blade

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Vosteed Corgi

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  How the hell do you open it? This was the first comment I received when showing the Vosteed Corgi to friends. Unlike the other knives I own, this knife uses a front/standard flipper to open the blade. It took me a minute to figure out how the mechanism works, but once I did, it opened easily. 

  The Corgi’s blade is 2.99 inches 14C28N modified drop point with a flat grind. I have been using it for the past two months. I have experienced no issues using the knife and the blade has maintained its edge.

  The patented Trek Lock mechanism with ceramic ball bearings makes the blade open and close smoothly. The blade can be closed by using a simple push of the button. When closed, the blade fits entirely in the handle. I was concerned that the button could be accidentally pressed causing the blade to move while I was using it, but that did not happen.

  The Vosteed Corgi is all about symmetry with both sides of the handle being identical. The brass plates were a nice aesthetic touch. According to Vosteed, they also provide structural stability. Keeping with the symmetrical design the blade has a front and symmetrical standard flipper, both with jimping, although I did not use the front flipper. The backspacer has a pin which serves as a lanyard passthrough.

  When Vosteed sent the Corgi for review, it was sent with a sticker, cleaning cloth, Vosteed patch, and a zipper storage pouch. This is how all the Corgi’s are sent from Vosteed.

  The first change I made to the knife was to reverse the pocket clip and set it up for left pocket carry. The primary reason I do this is that I do not like to have anything that could interfere with the drawing of my firearm. The clip was a little hard to get in my 5.11s so I bent it a little out to make it fit easier. The screw which secures the plates backed out causing the plates to loosen. Proper application of a Torx T8 screwdriver resolved the issue. Other than this I did not encounter any issues with the Corgi. From daily use, the micarta handle wore down a little and the brass plates developed a patina.

  I showed the Vosteed Corgi to several friends. Once they learned how to use the flipper, they liked the functionality of it. They went to buy one for themselves, but the knife was listed as sold out on their website. If you happen to be in the market for a smooth gentleman's knife, check out the Corgi at Vosteed’s website.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Reasonably priced flipper pocket knife.

Target Market:

Anyone who wants a flipper knife at a reasonable price.

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Overall Length: 7.17" | 182.12 mm

  • Blade Length: 2.99" | 75.98 mm

  • Blade Width: 0.84" | 21.31 mm

  • Blade Thickness: 0.118" | 3.00 mm

  • Blade Material: 14C28N

  • Grind: Flat

  • Blade Style: Drop Point

  • Finish: Black Stonewash

  • Hardness: HRC 60±2

  • Handle Length: 4.18" | 106.14 mm

  • Handle Width: 0.92" | 23.32 mm

  • Handle Thickness: 0.49" | 12.33 mm

  • Handle Material: Micarta

  • Color: Green

  • Weight: 3.32 oz or 94.00 g

  • Opener: Front Flipper | Back Flipper

  • Lock Type: Trek Lock

  • Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing

  • Pocket Clip: Reversible | Stainless Steel

  • Carry Position: Tip-up

  • Backspacer Material: Micarta

  • Backspacer Color: Green

  • Insert Material: Brass

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Vosteed lists 15 different styles with various handle colors and insert materials.

What others are saying?:

4.6 of 5 stars on Amazon 

My Favorite Knife

This Vosteed Corgi is a little beauty. The action is smooth and quiet, the lines are somehow both streamlined and soft, the blade is classic, not wild or aggressive—this is definitely a gentleman's pocket knife. It looks good, it feels simply good in the hand, the materials are top-notch (14C28N is my #3 steel behind 20CV and Magnacut- I do love my stainless steels), the attention to detail is evident on every section of the knife, both blade and handle. I'm a newbie knife collector, but this is definitely my favorite knife.

Link to other reviews:

Knife Informer 

Price point:

MSRP = $59.00

Retail = $59.00 at Amazon

I need it now! Availability:

Vosteed or Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Good value for the price.

  • Trek Lock mechanism is smooth.

  • Good construction.

  • Blade maintained its edge during daily use.

Cons:

  • Screw backed out

  • Limited availability on the Vosteed web site

Score: 8.00 Great

Favorite Link:  2A4E Diversity Shoot

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Vosteed Raccoon

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  Vosteed has come on the market with a bunch of quality knives at affordable prices. The Raccoon is one of those. These knives give you good, useful features that won’t break the bank. If you are looking for an everyday carry knife, one that can handle a multitude of tasks, the Vosteed Raccoon might fit the bill. Let’s find out what this knife has to offer.

  The Vosteed Raccoon starts off with a crossbar style lock. The crossbar lock essentially locks the blade in place once open. I found it to hold the blade in place for everything I used the knife for, from normal cutting to scraping off tape. The crossbar lock on the Raccoon is spring loaded and located toward the top of the handle, near the pivot. Once the blade is locked in place and you wish to close it, just slide the crossbar back toward the rear of the knife to release the blade. You can use either side of the crossbar, or both, it’s really just personal preference. Amazingly, this is my first crossbar lock and I really like how it works.

  More important than the lock style, is the Raccoon’s blade style or shape. The Raccoon uses a flat ground 3.25” drop point blade made from 14C28N steel. Vosteed used a 3 to 1, length to width, ratio on the blade. I really liked what they did with the blade shape, it just works. If you are worried about the blade steel, it has held up extremely well. The blade came razor sharp. So sharp that I cut myself within the first few minutes of receiving it. I have had to sharpen the blade since then, but that is mainly because I was scraping off tile grout with it. I have two complaints about the blade. One is the choil. Yes, it allows one to choke up on the knife, but sometimes it can get caught on the edge of something, like a box flap. The next has to do with the jimping on the spine of the blade. It is too close together and not deep enough. It really doesn’t help much. Besides those two items, I really do like the Raccoon’s blade shape and style.

  I probably should mention how the Raccoon opens. Vosteed gave the Raccoon your everyday thumb stud opener. It has a thumb stud on both sides of the blade, so no matter what hand you use to open it, it will work. This thumb stud is in a good location and makes for opening the Raccoon very easy. One can also use the crossbar lock to open the knife. Just pull the crossbar back and the blade will fall open due to gravity. Or you can flick it out after sliding the crossbar back. Part of the reason the Raccoon opens so easily is its caged ceramic ball bearings. I always like a knife that has more than one way of opening it and one that opens smoothly. The Raccoon does both of those with ease.

  Moving back from the blade, we get into the handle. The handle on the Raccoon is made from micarta. The micarta gives the handle a nice feel. Being micarta, it naturally has a little bit of texture to it. Because of this, the micarta handle never felt slick to me and always gave a decent grip. The Raccoon also has a deep pocket carry clip. It’s only tip up, but can be moved to the other side. The clip is inlet where it screws to the handle so it slides smoothly in and out of your pocket. If you like lanyards, Vosteed put a hole in there for one. I was also pleased with the handles shape, it allowed me to really hold onto the knife. If you are not into micarta, Vosteed also offers the Raccoon with G10 handles.

  The Raccoon came in a nice little metal tin. Inside the tin was a little zippered case with the Raccoon inside. Vosteed also included a patch, sticker, and cleaning cloth. But probably more important, they included replacement springs for the crossbar lock. Not because they break, but because they like to go flying if you completely dismantle the knife. 

  I was pleasantly surprised with the Vosteed Raccoon. For a $50 knife it has some great features. But besides that, it cuts really well. I attribute its cutting ability to the blade shape. This makes the Raccoon a great EDC knife. It just does everything well. The Raccoon is now in my rotation of EDC knives. If you are looking for something sharp to carry around, I would look into what Vosteed has to offer. The Raccoon really fits the spirit of the animal it was named after.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Crossbar lock EDC knife

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a decent pocket knife that doesn’t cost a fortune

Features & Benefits of this product:

  • Overall Length: 7.60" | 193.12 mm

  • Blade Length: 3.25" | 82.55 mm

  • Blade Width: 1.07" | 27.27 mm 

  • Blade Thickness: 0.125" | 3.20 mm

  • Blade Material: 14C28N

  • Flat ground

  • Drop Point Blade

  • Blade Finish: Black Stonewash

  • Hardness: HRC 60±2

  • Handle Length: 4.36" | 110.75 mm

  • Handle Width: 1.10" | 27.95 mm

  • Handle Thickness: 0.49" | 12.4 mm

  • Handle Material: Micarta

  • Weight: 3.04 oz

  • Pivot Construction: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearings

  • Pocket Clip: Stainless Steel (Tip-Up, Right/Left Carry)

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Too many to list, check them out at Vosteed.com

What others are saying?:

Jacob J. - 5/5 stars @ Vosteed.com

My favorite knife, hands down.

I have three Raccoons in varying colors. They're all butter smooth, razor sharp and have great ergonomics. For the price point, it's absolutely my favorite pocket knife and I plan to buy more for family members. The fit and finish is phenomenal for a $60 knife, and the presentation with aluminum box, polishing cloth, and zipper case is great at this price point.

Link to other reviews:

TechWriter Review    

Price point:

MSRP = $59.00

Retail = $49.00 at Knifecenter      

I need it now! Availability:

Vosteed or KnifeCenter

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Blade profile

  • Sharp

  • Micarta Handle

  • Crossbar lock

  • Price

Cons:

  • Jimping is not great

  • Blade Choil

Score: 7.50 Good

Favorite Link:  SwampFox Liberty review   

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An Elegant and Lightweight EDC Choice: Civivi Elementum Button Lock Carbon Fiber

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Written by Lance Wallace

  The Civivi Elementum Damascus with a carbon fiber handle and a stunning 3.47-inch Damascus blade is a true testament to the craftsmanship, quality and attention to detail that Civivi brings to the table. As an everyday carry enthusiast, I had the pleasure of using this knife for a couple months, and I loved it.

  First and foremost, the knife's appearance is simply gorgeous. The Damascus blade, with its intricate patterns, exudes a sense of uniqueness I often don't find in other knives. The carbon fiber handle complements the blade perfectly, providing a modern and sleek aesthetic. I found myself proudly showing off this knife whenever the opportunity arose.

  One of the standout features of the Civivi Elementum is its lightweight carbon fiber handle. The knife feels incredibly nimble and light in hand, making it excellent to use for quick cuts or extended jobs. The handle's non-textured surface offers a secure and comfortable grip, enhancing overall control and maneuverability. Whether I was performing intricate tasks or simply using it for everyday cutting needs, the lightweight handle allowed for precise and effortless handling.

  While the Elementum impresses with its appearance and handle, I do have one minor complaint. After a month of daily use, I noticed a loss of sharpness in the blade. Admittedly, this is not uncommon for EDC knives. However, it would have been preferable if the blade retained its sharpness for a bit longer before requiring maintenance. Nonetheless, this issue can be easily remedied with routine sharpening.

  Overall, the Civivi Elementum Button Lock Knife with its Damascus blade and carbon fiber handle is a top-notch EDC option. The lightweight carbon fiber handle ensures a comfortable experience, making it a pleasure to use in various scenarios. While the blade's sharpness may require occasional maintenance, this minor drawback doesn't overshadow the knife's exceptional qualities. For those seeking a reliable and stylish EDC companion, the Civivi Elementum is undoubtedly worth considering.

  Overall, the Civivi Elementum is a stylish pick for anyone looking for a new EDC knife. With a price point of only $126, the Elementum is an excellent purchase and a testament to Civivi's quality.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Button lock, damascus blade, carbon fiber handles, folding knife

Target Market:

Those wanting a nice looking quality knife for a reasonable price

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Blade Length: 3.47" (88.1 mm)

  • Closed Length: 4.53" (115.0 mm)

  • Overall Length: 8.00" (213.1 mm)

  • Blade Material: Damascus

  • Blade Thickness: 0.118" (3.0 mm)

  • Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC

  • Blade Style: Drop Point

  • Blade Grind: Hollow

  • Blade Finish: Black Hand Rubbed

  • Handle Material: Marble Carbon Fiber

  • Handle Thickness: 0.43" (11.0 mm)

  • Liner Material: Stainless Steel

  • Locking Mechanism: Button Lock

  • Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Bearings

  • Pocket Clip: Deep Carry Stainless Steel (Tip-Up, Right/Left Carry)

  • Weight: 3.19 oz. (90.5 g)

  • Carbon Fiber Backspacer with Hidden Lanyard Post

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Tons

What others are saying?:

Ed @ Knifecenter.com  

fun flipper.

Was looking for carbon fiber handled knives, DCA on youtube convinced me to give this a try. Looks sweet, and the smooth flipping action was more fidget friendly than I expected. Blade shape is good for most cutting tasks. This knife convinced me that I need more Civivi Knives. The Elementum is a proven design, the pushbutton flipping action is slick, and the marbled carbon and damascus look really nice together. I appreciate the extra length over the original elementum flipper. Slickness of the carbon surface takes some getting used to, but as a result it is pants friendly.

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found on this particular model, plenty of regular Elementum reviews are out there.

Price point:

MSRP = $126.00

Retail = $107.00

I need it now! Availability:

Civivi, Knife Center, or Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Lightweight Design

  • The knife is gorgeous

  • The button lock is extremely secure and I had no problems with it sticking

  • Extremely sharp out of the box

Cons:

  • The Elementum lost its edge quickly

  • This is more on me but I found the 3.5” blade to be a tad too long for my preference in an EDC knife but Civivi does offer a 3” model.

  • Another small gripe is the hinge got noticeably dirtier with lint than a lot of my other knives and I had to remove lint quite often.

Score: 8.50 Great

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Civivi Brazen

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  I had heard good things about Civivi knives, which brings us here. Civivi is We Knife’s “budget” friendly knife manufacturer. We Knife makes some beautiful knives, but we aren’t talking about those. We are talking about the Civivi Brazen. The Brazen is a flipper style EDC (everyday carry) knife.

  The Brazen has many of the features one might want in an everyday carry knife. The flipper stands out in this category. It makes the knife open with ease. Just slightly push down, or flip the little tab rearward, and the blade opens super smoothly. If a flipper isn’t your thing, the Brazen also has dual thumb studs for opening the blade. The thumb studs work just as well, but I prefer the flipper. Civivi uses a stainless steel liner lock in the Brazen. The liner lock holds the blade from closing. It’s a little thinner than I personally like, but it locks up well, so not a concern. Side to side blade movement is also virtually nothing. either with the blade open or closed.

  For an EDC knife, the Brazen’s specifications are pretty standard. The blade is a “drop point” style. Which is 3.46” long. Closed, the knife is 4.52” long. It’s pretty slim at 0.47” without measuring the pocket clip. It weighs in at 3.76 ounces which seems perfect, since it is not too light to forget you are carrying it. The Brazen uses finely textured G10 handles, which I found to give a good grip when dry and a little slick when soaking wet. There is also a lanyard slot at the rear of the handle, if a lanyard is your thing. The Brazen also has a deep pocket clip. The clip is reversible for left or right, but only for tip up carry. I liked the clip, it’s nothing fancy, but it clips well. I tend to catch cheap clips on stuff and bend them, the Brazen’s clip has not bent on me!

  Civivi has brought a lot of great extra features to the table with the Brazen as well. My favorite is the caged ceramic ball bearing on the blade pivot. These bearings make opening and closing the knife super smooth. They also aid in how well the flipper functions. The stonewashed blade is made from 14C28N steel. From the steel manufacturers website - “Sandvik 14C28N is the latest development in Sandvik's range of knife steels. Optimized chemistry provides a top grade knife steel with a unique combination of excellent edge performance, high hardness and good corrosion resistance.” I found the 14C28N to be a really good choice for this knife. The edge stayed sharp for a long time. Most of that was cutting up boxes. In fact I just sharpened it before this review. It wasn’t dull by any means, it just needed to be touched up a little. Civivi hardens the steel to 58-60 HRC, which seems to work out for me. I haven’t broken the tip off the blade, which says a lot. Speaking of the blade, Civivi also put some useful jimping in places. The first noticeable jimping is on the top and front of the flipper tab. Next is on the spine of the knife, just in front of the handle. All the jimping is very well thought out and actually gives the user a better grip and feel to the knife.

  Usually when you buy a “budget” knife, it comes in a box, and only a box. Civivi stepped it up once again, and supplied a soft case with the Brazen. I think most, if not all of the Civivi knives, come with this. In the case are the instruction, a sticker, and a fairly decent “Civivi” branded cleaning cloth. Not that the soft case and cleaning cloth are needed, but I did think it was a good bonus. 

  I’ve carried the Brazen since the day it arrived here. I am going to keep carrying the Brazen. Hopefully that tells you what kind of knife I think it is. For a $50 pocket knife, I feel you get more than what you pay for. From the super smooth opening to the sharp blade, I don’t think you can go wrong with the Brazen as an EDC knife. Definitely go check out the Brazen, or any of the other Civivi’s. I was not disappointed.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Quality EDC folding knife

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a quality folding knife under $50

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Overall Length: 7.98" / 202.7mm

  • Blade Length: 3.46" / 88mm

  • Closed Length: 4.52" / 114.7mm

  • Blade Thickness: 0.12" / 3mm

  • Handle Thickness: 0.47" / 12mm

  • Weight: 3.76oz / 106.7g

  • Blade Material: 14C28N

  • Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC

  • G10 Handles

  • Stainless Steel Liner

  • Tip up, Left or Right, deep pocket clip

  • Pivot: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing

  • Made in China

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Different blade steels, shapes, and handle colors

What others are saying?:

5/5 stars on Amazon

 Smooooth!

No blade play. Stupid sharp. Very fast. Love the tip up. A bit bigger IRL found it to be a bit overkill size but legal in MN. It's just as fast as assisted opening knives without a safety. I didn't buy it in black to seem less tactical and scary to women but honestly I got an odd look for using it on the packaging I carry it for. Only downside is I'm not a fan of CCP China. All things considered it's no Chinese knockoff and is in the realm of Benchmade or higher end SOG's I've carried. Overall really happy, no lie it's build quality rivals Benchmade Barrage, Griptilian, and Sog Trident all day long.

Link to other reviews:

Neeves Knives on YoutTube

Price point:

MSRP = $58.60

Retail = $49.80 on Amazon

I need it now! Availability:

Civivi or Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Super smooth operation

  • Flipper works great

  • Sharp

  • Thumb studs

  • Deep carry clip

Cons:

  • Liner lock is a little thin

  • No semi-serrated option

Score: 8.50 Great

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Favorite Link:  LA Police Gear

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