Vosteed Mini Nightshade Titanium Knife Review
The Vosteed Mini Nightshade titanium knife is a smaller version of the Nightshade. It features the Shilin cutter-style 2.6″ blade but has titanium handles!
Official Specs
Here’s a link to the Vosteed Mini Nightshade titanium knife.
Versions
There are many versions of the Vosteed Mini Nightshade. There’s this satin blade and G10 handle version and some other blade finishes and other handle options. There’s titanium, too, in three finishes!
Price
The Vosteed Mini Nightshade titanium knife sells for $149.
Short Review
The Vosteed Mini Nightshade titanium knife shape is so specific – you’re either going to really want this knife and want to use it, or probably won’t care anything about it. I will say that the shape (and general ergonomics) aren’t really my preferred style, but I do greatly appreciate that Vosteed has released this mini version. I want a mini version of all knives! I want a micro version! Let’s get some 2″ knives going!
Anyway, the build quality of this Mini Nightshade is great (just like the bigger Nighshade, and just like the G10 version.) Attention to detail is on point and the knife functions perfectly. Furthermore, the titanium handles make for a fantastic upgrade over the other versions!
Long Review
Package and Manual
Vosteed has improved its packaging (in my opinion) but at the same time dropped the metal tin. That’s fine with me because if I were going to carry in something, I’d use the pouch (seen below) anyway.
What’s Included
Here’s a better photo of the sticker:
- Vosteed Mini Nightshade titanium knife
- Zippered carry pouch
- Polishing cloth
- Nightshade sticker
- Informational cards
Look
The titanium on this Vosteed has a very nice worn look. Also, you’ll note immediately the shape of the knife spine – there’s a lot of beef there, and it does stick out over the handles quite a bit. That’s by design of course and adds weight that helps with flip. This blade style is called Shilin.
Who knows what’s a Shilin Cutter? I didn’t until handling the bigger Nightshade a while back. I couldn’t find a ton of information on those, but I did find this one that was once for sale at arizonacustomknives.com. Based on that one, I’d say this one by Vosteed is a very nice modern production of the Shilin Cutter.
Per the design language, this knife has a bow from tip to tail. Apparently this is great for slicing.
These ridges on the handles (on both the G10, etc, and titanium versions) display the wear pattern and also provide a bit of added grip.
Vosteed describes the Shilin blade shape as “leaf-shaped” and I’d say that’s quite accurate. Below you can see some of the minimal branding.
Open / Close / Lock
Unlike the Vosteed Nightshade Lt knife (which is a liner lock knife) the Mini Nightshade titanium knife is described as a “Cross bar lock.” Opening it requires the use of this thumbstud (or another option, see below).
Basically, that means “Axis” lock, and since the Axis lock is off-patent (I think) this is an allowed usage of the locking style. I happen to be a HUGE fan of Axis locks, so this is good for me.
Here’s a close-up of the locking mechanism. Actuating this crossbar lock effectively will allow you to flip the knife open and also drop it shut. It’s a very good mechanism!
Build and Feel
This titanium version of the Mini Nightshade is really an upgrade. It’s much smoother than the G10 version, so slipping in and out of the pocket is great and easy.
The backspacer on this Mini is upgraded from the bigger version (I have to interject here that it’s so tempting to call them the Mini and Maxi, because “the bigger one” seems gross and not ongoingly accurate.) Anyway, the backspacer is a solid piece, and not just the two standoffs as on the Nightshade. This version is anodized yellow aluminum.
You can see the ball bearing in the pivot area below – these are caged ceramic ball bearings. The action is very good!
Blade centering is on point, too! The build quality here is really good.
The blade does not have any jimping, and the spine is rounded. You would not want to use this knife for striking a flint!
The Mini does lose the full metal liners, along with the titanium handles. I haven’t struggled with rigidity, and even when purposefully flexing the area, there’s… no flex.
There’s minimal branding!
Size
Blade Length: 2.60″ | 66.04
Overall Length: 6.31″ | 160.37
Blade Width: 1.13″ | 28.28
Blade Thickness: 0.098″ | 2.49
Handle Length: 3.71″ | 94.33
Handle Width: 0.89″ | 22.6
Handle Thickness: 0.42″ | 10.57
Weight: 1.80 oz | 51.00 g
Here’s the knife in hand:
Below you can see the Vosteed Raccoon Cub knife with the venerable Convoy S2+. The version you see below is a custom Convoy S2+ host that’s been laser engraved 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 knife beside 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!
Here’s the Vosteed Nightshade Lt knife beside another of my favorites – the Civivi Elementum. If you want to see a bunch more photos of that knife, check out my post about the Civivi Elementum here.
Steel / Cut / Oats
The Vosteed Mini Nightshade titanium knife uses S35VN steel.
Retention
As stated above, 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). The clip can not be moved to any other position but what you see below. That probably means the knife will be backward for you southpaws out there!
The clip can go on either side of the knife but only on the tip-end, for tip-down carry.
Also included on the Vosteed Mini Nightshade titanium knife is a hole where a lanyard could be attached. This hole is on the same end as the pocket clip and can be seen in the photo above.
Conclusion
The Vosteed Mini Nightshade titanium knife has great build quality. The titanium version comes in at a premium of $149, nearly 100 more than the G10 version. Vosteed answered my request for a smaller version of the Nightshade with this Mini Nightshade, and I’m very pleased with it!
Notes
- This knife was provided by Vosteed for review. I was not paid to write this review.
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