Vosteed Labrador Knife Review
The Labrador is a new liner-lock knife by Vosteed with micarta handles and a 154CM blade, 3.74 inches in length. Read on for more photos!
Official Specs
Here’s a link to the Vosteed Labrador knife product page.
Versions
Multiple versions are available. Three scale options exist: black, green (seen here), and white. The green micarta version is available with a satin blade (seen here) or stonewashed blade.
Price
Vosteed lists the Labrador knife at $84. It’s available now!
Short Review
Three point seven four inches is (for me!) a large knife. I don’t carry large knives often but I can say that this one has a high level of usability because the handle is sized in accordance with the bigger blade. The build quality is excellent and I couldn’t pick out anything at all to fuss about! Vosteed does seem to be creeping up in their pricing, so at $84 you might know of some other good competition for the Labrador.
Long Review
Package and Manual
What’s Included
- Vosteed Labrador Knife
- Polishing cloth
- Zipper nylon pouch
- Metal tin
- Vosteed morale patch
- Sticker
- Information card, etc
Look
Vosteed again used micarta on a knife – I say “again” because I also have photos up of the Raccoon, which has micarta scales. I have a sneaking suspicion that the Labrador has oiled micarta (which is something Vosteed recommended I do to the Raccoon, too!) I can say that in person, the micarta of the Labrador looks a bit less “deep” (or “wet”) and in person actually looks quite a bit better.
Overall this is a very swoopy looking knife and I do like it quite a bit, despite being bigger than I’ll typically use. As with the Raccoon, I like that the blade doesn’t touch the table when resting in the way seen below. Not that that specifically matters, but this translates to how I want the blade to be poised when I’m using the knife.
One side of the pivot screw is “special.” The other is just Torx though, so if you need to manage the action, it should be very possible.
The spine nearest the handle has a bit of jimping.
There’s minimal branding on the Labrador, ad it’s all in the same general location.
The spine of the blade has a bit of jimping where you’d probably want it, and the other part has a “just” broken edge. It’s not rounded, and barely even a 45-degree angle (probably). You might be able to strike a flint with it, but there are probably other knives better suited to that task.
Inside the handle is full metal liners. You can see below how weight has been removed.
Open / Close / Lock
A thumbstud is used to open the Vosteed Labrador micarta knife. Vosteed made the Labrador to be ambidextrous; there’s a thumbstud on both sides of the blade. Or you can use one of the two flippers! Primarily, there’s this one below.
This action is very good and is probably going to be the best way to open the Labrador. The blade weight really aids in swinging the knife open.
Also an option if you’re a sociopath is this “other flipper.” It works if you have ten out of ten dexterity, but if you’re 9 or below, you’ll cut your body off your hand using this option. (Oh yeah: the Labrador is sharp!)
The liner lock is easy enough to get to and actuate.
Build and Feel
Covered this above, but the scales of the Labrador are micarta. The build quality is great, and note that the micarta provides a great grip surface. This will ebb and flow with the age and use of the knife – micarta isn’t really a “patina” material, but it also is in some sense the best patina material – it should show age and usage very nicely.
The blade is perfectly centered.
Size
Overall Length 8.73 inch | 221.73 mm
Blade Length 3.74 inch | 95 mm
Blade Width 1 inch |25.51 mm
Blade Thickness 0.118 inch| 3.0 mm
Handle Length 4.99 inch | 126.73 mm
Handle Width 1.11 inch | 28.12 mm
Weight 3.44 oz | 97.4 g
Steel / Cut / Oats
Vosteed uses 154CM steel on the Labrador. Here’s some detail on 154CM steel.
The blade shape is “full flat grind” and one of my favorites. It’s prone to collecting fingerprints (or fingers, if you use the “top” flipper, as mentioned above.)
Retention
The pocket clip used on the Labrador is similar to other Vosteed knives I’ve seen (like the Nightshade.) The pocket clip is a nice deep carry clip. The clip is held in place by two “over/under” TORX screws (around T6, I think).
You can see below that the pocket clip has a nice shoulder but a very low “mouth,” so using the pocket clip will require some deliberate attention.
The clip can not be moved at all, and allows only tip-up carry.
Also an option on the Labrador is using a lanyard, which can attach either through the pocket clip or these holes on the handles.
Finally, this included zippered pouch is great for carrying the Labrador!
Conclusion
The Vosteed Labrador with micarta scales is a high-quality, fairly large knife. The package is robust, including a zippered carry pouch. While the pocket clip is not reversible, carry is easy and the clip works well. There’s a lanyard hole, too, adding versatility. All in all, the Labrador is a great knife!
Notes
- This knife was provided by Vosteed for review. I was not paid to write this review.
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