Since its first product a year and a half ago, Vosteed Cutlery has continued to release really smart products into the outdoor/EDC space. The brand released a flipper that echoed the lines of the great Shinlin cutter pattern. It also dropped a smooth and nicely made button lock flipper. Then, Vosteed collaborated with Reylight, one of the better flashlight companies, to make an excellent 1xCR123a torch.
But all of this stuff has been relatively budget-conscious.
Enter the RSKAOS, in many ways a blank-slate blade without constraints (in either budget or design). The knife marks a collaboration between Rob Saniscalchi’s RS Knifeworks and Vosteed Cutlery.
The RSKAOS is a big, aggressive knife with lots of interesting features that traffics heavily in Saniscalchi’s signature style and penchant for large, hard-use folders. Because of its size, there may be legal restrictions barring ownership. Check the AKTI website for more.
In short: The RSKAOS is a very large, aggressive blade with an innovative lock and superior design elements, but is probably too much for everyday carry or outdoor use.
- Steel: M390
- Grind: Compound grind, wharncliffe
- Lock: Button-activated liner lock (top liner lock)
- Blade length: 3.46"
- OAL: 8.39"
- Weight: 5.4 oz.
- Price: Starting at $249
- Country of origin: China
Pros
- Innovative button-activated liner lock
- Ultra-low-profile sculpted clip
- Well-executed compound grind
- Easy-to-sharpen blade shape
Cons
- Extremely aggressive appearance
- Large blade size may have legal implications
- Compound grind takes some getting used to
Vosteed RSKAOS Review
Overview
The RSKAOS is a large folder with a titanium handle and an M390 blade. There are two blade shapes, the review sample being a wharncliffe version.
This knife has a compound grind, in which the blade has at least two different grinds. In this case, there is a very thin grind near the tip and a thicker grind toward the handle. The idea behind a compound grind is that it gives the knife added versatility. When executed well, a compound grind is also visually appealing to some.
The knife has a liner lock that is deactivated by a button, allowing the user to close the knife without placing their fingers in the blade path.
The clip on the RSKAOS is a sculpted titanium clip with a very low profile and a ramp toward the tail end. The knife’s handle is decorated with significant machining, adding to the grip and making the knife appear quite aggressive. There are two versions, one with and one without coatings. The review sample is sans coating.
The Good
The good parts of the RSKAOS are immediately apparent — it is exceptionally well made, as is the case with most $250 blades these days.
The flipping action, given the large blade, is smooth and kinetic. The compound grind is well done without the harsh plateaus sometimes seen on these kinds of blades.
Near the handle, the thinned-out portion is actually quite slicey. The liner lock is excellent, a significant improvement over other button-activated liner locks, like the one seen on the Kershaw Thistle. It is easy and intuitive to use. I am not sure what advantage it holds over something like a button lock, but it is just as simple.
The clip here is long, making the knife not the deepest carry blade ever, but the back portion is ramped, eliminating all of the hotspots usually associated with a sculpted clip. The blade steel, M390, is still quite good and an all-around performer.
Drawbacks
However, the RSKAOS has some significant drawbacks. This is nearly a 3.5-inch blade, and because of its shape and grind, it is exceptionally aggressive looking. For a lot of folks that’s a plus, but if you carry a knife as a tool, things that make it harder to use, even if they are as intangible as social discomfort, aren’t welcome.
Additionally, the compound grind was somewhat awkward. The thin portion of the blade was quite slicey and it made me want to use it instead of the more robust edge further down the blade. The result was a tendency to skip the first inch and half of the blade.
Compared to other blades with compound grinds or serrations, the placement of the thinner portion of the grind is weird. The tip needs to be more robust and typically the part near the handle is reserved for the alternate grind/serrations.
Personally, I don’t like this design choice and would prefer an inversion of the grind’s layout. Additionally, for those with no experience on a compound grind, some of the classic knife moves don’t work as well. A draw cut, for example, is no longer one clean pull, but an action inhibited by a speed bump partway through.
My past experience with compound grinds, like the one seen on the great and positively massive TM Hunt M16, has demonstrated their utility. So, the compound grind itself is not a deal-breaker, just less than ideal. But with steel as hard as M390, the whole knife could have been as thin as the thinly ground portion with no problems.
The knife’s handle is also not my favorite. When I was breaking down packaging with it, I noticed that it tended to gather debris. Because the machining is so deep, it acts like a gunk collector.
Vosteed RSKAOS: Conclusion
If you like big, aggressive knives, the RSKAOS is for you. Its wharncliffe blade shape is comparably easy to sharpen and it certainly conveys a look. For my utilitarian preferences, however, it lacks the overall versatility of a drop point or clip point, which offers both belly and straightaway.
In all, the RSKAOS is a solid knife with a bold form factor, but it is a little much for EDC use.
