SOG Recon Government – S21

SOG Knives Collectors’ Recon Government Review:

The ‘Recon Government’ is the gun-blued version of the original ‘Government‘. Though similar in design and dimensions, the steel used on both knives was different as trying to apply a gun-blue finish on stainless steel (the Government’s) was not possible. Hence the Recon Government was produced in SK-5 carbon steel in order for it to be gun-blued. It was produced concurrently with the ‘Government’ as a tactical alternative to its satin-finished twin and was not an exclusive production for anyone.

Not much is known about this knife, just like the rest of SOG’s older gun-blued blades. Pictures of the Recon Government rarely emerge on online forums, given its lower production numbers and rarity among collectors. For those who are fortunate to use one, the Recon Government makes an excellent all-purpose knife that inherits all the Government’s traits, in SK-5 which holds a better edge.

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Specifications:

Blade Length: 6.25 in. x .180 in.
Overall length: 11.25 in.
Blade Steel: SK-5 Carbon Steel
Blade hardness: Rc. 57-58
Blade finish: Gun-blued
Weight: ~8.5 oz. ?
Edge: Plain
Carry System: Nylon sheath
Handle Material: Black Kraton handle
Knife Type: Fixed Blade
Country of origin: Japan
Part #: S21

Rarity Details:

Last Known MSRP: $<.>
Production dates: 1990 – 2002?
Production numbers: ?
Limited run?: No.
Other things of interest: One of the first few gun-blued SOGs available.
Rarity index: 9.5/10 (10 being the most rare)

Rarity index scale (1 to 10, 10 being the most rare):
1 – Very common; easily available on ebay, google product search and almost every knife selling website. Spammed with at least 10+ listings on ebay.
3 – Has been around for at least 2 years and are selling reasonably w%ll, with retailers favouring other newer models over this knife.
5 – Knives that are on the borderline of being discontinued or have been discontinued for less than 6 months
6 – Products from 6 onwards are either discontinued or limited edition.
7 – Discontinued knives that pop up once every few months on the “For Sale” part of forums or on ebay. Still can be found at a few online shops though.
8 – Knives that need lots of researching to find. Not available anymore in online knife shops and pop up (if you’re lucky) >4 months for one at a time.
9 – Knives holding this rarity are the shadowy kind. You can’t find any information on them at all (not even from online knife shops that have not taken down that knife’s product page). If you see one for sale grab at all cost.
10 – The rarest of all knives. If you hadn’t been here you wouldn’t even have known that it existed. Should you have one of these you better lock it up in a triple-combination safe and treat it like a family heirloom…

Product Description:

The Recon Government is now available and features the same high carbon tooling steel as our SOG Bowie, the deepest gun blued finish available and a military type nylon sheath.