A Vosteed Porcupine TiSlim in S90V Proves the Slim Thesis

Vosteed's naming is usually literal, and the Porcupine TiSlim is the clearest case: a 3.04-inch S90V blade in a titanium frame built around being thin. An owner posted first impressions to r/knifeclub this week and confirmed the thesis, calling it "ridiculously slim" while noting it fits the hand comfortably.

The spec sheet backs up the feel. The TiSlim runs a 3.04-inch blade, and the titanium versions land at $179 for the S90V variant and $189 for the one with the different finish. That is aggressive pricing for S90V in titanium, and it is the same value argument Vosteed has been making across the Porcupine line: take a steel that normally appears above $200 and put it in a frame that does not cost $300.

S90V is the reason the knife is interesting. It is a high-vanadium powder metallurgy stainless with excellent wear resistance and mediocre toughness — the opposite of the 14C28N that dominates the budget tier. In a thin, slicy blade, that is the right pairing: you get an edge that lasts through a month of cardboard, and you accept that hitting a staple will chip rather than roll.

The one quibble in the post was the thumbstuds, described as possibly a little too wide. That is a recurring note on Vosteed designs, and it is a real trade: wide studs are easier to find with a thumb but catch on pockets and can interfere with a straight-backed grip. On a slim handle, the studs also set the minimum width of the whole package.

Verdict: at $179 for S90V and titanium in a 3-inch frame, the TiSlim is one of the better value propositions in the current market, and the owner's conclusion — "definitely a keeper" — is the right one. Just handle one before assuming the studs suit your hand.