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Vosteed’s Thunderbird V EDC Knife Pairs a Pivot Lock with an M390 Super Steel Blade

The brand’s best locking mechanism mates with a bevy of high-performance materials and four deployment methods.

Close-up of a folding knife with a brushed steel blade, black and brown textured handle, and a gold pivot screw.Vosteed
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By Sean Tirman

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Vosteed is currently celebrating its fourth anniversary. I know: it’s hard to believe that this incredibly prolific knifemaking brand is still so young.

But, even if you’re skeptical, there’s proof to be had in the brand’s latest launch, the 4th Anniversary Vosteed Thunderbird V.

A stunning combination of materials, mechanisms and more, this EDC blade takes a familiar silhouette and skyrockets it to the next level in numerous ways.

Folding knife with a textured gray handle and a partially serrated stainless steel blade on a gray surface.
This anniversary edition improves on the original Thunderbird in several ways.
Vosteed

Thunder, thunder, thunder; Thunderbird, HO!

This new knife is based on an existing silhouette, also called the Thunderbird, which came out toward the beginning of 2023. However, this new version has a significant tweak to its operation.

The original came with the brand’s Trek Lock, its first go at a button-actuated locking mechanism. This mechanism has also been employed on a bevy of other silhouettes, like earlier versions of the Corgi, and is genuinely solid all-around.

Two folding knives with black blades and colorful patterned handles, one with red and black and the other with yellow, pink, and blue, on a gray surface.
There are seven total configurations, each unique from the others (some more so than others).
Vosteed

However, it has been swapped for what is unquestionably a more convenient, interesting option, and one of my favorite locks of all time, full stop, Vosteed’s Vanchor lock. For the uninitiated, the lock is set into the pivot itself, creating a seamless, convenient blend of both.

This, mated with the Thunderbird’s quadruple deployment system (it has a back and front flipper, as well as a thumb hole and fuller), makes for one incredibly fidgety, fun-to-operate EDC knife.

And that’s not even half of what makes this one so great…

Close-up of a sharp, silver knife blade with a hole near the handle, resting on a black textured surface.
Regardless of the configuration, all versions of the Thunderbird V get the same compound, drop-point M390 super steel blade.
Vosteed

A proper anniversary celebration

There are seven distinct versions of the Thunderbird V. While they do have numerous things in common, like their overall size, silhouette and mechanisms, they also differ in ways that make each one unique unto itself.

Four of the options, for instance, come with FatCarbon handle scales. However, each one has a different color scheme and pattern. The other three are titanium, one with a crystallized blue finish, another acid-washed with a circular etching pattern and the last in gray with a trident etching pattern.

Blue textured folding knife handle with a partially visible blade on a dark surface.
Some versions of the Thunderbird V come with FatCarbon scales, while others (like above) have specialty titanium scales.
Vosteed

While some of the blade finishes vary, the material, shape and grind are consistent across all seven. That’s great news, as that material just so happens to be Böhler M390 super steel. The dro-point blade also gets a compound grind, offering a slender main edge with a stronger tip.

The Thunderbird V measures 8.21 inches in total with a 3.46-inch blade and a 4.72-inch handle. It also has a reversible matching pocket clip and a lanyard hole.

The real trouble with this knife, however, is that every single version is spectacular in its own way. So, choosing just one is a herculean task.

Five folding knives with patterned handles in purple, orange, brown, pink, and blue, arranged on a gray surface next to a gold coin.
With seven stunning options to choose from, how will you ever pick just one?
Vosteed

Availability and pricing

The Vosteed Thunderbird V is now available on the brand’s official site in seven configurations, priced from $249 to $289.

About the Author: Sean Tirman is an associate editor at Gear Patrol who specializes in EDC, cannabis and outdoor gear.

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