It’s incredible to see how much Vosteed has grown over the past few years. Models like the Thunderbird and the Grind sold out almost instantly, fueled by the brand’s rising popularity and limited production runs. Now, in 2025, Vosteed releases several new models each year. While drops still sell out, it feels like there’s finally a little more to go around.
At Blade Show, I had the chance to meet Yue Dong and the Vosteed team and take a look at some of their upcoming designs. One that immediately caught my attention was the Vombat—a compact folder available in several variations and, interestingly, with the ability to swap scales.
Scale swapping isn’t something you see often, and I think it’s a great idea. It opens the door to a market of aftermarket and third-party options. You can also change the thumb stud colors to suit your preference, which adds even more personality. The model I picked up is the drop point version, though the clip point variant looks fantastic as well. All versions come with diagonally milled aluminum scales that provide both texture and visual appeal.
Despite being a compact knife, the Vombat feels larger in hand. With my average-sized hands, I can get a solid four-finger grip. I honestly expected it to be a three-finger knife that would leave me wishing for a forward choil, but Vosteed knows how to maximize space. The contoured finger groove is subtle yet well-defined, making indexing natural and comfortable.
What stands out most for me—beyond the excellent ergonomics—are the scales themselves. The blue anodizing is attractive, but the milling is what really does it for me. I’ve handled knives with similar patterns before, but this one feels different. It doesn’t have that sharp “peaks and valleys” feel you sometimes get with milled aluminum. The horizontal milling adds to the traction and gives the fingers a secure, natural hold.
The Vombat uses a crossbar lock, a generic name for the well-known Axis Lock popularized by Benchmade. The key difference here is that Vosteed lets you adjust the spring tension. Some users prefer a stronger pull, others something lighter, and being able to tune it to your liking is a nice touch. Lockup is solid with no blade play at all. Out of the box, the spring tension feels just right to me, though that’s always a personal call.
The crossbar lock has become much more common in the past couple of years, especially now that the patent has expired. It’s a great, ambidextrous design—simple, secure, and easy to use.
The clip is a wire-style design mounted on a plate that bears the Vosteed logo. I’m often critical of pocket clips, and for good reason—a bad clip can ruin an otherwise great knife. But Vosteed did it right here. I’m glad to see them stick with wire clips. They’re comfortable, low profile, and hold securely without shredding pockets.
On the business end, the Vombat’s drop point blade is sleek and functional. The model is also available in a clip point, which looks great, but I’ve always had a soft spot for a good drop point. The blade steel is M390, an excellent choice for everyday carry. Edge retention has been solid, and it doesn’t take much effort to bring it back to hair-shaving sharpness.
The blade’s symmetry really appeals to me. The tip sits perfectly centered in the profile, and that kind of balance always draws me in. Deployment is done via thumb studs only, and I appreciate that simplicity. Too many companies try to cram multiple opening methods into a design, but Vosteed kept things clean.
The Vombat has two jimping sections on the spine—one near the thumb rest and another closer to the tip. The rear jimping is rounded and comfortable, while the front is narrower and ideal for precise control.
The Vosteed Vombat is a compact knife that blends clever design with everyday practicality. It’s comfortable, well-built, and performs beautifully, but what makes it stand out is its customization potential. Between the swappable scales, accent hardware, and optional materials like Micarta and Fat Carbon, this little knife has plenty of personality.
And with Vosteed’s current 40% off sale, this might be one of the best times to grab one.
Sent from my SM-S936U using Tapatalk
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