A decade and a half ago, SOG kicked off a partnership with Japanese designer Kiku Matsuda. That partnership resulted in the creation of the SOG Kiku series, some of the brand’s best knives ever (one of which made our list of the best pocket knives).
Now, the lauded tactical and EDC knifemaking brand and Matsuda have partnered up once more, this time on the SOG Hidaka FX 3V. To the benefit of outdoorsmen and tactical fanatics everywhere, this fixed blade definitely lives up to the hype.
Living on the edge
If you’re familiar with the SOG Kiku, you know it’s a pretty unique knife. However, this follow-up clearly shows that Matsuda has a signature style.
Like the Kiku before it, this knife’s blade boasts a tanto-style blade with a complex grind. It boasts an excellent piercing tip and, just past it, a solid couple of inches of cutting edge good for basic and detail-oriented tasks.
But where the blade angles toward the hilt, the edge takes a surprising turn — or rather, it goes concave. Like the Kiku, this gentle concave shape makes the lower part of the edge better for hard-use cutting tasks, like chopping.
