Vosteed Raccoon Cub Knife Review
The Vosteed Raccoon Cub knife is available now. It’s an updated mini-sized Raccoon that uses G10 for the handles and a liner lock. It also gets a flipper tab!
Official Specs
Here’s a link to the Vosteed Raccoon Cub knife.
Versions
At least four versions of the Vosteed Raccoon Cub knife are available. They all seem to use G10 for the handles but are available in black, green, white, and “copper dune.” Black, satin, and “copper dune” blade finishes are available.
Price
All four versions of the Vosteed Raccoon Cub knife currently sell for $49. You have to go check out the Copper Dune-Black version!
Package and Manual
What’s Included
- Vosteed Raccoon Cub knife
- Cleaning cloth
- Carry pouch
- Sticker
- Manual
Look
This is the Vosteed Raccoon Cub knife, a “smaller version of the Vosteed Raccoon.” But check this knife out. There are a bunch of updates and changes! Here’s a list of some differences:
The Raccoon used Micarta. The Raccoon cub uses G10.
The Raccoon used was a button lock knife. The Raccoon cub uses a liner lock.
The Raccoon used a thumbstud opening only. The Raccoon cub has a thumbstud but also a flipper tab.
There may be some other differences too. Obviously, this Cub is smaller, too!
The look is great. I like G10 generally (I also like Micarta!) and the G10 works nicely here.
This version of Vosteed Raccoon Cub knife is black on black with blue accents. I love that Dune version though – the brown/copper blade is something I don’t see much!
Open / Close / Lock
Since this is the biggest change on the Vosteed Raccoon Cub knife, let’s talk about the flipper first. The back of the blade has a flipper tab. Probably you’ll find the best opening to be with your thumb, but honestly I can’t use these flipper tabs anyway.
The other opening option is this thumbstud. This is a “standard thumbstud” by Vosteed and there’s a decent bit of access to it. Flicking the knife open this way has a good bit of “activation energy” but once that’s overcome, the blade flicks open so readily you’ll think this knife is assisted!
Locking is by way of a liner lock mechanism. I really like liner locks (at least when compared to frame locks).
Build and Feel
The Vosteed Raccoon Cub knife build quality is good. These G10 handles really add grip.
This whole knife is quite “blacked out.” If you like blue, then it’s nice that the blue thumbstud pops off the black as it does. If you’d rather go murdered out, then that blue really does stand out…
But the build quality is nice. The opening action is very smooth thanks to the caged ceramic ball bearing.
Perfect centering on the short (2.34″) blade.
There’s no backspacer – Vosteed just used screw standoffs inside the scales. For $49, that’s probably one tradeoff you make. No complaints, though. It might look nicer to have a matching backspacer bu the Vosteed Raccoon Cub knife is rigid enough without.
Two parts of the blade have jimping. There’s a long strip on the back edge of the blade as well as (maybe weirdly) along the “nose” of the blade.
Size
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
Handle Length: 3.23″ | 82.10 mm
Handle Width: 1.00″ | 25.50 mm
Handle Thickness: 0.41″ | 10.50 mm
Weight: 2.04 oz | 58.00 g
Here’s the knife in hand:
Below you can see the Vosteed Raccoon Cub knife with the venerable Convoy S2+. The version below is a custom laser-engraved Convoy S2+ host by GadgetConnections.com. I did a full post on an engraved orange host right here! Or go straight to GadgetConnections.com to buy your Convoy S2+ now!
Also above is the Vosteed Raccoon Cub knifebeside a TorchLAB BOSS 35, an 18350 light. I reviewed the aluminum version of that light in both 35 and 70 formats. I also reviewed that specific edition, the “Oveready BOSS FT Collector Vintage Brass” 35. I love it!
Below is the Vosteed Raccoon Cub knife with the Civivi Elementum. I still use that knife so much!
Steel / Cut / Oats
Vosteed states the Raccoon Cub blade steel is “14C28N.”
Here are the details of that steel:
https://www.materials.sandvik/en/products/strip-steel/strip-products/knife-steel/sandvik-knife-steels/sandvik-14c28n/
Along with that blade steel is a full flat grind and a stonewashed finish. It’s a great combo.
The blade shape is “Drop Point” and one of my favorites! Since we’ve lately seen quite a few variations on traditional shape blades, I’m pleased to say that this drop point seems like a “proper drop point.” and I like that!
The blade has a flat grind too, which helps show off the black blade finish.
Retention
The pocket clip used on the Vosteed Raccoon Cub knife 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 and fairly accessible “mouth,” so using the pocket clip is easy. Note that this clip is slightly updated from older versions of the Raccoon. It has a better (more refined) bend – more open space under the clip.
The pocket clip can go on either side. There are holes on both sides but also the pocket clip is built into the handles. That’s what I prefer. With the Vosteed Raccoon Cub knife, there’s no blank to fill the void of the non-clip side. That’s ok – again this is a sub $50 knife!
A nylon zipper pouch is also included.
Summary and Conclusion
I love small knives and this Vosteed Raccoon Cub knife is definitely a small knife! The blade shape is fantastic and I love the flick open from using the thumbstud. I find the thumbstud just a touch difficult to get to (probably because the knife is as small as it is). The flipper tab offers a reasonable way to avoid thumbstud opening, but you’ll need to have proper dexterity for that. For the price, it’s hard to go wrong, and thanks to Vosteed for hitting the “small knife” market with this knife!
Notes
- This knife was provided by Vosteed for review. I was not paid to write this review.
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