SOG Specialty Knives & Tools S21B-K GOV-TAC, Bead Blasted

by SOG Specialty Knives

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Gov-Tac transcends the competition with double precision ground grooves, thumb control ridges, and an extremely thick blade. Other features include: An instinctual new handle shape with bold diamond checkering and scored with grip lines, Signature washer construction that has never before been accomplished with a molded Kraton rubber grip handle, SOG's low-reflexive bead-blasted finish on blade, pommel, crossguard, and spanner nut, A proven blade style that is robust with flat ground bevels and precision ground grooves, Stainless steel sculpted crossguard and pommel (capable of being used as a field hammer), weighted and balanced for perfect control

Product Description

The Gov-Tac transcends the competition with double precision ground grooves, thumb control ridges, and an extremely thick, .200", blade

Product Details

• Item Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0009JXR7K
• Item model number: S21B-K
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,951 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good knife, March 11, 2010

By 

Michael Eckhardt (Douglas, AK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: SOG Specialty Knives & Tools S21B-K GOV-TAC, Bead Blasted (Tools & Home Improvement)

Quite pleased with the knife. Bought it for woods knife in bear country, ie batoning and (last ditch) defense. I'm happy with the knife in this role.

The AUS8 steel will mar with batoning usage and sap will stick to the finish rather easily. It's not a problem as I buff it out with some compound when I get around to it. Which leads me to the point that after buffing it a bit the steel looks exactly like I imagine a good knife steel should look. A kind of dull, gray metal look that's very handsome.

All the feature on the knife are well done and the only thing I really want to comment on is the AUS 8. I get small chips when batoning and that's annoying. They're easy to sharpen out, but still annoying. Since I use it in a dual role, I keep it shaving sharp, putting a compound angle on the edge. The last angle is fairly obtuse but not exceedingly so. So, that may have something to do with it. As with many things, it's a compromise.

In a solely tactical, ie defensive role, this knife is excellent. But so would a blade with an even lesser steel. In a solely woodsman type role one of the many 1095 bladed knives would no doubt be a better choice. A somewhat cheaper competitor would be something like a KaBar Marine, and if rust is not a problem that would be a good choice. Alas, not for me.

One thing to bear in mind is that this knife comes with a good sheath, and that that sheath is included in the price. So, if you deduct the $20 to $30 sheath price off of the current $80 street price it puts the knife price at the $50 to $60 mark, which is quite good.

As, mentioned before, I like the knife quite a bit and it's doing a good job for me. I'd recommend the knife with no problems whatsoever as it's a quality item.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great knife, April 28, 2008

By 

R. Jacobs - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: SOG Specialty Knives & Tools S21B-K GOV-TAC, Bead Blasted (Tools & Home Improvement)

all in all SOG did a wonderful job with the design of this knife. it is thick and durable and razor sharp. the only thing I didn't like so much is that the finish scratches easily. However, that has nothing to do with it functionality.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jack of All Trades, December 5, 2010

By 

Ray Davidson (SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: SOG Specialty Knives & Tools S21B-K GOV-TAC, Bead Blasted (Tools & Home Improvement)

This is my "ah oh, looks like I'm sleeping in the woods tonight" knife, and the design fits that bill pretty well. Jack of all trades, master of none. The blade is beefy, including the reinforced tip. The knife is rugged, as I learned when I took it into the local mountains, and put it to the test.
I started by chopping on a piece of fallen live mountain mahogany. (No, I didn't hack on any standing wood, just a peice that had recently been pruned back for the trail, about an inch thick.) It came as no suprise to me that the blade was a bit light and not very weight forward, but for what it is, it chopped fine. It batoned better, blowing through some dry pine with ease. I still haven't used it in wet cold conditions so I don't know how well it would work. The blade isn't exactly a flat grind, (as SOG claims), but the hollow grind blade didn't disappoint. I inadvertently whacked the guard while batoning, but it had no ill effect.
Its worth noting that I did all this with no gloves, and the handle was great on my bare hands. The handle is soft enough, grippy and fits my hand nicely. I Also did some shaving and whittling after chopping and batoning, and found that the choil and jimping came in handy for choking up on the blade. Note. Use caution as the chiol is a little bit small and the blade very sharp. I then tested the pommel by hammering with it on a wooden wedge I had fashioned to split a log. No problems there. I like the size of the blade. Long enough to baton with, short and light enough to do smaller tasks with. Here is the kicker. After all this, I was still able to shave hair off my arm. I'm not making this up. When I got home I just cleaned and oiled the blade and put it to a strop, and it is as sharp as when it came out of the box.
Now there plenty knives out there that will do these tasks better than the Gov-Tac, but they tend to be much heavier. If I go out knowing I'll be building shelter and getting a fire started I might have a bigger longer thicker knife, but for day hikes or through hikes I prefer lighter loads. I am sure this knife won't let me down in an emergency.
The kydex sheath it came with is good in that it retained the knife extreamly well, but I don't care for the way it wears on my side. It kind of sticks out. I Bought the nylon sheath that comes with the SOG Seal Team Elite knife, and like that better. The front pouch comes in handy. Right now its carrying my Leatherman Charge tti and a fire steel. One thing I would much prefer however, is the incorporation of snaps rather than velcro on the nylon sheath.
I am very happy with this great looking nice handling knife. I feel it was worth the price and then some.