SOG Kiku XR Blackout Review
The Midnight Rider!
The SOG Kiku XR Blackout is built like a tank but its distinct,
appealing design precludes any confusion. The blade is hybrid
blend of the Japanese Tanto, Recurve and Harpoon styles.
Kiku Matsuda is a knifemaking legend in Japan and his relationship with SOG Knives goes back to 2008. We covered his first folder collaboration with SOG back in 2014 so, while perusing the company’s offerings online, I was delighted to see the company still offers a couple of Matsuda’s exquisite designs — especially the Kiku XR folder. Though not brand-spanking new, in this writer’s opinion Kiku’s designs are timeless. I procured a sample of the Kiku XR and bring it to you here.
The SOG Kiku XR — 7.375″ overall and 4.375″ closed — is built like a tank but once you get past its somewhat short, stubby profile, Matsuda’s exquisite design prowess takes over. The 3.0″ black-coated CTS-XHP stainless steel blade is a hybrid alliance of the Japanese Tanto, Recurve and Harpoon styles skillfully blended into one. The matte black finished blade rolls out by your choice of a kidney-shaped hole or jimped flipper and snicks into place with SOG’s XL slide-lock. The blade deploys by thumbing down the spring-loaded lock release. The handle has nicely sculpted Micarta scales over stainless steel liners. The Kiku XR is delivered with two pocket clips, one for right side carry and one for the left, both for tip-up orientation.
The Kiku XR’s blade is deployed by a kidney shaped hole or
a jimped flipper then locks in place with SOG’s XL slide-lock.
The blade stows by thumbing down the spring-loaded lock release.
Why You’ll Like It
The Kiku XR Blackout’s blade is pure poetry. You might call it “a runt” due to its stodgy height-to-length ratio but Matsuda’s delectable styling makes it an eloquent one. I did some cursory testing of the Kiku XR a few years back and found the blade to be very adept at slicing a half-inch diameter rope and thick tanned cowhide. CTS XHP stainless is a Carpenter Technology Corp. powdered metallurgy steel high in carbon and chromium content. This is the good stuff.
MSRP for the Kiku XR is $199 and SOG’s catalog shows six different versions, some priced lower and others higher. If you like a stout folder exuding style, this is your knife!
