The Merits and Drawbacks of SOG’s “Hunter Revolver Knife”

Review on SOG’s Hunter Revolver Knife.

What is the SOG Hunter Revolver? It is a combination bone saw and knife blade with gut hook that revolves or pivots from a center pin on the handle. When the blade is exposed, the saw is neatly nestled within the handle in a locked position and vice versa.

At long last I have time to address the promised review of the the SOG Hunter Revolver. As a Fish and Wildlife Biologist field researcher, (there’s a mouthful), there have been many occasions for me to use numerous knives, saws, axes, multi tools, etc. The latest stint took me to the wilds of Washington State working on spawning anadromous fish. I used the opportunity to try out the SOG Revolver under some unusual conditions.

Here is what I found. I attached it to the belt on my waterproof fanny pack around neoprene waders. It rode comfortably at my waist and was easy to access. I used the leather sheath throughout the project. The knife/sheath were often submerged in water while crossing rivers….I also took a few uncharted dips while traversing slimy bedrock and fell on the knife several times. It did not break, bend or in any way become unusable.

From there I used the blade to gut some very fresh fish carcasses and some very disgusting carcasses, known in the research field as “puss bags”. How did the knife perform? We like to refer to the knives used for research in this way; worthless pieces of &*#%! or smooth as butter. The SOG….like butter.

The gut hook performed on fish in the same manner smooth and quick, vital when you are hiking several river miles and processing hundreds of carcasses a day. I could then rotate the blade to the saw and just as smoothly remove the tail or snout. Now, mind you, there are no nice cleaning tables or flat surfaces on which to perform these tasks only, rock, sand, dirt, all the accoutrement’s of a stream side.

Needless to say before the the first day was done, I had numerous individuals hovering ’round’ me wanting a better look at that “KNIFE”.

At that point it became clear to me, I had a very useful knife that made my work much more pleasant and comfortable. Also, I best keep it close or it may make some other biologist’s day better. No thieves, just intelligent people who appreciate good equipment.

The grip is comfortable and the knife is surprisingly light weight, which is also a blessing in my work. We carry a lot of heavy technical equipment and work mostly under very wet conditions, making life a little more challenging, so the lighter the better. I am ashamed to say I never sharpened it the two months I used it and still it worked smooth as “butter”. I abused the SOG Revolver unmercifully and it met the challenge and then some.

Only one drawback for me, it is awkward to rotate, both the blade and the saw are very sharp and you could easily cut yourself if you are careless. I was not able to develop a quick, or easy way to use the blade/saw rotation, as in one handed.

Also I don’t recommend using the saw for wood. Did I, yes, but that is not what it is intended for. However, it does work. It does not work in the same fashion a wood saw does, i.e. in a back and forth movement, but if you place it on a branch and draw the saw towards you, then lift and repeat the process, it will cut through wood just fine.

This is not the end of the saga of the SOG Hunter Revolver. I loaned it to one of those, “hovering individuals”, mentioned above and he used it Antelope hunting in Wyoming. What did he think? “Like butter!” Sick of that analogy yet?!! He loved it and especially since he had broken his Kershaw Blade Trader while Elk hunting. Suffice to say, he was not happy with the product and intended to purchase the SOG Revolver.

Steve had two complaints about the Hunter Revolver. He indicated the gut hook was a little small/narrow, but still performed well. He also mentioned the knife handle/grip gets gummed up when gutting. Neither of these issues was enough to keep him from purchasing the knife.

If the opportunity arises I will ask him to submit his own review, but in the mean time, I hope this has provided you with some valuable information about the product and it’s virtues. Oh, one more thing, Steve actually sharpened the knife and was impressed with how well it kept it’s “edge”.

I suppose the big question now is, “would I use it as a survival knife?” Yes. Is it the best survival knife?

I think, Chris of SOG Knives, said it all, “The best survival knife is the one you have with you.”