Why the Vosteed Raccoon Keeps Showing Up in Sunday Carry Posts
The Raccoon is the knife that made Vosteed a name people recognize, and it did it in the least glamorous way possible: by being good at $60. A BudgetBlades Sunday carry post featuring one is a reminder of how much the budget tier has improved.
The formula is straightforward. A roughly 3.2-inch blade in a stainless that takes a fine edge, a lock that can be operated one-handed, a handle that fills the hand, and a price that makes it reasonable to own two. Vosteed has iterated on that shape repeatedly, adding button lock and crossbar lock versions and moving upmarket with titanium and premium steel variants.
The current top of the line is the Raccoon TiSlim, a crossbar-lock version with a 3.18-inch 154CM blade and a Grade 5 titanium handle, priced around $146. The Halloween edition, limited to 450 numbered pieces, anodizes the titanium in a blue-to-purple gradient and adds the Munch Munch character. 154CM is a sensible step up from the budget steels: it holds an edge noticeably longer than 14C28N while staying easy to sharpen and reasonably stainless.
The interesting thing about the Raccoon's success is that it was not first. Button-lock budget folders existed before it, and crossbar locks on cheap knives were common. Vosteed won on execution, particularly on detent tuning, which is the difference between a button lock that snaps and one that feels like a toy.
Verdict: the base Raccoon is one of the best first knives you can buy, and the TiSlim is a fair upgrade for someone who already likes the shape and wants titanium. Skip the limited editions if you intend to use the knife hard, because numbered knives are for people who keep boxes.
Disclosure: EDC News may earn a commission on links in this article. Nothing here changes the price you pay.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you.