Vosteed vs. Benchmade’s slick new knife. Will Mini Narrows survive a fair match?

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Vosteed makes great knives. But not always great choices! If you’re in love with 154CM, feel free to disagree in the comments, but I think it’s a throw back to 1995. Don’t miss the Hype Smasher test at the end!

[@sloanNYC]

Wish it was a bit better steel, but for the price I was okay with it.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

I think it could have been $30-40 less. But they’re sold out now most places.

[@MrCaissed]

Hi CB,! I have a view vosteed knives that I love and I wrote a review for the company and they sent me a raccoon as a gift. There was the chance of winning the raccoon and to my surprise I did but then I was asked about the parallel and I said no it’s to thin for my hands and I’m not fond of the 154 steel. You would have thought I insulted them the way they received my answer, but they wanted honesty and that’s what I gave them.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@MrCaissed I like how they handle social media interface. When they contacted me for a review offer, I didn’t like the model they wanted looked at and they said no problem and allowed me to choose one. That’s going to be on the channel in about a week from today. I sent them the link to this video here as well, hopefully you are correct about their attitude towards unbiased reviews 👍

[@sloanNYC]

@@CuttingBoardRx I see it typically around $129. $150 is too much for sure. $109 would feel like amazing value to me once they fix it. The Civivi Vision is my all time best value right now.

[@armandkokotajlo2085]

Benchmade warranty is so amazing. I sent my old (second hand buy and regrind) titanium m4 760 for a new pivot. They told me that it was not possible to fix it. They offered me 300usd for a new knife so I took a crooked river custom with s90V for 380usd and they offered me the difference due to technical problems with their payment system. I understand now why they are so expansive to buy. You pay for this lifetime warranty.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@armandkokotajlo2085 Thanks for this informative comment! I knew about their replacement policy but it’s the first time I’m reading about a first-hand experience!

[@Knivess0]

This is the exception, not the rule. I don't know what warranty service rep you got that day, but you're lucky to have gotten anything out of it. For that matter, did they send back your 760? Most of the time, the warranty is worthless, and sometimes even worse than worthless as it costs you money. It just isn't the selling point people think it is.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@Knivess0 more importantly, I’d like to know if that was a recent situation or does it go back to before February 2020.

[@armandkokotajlo2085]

@@Knivess0 I had a choice between the 300USD coupon and they keep it or recovering my broken knife. This story is brand new, the replacement knife is in transit. It's just my 1st experience with them and I am very happy despite loosing one of my favorite knife (they don't make any titanium framelock anymore and the new models are not as robust).

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@armandkokotajlo2085 Appreciate your input. I sent knives to them 3 times and every time my experience was positive. There are many things that I would change at Benchmade but customer service isn’t one of them.

[@kelloggcd]

I always appreciate your videos…an absolute wealth of knowledge. Thank you Sir!

[@CuttingBoardRx]

I appreciate that! Thanks for subscribing!

[@mj1653]

Appreciate you pointing out all these channels that are basically shilling for these companies and not actually reviewing knives

[@maxlvledc]

Personally I would have prefered Nitro-V or 14C if they were going for a budget design, or S35VN for mid range. I agree 154CM seems outclassed atm.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Thanks for a great comment! They have proven that they can do well in the budget steel and premium steel arenas. I would like your opinion on why there’s a spike in 154CM use all of a sudden?

[@anthonyrollins9825]

why would you prefer 14c as less performing steel over 440c or 154cm ? I mean the only thing 14c has going for it is toughness edge retention is on par with aus8/8cr13 , 440c and 154cm has moderate toughness ( just fine for a folding knife ) and edge retention a couple points higher than the 3 14c is rated at.

[@maxlvledc]

@anthonyrollins9825 it's a super fine grain structure that makes it very tough, and frankly edge retention is more than enough for the majority of people. Already 14c is double that of something like 420HC that tons of people carry. This would also drop the price making it more accessible to more people. If I was going for edge retention s35vn would make much more sense at that price or up to $140 ish.

[@anthonyrollins9825]

@@maxlvledc you are greatly mistaken , toughness 420Hc - 9 ,14c28n - 9 . edge retention 420Hc - 2.5 , 14c28n - 3 .It is laughable what ppl just take as fact when a new steel hits the market in all truth 14c is a steel we didn't need 420HC fills that spot just fine . Pointedly its just another new steel for the masses to clamor over that isn't really much of a improvement at all.

[@colosse83]

If you like to sharpen, it sharpens beautifully. Like an AEB-L class or other fine grain stainless "swedish steel" used in japanese kitchen knife cutlery. Takes a very fine polished edge beautifuly if that's something you like. That said, I have a bit of experience with Buck 420HC and it also sharpens incredibly quickly and polishes fast.

[@ct2368]

Thanks for the overview. I love this knife, and for the price and the intended "light use" design, I think 154cm is fine. 154cm gets razor sharp with very little effort or talent, which is one of my favorite parts about it. If they made a version with upgraded blade steel, it would beat the narrows hands down.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@ct2368 Actually it already beats Mini Narrows. I passed on the latter and paid for the former. And it wasn’t the price for me: Benchmade keeps trying to solve those difficult problems that nobody has! Literally, not a single person on this planet would spec out a mini narrows as a knife they really need!

[@KnivesAndPizza]

Favourite part of the day is having a little Smokey a little coffee and a CBRx video on

[@CuttingBoardRx]

LMAO! Am I an addictive substance 🙃🤣😆

[@Bostonshawn508]

I love the reverse MetCom comparison. “The Mini Ritter Hogue or in this case the Mini Griptilian” I caught that statement. 😂

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Haha! I think the irony is not ever wasted!

[@ElCapAddict]

Great review. BTW, I had typed out a lengthy response but your (or YT’s) comment filtering censored it-you can change the comment settings to be more permissive if you haven’t. I recall that 154 was for bearings. Make a big butterfly from the knives in your Benchmade display. Thanks for the video, CBRx.

[@dongustafson2304]

CPM154 CM knives are really good with proper heat treatment and blade geometry compared to some super steel knives one could purchase today. That being said, I'm currently enamored with K390.

[@wayneanderson991]

The Vosteed appears to be using the same omega style springs as Ganzo is. I suspect this modified design will aid in the longevity of the life of the spring. The wire is not forced to bend in as much of an arch when compressed as the standard omega spring does such as the ones in the Benchmade knives with the Axis lock.

[@loosieclocker]

Vosteed is making some great knives. Totally agree with the steel choice.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@loosieclocker Key word - SOME. This could have been one of them but…

[@sloanNYC]

Toughness is a tricky thing to consistently measure other than an impact test right? If you do twisting or pulling it is tough to measure deformations isn't it? Regardless, the Parallel I got has terrible action and adjusting the spring does nothing to help that as you mentioned. It is almost as though the base of the blade is rubbing against the pivot or something. Many people have complained and Vosteed has said they are looking to adjust the next version. It is also just a bit too small in my hand both in grip and when opening/closing vs the Cold Steel FM-1 feels great.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@sloanNYC It’s not that it’s hard to measure toughness using bending test as the elongation can be easily measured or calculated. The problem is that one would need multiple sample blades, while the Izod test can be repeated on a single coupon. So it’s more expensive and will expose the blades’ weaknesses, so why would the industry pay for that? 😆

[@sloanNYC]

@@CuttingBoardRx Yeah, time and money are factors for sure. It is interesting that for swords they give you HRC, the impact resistance joule rating, and how many degrees it can bend before permanent deformation. And then many can just be banged back into shape. And as you've pointed out so many times, blade geometry at the tip and in general has a huge impact on strength.

[@mangobadger]

That “butterfly” display looks great!

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@mangobadger Thanks!

[@Brian-rj5rl]

You say that you have complete faith in your hardness tester, then a few seconds later you throw out outliers. Impact hardness testers are not approved for thin materials. I do agree its fine for this purpose, given the cost, non marking test and that it's for entertainment. I enjoy your channel!

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Thanks for watching!

[@davidcoats1037]

Thanks for the video. I like your Bugout display. Very cool!

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Thanks for watching and subscribing!

[@ras9182]

Great review. I've been very interested in the Parallel and a critical eye has helped me decide. I will wait for a better steel S35VN or reduced price. I have an old mini griptillian with 154cm. It has been a great knife and is in my emergency kit. I currently stick with a Knafs Lander 2 and Lander 3 as my main knives. I would love to have a review of the Lander 2 as I think it is better than the Lander 3.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Lander 2? No problem, coming up (thats the only one I have)! Vosteed in S35VN, No problem, coming up! (Mini Night Shade) Thanks for subscribing!

[@Crazycook678]

I love your channel you have great content and humor. Thank you.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

I appreciate that! Thanks for subscribing!

[@1ohmwrecker]

Dont know if you're familiar, but im a laser welder. I weld under a microscope. I wish i understood machining like you do!

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@1ohmwrecker Wow! That’s so cool! What industry are you laser-welding for?

[@heavyweightsound]

My only experience with 154CM was a Protech Godson which I bought about 20 years ago. Difficult to a good edge on it and would never hold an edge. (However it's still fires like it did 20 years ago) I think metal complex says it's one of his favorite steels, which I could never understand

[@CuttingBoardRx]

He also firmly believes that an integral knife is harder to make than a regular frame lock. And it's just not the truth. Like many other things on KZbin. Thanks for subscribing!

[@jufuh1503]

Great review, as always. Great jokes, as always 🙏

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@jufuh1503 Anyone who laughs at my jokes is automatically my friend! Thanks for watching!

[@justbeingmeyoutube]

@17:13 I believe you mean Paramilitary 3, not 2. That looks a little smaller then the pm2.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@justbeingmeyoutube correct. I hate the Spyderco naming conventions! Love som of the knives though!

[@justbeingmeyoutube]

@@CuttingBoardRx easy mistake

[@robertstratton1805]

The spiderco was a para 3 bud 😂

[@CoffeeAndSteel]

Would you be willing to do a video on your top 3 current fixed and folder blades that you'd essentially trust your life too in terms of strength and lock reliability? Or even just respond here 😁

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@CoffeeAndSteel That’s a great idea!

[@anthonyrollins9825]

Goofy ? yes ... but let me explain what I mean - each individual is goofy in their own way , it is this uniqueness that intrigues me what one finds goofy another finds cool another finds awesome and takes the idea you started and expands on it and ends up making some type of progressive improvement on something we didn't know we could improve ... in short I CELEBRATE others goofy qualities and ideas , to be goofy is to be human SO BE YOUR AWESOME GOOFY SELF and keep shining.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

You may wanna cut down on whatever you're inhaling LOL

[@attila5221]

honestly, instead of goofy stickers, they should've just sent out pre cut grip tape. All that said, anything under 100g might as well not exist in my pocket, it's so light that it doesn't matter at that point.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

You'll be passing on the new aluminum BM Bugout then? it feels like an empty toy beer can.

[@attila5221]

@@CuttingBoardRx those are funny things, but when i spend a substantial amount of money(I live in a shithole so anything around 200 and above is expensive) i want it to have some heft. I don't like flimsy things. But to each their own i guess.

[@kid5Media]

I'll probably never bother to own a Benchmade. I prefer American made and all my knives (only three and all Spyderco) are, but Benchmade prices are nothing less than ridiculous.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Oh, Benchmade… They are like nicotine: highly addictive and bad for your health. But…

[@Fly2kill1]

You get what you pay for. I love both but have more Benchmades.

[@Knivess0]

Just buy second hand.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@Knivess0 In the secondary market, if he never owned one, he’ll end up with a fake.

[@Knivess0]

@@CuttingBoardRx Not true, on reddit you'll get fucked for trying to sell fakes and fakes are pretty easy to spot these days, namely the ® size as well as the foam. Maybe if he was trying to buy from eBay where there is no regulation on such things.

[@monkpato]

I wonder if some of the respect 154 has in the community is due to it being used by Protech, the gold standard for out the side automatic knives. I'm happy to get it on a $30-40 knife, but not on one twice that, and especially not on one three or more times that.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@monkpato Pro-Tech, Kershaw, and Gerber used 154 CM and CPM 154 in many automatic knives. I’m not kidding when I say that 25 years ago it was considered a super steel and even was as scarce for a period of time as MagnaCut in 2022. So much so that Japanese-made substitute ATS-34 was brought in by Benchmade and others. Once CPM S30V was developed, it replaced 154 CM on the podium. In fact, most premium BM knives were either ATS-34, D2 or S30V until around 2010. Today 154 is used in Damascus production and budget knives.

[@monkpato]

@@CuttingBoardRx up until yesterday 154CM was still Protech's main steel and I'm sure that Kershaw used CPM-154 in their automatics to one-up Protech. Still not a bad steel at all, but not great either. Should be upper level budget, or lower level mid grade.

[@TheDemocultis]

Tell us this is the first time you've opened up a vosteed without actually saying it's the first time you've opened up a vosteed. All vosteed crossbar (clutch lock) locks are adjustable and indeed are still omega springs. Excellent video tho!

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@TheDemocultis it was indeed the first time I opened a cross bar Vosteed. And Omega is a Greek letter that resembles the spring in a Benchmade. This spring resembles Greek letter Sigma. So that’s what I will call it on my channel. Thanks for watching!

[@SolDarkside]

The display IS goofy my bug brother. But fly your freek flag, do your thing!

[@rays5163]

I don't think people called it a bug out killer because it's not a logical comparison. The narrows makes more sense and if you want to compare it to a bug out compare it to a bugout that has titanium scales.

[@rays5163]

Hmmm interesting. I got to the end of your video and i could have sworn the spec sheets showed the narrows being the same or even thinner than the parallel. Is there some sort of optical illusion going on or maybe some contouring or something thats making the narrows appear thicker in camera?

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@rays5163they are the same thickness give or take couple of thousandth. Feel about the same. If price was equal, I’d still favor the Parallel. But it’s just me. Between full size Narrows and Parallel, I’d go with Narrows.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@rays5163 To your first comment: do you mean like the one I bought from Scheels for $439? I almost included it in this video but took it out for times sake. It’s a factory exclusive with BM-made flat Ti scales. Has S90V blade and weights 2.54 oz. There’s no Mini version of it yet. www.scheels.com/p/61095321392/?queryID=8e14898c947eed78837b67760eec1ac9

[@TheGuidedSharpeningGuide]

Im personally not a fan of the display you have the benchmades in. That being said they aren't my knives they are yours and if that display is up your alley thats all that matters. I personally have a tool box I put mine in. I was so excited for this knife until I seen the blade steel. CJRB is making s90v knives for $100 vosteed needs to up their steel choice for sure. With the material this knife is made of its a solid $75 knife all day long but not a $130. Ill stick with my Bel Air.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@TheGuidedSharpeningGuide I never had a CJRB with anything remotely approaching decent heat treat. Never have I had one that didn’t loose the tip in the tree of doom. I would like the Parallel in S30V like the Bugout or S35VN like Mini Nightshade. Bel Air has a horrible over complicated design and at least the one I bought as soon as they came out had horrible heat treat, the video about that is on my channel. Mini Iridium is 100% better and Kershaw should consider eliminating the former and updating the steel on the latter. If my options come across too strong, don’t take it personally, they are based on first hand experience and well documented testing in my videos.

[@TheGuidedSharpeningGuide]

@@CuttingBoardRx supposedly CJRB has re thought there heat treat and are getting it in the range its supposed to be. I cant confirm that im just going by what I've seen. I believe Kershaw fixed there heat treat as well. I watched your video on the Bel Air and waited a while before i got mine Bel Air I've had it about a month now and ive used it harder than the knife is designed to be used and its really held up. Like i said i have no way to confirm they fixed the heat treat but mines really holding up well.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@TheGuidedSharpeningGuide Sure thing! Sooner or later I will get a S90V CJRB to test it out. I heard about Bel Air heat treat being fixed through the knife reviewers echo chamber. Definitely nothing wrong wit Livewire heat treat.

[@TheGuidedSharpeningGuide]

@@CuttingBoardRx that would be awesome, because it's hard to believe CJRB is producing a quality s90v blade at $100.

[@bigglock5478]

The new Cold Steel FM-1 is pretty damn slim too. It’s pretty pricey, but not on Benchmade level. Not sure why I’ve seen such little coverage on the FM-1 on KZbin. Perhaps Cold Steel isn’t forking out sponsor money?

[@sloanNYC]

I have this one and it is great. Just wish the back lock mechanism was a bit easier to grab, but I like it 2x more than the parallel.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@bigglock5478 They aren’t available anywhere right now. So why promote something you can’t peddle? That’s why infomercial reviewers ignore it.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@sloanNYC I believe it’s called Atlas Lock, and yes, you’re correct, it works better on larger knives and doesn’t scale down to shorter handles.

[@sloanNYC]

@@CuttingBoardRx If they just raised the edges around the gimping a bit to have more grip I think it would work. Love the Demko lock even though it protrudes a bit.

[@bigglock5478]

@@CuttingBoardRx they’re available through cold steel’s website. That’s where I bought mine.

[@monkpato]

What a thumbnail!

[@CuttingBoardRx]

You like it?

[@monkpato]

​@@CuttingBoardRxI do like it. Very striking. I didn't immediately recognize it as one of your videos though.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@monkpato I’m kinda trying to be different from cardboard cutouts certain other KZbinr is using.

[@keepitsharp-x4s]

its 40 dollars cheaper cause the bugouts over priced

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@keepitsharp-x4s Agreed! Thanks for watching and subscribing!

[@RalphLess]

I really wanted the Kershaw Launch 13, but that cpm 154. Why is it so hard to find pokey wharnies like the CKRT S.P.E.W. or Dragon. The Yo jimbo, jumbo etc aren't pokey enough.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@RalphLess Here is a granddaddy of all folding wharncliffes - Cold Steel Frenzy. amzn.to/47Yqutj Triad lock and 5.5” S35VN blade under 6 oz. If this is not flickety enough for you, CS Karve has been my workhorse go to knife during some of construction work we did with my Fiancé. It’s “only” AUS10A steel but it held up incredibly well. The Atlas lock is avesome for this size knife! amzn.to/3TUl1Ov