Vosteed Porcupine Review: Small Blade, Generous Grip

At its $69 launch price in January 2025, the Porcupine was quite the package. A 14C28N blade, Micarta scales and a top liner lock at that price gave me plenty to be excited about. Yue Dong designed it, and the proportions are a big part of why it works so well for me.

Here are Vosteed's specifications for the A2603:

Next to the top liner lock Raccoon and the original, longer-bladed Thunderbird, the Porcupine is noticeably more compact. I wouldn't necessarily call it a small knife, though. It feels more like a medium-sized folder because of how well it sits in my hand.

The Thornton and CJRB Pyrite Light provide a couple more useful reference points. The Porcupine measures up pretty well to the Thornton, which has a little more handle and sharpened edge. That gives you a better idea of its size than the blade length alone.

Our original Raccoon review covers the earlier button-lock version, rather than the top liner lock model pictured here. My Thornton review covers that knife in more detail.

I love this blade shape. I love the cutout, and I love how thin it is behind the edge: roughly 0.017 to 0.018 inch. That's the thin area immediately above the cutting edge, separate from the 0.118-inch blade stock listed in the specifications.

The flat-ground drop point has a continuous belly without taking it too far. Some blades have so much curve that it gets in the way of everyday use. This one has just enough belly to work with me, not against me, while keeping a useful tip for piercing and little quick cuts. The shape should work pretty well for draw cuts, too.

There is jimping toward the top of the blade and around the cutout. Combined with the full finger choil, it brings the blade and handle together really well. The steel is 14C28N; these are design and handling impressions, rather than a long-term edge-retention assessment.

The Porcupine feels so good in my hand. The forward choil gives me room to move my grip closer to the edge, and the jimping is right where I want it. The Micarta scales aren't contoured, but the curves and chamfers are in all the right places. I have no complaints about the ergonomics.

I really enjoy Vosteed's top liner lock, and the button placement is excellent here. I think of it as part of the button-lock family, but mechanically it's a liner lock released by a button.

The blade cutout gives me plenty of room for a middle-finger flick, which is my favorite way to open this knife. It's so satisfying. Thumb flicking works well, too. I'm usually not great at that with an odd-shaped cutout unless it's a round Spyderco hole, but this one gives me no trouble.

I was interested in the clip because I'd questioned the screw arrangement on another recent Vosteed. There is no such complaint here: the Porcupine has a familiar wire clip held by one screw, and I like this setup. It carries deep, with very little of the knife showing above the pocket. The clip can be mounted for left- or right-hand tip-up carry.

The green Micarta is really nice. It has a good grip and a nicely oiled finish, without that dried-out look. The weave is easy to see, and I don't see flaws in the finish on my sample.

The color falls somewhere between olive drab and forest green. I like how the gold-colored pivot collar and lanyard-hole accent work with it. There is a lanyard hole at the back for anyone who uses one. These are small details, but Vosteed got them right.

My one very small preference would be a slightly stronger detent. The detent isn't weak. It gives me a satisfying middle-finger flick while staying light enough for thumb opening. A little more resistance would be perfect for me, but it might make the knife harder to open for someone else. That's a matter of personal taste, and the action is still very good as it is.

I really, really like the Porcupine. It has the blade shape, comfortable grip, nice clip and enjoyable action I want in a knife this size. It's not too big, and it definitely doesn't feel too small.

I usually carry something a little larger, but when I want a smaller knife, this is one I'd reach for often. I carry too many different knives to say it would be in my pocket all the time. Still, this is a design I very much enjoy, and at its original $69 price, it made a strong impression on me.