Vosteed Raccoon Top Liner Lock Knife Review
The Vosteed Raccoon Top liner lock knife uses a button to release the lock for very smooth action. Micarta scales and a drop point blade complete this knife!
Official Specs
Here’s a link to the Vosteed Raccoon Top liner lock knife.
Versions
A bunch of versions of the Vosteed Raccoon Top liner lock knife have been made. Not all of the versions are currently available, but the one seen on this page is.
The variations include different Micarta scale colors, different scale materials (G10, Micarta), different blade colors, and even a blade shape option (Bowie or Drop Point (seen here)). Suffice it to say, if you’re into this knife, there’s almost certainly a colorway you’ll like!
Price
This version of the Vosteed Raccoon Top liner lock knife sells for $65 and is available now. It looks like the Bowie version (which is all sold out anyway) commands a $4 premium, at $69.
Package and Manual
There is no manual.
What’s Included
- Vosteed Raccoon Top liner lock knife
- Cleaning cloth
- Zippered carry pouch
- Vosteed sticker
- Warranty card, etc.
Look
Nearly two years ago, I reviewed a Vosteed Raccoon – the full-size version. It looks like that version has been removed from the Vosteed website. Today’s version of the Vosteed Raccoon Top liner lock knife does have a few design changes, but generally, these seem like very similar knives.
The blade shape is the same as the previous version (Drop Point). The scales are still Micarta (G10 is available too). This is a similar knife in a different colorway. The product name specifies “Top Liner Lock” – the previous version used a top liner lock button lock too.
Some changes include fewer screws showing on the scales and leaving off the “matching” Micarta backspacer.
Open / Close / Lock
A thumbstud is used to open the Vosteed Raccoon Top liner lock knife.
The thumbstud is very accessible thanks to some cutout areas in the Micarta scales.
Vosteed made the Raccoon to be ambidextrous; there’s a thumbstud on both sides of the blade.
The lock release, however, is only on one side.
The blade is practically a “drop shut” smoothness. It’s very good! Below you can see that with the button depressed and the knife held nearly horizontal (ie not a lot of weight pulling the blade closed) the blade still willingly tucks itself away in the scales (closed.)
Build and Feel
Covered over and over, but the scales of the Raccoon 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. In this photo of the previous version, you could clearly see the matching Micarta backspacer. On this Vosteed Raccoon Top liner lock knife, we get a metal standoff backspacer.
The pivot, as Vosteed says, is a “Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing.” Action is very willing. I’ll note that on this knife (and no other I’ve ever had), I can feel the bearings. Action is still very good and I can’t say “feeling the bearings” is a bad thing. There’s no blade play at all.
There’s a bit of jimping on the spine.
Only one side has a TORX bolt in the pivot. The other side is blank.
Inside the Micarta are skeletonized metal liners.
The Vosteed Raccoon Top liner lock knife is a nice-looking knife! And if you’re saying “Hey, that’s too big!” Well, don’t forget about the Raccoon Cub!
The Raccoon has minimal branding (which is great), and what’s there is subtle.
Size
Blade Length:3.25″ | 82.60 mm
Overall Length:7.60″ | 193.10 mm
Blade Width:1.07″ | 27.20 mm
Blade Thickness:0.118″ | 3.00 mm
Handle Length:4.36″ | 110.80 mm
Handle Width:1.10″ | 28.00 mm
Handle Thickness:0.488″ | 12.40 mm
Weight:3.03 oz | 86.00 g
Above you can see the Vosteed Raccoon knife with the Civivi Elementum in orange G10. I use that knife so much!
Here’s the knife in hand:
Below you can see the Vosteed Raccoon 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!
In the photo above, you may note that the SRM (standard reference material) flashlight for comparison has changed! I used a TorchLAB BOSS 35 for ages. Now what you can see as the 18350 SRM is the Hanko Machine Works Trident. While I have not reviewed or tested the Gunner Grip version seen here, I have tested a Hanko Machine Works Trident Total Tesseract in brass. I love the Trident, and it’s a nice juxtaposition beside the inexpensive Convoy S2+, which I also love to use as an SRM.
Steel / Cut / Oats
Vosteed states the Raccoon blade steel as “14C28N.”
Here are some details on that steel:
https://www.materials.sandvik/en/products/strip-steel/strip-products/knife-steel/sandvik-knife-steels/sandvik-14c28n/
Retention
The pocket clip used on the Raccoon 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. This is another improvement over the original – more of an opening between the clip and scales.
The clip can be moved to the other side, too! In fact, the reverse has been given special attention – there’s a clip “blank” here that fills the gap on the side the pocket clip is not.
Also included on the Raccoon 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.
Finally, there’s an included nylon zippered pouch. This is standard for Vosteed!
Summary and Conclusion
The Vosteed Raccoon Top liner lock knife is a nice knife. I love the Micarta and I think it’ll age nicely. I appreciate that there’s a Snowflake G10 option for some seasonal vibe, and I also love the Bowie blade shape (that’s sold out but I bet is sold out in the “it’s upcoming” way). The button lock on this ceramic ball-bearing knife works great for actuating the top liner lock. The Vosteed Raccoon Top liner lock knife is just a nice, fun, and reasonably inexpensive knife!
Notes
- This knife was provided by Vosteed for review. I was not paid to write this review.
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