The handle
The Ankylo’s handle is made from 6061 Aerospace Grade Aluminum. I personally really like this handle because of the grenade pattern texture and because of the handle shape. It makes it really easy to get a good grasp on the knife and hold it comfortably. Plus, it makes me feel like I have really good control over the knife. There is amazing jimping on the back of the blade and runs along some of the spine of the handle, which definitely helps with that control as well. On the inside of the handle are machined weight relief pockets. These pockets are there to reduce user fatigue. This gives the knife a good balanced feel. For carrying the Ankylo around all day, Vosteed added a deep carry pocket clip.
The lock
The Ankylo features Vosteeds new V-anchor button lock. It is a pretty fascinating design. There is an anchor plate and a magnetic connector that will attract, and push, the button from different directions. The pivot button will become recessed even if the lock is not engaged, that way the button will not be accidentally pushed. What that does is give the lock an integrated fail safe system. The anchor plate for the lock is also spring loaded, which allows it to quickly move into place. The anchor plate is milled from a 5mm thick piece of steel, giving it lots of strength. I really like this lock, it feels incredibly secure when the blade is opened and the lock is engaged.
Opening
There are 4 different ways to open the Vosteed Ankylo. Thumbhole, front flipper, back flipper and an easy to use button. I personally really like that because sometimes your hand may be in a position where you need to open the blade differently and you can’t use the flipper on the back. So it’s really handy to have the 3 other ways to open it. When I first started using this knife, I noticed that it has a really smooth opening. And that is due to the larger sized bearing Vosteed uses in this knife. Other folding knives use a smaller sized bearing. Since the Ankylo uses that larger bearing, I notice that it has a much smoother opening.
The blade
One of my favorite parts of the Ankylo is the Elmax reverse tanto style blade. The blade material is Bohler Elmax, which is one of the toughest high end stainless steel you can get. It compares to S30V. Elmax also has better wear resistance than S30V, meaning that this blade is really durable and stays sharp for a long time! I can definitely see that with all the boxes, tape and other various things I have been cutting with the knife. They designed the blade belly to be really great for multitasking. Because of that, it can easily cut and pierce through lots of things. That’s what you want in a knife, right!!
Summary
This is my very first Vosteed knife, and I absolutely love the Ankylo! It feels very solid, it’s incredibly sharp and I absolutely love the button lock. The design of the new Vanchor lock is really great and feels very secure when it’s engaged. This is truly one of the best knives I’ve ever used. If you are looking for a great everyday carry knife that is tough and stands out from other knives, then the Vosteed Ankylo is the knife for you!
Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points
Claim to Fame:
Rugged EDC folder with a robust new locking system
Target Market:
Anyone wanting a high quality, sturdy, folding EDC knife
Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:
Blade Length: 3.18" | 80.90 mm
Overall Length: 7.75" | 196.90 mm
Blade Width: 1.22" | 31.00 mm
Blade Thickness: 0.134" | 3.40 mm
Blade Material: Elmax
Blade Grind: Flat
Blade Style: Reverse Tanto
Blade Finish: Black Stonewash / Satin / Stonewash
Hardness: HRC 60±2
Handle Length: 4.57" | 116.00 mm
Handle Width: 1.06" | 27.00 mm
Handle Thickness: 0.563" | 14.30 mm
Handle Material: Aluminum
Color: Black / Green / Gray / Orange / Blue
Weight: 4.76 oz | 135.00 g
Opener: Front Flipper | Back Flipper | Thumb Hole
Lock Type: V-anchor Lock
Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing
Pocket Clip: Non-reversible | Stainless Steel
Carry Position: Tip-up
Knife Type: Manual Folding
What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?
There are two options for the handle: Machine textured aluminum that comes in grey, black, orange and green. Or smooth, hard-coated matte finish that comes in blue or black.
What others are saying?:
Product has just been released, so nothing found as of publishing
Link to other reviews:
Price point:
MSRP = $169.00
Retail = $159.00 on early Kickstarter
I need it now! Availability:
Our Rating:
Pros:
Great Size
New V-anchor lock system
Handle Texture
Blade jimping
Elmax blade steel
Cons:
Slightly stiff operation out of box - needs break-in period to operate easier