Vosteed Marten Top Liner Lock Knife Review
The Vosteed Marten top liner lock knife offers a drop point blade shape an many finishes. The sub 3″ blade and aluminum handles are great for EDC! Read on!
Official Specs
Here’s a link to the Vosteed Marten top liner lock knife.
Versions
There are at least as many as eight versions of the Vosteed Marten top liner lock knife, but a few of those are not in stock. Fortunately, this version is in stock and available for shipping from the US!
Price
The Vosteed Marten top liner lock knife sells for $99, but other versions are available that have a higher price tag. The carbon fiber version, for example, is $109.
Package and Manual
There is no manual.
What’s Included
-
- Vosteed Marten top liner lock knife
- Cleaning cloth
- Carry pouch
- Sticker
- Card
Look
I always say orange may be the hardest color to white balance in photos, but I’ve done my best here.
One of my favorite review knives is the Vosteed Mini Psyop, and the Vosteed Marten top liner lock knife reminds me so much of that one. I love the Mini Psyop, and the Marten is very good in the same way.
The scales on this version are aluminum (but Ultem and carbon fiber are available, too). On the scales is a pattern that provides ample grip.
This blade is black DLC, but plain blades are available too. (There’s even a sand version!)
Open / Close / Lock
The Vosteed Marten top liner lock knife opens primarily by the thumbstud. There are two, so the knife is reasonably ambidextrous.
Another way to open the Marten is to depress the top liner lock and fling the blade open. This works, but the thumbstud seems better to me.
Unlocking the Marten is done by means of the top liner lock button. This button is only on one side, which is understandable if you think about how the knife lock works. (It’s basically a liner lock with this button for unlocking the liner.)
Build and Feel
Again, these scales are aluminum and have a pattern that provides grip. The blade is perfectly centered.
The pivot, partly visible below, uses a caged ceramic ball bearing. I’m pleased enough with the action, but I do think it’ll loosen up a bit over time and use, and that won’t be a bad thing.
There’s a full backspacer on the Vosteed Marten top liner lock knife, too. That’s a nice touch! Not only does it look great, but it also adds stiffness and grip.
On the side with the button lock, the pivot screw is smooth (no TORX access.)
The other side (clip side), the pivot may be adjusted. The same can be said for the thumbstud, too (which you can see above and below, too.)
The aluminum scales have metal liners. And if the aluminum scales have the liners, the Ultem and carbon fiber versions almost certainly do too.
Size
Blade Length:2.98″ | 75.70 mm
Overall Length:6.80″ | 172.60 mm
Blade Width:1.04″ | 26.30 mm
Blade Thickness:0.118″ | 3.00 mm
Handle Length:3.81″ | 96.88 mm
Handle Width:1.00″ | 25.40 mm
Handle Thickness:0.49″ | 12.50 mm
Weight:2.86 oz | 81.10 g
Above, you can see the Vosteed Marten top liner lock 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 Marten top liner lock 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 in the photo above, my Standard Reference Material (SRM) flashlight is the Hanko Machine Works Trident, an 18350 light. 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 striking contrast to the inexpensive Convoy S2+, another great SRM.
Steel / Cut / Oats
The Vosteed Marten top liner lock knife uses 154CM steel and a drop point blade.
If you want more info about 154CM steel, you can click on KnifeSteelNerds.com. There you will find all of the info!
The blade offers a flat grind, and in this case, black DLC.
According to coltellimania.com, which produced this image, the Vosteed Marten top liner lock knife does have a drop point blade.
Retention
A pocket clip is included. It has two screws (over/under) and is reversible. It allows only tip-up carry.
It’s a very simple clip. If I had to pick something to complain about, it’d be that the clip doesn’t have a dedicated cutout in the scale. I really prefer to see the clip attach area recessed!
A lanyard loop is built into the scales and goes through the backspacer.
Below you can see Vosteed’s new pouch. This pouch is simpler – just a hook/loop closure, but I prefer it.
Below you can see my reason for liking this pouch better: it’s flatter.
Summary and Conclusion
I was primed to love the Vosteed Marten top liner lock knife, in part because of how much it reminds me of the Mini Psyop. I love the Mini Psyop, and I like the Marten a lot too. With some break-in, the action will be great. I love the design of this knife, and using it has been great. I love the look, and to quibble that the pocket clip screw area isn’t recessed is a minor detail. It’s taken a minute to get used to the top liner lock (I handle it like I think it’s a Crossbar lock knife). Regardless of any of those preferences, I love the Marten!
Notes
- This knife was provided by Vosteed for review. I was not paid to write this review.
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