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Review: Vosteed Mini Nightshade Titanium and S35VN

By on July 22, 2024 in EDC, Knives, Reviews

If you have been following JTT for a while, you’ll know that the Mini Nightshade isn’t just one of my favorite Vosteed designs, it is one of my favorite knives. The Nightshade, with its unique and useful Shilin Cutter shape, is what put Vosteed on my radar and I have been carrying one version or another of this knife for a while now. Now, I have my mitts on one of the most premium versions to date.

Specs

Blade Length: 2.60″ | 66.04 mm

Overall Length: 6.32″ | 160.53 mm

Blade Width: 1.13″ | 28.70 mm

Blade Thickness: 0.098″ | 2.49 mm

Blade Material: S35VN

Blade Grind: Flat

Blade Style: Shilin Cutter

Hardness: HRC 60±2

Handle Length: 3.71″ | 94.33 mm

Handle Width: 0.89″ | 22.60 mm

Handle Thickness: 0.437″ | 11.10 mm

Handle Material: Titanium

Weight: 2.59 oz | 73.40 g

Opener: Thumb Stud

Lock Type: Crossbar Lock

Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing

Pocket Clip: Reversible | Stainless Steel

Carry Position: Tip-up

Observations from Use

To me, the Mini Nightshade is all about performance and the performance is all about that blade! Do you want a knife that gives you easy access to a fine, useable tip? It does. Do you want thin blade stock that tapers to a thin, incredibly sharp and slicey edge via a full flat grind? It does. Do you want a shape that holds the material in the cut and has plenty of belly? It does.

These knives CUT!

They also manage to pack that performance into a very compact package. The Mini Nightshade is small enough to pull fifth pocket duty but large enough for a medium size hand to get all four fingers on the grip. It also happens to be a very slim design. It’s a Goldilocks size.

I also want to point out the weight. These knives are incredibly lightweight due to the partial liners and thin blade stock. This is the heaviest version yet and it is still well under 3 ounces at 2.6 ounces. Saying that “you’ll forget you are carrying it is a cliche”, but I genuinely have.

This is also the most premium version of this knife to date. It features sculpted titanium scales that are radiused for comfort and have a very attractive scalloped texture pattern. Vosteed also went premium with the blade steel. CPM S35VN is a great choice here as it can take a fine edge and has solid toughness to support the thin cutting geometry. It’s a great premium, powdered metallurgy option for this knife. While it isn’t a heavy knife by any stretch, it has a solid heft in the hand for such a compact knife.

Wrap Up

This is my favorite version of one of my favorite knives. The most important thing a knife must do is cut… and Vosteed goes all out with cutting performance on these knives. Secondly, you want a knife that is easy to live with and this is definitely that with it’s slim, lightweight design.

See full specs and all available colors: Vosteed.com

See all of the Nightshade family on the Vosteed Amazon Store with 20% off options: Amazon.com

Previous reviews of the Mini Nightshade including more budget-oriented options: Mini Nightshade Reviews on JTT

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Review: Vosteed Mink

By on July 10, 2024 in EDC, Knives, Outdoor Gear, Preparedness, Reviews

The Mink is Vosteed’s first fixed blade but, based on the attention to detail, you would think they have been making them for years. Let’s dive in.

Specs

Blade Length: 3.33″ | 83.90 mm

Overall Length: 7.13″ | 181.00 mm

Blade Width: 1.10″ | 27.92 mm

Blade Thickness: 0.118″ | 3.00 mm

Blade Material: Nitro-V

Blade Grind: Flat

Blade Style: Clip Point

Hardness: HRC 60±2

Handle Length: 3.82″ | 97.10 mm

Handle Width: 0.85″ | 21.63 mm

Handle Thickness: 0.46″ | 11.60 mm

Handle Material: Micarta

Weight: 5.12 oz | 145.10 g (Sheath included)

Carry Position: Adjustable Belt Clip

Knife Type: Fixed Blade

Sheath: Kydex

Designer: Yue

Observations from Use

I have been using the Mink as an EDC fixed blade and it excels in that role. Vosteed designed and sized this knife to be well suited to a number of roles from EDC to outdoors. The shallow clip point renders a splinter-pickingly sharp point. The thin blade stock and tall flat grind terminates at a very thin, slicey edge. The handle provides plenty of grip. It has everything you want from an all-around tool.

The pancake-style kydex sheath comes with a small Tek-lok-like clip that works well for basic belt carry or for attaching to a backpack strap. However, I swapped that clip almost immediately for a Ulti-clip Slim 3.3 which allowed me to clip the sheath into my pocket. This setup worked very well. I also tried the Mink in an older leather pocket sheath that I already own and found that to be a VERY comfortable way to carry this knife.

There are three very subtle design elements on the Mink that I think take it to another level and really showcase the attention to detail that went into this design. First, the handle features a choil that works as a guard but does nothing to hinder a variety of grips or impede the user from getting their grip right behind the edge. Second, there is a very slight swedge grind that makes the tip of this knife even more useful. Finally, the addition of a second section of jimping out near the tip of the knife helps give the user tremendous control of that useful tip. It’s very cool to see how Vosteed uses the ergonomics of this knife to enhance the cutting performance.

The use of Nitro-V steel is a great option here. It is plenty tough enough to support the aggressive cutting geometry on this knife, corrosion-resistant enough to shrug off any conditions this knife might find itself in, and also affordable enough to ensure that the Mink is a great value.

There is one thing I would change. I was a little annoyed with the width of the sheath. Vosteed designed a slim, EDC-friendly fixed blade but then saddled it with a wide sheath. I want to be clear, this sheath is not the throw-away garbage that many makers provide with their fixed-blades. It will work for most people. The sheath’s quality is great… it’s just wide. I would love to see them switch to a slimmer, fold-over style sheath for future runs of this knife.

Wrap Up

The Mink is a lot of things. It is an impressive performer with great cutting geometry and the ergonomics to help you get the most out of that cutting geometry. It is a flexible design that can fill various roles from EDC to outdoors. It is an incredible value for these materials and this level of attention to detail.

The Mink is so good that I am very excited to see what Vosteed’s next fixed blade release will be… a fixed blade in the Nightshade line, perhaps? We can dream.

Vosteed.com

Vosteed Store on Amazon.com

Review: Vosteed Raccoon Cub

By on June 28, 2024 in Bargain or Just Cheap?, EDC, Knives, Reviews

One of the more exciting new knives to be shown at this year’s Blade Show was the Vosteed Raccoon Cub. The design was instantly recognizable as a scaled-down Raccoon (the model that Vosteed may be most known for) but it was also clear that this knife was going to take on established designs in the fifth pocket or little-big-knife space.

Now that I have spent time with a review sample and pricing has been released, I can say it delivers. In fact, I’ll say that I think this is best-in-class.

Specs

Blade Length: 2.34″ | 59.50 mm

Overall Length: 5.57″ | 141.60 mm

Blade Width: 0.98″ | 25.00 mm

Blade Thickness: 0.098″ | 2.50 mm

Blade Material: 14C28N

Blade Grind: Flat

Blade Style: Drop Point

Hardness: HRC 60±2

Handle Length: 3.23″ | 82.10 mm

Handle Width: 1.00″ | 25.50 mm

Handle Thickness: 0.41″ | 10.50 mm

Handle Material: G10

Weight: 2.04 oz | 58.00 g

Opener: Thumb Stud | Front Flipper

Lock Type: Liner Lock

Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing

Pocket Clip: Reversible | Stainless Steel

Carry Position: Tip-up

Knife Type: Manual Folding

Thumbstud Material: Aluminum

Designer: Yue

Observations from Use

I am a big fan of this type of knife. I usually carry a fixed blade knife so it is nice to have a compact folding knife that is small enough not to be burdensome but large enough to be useful. This little-big-knife or fifth pocket knife segment is growing and competitive. That is good for me because I am fully on board.

The Raccoon Cub has exactly the sort of ergonomics you want in a knife like this. It has a large, useable finger choil in the blade to allow a full and comfortable four-finger grip if you choke up while also remaining very compact when it is folded. It is a well-established formula that is well executed in this design.

The Raccoon Cub will inevitably draw comparisons to the Civivi Baby Banter – a knife that I own and that really stands out in this segment. The two knives are similar in many ways but differ in some key ways:

  • I prefer the blade shape of the Raccoon Cub with its more acute tip, something I find especially useful on a small knife.
  • The Racoon Cub also offers jumping on the spine out near that point to make it even easier to control for fine tasks.
  • The Raccoon Cub is VERY SLIGHTLY heavier but, for that weight, you get skeletonized and nested steel liners which is nice.
  • The Raccoon Cub’s handle is a little less cramped thanks to the taper at the butt and it is also easier to open thanks to better action and the addition of a front flipper.
  • The Raccoon Cub is a full $10-12 cheaper than the base Baby Banter options.

Speaking of the front flipper. I just want to mention that I normally don’t really care about them and rarely use them. However, in the case of the Raccoon Cub, it is so well executed, snappy, and easy to use that I find that it is actually useful instead of just fidgety. Some users with larger hands, may even prefer it.

The action on my review sample is extremely smooth with a very crispy detent. In fact, I can deploy the blade with just pressure from the pad of my middle finger. The detent holds rock steady until you apply enough pressure to overcome it and then the blade rockets open. It’s very satisfying.

Wrap Up

When this knife was shown at Blade Show, I recognized the potential. When I spent time with it, I fell in love. When it finally went up for sale and I saw the price, I became convinced that the Raccoon Cub is best-in-class.

This is now the best fifth pocket knife available. The value is great. The ergonomics are great. The cutting performance is great. It’s just a stellar knife.

The Raccoon Cub is initially only available Amazon: Vosteed Raccoon Cub at Amazon.com

It will be available direct from Vosteed at a later date: Vosteed.com

Review: Vosteed Talarurus

By on June 3, 2024 in EDC, Knives, Reviews

Vosteed’s new Talarurus shows off their ambitious design chops in a big way. They have had other knives with unique, compelling designs like the Corgi line or Thunderbird line but this Talarurus has a new level of cohesiveness that is very cool to see.

Specs

See the full specs at Vosteed.com. The highlights are below:

Blade Length: 3.03″ | 76.96 mm

Overall Length: 7.18″ | 182.37 mm

Blade Thickness: 0.138″ | 3.50 mm

Blade Material: 14C28N

Blade Grind: Flat

Blade Style: Modified Sheepsfoot

Handle Material: Micarta

Weight: 3.42 oz | 97.00 g

Opener: Thumb Disk

Lock Type: Crossbar Lock

Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing

Carry Position: Tip-up

Observations from Use

If you have seen other Vosteed reviews or own one of their other knives yourself, you already know this is a functional knife with good, thin cutting geometry. I made a big deal about the design of the knife earlier (and will expand on that more later) but this is still a knife after all. It has to cut and be comfortable to use or it sucks.

The Talarurus’ modified sheepsfoot shape has a great point that is easy to access and a subtle belly coupled with a tall flat grind that makes this knife a deceptively good slicer. The choice of a thumb disk coupled with a ramped harpoon shape makes for a very comfortable thumb rest. This would be a solid choice for everyday carry or even a work knife. This knife has some “go” to back up all that “show”.

This design stands out to me even above previous Vosteed knives for a few reasons. The most notable (and subtle) is the cohesiveness of it. Vosteed is absolutely flexing their chops here with the way that various angles of the blade shape meld into, or mirror angles in the handle. They even went so far as to run a long chamfer down the length of the micarta handle slabs that perfectly matches the height of the primary grind on the blade. That is very intentional, very precise, and very visually interesting design.

The design elements above aren’t just for decoration. They serve a functional purpose. The chamfers on the handle that match the grind of the blade… those provide additional grip or contouring to the handle so it feels better in hand. The aggressive blade shape that matches the closed shape of the handle… those angles bring the blade to a sharp, useable point.

Finally, there is some fun built into the design. Each of the color ways of the Talarus has at least one small pop of color. Most models have a contrasting, anodized thumb disk for opening the blade. In the case of the blacked-out version that I have, the thumb disk is olive green which makes for a more subtle contrast.

Wrap Up

The Talarurus would make a stylish EDC knife or even a stout work knife thanks to the blade shape and strong lock. It is a visually striking knife with intentional details bringing the whole design together. If you are interested in a classic EDC like the Vosteed Raccoon, you owe it to yourself to give the Talarusus a long look as well.

Vosteed Talarurus at Vosteed.com

Review: Vosteed Acorn

By on May 29, 2024 in EDC, Knives, Reviews

Vosteed’s newest knife, the Acorn, has all the makings of the next big thing. Every once in a while, a knifemaker tweaks all the knobs just right and one of their knives becomes an instant classic – the kind of knife that becomes so easily recommendable that it seems to be on Youtube channel, every Instagram feed, and every knife related Reddit all at once. The Acorn could be one of those.

Specs

Blade Length: 2.93″ | 74.50 mm

Overall Length: 6.92″ | 175.70 mm

Blade Thickness: 0.118″ | 3.00 mm

Blade Material: 14C28N

Weight: 3.14 oz | 89.00 g

Opener: Thumb Hole

Lock Type: Liner Lock

Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing

Pocket Clip: Reversible | Stainless Steel

Carry Position: Tip-up

Observations from Use

In the intro to this review, I went off about the Acorn being a new instant classic. I’ll tell you why I think that based on my time with this knife…

Function – First, and most importantly, it’s a good knife. It has a useful blade shape with a tall, flat grind that renders thin, slicy edge geometry. The 14C28N blade steel is as good as it gets at this price. The grip is ergonomic, hand filling, and very comfortable regardless of how you hold it. This is designed to be an all-around cutting tool and it shows.

Size – It has that perfect EDC size. It’s big enough to do anything you need from an EDC knife but compact and thin enough to carry any time. There is a reason so many folding knives are released with a just under 3″ blade and just under 7″ overall length… and it isn’t just legality. It’s a useful side.

Features and Fidgets – The Acorn also has a lot the quality-of-life goodies that people like on an EDC knife. It has a crispy, well-tuned detent and very smooth action. There is plenty of jimping all around on this knife including a generous amount on the spine of the blade. There are multiple opening methods including an opening hole and front-flipper. The opening hole is large and well-shaped so that, coupled with the great action, it makes for satisfying fidgeting.

Good Looks – This is more subjective than a lot of the other metrics but I think this is a great-looking knife and that seems to be the consensus opinion online. The Acorn’s organic, balanced shape along with an eye-catching new pivot design, color-matched highlights (pivot and lanyard loop), and weathered canvas micarta makes for the kind of rugged good looks that seem popular right now.

Value – Last but not least, the Acorn fits in a lot of budgets. The everyday price comes in at the lower end of Vosteed’s line but the Acorn is currently on sale for 20% off which makes this knife under $40. It is going to find its way into a lot of pockets at that price.

Wrap Up

The Acorn is a stylish, all-around EDC knife at a good price. If you can pick one up during the introductory sale, you can make that a great price.

The 20% sale on Amazon runs through June 6th, 2024. The Acorn will sell for just $39.20 during that time. It is currently only available on Amazon: Vosteed Acorn on Amazon.com

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