Keeping up with the torrent of new stuff is impossible, even when you have been reviewing knives for years. Brands spring up like mushrooms in a forest after the rain. Then they release two dozen blades and see which hit and which don’t. It’s daunting to filter through all of this and find good stuff.
Vosteed has released several knives in the past 2 years, but it has been pretty focused on releasing good stuff. It has also been careful to ensure that fit and finish on all its stuff are quite high. This foundation puts them ahead of a few “mushroom brands.” But even with Vosteed, sometimes you might miss a good knife. This is your notice — the Vosteed Chipmunk is a good blade, albeit with one drawback.
In short: The Vosteed Chipmunk is a very small but very good EDC knife at a low price.
-
Steel
14C28N -
Grind
Hollow grind -
Lock
Liner lock -
Blade length
2.64 inches -
OAL
6.14 inches -
Weight
2.53 ounces -
Price
$60 -
Country of origin
China
-
Amazing action, especially for the price -
Contoured G10 scales -
Good budget steel
-
Likely too small for many people -
Flipper tab can snag on stuff
Vosteed Chipmunk Knife Review
First Impressions
The Chipmunk is a small knife, a nugget of cutting goodness. It is definitely a three-finger knife handle, even for people with small hands, but if you like the size, there are no real drawbacks. It has three methods of opening — a thumb stud, a flipper tab, and jimping for front flipper opening. All work well.
This is mainly because the detent is strong, and the bearing pivot is super smooth. Often, companies achieve this level of smooth deployment by losing the pivot, but I have had the Chipmunk for months, and it is still airtight. The knife’s handle scales are contoured and comfortable — a rarity for an entry-level knife of this size. The clip is a generic, over-the-top clip, but it works well.
I also like the coating, which is stonewashed black. It gives the Chipmunk a worn-in look. I prefer uncoated blades, but if you have to have a coating, this is not a bad choice. Interestingly enough, the steel, 14C28N, is exceptionally stain-resistant, having been derived from a steel developed for shaving razors. Why they added a coating is anyone’s guess.
Use and Carry
I generally carry a knife every day. And the Chipmunk did great in dress pants, jeans, and even shorts. Its diminutive size, rounded shape, and sculpted and relatively smooth G10 allowed it to easily drop into pockets.
One thing I noticed, especially when doing light food prep tasks, is that the blade can be too small. If you are just opening boxes, this knife is fine. You will have a tough time if you need to slice an apple or cut an extra-wide block of cheddar. The 2.64-inch blade feels small.
Here is an example of where this came up in real life. There is a wonderful hike near my house called Crow’s Hill Ledge. It is a perfect 1- or 2-hour hike. My boys both like it, and we can squeeze it in after school or in the afternoon on the weekend after I mow my yard.
One of our traditions is that we usually bring some provisions to eat once we get to the top. I drop a maple cutting board I made into my backpack, and then we hike up to the top of Crow’s Hill Ledge.
At the summit, if you can call it that (I think the overall height is about 1,200 feet, and the prominence is about 700 feet), there is a small spot without trees, and you can see for miles. Here, we usually have what I call a pocket knife lunch with cured meats (usually sopressata), some crackers, and some very sharp cheddar. When guilted into eating healthier, I also drop some fruit — usually apples. Everyone eats off the cutting board, and I usually pump out stacks of food.
On one such trip, I took the Chipmunk. The block of cheese was just a smidge too wide to cut. Similarly, I couldn’t span an entire apple. I made do, and it was still good (as most food is after a hike up a mountain), but the short blade was a noticeable handicap.
Another issue that has come up twice is that the slim tab that sticks out the front can snag when you retrieve your knife from your pocket. It is not common, but it is possible and could result in the knife giving you a bite.
Conclusions
I really like this knife a lot. It is well-built and opens with grace. It is a river stone in the pocket. But the blade is probably too short for most people. At 2.58 ounces, you can get a Bugout plus a few hard candies in your pocket. It’s three times as expensive. But the Bugout blade is much longer, and the knife weighs less. But if your knife tasks include breaking down recycling and opening boxes, the Chipmunk will suit you just fine.
Overall, I’d recommend the Chipmunk so long as you desire an inexpensive, short-blade EDC knife.
