[SHOT Show 2017] SOG Knives – The Year of the Multi-Tool

According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2017 is the Year of The Rooster. (We’ll let the jokes write themselves…) According to SOG Knives, however, it is the Year of The Multi-Tool. SOG, traditionally known for their “bombproof” blades, has released a line of particularly innovative multi-tools. These tools look like they'll be pushing the boundaries of what we thought to be possible with some folding pliers and a few gadgets.

SHOT Show 2017: SOG Knives – The Year of the Multi-Tool

The first thing they showed us was their Baton line. The Baton line consists of four individual tools, all conforming to a linear design that leaves them looking like something between an over-sized tactical pen or an under-sized collapsible baton (hence the name).

What end users get from this is all the functionality of a multi-tool without the same visual signature.

This may be important to those who do good work in bad places around the world. Or for that matter to those who're tight on cargo space (think mountain bikers or ultra-light backpackers and the like). Then there are those who just want their pliers to look a little more sleek and stylish. The Baton tools, named Q1 through Q4, offer increasing capability for relatively little upsize. On the low end, the Q1 offers a working pen, a pair of scissors and a couple other add-ons.

The “heavy” side of the spectrum, used only as a metaphor since any of the Baton tools could get lost in a cargo pocket, the Q4 comes with a separate rack of hex-head bits for use on the Q4s driver socket. Each one offers a little more utility, a couple more features, for an increase in size that needs to be measured with calipers to make any kind of difference.

For those who are not worried about low-pro, there’s the Sync series. The Sync I and II, respectively, allow the chronic gadget-head to wear his multi-tool with pride in a novel and useful manner. The Sync tools are folding pliers—plus other tools—that clip into a small locking board for safe carriage. The locking board doubles as a belt buckle. Any standard leather, nylon, or bio-thane belt that accepts western-style buckles will receive the Sync without any heartache or basement modification. The Sync I and II are mostly similar, with the only major difference being the size of the tool/buckle itself. In both cases, the mounting bracket/buckle hold the folding tool tightly and securely. There’s no wobble, rattle or give from the Sync Multi-tool once it’s locked into place.

Details on both the Baton and Sync lines are available on SOG’s website. Take a look, and see if one of these is the Goldilocks multi-tool you didn’t know you were waiting for.

If you're at SHOT Show, you can visit them at booth #: 425.

This has been a special SHOT Show installment of Industry News. It is not a review nor an endorsement.

What is the NSSF SHOT Show?

The NSSF SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show) and Conference is an annual event held by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Typically attended by thousands of people from all 50 states and over a hundred countries, it is (quite rightfully) described as the “…world's premier exposition of combined firearms, ammunition, law enforcement, cutlery, outdoor apparel, optics, and related products and services.

Imagine the Worlds' Fair, but packed with everything from mini-guns and every breed of body armor, bows and boots; from eye pro and ear pro to optics and ordnance, socks to swords…you get the idea. If you'd like to see a sampling of the companies who will be showing at this year's SHOT, there's a live map right here, though it doesn't reflect the organizations set up elsewhere, in hotel suites, etc

View imagery from our coverage of last year's SHOT Show here; 2015's is right here.

SHOT 2017 Schedule

January 15 — Special invite-only events; Veterans Training Fund/Wishes for Warriors at The Ranch, SIG Sauer Range Day, and others
January 16 — Media on the Range, Boulder City Rifle & Pistol Club
January 17 — 20, 2016

Sands Expo and Convention Center
Las Vegas, Nevada
Hours
Tuesday, January 17 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 18 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 19 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Friday, January 20 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.