Knife

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Vosteed ANKYLO

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Written by: Casey Kienzle

  I received Vosteed’s new knife, the Ankylo, and it’s truly a fine knife! This knife features an all new lock system called the V-anchor lock. Which is an incredible new locking system. So let’s dive in and see what makes this knife so great.

The handle

  The Ankylo’s handle is made from 6061 Aerospace Grade Aluminum. I personally really like this handle because of the grenade pattern texture and because of the handle shape. It makes it really easy to get a good grasp on the knife and hold it comfortably. Plus, it makes me feel like I have really good control over the knife. There is amazing jimping on the back of the blade and runs along some of the spine of the handle, which definitely helps with that control as well. On the inside of the handle are machined weight relief pockets. These pockets are there to reduce user fatigue. This gives the knife a good balanced feel. For carrying the Ankylo around all day, Vosteed added a deep carry pocket clip.

The lock 

  The Ankylo features Vosteeds new V-anchor button lock. It is a pretty fascinating design. There is an anchor plate and a magnetic connector that will attract, and push, the button from different directions. The pivot button will become recessed even if the lock is not engaged, that way the button will not be accidentally pushed. What that does is give the lock an integrated fail safe system. The anchor plate for the lock is also spring loaded, which allows it to quickly move into place. The anchor plate is milled from a 5mm thick piece of steel, giving it lots of strength. I really like this lock, it feels incredibly secure when the blade is opened and the lock is engaged. 

Opening

  There are 4 different ways to open the Vosteed Ankylo. Thumbhole, front flipper, back flipper and an easy to use button. I personally really like that because sometimes your hand may be in a position where you need to open the blade differently and you can’t use the flipper on the back. So it’s really handy to have the 3 other ways to open it. When I first started using this knife, I noticed that it has a really smooth opening. And that is due to the larger sized bearing Vosteed uses in this knife. Other folding knives use a smaller sized bearing. Since the Ankylo uses that larger bearing, I notice that it has a much smoother opening. 

The blade

  One of my favorite parts of the Ankylo is the Elmax reverse tanto style blade. The blade material is Bohler Elmax, which is one of the toughest high end stainless steel you can get. It compares to S30V. Elmax also has better wear resistance than S30V, meaning that this blade is really durable and stays sharp for a long time! I can definitely see that with all the boxes, tape and other various things I have been cutting with the knife. They designed the blade belly to be really great for multitasking. Because of that, it can easily cut and pierce through lots of things. That’s what you want in a knife, right!!

Summary

  This is my very first Vosteed knife, and I absolutely love the Ankylo! It feels very solid, it’s incredibly sharp and I absolutely love the button lock. The design of the new Vanchor lock is really great and feels very secure when it’s engaged. This is truly one of the best knives I’ve ever used. If you are looking for a great everyday carry knife that is tough and stands out from other knives, then the Vosteed Ankylo is the knife for you!

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Rugged EDC folder with a robust new locking system

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a high quality, sturdy, folding EDC knife

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  •  Blade Length: 3.18" | 80.90 mm

  •  Overall Length: 7.75" | 196.90 mm

  •  Blade Width: 1.22" | 31.00 mm

  •  Blade Thickness: 0.134" | 3.40 mm

  •  Blade Material: Elmax

  •  Blade Grind: Flat

  •  Blade Style: Reverse Tanto

  •  Blade Finish: Black Stonewash / Satin / Stonewash

  •  Hardness: HRC 60±2

  •  Handle Length: 4.57" | 116.00 mm

  •  Handle Width: 1.06" | 27.00 mm

  •  Handle Thickness: 0.563" | 14.30 mm

  •  Handle Material: Aluminum

  •  Color: Black / Green / Gray / Orange / Blue

  •  Weight: 4.76 oz | 135.00 g

  •  Opener: Front Flipper | Back Flipper | Thumb Hole

  •  Lock Type: V-anchor Lock

  •  Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing

  •  Pocket Clip:  Non-reversible | Stainless Steel

  •  Carry Position: Tip-up

  •  Knife Type: Manual Folding

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

There are two options for the handle: Machine textured aluminum that comes in grey, black, orange and green. Or smooth, hard-coated matte finish that comes in blue or black.

What others are saying?:

Product has just been released, so nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Gear Junkie

Price point:

MSRP = $169.00

Retail = $159.00 on early Kickstarter

I need it now! Availability:

Kickstarter or Vosteed

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Great Size

  • New V-anchor lock system

  • Handle Texture

  • Blade jimping

  • Elmax blade steel

Cons:

  • Slightly stiff operation out of box - needs break-in period to operate easier

Score: 9.00 Amazing

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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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Cobratec Rath

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  When it comes to pocket knives, I always try to recommend ones that will not kill the wallet. Cobratec Knives happens to be one of those companies. Yes, they make higher priced items also, but they have plenty in the under $100 range. The Cobratec Rath is one of those. 

  Cobratec’s Rath is a nice everyday folder. It uses a flipper on the top of the handle to open up the knife. And a liner lock to hold the blade in place. Nothing fancy for the Rath as this style of every day carry (EDC) knife has been around for ages. The Rath is a simple knife that works well.

  The specifications on the Rath are what make it shine. It starts with a coated D2 steel blade. If you happen to listen to the podcast, you know that we like D2 steel as a great inexpensive knife blade material. It holds an edge decent enough and is easy to sharpen. I have not needed to sharpen the Rath. Granted, I did not abuse it like the Black Mamba that Cobratec sent for review. The coating on the blade also helps protect it from the elements. A nice touch since D2 is not a stainless steel. The blade's thickness is 0.12 inches and Cobratec hardens it to 55-62 HRC, which is pretty standard for D2.

  Cobratec chose to use G10 for the Rath’s handle. G10 is a composite material that gives the handle good strength. It also is impervious to a bunch of chemicals. The G10 handles will probably outlast the Rath’s blade. Another advantage to G10 is its texture. Even when not texturized, it still has great grip. Exactly what you need and want in a knife handle. The Rath has smooth handles, but they still allowed me to get a good grip on the Rath, partly because of that G10 material.

  The Rath uses a flipper style opening. I like flipper opening knives, and the Rath’s flipper works extremely well. The blade just flips right out. One of my complaints with the Rath is that it only uses a flipper to open it. There is no other way to open it. I’d like to see a little slot or something in the blade so that there is at least another option to open it. However, this does not keep me from liking the smooth operation of the Rath’s flipper. The Rath also uses a liner lock to keep the blade out once it has been opened. The liner lock also performed as expected. To close the knife, just push sideways on the liner to unlock the blade, and then pivot the blade in.

  Now that I have gone over the general stuff, let us get into the numbers. The Rath uses a 3.5 inch long drop point blade. I really like EDC knives in the 3-3.5 inch blade length range. So the Rath checks that box for me. I also am a fan of good drop point blades, and the Rath’s blade shape is very useful. The blade hides in a 4.5 inch long handle that also carries the pocket clip and lanyard hole. I do not use lanyards, but the hole is there if you do. I did like the deep carry pocket clip. It puts the knife pretty far down in your pocket. When the knife is open, it is 8 inches long. Imagine that, a 3.5 inch blade plus a 4.5 inch handle makes 8 inches. For a knife this size, the Rath is fairly lightweight, tipping the scales at 4 ounces. I was really happy with the lightness of the Rath. It is easy to carry in the pocket. 

  I have used the Cobratec Rath for a bit and it has treated me well. The drop point blade cuts nicely for me. It has cut lots of boxes, a few steaks, and some other stuff, all the time doing what a knife should do, cut. One aspect I really liked about the Rath is the jimping on the top of the blade. There is not a lot of it, but it is cut deep enough to get a good non-slip grip with your thumb. The handle’s shape is also very comfortable in my hand and is pretty slim, which I like. I also think the Rath is a good looking knife, especially with the red accent around the pivot.

   Cobratec’s Rath is a good EDC knife. It uses a good coated blade. It has a nice G10 handle. It uses a tried and true flipper opening and liner lock. Plus it looks good. And you get all this for under $60. What more could you ask for in a simple EDC knife? So head over to Cobratec and check out the Rath.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Quality Everyday Carry Flipper knife

Target Market:

Every Day Carry or anyone wanting a decent, well priced pocket knife

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • D2 Black Blade

  • G10 Handles

  • 3.5 Inch Drop Point Blade

  • 4.5 Inch Handle

  • 8 Inches Overall

  • Blade Thickness: 0.12”

  • Blade Hardness): 55-62 HRC

  • Liner Lock

  • Weight: 4 Ounces

  • Deep pocket carry clip

  • Flipper

  • Lanyard hole

  • Lifetime Warranty 

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Brown, Grey, OD Green, & Red

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found as of publishing

Price point:

MSRP = $59.99

Retail = Same but use code “GGR10” FOR 10% OFF

I need it now! Availability:

Cobratec Knives

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • G10 Handles

  • Flipper works nice

  • Price

  • D2 blade

  • Deep pocket clip

Cons:

  • Flipper is only way to open

  • No serrated option

Score: 8.00 Great

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Cobratec Large Black Mamba

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  Out the Front (OTF) knives have become pretty popular in the last decade. Because of this, I decided to try one out. Cobratec Knives offered me one of their Large Black Mamba’s to review. This is one of their cost effective automatic OTF knives. As it uses D2 for the blade steel. Also, do not let the name fool you, large does not mean huge. The Large Black Mamba is a good size Every Day Carry (EDC) knife.

  As stated, the Cobratec Large Black Mamba is an OTF knife. If you are new to knives, that means the blade actually extends out the front of the knife, through a slot in the end of the handle, automatically. It does this by either a button or switch located somewhere on the handle. The Black Mamba uses a slider switch on the top edge of the handle. It is a dual action switch. Slide it forward to extend the knife’s blade out, and rearward to retract the blade. I do like the switch on the Black Mamba. It has some serrations on it to let your thumb get a good grip on it. The switch is also ramped up and down to position your thumb at the perfect location to use said switch. 

  The specifications of the Black Mamba are what make it a good OTF knife. Even though Cobratec calls it the “Large” Black Mamba, it’s only called large because it is the biggest in the Mamba line. The blade’s length is 3.25 inches long. Making it the same size as a ton of folding EDC knives on the market. Moving to the handle, it has a length of 4.75 inches. This makes sense to me, since the handle houses the mechanism to open the knife, as well as the blade itself. That makes the total length, opened, to be 8.25 inches. The handle's thickness comes in at 0.49 inches and 0.60 with the pocket clip. The height of the handle measures 0.925 inches wide or 1.09 inches if you include the slider switch. I thought the Black Mamba would be larger, but once I received it, I realized it’s basically the same size as most of my EDC knives.

  Cobratec uses D2 steel for the Large Black Mamba’s blade. I like D2 as I believe it is one of the best lesser expensive steels used in knife blades. This also helps keep the cost of this OTF knife down. D2 is not a stainless steel, so to help keep it from the elements, Cobratec gave it a black titanium coating. The coating does two things: It helps protect the blade and it gives it a really nice look. The blade on the Black Mamba is a drop point shape. It is also not serrated. I’m okay with this as I find straight drop point blades very functional. This particular blade is 0.100 inch thick and 0.650 wide. I would have possibly liked a wider blade, but I am not a OTF designer. So there are probably design limitations due to the handle’s width. But the Black Mamba’s blade shape worked well. Being that the Black Mamba is an OTF automatic knife, it does have a blade safety mechanism. If you try to open the knife with something significant blocking the blade from pushing out, the blade will release from the opening mechanism and become loose inside the handle. It will also disengage if you hold the blade tight while trying to retract the blade back into the knife. To get the Black Mamba back into action, just pull the blade all the way out and it will re-engage the opening/closing mechanism. You can also flick the knife and use gravity to do the same thing. This is a common safety feature on OTF knives. 

  I mentioned the handle’s dimensions, but let’s go a little deeper into the handle. The Black Mamba’s handle has little squares machined into it for grip texture. Actually, the lines are machined in it to make the squares. On the top and bottom, Cobratec machined some lines in to give rectangles. All of these squares and rectangles give the Black Mamba a really good grip. Especially since the handle is made from 6061 aluminum, and aluminum can be slick. On the rear of the handle is a built-in glass breaker, should you ever need one. Also on the handle is the pocket clip. It is tip down, right hand only. Tip down is because it is an auto knife. When you grab the knife out of your pocket, your hand is already positioned with the pokey end pointed away from you. So when you push the opener switch, you don’t get hurt. My only real complaint about the Black Mamba is its pocket clip, it is not a deep carry clip. However, the pocket clip works extremely well and is very strong.

  As with almost all of my knife reviews, I like to actually use the knife. I carried the Large Black Mamba for a while. It carries really well. Or at least as good as most of my flipper style knives. The D2 blade came extremely sharp from the factory. I have had to touch it up twice. D2 sharpens pretty easily, so it wasn’t a big deal. One of those times I dulled it up by scraping some stuff off of a metal surface. Probably something that no knife maker recommends. The opening mechanism has also never let me down. Plus it is super easy and fast to use. I’m not a big OTF guy, but the Black Mamba performed great for everything I threw its way. 

  If you like OTF knives, or maybe want to get into OTF knives, the Large Black Mamba might be just what you are looking for. It is priced right at $170. Has a good blade steel. It functions fantastic and has a good blade shape. What more could you want from an OTF knife? Go check out the Cobratec Large Black Mamba and see for yourself. Or at least take a look into all the other OTF knives Cobratec makes. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Everyday Carry Out the Front knife

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a quality OTF knife

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Weight: 3.5 oz

  • Blade Length: 3.25"

  • Handle Length: 4.75"

  • Total Length: 8.25"

  • Titanium coated Drop point D2 blade

  • 6061-T6 aluminum handle - textured

  • Side opening slider switch

  • Glass breaker

  • Lifetime Warranty 

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found as of publishing

Price point:

MSRP = $169.99

Retail = Same but use code “GGR10” FOR 10% OFF

I need it now! Availability:

Cobratec Knives

Our Rating: 

Pros:

  • Lightweight

  • Price

  • Good grip texture

  • Good blade design

  • Glass breaker

  • Fast

Cons:

  • Pocket clip isn’t deep carry

  • Blade is a little narrow

Score: 8.00 Great

Favorite Link:  Gideon Optics Judge review

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CRKT Fossil

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Written by: Casey Kienzle

  When it comes to everyday carry pocket knives, CRKT has a wide range of different styles. The CRKT Fossil is one of them. It falls under the category of a gentleman’s knife, meaning that it’s tough and durable. But it has a decorative look. This is truly a fantastic knife that is different from your regular pocket knife, and it won’t break the bank. So let’s check out everything that makes this knife a truly great addition to your collection!

The handle: 

  When you see a pocket knife, the first thing that stands out is the handle. And the handle on this knife is one of its biggest strengths! This knife's name is the “Fossil” and they managed to give the handle a slick design while also resembling something that looks like a fossil. The handle has a stainless steel frame that has a really great looking hammer finish on it and features G-10 scales on top of that. The handle has been milled out revealing different shades of brown. Those two together give it that awesome “fossil” look. The unique finish on the G-10 gives it a fantastic grip in your hand. This is by far an incredibly creative design for this knife that really makes it stand out! This knife is a right hand only knife, it does not have a spot to flip the clip around for left handed people. But I am right handed, so this hasn’t been a problem for me.

  The Fossil has a frame lock, and it has to be one of the better frame locks that I’ve had in a knife. The lock on this knife is a little stiffer than other knives, giving it a stronger lockup on the blade. But this doesn’t make it hard to unlock, it still can be easily unlocked with your thumb when you are ready to close the knife. One thing that really stood out to me on the knife when I first got it was the guard on the handle. When you open the blade, the flipper tab swings through and acts as a guard. The shape of the handle already has a really nice area for your finger to sit. But then you get the guard, and it makes it really hard, actually just about impossible for your fingers to slip onto the blade.

The blade:

  The blade on the CRKT Fossil is a “drop point” style. Measuring in at 3.96, it gives you plenty of blade length for cutting. When I first opened the knife I also noticed how crazy sharp it was right out of the box. Since then it’s held a sharp edge very well, and I cut lots of stuff with this knife. Things like cardboard boxes, zip ties and plastic straps for larger boxes like furniture. I have even used it before to scrape off plastic from a few different things. After all of that…it’s still sharp! The blade material is 8Cr13MoV which has stayed sharp for quite some time now. 8Cr13MoV steel’s strength is much higher than other high carbon stainless steels, such as 440C. The back of the blade has some of the best jimping I’ve had on a knife. It keeps your thumb or finger in place really well allowing you to maintain really good control over the knife. 

Opening:

  The CRKT Fossil features a bearing-run pivot that gives this knife a really smooth opening. This knife also opens very quickly when you flip the tab on the back, which really stands out to me. The Fossil gives you two different styles of opening. I have had to use both styles depending on how I open the knife. Both styles have been very smooth and easy. Opening one is the flipper on the back. And opening two is the thumb hole on the back of the blade. Sometimes thumb holes on the back of blades can be a little tricky, but this one has never given me any trouble. 

Summary

  I really love the CRKT Fossil. It is a very nice looking pocket knife that has a cool and unique design, while also being quite durable. The handle on the knife is very comfortable to hold onto while you are using it, but also has a good non-slip grip. The blade has been phenomenal for me. It’s kept an edge really well making it always reliable. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Unique but tough knife

Target Market:

The CRKT Fossil is for anyone who wants a not highly expensive EDC knife, but wants something unique and different looking. 

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Overall Length: 8.88"

  • Blade Length: 3.96"

  • Blade Thickness: 0.15"

  • Blade Material: 8Cr13MoV

  • Hardness: 58-60 RC

  • Blade Style: Drop Point

  • Finish: Satin

  • Handle Length: 4.95"

  • Handle Thickness: 0.62"

  • Handle Material: G-10 

  • Frame/Liner: Steel

  • Weight: 6.10 oz.

  • Right Hand Pocket Clip: Tip-Up

  • Opener: Flipper

  • Lock Type: Frame Lock

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

There is also the 5460 model that has a 3.41 inch blade. That one is around $10 cheaper.

What others are saying?:

It hurts how underrated this knife is. It is a great design because it is comfortable, has a buttery action, useful blade, and beautiful aesthetics. It really feels like a perfect merging of old world with new world materials. This was my first 'gentleman's carry' in my collection and I highly recommend this blade.

Link to other reviews:

Pro Tool Reviews

Price point:

MSRP - $99.99

Retail - $65-$70

I need it now! Availability:

LA Police Gear , Blade HQ, or Knife Center

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Quick opening

  • Sharp blade

  • Fantastic design

  • Two opening styles

Cons: 

  • The G-10 handle has great grip, but almost too much

  • Sometimes a little tough to pull it out of the pocket due to aggressive grip texture

Score: 8.00 GREAT

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CRKT LINCHPIN

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Written by: Casey K.

  Over the past few years I have been collecting pocket knives from various different manufacturers. I like to use these for Every Day Carry (EDC). There is one knife that has really topped my list, the CRKT Linchpin. Here are my thoughts on this fantastic pocket knife.

The handle:

  When I first took this knife out of the box, I immediately noticed how durable it felt. The handle is made of glass reinforced nylon with two different styles of texture to offer more grip. One thing that I really appreciate is that the screws on this knife are countersunk which keeps the screws from snagging in your pocket when you go to remove the knife. 

The lock:

  This knife features a large button lock that I personally love! Anytime I lend this knife to someone, they always tell me how much they like the button lock. Mainly because it’s larger and easily unlocks. The button lock does not easily unlock while the knife is in use though. The button also features a really nice texturing design that makes it hard for your thumb to slip off of. 

The blade:

  This has to be one of the best blades I’ve ever had on a pocket knife. The blade material is 1.4116 stainless steel, which is slightly stronger than 420HC. The blade is a spear point that turns serrated halfway down the blade. The serrated section of the blade has great, bat-wing style, serrations that cut through thick stuff like it was nothing. The serrations are called “Veff” serrations. I recently moved and this was the knife that I used during the moving process, and wow! After cutting tons of packing tape and boxes, the blade still has a sharp edge! On the back side of the blade it offers a nice thumb grip (jimping) that keeps your thumb in place very nicely.

Opening:

  One thing I really appreciate about this knife is that it offers 2 different styles for opening. It has the flipper on the back which is what I prefer. But sometimes you are cutting something and your hand may be in an awkward position, so in those situations it’s nice that it features thumb studs as well. 

  The CRKT Linchpin is a fine knife to use as an EDC. It’s incredibly durable and holds an edge very well. This knife is a little larger giving you more of a grip to hold onto. It has a serrated spear point blade which gives you different options for your cutting needs.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to fame: 

Large and sturdy EDC

Target market:

Anyone who would like a great EDC pocket knife that’s a little on the larger side.

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Overall Length:
8.875"


  • Blade Length:
3.75"


  • Cutting Edge:
3.50"


  • Blade Width:
1.13"


  • Blade Thickness:
0.15"


  • Blade Material:
1.4116


  • Blade Style:
Spear Point


  • Blade Grind:
Flat


  • Edge Type:
Serrated


  • Handle Length:
5.25"


  • Handle Width:
1.25"


  • Handle Thickness:
0.68"


  • Handle Material:
Glass Reinforced Nylon

  • Frame/Liner:
Steel


  • Weight:
6.20 oz.


  • User:
Right Hand


  • Pocket Clip:
Tip-Up


  • Opener:
Flipper


  • Lock Type:
Button Lock


What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

Super Sharp Serrations

Sharpest serrations by far on any knife in my collection. Cuts through vines with almost no effort. Much easier than any other knife used for the task. My chickens love grapes so every day lately, I've cut off a few bunches for them. The other day, I was carrying the CRKT 5406 and cut through a vine with the tip of the blade. Whittled through the vine a few times and removed the grapes as usual. I decided to use the serrated part of the blade, touched it to the vine and the bunch of grapes just fell off. Thought it was an anomaly so did it again another few times with the same results. Wow. As to the rest of the knife... Good fit and finish. The locking mechanism is a bit sticky. It improved a bit after oiling and many deployments, but still sticky. Overall a great knife for cutting stuff in the garden.

Link to other reviews:

Kevin Cleary on YouTube

Price point:

MSRP- $145.00

Retail- $39.95 at Knife Center 

I NEED IT NOW! AVAILABILITY:

CRKT Linchpin - Columbia River (CRKT) - Knife Center

Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

This is a really solid feeling pocket knife. I really believe that it can take whatever you throw at it. It feels incredibly durable when it’s closed and when it’s open and being used. It holds a sharp edge for a good long while. I personally also love the button lock style on this knife.

Cons: 

The price point of $145.00 is pretty high for this knife, I think the sale price of almost $40.00 is a great deal! 

Score: 8.50 GREAT

, , ,

Vosteed Thunderbird

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  When it comes to everyday carry pocket knives, there are a ton on the market. All of them have various features for you to choose from. Vosteed makes a good selection of knives to fit whatever you are looking for. The Vosteed Thunderbird is one of those edc knives that has plenty of features. The Thunderbird’s features will rival knives that are priced much higher.

  Vosteed’s Thunderbird is a unique knife. Not in the way it looks, or the materials used, but in the way it opens. The Thunderbird uses Vosteed’s “Trek Lock” opening system. Trek Lock is a multi-opening system that allows one to open the knife in 4 or 5 different ways. One is by using the thumb hole. Another is using the normal flipper, located on the spine of the knife handle. And yet another way to open it, is to use the front flipper, located on the lower front of the closed Thunderbird. Then, since the knife uses a button lock mechanism, one can push the button and flip the blade out. Lastly, which isn’t really a flip method, is to just fold the knife out like you would an old school lock blade. To close the blade, just push the button and close it however you see fit. I would like the button lock to be a little harder to push. I just feel that little bit of extra might help keep the blade from wandering out when in the pocket. Not that it did this, but I can get the blade to open by just flicking the knife downward, something I can’t always do with button lock knives. If you like to fidget with your knife, the Thunderbird can’t be beat for that. I even find myself opening and closing it for no reason. As you may, or may not know, I am a big proponent of multiple ways to open a knife. Mainly because if you need to open a knife in some odd place, or body position, your main way of opening it might not work. So the Thunderbird is a dream come true for me. 

  Blade steel is an important quality of any knife. The steel Vosteed chose for the Thunderbird is top tier. This particular Thunderbird uses M390 steel. M390 is pretty much labeled a “super steel”, at least for knife making. It is super tough and durable with high edge retention, which leads to a high wear resistance. What that means for you is that the Thunderbird’s M390 blade will stay sharp for a very long time. M390 also has high corrosion resistance. So when you are actually using it, if it gets blood, or other bad stuff on it, it won’t damage the blade as quickly. One downfall to all of this, is that it takes a lot more effort to sharpen the Thunderbird. I’m okay with this trade off since the knife stays sharper longer. Vosteed also offers some versions of the Thunderbird with Elmax or S35VN blades. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the blade steel offerings of the Thunderbird.

  The handle of a knife is also important. Vosteed chose a Laminate GT-Mascus, or in simple terms, a G10 handle with a topographical pattern. This topo pattern is a black background with blue topo lines. Besides looking great, the Thunderbird’s handle shape is useful. The handle's spine has a slight curve to it. This makes it fit the hand fairly nice, even though it is a fairly sleek knife. It also has a decent choil built into the handle. That way you can really dig into the handle for a tight grip. The back flipper tab also meets up with this choil, extending it out a tiny bit farther. One notable thing is that the flippers jimping is slightly noticeable in the front of the choil. This gives the knife a little better grip on that index finger. The handle doesn’t have any real texture to it, but being G10, it still gives a great grip. Vosteed also designed the Thunderbird with a deep pocket clip. The clip’s mounting is inlaid so it doesn’t bind up when putting the Thunderbird in your pocket. It is reversible, but both options are tip up carry. Lastly it has a brass spacer at the rear. The spacer also includes a place to install a lanyard. The brass nicely sets off the color scheme and helps balance the Thunderbird out nicely.

  The last important design of the Thunderbird is the blade profile. Vosteed gave the Thunderbird a curved tanto style blade. It also has a harpoon style top structure. These two designs give the Thunderbird a really good “piercing” ability. More important to me, is that the tanto’s tip melds nicely with the belly of the knife. This makes it more useful than a regular tanto style blade. On the spine of the blade there is some jimping. The jimping is the Thunderbirds one downfall. It is fine and not deep enough to really aid in use. The Thunderbird also uses a shallow hollow grind, which gives it some good slicing ability. I typically don’t like tanto style blades, but the Thunderbird made me believe that there are good style tanto blades out there.

  Even though I haven’t had the Thunderbird for very long, I have used it. It is really good at just about everything. From slicing gummy bears, which is the real test of a knife's sharpness, to scraping off stuff from hard surfaces, the Thunderbird just performs. As Vosteed states, this is the fidget king when it comes to knives. The knife is SHARP. It also stays sharp thanks to the M390 blade steel. I’ve cut a lot of cardboard too, and the Thunderbird keeps slicing through it like soft butter.

  If you are looking for that do all edc knife, the Vosteed Thunderbird might be it. It has an excellent blade material and shape. There are multiple ways to open it, thanks to its Trek Lock. It feels good in the hand and has a silky smooth action thanks to its ceramic ball bearings. At $135, it is priced far below what you would expect to pay for something of this quality. So go check out the Vosteed Thunderbird, they probably make a version that you’ll like..

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

EDC knife with quality blade steel and multiple ways to open

Target Market:

Anyone wanting this style of quality in a folding knife

Features & Benefits of this product:

  • Trek lock opening - Front Flipper | Back Flipper | Thumb Hole | Fuller

  • Blade Length: 3.25" | 82.55 mm

  • Overall Length: 7.73" | 196.34 mm

  • Blade Width: 1.10" | 27.9 mm

  • Blade Thickness: 0.118" | 3.00 mm

  • Blade Material: M390

  • Blade Grind: Compound

  • Blade Style: Tanto | Harpoon

  • Blade Finish: Black Stonewash

  • Hardness: HRC 60±2

  • Handle Length: 4.48" | 113.79 mm

  • Handle Width: 1.17" | 29.72 mm

  • Handle Thickness: 0.472" | 12 mm

  • Handle Material: GT-Mascus (G10 topo pattern)

  • Weight: 3.34 oz | 94.70 g

  • Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing

  • Pocket Clip: Tip-Up Reversible | Stainless Steel

  • Knife Type: Manual Folding

  • Backspacer Material: Brass

  • Button Material: Stainless Steel

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

https://www.vosteed.com/collections/thunderbird

What others are saying?:

4 out 5 stars at Vosteed.com

3.25" m390 thunderbird

Very pleased with this knife. I also have a Vosteed Gator that I love. I like this smaller version of the thunderbird and find it the perfect size for daily carry. Every deployment option works exactly as it should. The knife came sharp (although I sharpened it to my liking) and perfectly centered. No issue with the button lock unscrewing or with the "spine whack" test that have been a topic for the previous thunderbird model. I wish the detent was a little stronger; however, it is a great knife that will perform well for daily tasks. Highly recommend it.

Link to other reviews:

Nothing But Knives

Price point:

MSRP = $135.00

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Vosteed

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Multiple ways of opening

  • M390 blade steel

  • Button Lock

  • Ceramic bearings

  • G10 handle

  • Looks

Cons:

  • Button lock could have a little more strength

  • Shallow Jimping

Score: 8.50 Great

Favorite Link:  Viridian RFX 45 review

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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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COBRATEC BLACK RAPTOR DAGGER

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  Here we have, for review, The Black Raptor Dagger from CobraTec. A knife company that I have just absolutely fallen in love with. The company, as you can see, is CobraTec. On the Gun & Gear Review podcast we discussed one of their knives, and before the show even started I bought the knife and had it on the way to me. That particular knife is the Trapper model with the hidden open switch. Since then I have ordered and paid for 3 more of their knives, plus I have given a few away as door prizes and gifts to friends. Some went to Tony Simon over at his Diversity Shoot. So needless to say, I have been digging these knives pretty well. The knife review today was sent to me by CobraTec, after I reached out to them. They were more than happy to send me this Black Raptor dagger. 

  So what we have here is a knife that is an OTF (out the front) knife, it has a side fire switch made out of aluminum with nice knurling on it to get a good thumb purchase. The handles or case of the knife is CNC machined 6061-T6 aluminum. This is what a lot of firearms and lower receivers are made out of. The blade of the knife is D2 tool steel and is a dagger point that is sharpened on both sides and is very sharp from the factory. The action of this knife is smooth and the lock up is nice and tight. I have used more expensive OTF knives that have rattled once the blades were deployed, but not this one. 

  Here are the factory specs on the knife and then I will get into some more details of what I like and maybe what I don't.  

Specifications:

  • Weight: 3 oz

  • Overall Length: 7.63"

  • Blade Length: 3.13"

  • Handle Length: 4.5"

  • Blade Material: D2 Steel Blade

  • Aluminum Switch

  Most everyone knows that I love D2 tool steel, it is an amazing steel for blades. It is not the sharpest steel out, the most expensive, but in my opinion it is one of the best all around steels for durability, ease of taking care of, sharpening and longevity of a blade. I think they did a fantastic job of picking this steel for their knives.

  CobraTec Is an American company based in Meridian, Texas, they have their blades manufactured overseas to meet their specifications. Then once they are imported back to Texas, a group of technicians assemble the knives and do a quality control on them. This ensures that the end user is getting a quality built, reliable knife with a lifetime warranty. All of the blades are sent out to a metallurgical research laboratory for testing. Now that is quality control right there people. 

  The Raptor came packaged in a great hard plastic case with a foam insert that held the knife in place. It also had a card with the person who assembled and inspected the knife. There was also a warranty card in the box as well. All you have to do is follow the directions and go to the website and put the code in. Your knife will be warrantied to you for a lifetime. 

  With the Raptor being a dagger style blade I did not get to do my usual type of skinning or typical EDC fingernail cleaning with it. What I can tell you is that it is sharp. It will puncture through just about any normal thing you want to stab with it, within reason. I did sharpen the D2 blades on both sides, I didn't have to but I did, it was already sharp enough.

  One good thing about their OTF knives is that you can order different style blades for them at a reasonable price. They have tanto, drop point, and the dagger style. This blade style is not one I myself like, because I like a blade that I can use to work with everyday. My opinion on this doesn't take away from what the knife was intended for. This is a defensive knife and a damn good one at that. So if you're looking for a EDC OTF knife for self defense look at the CobraTec Raptor, it will not disappoint at all. CobraTec also has many options, styles and price points for everyone. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Quality Out the Front knife at a decent price. American owned company, assembled and quality inspected by a single person.

Target Market:

Someone looking for quality without breaking the bank

Self defense

Knife collectors

Average Joe 

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product): 

  • Weight: 3 oz

  • Overall Length: 7.63"

  • Blade Length: 3.13"

  • Handle Length: 4.5"

  • Blade Material: D2 Steel

  • Aluminum Switch

  • American Owned company

  • Sharp out of the box

  • Great packaging

  • Locks up tight

  • Lifetime warranty

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available

Different blade styles, other models available, different price points for everyone, different finishes, etc. 

Link to other reviews:

Great American Survival on YouTube   

Price point:

MSRP = $159.99

Retail = Same but use code “GGR10” at CobraTec and get 10% off

I need it now! Availability:

CobraTec

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Sharp

  • Great lock up

  • Quality machining

  • Quality materials

Cons:

  • I am not a fan of the dagger blade

Score: 7.5 Good 

, , , ,

Sencut Serene

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  When looking at an EDC knife, your average person tends to want quality at an affordable price point. Sencut knives just might be what these people are looking for. They sent out the Serene model for me to use and review. I opted for the blue handled version with the satin finished blade, but they have other color options available. 

  The Sencut Serene is a button lock, flipper style knife. It also has thumb studs on it for opening, not just the flipper or button. This means that there are 3 ways of opening the knife up. Either flip it out using the flipper hump on the back side of the handle, or by using the thumb stud. Being a button lock knife, one can also push and hold the button in, then flip the knife out. I am a person that really likes having multiple ways to open an EDC knife. You never know when your normal way of opening it just won't work. Being a button lock knife, and a flipper, the button is spring loaded so that it catches the blade at full extension, and locks it in place. I found the Serene’s button lock to work well. The blade also locks up tight. The other great aspect of the Serene is how smooth it functions. Those ceramic ball bearings make it feel like you are getting a much higher price range knife.

   The heart of any knife is its blade steel. The Serene uses D2 steel at a hardness of 59-61. D2 is an excellent choice for anyone wanting an everyday use knife. D2 is not considered stainless steel, so you will need to clean it and oil it every so often. But, D2 will give you good edge retention and toughness. Not as much as high end steels, but the Serene is a budget knife that performs above its pay grade. Because the D2 blade is fairly tough, it takes a little more to sharpen it, but that also means that it will stay sharp longer. I am a fan of D2 steel in knives, and Sencut made a good choice using it in the Serene.

  Since we are on blade steel, let’s get into the blade itself. The Serene uses a 3.48” drop point style blade. So it’s not tiny. Basically it is curved up from the blade's belly to become a point. The Serene uses a shallower curve than what I would call your typical drop point blade. It doesn’t really have a flat spot in the cutting edge, it just gradually curves upward to the point. I found the blade shape to be very useful for most of my cutting needs. Sencut also put some decent jimping on the top of the blade. This gives your thumb some grip on the top of the knife. The Serene’s blade is also very thin, making it easily slice through stuff. The flat grind on it also probably helps with that too. I am also a fan of the blade's thinness.

Worn Anodizing

Easily dinged up handle

  As with any knife, it usually needs some sort of handle or frame. The handles on the Serene are made from aluminum and anodized in different colors. Sencut did not put any texture on the knife's handles. They aren’t necessarily smooth, as there is, what looks like, a bead blasted finish. But they feel smooth to me. There is a finger curve cut out for your index finger. This does give some grip so your hand won't slip off the knife. The shape and smoothness of the handles does make for a comfortable feeling knife in the hand. One drawback, I found with the Serene, is that the anodizing wears off pretty easy. Especially around the edges. Dings show up pretty easily in the anodizing too  The Serene also has a tip up reversible carry clip. The clip is designed for fairly deep carry, and is decently strong to hold the knife in place.

  The Sencut Serene fits my style of EDC nicely. Its blade length fits in where I like them, somewhere between 3 and 3.5 inches. The thin D2 blade stays sharp and cuts nicely. The handle may be smoother than I like, but some people prefer a smoother handle. It’s also pretty lightweight. I really don’t think a person can go wrong with the Sencut Serene. The knife has a lot of good attributes, especially in the $50 price range. You can check the Serene out at Sencut.com.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Lightweight EDC knife

Target Market:

Those wanting a quality flipper knife that won’t break the bank

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Overall Length: 8.17" / 207.5mm

  • Width: 1.43" / 36.4mm

  • Overall Height (Include Clip): 0.68" / 17.2mm

  • Blade Length: 3.48" / 88.4mm

  • Closed Length: 4.69" / 119.1mm

  • Blade Thickness: 0.12" / 3mm

  • Handle Thickness: 0.47" / 12mm

  • Knife Weight: 3.43oz / 97.3g

  • Blade Material: D2

  • Blade Hardness: 59-61HRC

  • Blade Grind: Flat

  • Blade Finish: Satin

  • Blade Type: Drop Point

  • Handle Material: Bright Blue anodized Aluminum

  • Hidden Lanyard bar

  • Pocket Clip: Tip-Up, L/R

  • Clip Material: Stainless Steel

  • Screws/Thumb Stud Material: Stainless Steel

  • Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing

  • Locking Mechanism: Button Lock

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Blak, Red, or Grey

What others are saying?:

5 out of 5 stars on Amazon   

Very nice and extremely sharp!

This is my first Sencut knife. I purchased it because I have always enjoyed my Civivi knives, and I know they are from the same OEM. This knife came extremely sharp from the factory. It performed the paper cut test with almost no resistance and absolutely a razor clean cut. The thumb stud is a good size, but not too big as to be distracting or in the way. The flipper tab on the back is also very modest but quite functional. My wife who has zero experience with flippers was able to work both methods of opening first try. The button lock depresses easily, but not so easily that I would worry about accidentally unlocking the blade while working. The action is buttery smooth, and the detent is very nice. The knife is exactly the same blue color as the depiction. The blade is perfectly centered, and has no play left to right or up and down. I am very impressed with this Sencut knife and will be purchasing more from this brand in the future.

Link to other reviews:

Neeves Knives on YouTube   

Price point:

MSRP = $55.00

Retail = $46.75 on Amazon     

I need it now! Availability:

Sencut or Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Sharp

  • Thin D2 blade

  • Button Lock

  • Flipper

  • Ceramic bearings

  • Deep carry pocket clip

Cons:

  • Anodizing wear

  • Smooth handle

Score: 7.50 Good

Favorite Link:  Angry Bear Arms sight review 

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Vosteed Corsair

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  Up for review is a Vosteed Corsair knife which was provided by the manufacturer. When I opened the box, In addition to the knife, it contained a Backspacer with a lanyard loop, cover plate, sticker, and a patch.  

  My first impression of the Vosteed Corsair is that it is well constructed and feels solid. The Micarta grip is nice and allows me to securely hold the knife with a convenient thumb ramp on the back of the blade.  The blade opens smoothly and is easily manipulated.  There is a reversible deep cover pocket clip for minimal visibility which is rounded to prevent pinching and snagging.  A plate is also included, along with two screws, to cover the open pocket clip slot.  All screws on the knife are countersunk which prevents snagging when removing the knife from your pocket.  

  The drop point blade of the Corsair is made from Nitro-V and is extremely sharp out of the box.  The blade design works fine for daily use allowing me to cut everything from paper to vegetables with minimal effort.   The blade lockup is solid with minor play in the blade pivot assembly, even when the blade is between the open and closed positions.  

  This is the first knife I have ever used with a crossbar lock, but it only took a few minutes to get used to the mechanism.  I found that holding the blade down and using my thumb and index finger would easily disengage the lock.  Make sure to keep your other fingers out of the way or break out the first aid kit (did I mention that the blade is very sharp?).  I have been using this knife for the past three weeks and it has made me a fan of crossbar locks.  

  Vosteed also includes a backspacer, which has a built in lanyard loop.  Installing this item increases the size of the knife by 0.25 inches.  I looked at this and, in the end, decided not to install it as I wanted less of the knife exposed when carrying it.  

  Vosteed offers a lifetime limited warranty to the original purchaser, the limitations are on their website. 

  I will give Vosteed credit as when I was looking at the reviews on their website, two of the reviews were negative (2-Star, 1-Star).  They could have easily removed the reviews but chose to leave them in place.  

  If you are looking for an EDC knife, the Corsair is a deal at $69 and is now part of my every day carry.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Reasonably priced EDC knife

Target Market:

Anyone who is looking for an EDC knife

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Overall Length: 7.58" | 192.48 mm

  • Blade Length: 3.25" | 82.55 mm

  • Blade Width: 1.04" | 26.49 mm

  • Blade Thickness: 0.118" | 3.00 mm

  • Blade Material: Nitro-V

  • Grind: Flat 

  • Blade Style: Modified Drop Point

  • Finish: Stonewash

  • Hardness: HRC 60±2

  • Handle Length: 4.33" | 109.93 mm

  • Handle Width: 0.94" | 23.91 mm

  • Handle Thickness: 0.49" | 12.4 mm

  • Handle Material: Micarta

  • Handle Color: Black, Blue, Brown, Green

  • Weight: 2.91 oz | 82.5 g

  • Opener: Thumb Stud

  • Lock Type: Crossbar Lock

  • Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing

  • Pocket Clip: Stainless Steel | Reversible

  • Carry Position: Tip-up 

  • Knife Type: Manual Folding

  • Pivot Collar Material: Copper

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Black, Blue, Brown, Green

What others are saying?:

From the manufacturer’s website:

Great action, super sharp

Love the new knife from an appearance and (super sharp) blade perspective. The pivot is very smooth out of the box, too. The scales have some rougher/lighter colored bits on them, though, but that seems like something I can take care of myself.

I'm not sold on the bolt lock, if I'm honest. It works just as it is supposed to, though, from what I can tell. Liner locks just feel a bit safer to me.

I'm no pro, but this still seems like a lot of knife for $69. It fits in a pocket well enough. I'm happy.

Nice knife, but the handle?

Honestly it’s a nice knife, everything but the handle. Which the handle seems like plastic. Not over enthused not worth $70

Link to other reviews:

Metal Complex

Maxlvledc

Knife Know it All

Price point:

MSRP = $69.00

Retail = $69.00

I need it now! Availability:

Vosteed

Knife Center

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Great value for the price

  • Action opens easily and smoothly

  • Blade is incredibly sharp from the factory.

  • Crossbar lock keeps the blade securely in place. 

Cons:

  • Some reviewers said the plastic handle felt a little cheap.  

  • Some reviewers did not like the crossbar lockup. 

Score:  8.50 Great

Favorite Link:  https://diversityshoot.com 

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