Vosteed Porcupine review...not so super

[Athappyhiker11]

I bought a Vosteed Porcupine (grey G10 scales, grey coated blade) about a month ago after seeing so many high praises from knife reviewers on YT. So the good: blade shape is great - lots of belly. But the finger choil isn't needed on a 3" blade and it just gets hung up when cutting. The top liner lock action seems to lock up solid, and the blade opens slick enough. But after just basic food prep, cutting up a few cardboard boxes and some minor wood whittling, the blade has noticeable side to side wiggle. Also the edge was already dulling after what I consider relatively light use. Stropped up back to pretty sharp with just a few swipes. Also the wire pocket clip already has loosened after daily pocket carry.
So for a $70 knife... I would probably pass on it. Love the blade shape and the action type, but I have other folders that cost less, don't dull that fast after light use and don't have blade wiggle or clip issues.

 

[Hackenslash]

I had a similar experience with a Vosteed Raccoon Top Liner lock. On paper and at first pass it seems impressive, but failed to live up to hype. I had several strips of carpet pad to cut up and the Raccoon dulled before the first cut was done. Blade developed a little wobble too.

Terrible, over-hyped knife lifted up by YT reviewers who never use a knife.

I had to grab my Para 3 to finish the job!

 

[Weiss]

Well, that's a shame. It's also why I don't like finger choils on knives, especially folders. Why reduce the useful edge on what's already an itty bitty blade? Seems a properly designed handle would obviate that.

Meanwhile, is the dulling on par for 14C28N, or is it substandard in this Vosteed?

 

[Athappyhiker11]

Well, that's a shame. It's also why I don't like finger choils on knives, especially folders. Why reduce the useful edge on what's already an itty bitty blade? Seems a properly designed handle would obviate that.

Meanwhile, is the dulling on par for 14C28N, or is it substandard in this Vosteed?

Yup - my feelings exactly on finger choils on small folders. I don't have any experience with 14C28N steel on other blades, but I'd take 1095 over this stuff...

 

[Mister_Punchy]

I had a very good experience with my Vosteed Valkyrie. Blade in 154cm would keep its edge after numerous cuts, letting me think that Vosteed does a nice HT on their steels, and the seax blade did wonder on food prep as well as cardboards and such. Fit and finish was very good too. My sole regret was that I missed on the micarta scale version of the knife.

 

[Chronovore]

Well, that's a shame. It's also why I don't like finger choils on knives, especially folders. Why reduce the useful edge on what's already an itty bitty blade? Seems a properly designed handle would obviate that.

The choil situation is actually why I passed on this one. Don't get me wrong. I like a sharpening choil and I'm okay with a big one. While yeah, things can slip down into it while cutting, it's a known thing that I can usually avoid during use. It's not just that having a choil helps with sharpening but that I see too many production knives coming with messy edge termination, either smiling up at the heel or getting sharpened right down into the plunge.

Here, it's the type of choil that bugs me. It looks like an intentional finger choil as opposed to a sharpening choil and it has a definited break between it and what is effectively another finger groove on the scale. Lots of Spyderco knives do that and it forces finger placement in ways that is often awkward for my hand. So I usually just avoid those.

Meanwhile, is the dulling on par for 14C28N, or is it substandard in this Vosteed?

I love 14C28N. It doesn't have amazing edge retention. Total edge life is only on par with like AUS-8 or 8Cr13Mov but the quality of the edge over that time tends to be much better. It's also extremely tough for a stainless steel and very stainless. It's easy to sharpen and strops up nicely. It also seems easy enough for companeis to get a decent heat treatment on it. However, an important problem that affects lots of production knives is that factory edges can go on a little hot. This can lead to all sorts of performance problems. The extent varies and so too does how deep the problem goes. This is part of why edge performance can improve after sharpening, and improve further after subsequent sharpenings. Yes, you can do a better job than the factory on stones and yes, you can adjust the angle to your liking. However, you're also moving towards fresher steel with a more intact heat treatment as you do.

Hopefully, this was just a bad example. This is the first I've heard of a specific issue with Vosteed on that.

Blade developed a little wobble too.

Was it fixable? I've never had one of their top liner-locks apart but if it developed permanent play, I'd contact them about it.

 

[will6]

Well, that's a shame. It's also why I don't like finger choils on knives, especially folders. Why reduce the useful edge on what's already an itty bitty blade? Seems a properly designed handle would obviate that.

Meanwhile, is the dulling on par for 14C28N, or is it substandard in this Vosteed?

They try to keep the xutting edge below 3" because that's the max for some states. So why not add a finger choil? Helps keep the handle longer and the blade to ha die ratio isnt out of whack. As for the steel what do people expect from 14c28n? Just because larrin claims it as his fav middle tier steel doesnt mean it can field dress an elephant.

 

[HwangJino]

While I LOVE my psyops, there aren't that many vosteeds that catches my eye. Likely will be my only vosteed.
Kizer is more appealing for sure.

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

I bought a Vosteed Porcupine (grey G10 scales, grey coated blade) about a month ago after seeing so many high praises from knife reviewers on YT. So the good: blade shape is great - lots of belly. But the finger choil isn't needed on a 3" blade and it just gets hung up when cutting. The top liner lock action seems to lock up solid, and the blade opens slick enough. But after just basic food prep, cutting up a few cardboard boxes and some minor wood whittling, the blade has noticeable side to side wiggle. Also the edge was already dulling after what I consider relatively light use. Stropped up back to pretty sharp with just a few swipes. Also the wire pocket clip already has loosened after daily pocket carry.
So for a $70 knife... I would probably pass on it. Love the blade shape and the action type, but I have other folders that cost less, don't dull that fast after light use and don't have blade wiggle or clip issues.

Photo?

 

[Chronovore]

Photo?

Stock photo from their website:

 

[Weiss]

They try to keep the xutting edge below 3" because that's the max for some states. So why not add a finger choil? Helps keep the handle longer and the blade to ha die ratio isnt out of whack. As for the steel what do people expect from 14c28n? Just because larrin claims it as his fav middle tier steel doesnt mean it can field dress an elephant.

I don't have any 14C28N knives, but I'm sure that will one day change because I like trying new things, and the comparative lack of edge holding to, say, my M390 knife doesn't bother me because I like and enjoy lots of different kinds of steel. Gives me a first-hand opportunity to find out what others (like Dr. Larrin Thomas and great many here at Bladeforums) study in great detail.

But finger choils on knives ... meh. Fine for others. Not so much for me. I think part of my reaction goes like this: That's metal! The metal part cuts! Don't touch the metal part!

Having said that, I have this knife (below), and it's a fun little chunk of a knife, even with its "safety tip" lack of useful point (which, frankly, bugs me more than the choil).



Oh, and the Batum is funny because it weighs about as much as the XL Cold Steel (7oz. vs. 7.2oz., at least according to one well-known online retailer).



But to drive this tour bus of commentary back on topic ... A Athappyhiker11 's wiggle problems might be solved with Loctite, and thanks again to the OP for the brief review of an otherwise interesting knife.

 

[will6]

The choil situation is actually why I passed on this one. Don't get me wrong. I like a sharpening choil and I'm okay with a big one. While yeah, things can slip down into it while cutting, it's a known thing that I can usually avoid during use. It's not just that having a choil helps with sharpening but that I see too many production knives coming with messy edge termination, either smiling up at the heel or getting sharpened right down into the plunge.

Here, it's the type of choil that bugs me. It looks like an intentional finger choil as opposed to a sharpening choil and it has a definited break between it and what is effectively another finger groove on the scale. Lots of Spyderco knives do that and it forces finger placement in ways that is often awkward for my hand. So I usually just avoid those.



I love 14C28N. It doesn't have amazing edge retention. Total edge life is only on par with like AUS-8 or 8Cr13Mov but the quality of the edge over that time tends to be much better. It's also extremely tough for a stainless steel and very stainless. It's easy to sharpen and strops up nicely. It also seems easy enough for companeis to get a decent heat treatment on it. However, an important problem that affects lots of production knives is that factory edges can go on a little hot. This can lead to all sorts of performance problems. The extent varies and so too does how deep the problem goes. This is part of why edge performance can improve after sharpening, and improve further after subsequent sharpenings. Yes, you can do a better job than the factory on stones and yes, you can adjust the angle to your liking. However, you're also moving towards fresher steel with a more intact heat treatment as you do.

Hopefully, this was just a bad example. This is the first I've heard of a specific issue with Vosteed on that.



Was it fixable? I've never had one of their top liner-locks apart but if it developed permanent play, I'd contact them about it.

I have the same knife and a little thread tape to tighten the

I don't have any 14C28N knives, but I'm sure that will one day change because I like trying new things, and the comparative lack of edge holding to, say, my M390 knife doesn't bother me because I like and enjoy lots of different kinds of steel. Gives me a first-hand opportunity to find out what others (like Dr. Larrin Thomas and great many here at Bladeforums) study in great detail.

But finger choils on knives ... meh. Fine for others. Not so much for me. I think part of my reaction goes like this: That's metal! The metal part cuts! Don't touch the metal part!

Having said that, I have this knife (below), and it's a fun little chunk of a knife, even with its "safety tip" lack of useful point (which, frankly, bugs me more than the choil).



Oh, and the Batum is funny because it weighs about as much as the XL Cold Steel (7oz. vs. 7.2oz., at least according to one well-known online retailer).



But to drive this tour bus of commentary back on topic ... A Athappyhiker11 's wiggle problems might be solved with Loctite, and thanks again to the OP for the brief review of an otherwise interesting knife.

We all have pur preferences,but what I'm saying is that without the choil they would have to shorten the blade. That's if they want to stay below the 3" legal limit that some jurisdictions require. Like my drop falcon with a 2.99" blade with choil. Id rather have the choil than a shorter blade,plus I love choking up on the blade, especially when they have a shorter handle. As for the steel,it has small carbides so it gets razor sharp and gets back to sharp easily,but its closer to 8cr than M390 which is a fav of mine,until I get a magnacut that is.

 

[Chronovore]

I have the same knife and a little thread tape to tighten the

We all have pur preferences,but what I'm saying is that without the choil they would have to shorten the blade. That's if they want to stay below the 3" legal limit that some jurisdictions require. Like my drop falcon with a 2.99" blade with choil. Id rather have the choil than a shorter blade,plus I love choking up on the blade, especially when they have a shorter handle. As for the steel,it has small carbides so it gets razor sharp and gets back to sharp easily,but its closer to 8cr than M390 which is a fav of mine,until I get a magnacut that is.

Of course, there is a legitimate question as to whether it's sharpened edge versus overall blade length for a given anti-liberty jurisdiction. Was it Nick Shabazz who used to talk about "how much the cop likes you" when he breaks out the ruler? Setting aside any discussion on how dumb such laws are or suggesting that people get active in trying to change them; it's best to know your local laws and stay on the right side of them by a reliably safe margin.

 

[will6]

Of course, there is a legitimate question as to whether it's sharpened edge versus overall blade length for a given anti-liberty jurisdiction. Was it Nick Shabazz who used to talk about "how much the cop likes you" when he breaks out the ruler? Setting aside any discussion on how dumb such laws are or suggesting that people get active in trying to change them; it's best to know your local laws and stay on the right side of them by a reliably safe margin.

I see your point,they might measure the entire blade. Cops will do whatever they csn to get the arrest and let the courts and lawyers settle it. Anyways I'm glad we dont have such arbitrary laws especially since someone can do as much damage with a 2" blade vs a 4" blade,maybe even more.