - there are many larger ones out there. It's easy to clip inside the pocket, and the stout handle doesn't make itself felt. When I got the knife, I lived in a different state where the blade length law on concealed knives allowed for 4" blades. Since this is 3.9", it was perfect.

I still use the knife when I go camping or for outdoors activities (to save the black blade finish on my Kershaw). I also have a beautiful Cold Steel Triple Action tanto, but it's not practical for daily use. I have used the Pentagon Elite extensively and it still looks almost new. It's very well built and continues to function, (8 years later) like the day I got it. My first SOG knife and it made me a big SOG fan.

All in, this is a very good knife. High quality steel, holds the edge well, lightning fast (yet still legal) opening mechanism. For the price, this was an excellent purchase, in my opinion, and I highly recommend it. However, after carrying the knife for a couple of weeks, though, here are a couple of minor hangups:

1. blade - the blade is covered in a matte finish which makes it less than mirror-bright. This is intentional, and a welcome feature. The problem is that matte finish is just that - a finish. it will get scratched off a bit due to interactions with other materials, foreign objects getting collected inside the knife's body, etc.

2. size - the description reads 4 inches (SOG makes a 5 inch version as well). However, blade length is typically counted along the entire cutting surface, and since the back of the blade is also sharpened (for about 1/4 of an inch or so), it just may be an issue for an overzealous rule enforcer in your state, as the cutting length is technically above 4 inches.

3. hole in the back - the fact that the knife is ambi means that the clip is reversible. Whichever side it is on, the opposite side has a big "mounting hole" for the clip. It would be great if later iterations of the knife came with some sort of a "plug" that could get screwed into the hole that's not occupied by the clip.

4. thickness - the back side of the hilt is thicker than the front. Not sure if there's a structural reason for it, but combined with the knife's already significant width, it makes it less of a comfortable pocket carry.

5. texture - the handle is made of hard plastic that SOG uses on may of their knives. while i have no reason to doubt its durability, the surface is rough and not exactly easy on the hands. I suppose it's intentional and needed to retain the grip, but I don't know if there was an easier way to achieve that without making the knife feel like sandpaper on your skin.

with that in mind, i want to reiterate that i still like this knife a lot over much of the competition.