- an excellent knife
Is this an innovative and novel knife? I will return to the answer to that question, but at first glance no. The overall lines are not revolutionary and neither are the materials.
However, it is possible to process materials and design products in many ways, achieving very different results despite the same starting point. This can be done even without great manners. One way to approach it all is to do many small things correctly. If all the small details are properly executed you will reach perfection, someone said. It is a good way to go.
Here, in my opinion, a few steps have been taken on that journey as the knife is aesthetically pleasing. A beginning that is not to be despised because appearance is the first thing you come into contact with. Then the knife has a bolster which is not the most common and it attracts interest as well. And then it was the lock type.
QSP Vault
The man behind the sympathetic look is Jacob Lundquist, not to be confused with another knife maker/designer with the same last name.
As is often the case with knives from QSP, Vault is available in several versions. However, there are not as many as usual but specifically three. The only thing that separates them is actually the color of the handle. The materials are otherwise identical.
 |
| Vault is a Jacob Lundquist design |
The short version: QSP Vault comes with one of the better interpretations of a Cross-Bar lock I've tried, and that is just the beginning of the praise. This is an excellent knife!
Blade
Speaking of many small things. This applies, for example, to this blade. It's a drop point and nothing out of the ordinary. But it is an attractive knife blade. The proportions are simply right. Transferred to measurements that mean a length of 83 mm, a height of 27 mm, and a thickness of 3 mm.
The finish is a nicely executed satin on the grinds and a stone wash on the small flat surfaces that remain. And since we are speaking of details done correctly, the finish is also well-made, especially as the QSP logo on one side, Lundquist's mark on the other side, and steel-type information are discreetly applied.
Extra work has been put on the back where the edges are broken for a softer feel. There are also some grooves for better traction, but since they are also rounded, they are of a more indexing nature than anything else. On that matter, I think that if you have such features they can be more distinct and sharper.
 |
| A drop point, neither more nor less but a neat one |
In addition, Vault has a huge sharpening choil although it is most likely a small finger choil we are talking about. Either way, it will be helpful the day you need to sharpen the blade as it extends beyond the plunge line and the thumb studs. The latter easily ends up in the way when a knife is to be sharpened.
What is to be sharpened is a Sandvik 14C28N steel. A material that has come to be one of my favorites among those who are not the most expensive. Think about the properties as a cheaper S35VN just a snap lower performance on all parameters. Here the hardness is stated to be 59-61HRC which is excellent.
The factory edge was very good. Sharp, smooth and the knife shaved hair with some little pressure and a passed-through printing paper with a faint whisper. A description that knife nerds recognize and everyone else may imagine.
 |
| The steel is Sandvik 14C28N |
When Vault is put to work, it behaves as it looks. It is competent. However, it's not the very best slicer. To achieve this, the geometry had to be more thought through. The thickness behind the edge is around 0.6 mm. That figure could, in all honesty, have been lower. But it is also not so thick that I experience it as a problem and if you want to spend time it can be thinned out when you sharpen your knife.
That time is actually approaching because this knife has been used a lot, especially at work. It must be said that even though I really appreciate the steel, it does not last as long as those sometimes called "super steels"*.
In this case, the tip is very good and easy to find. What I mean by it is not that it is found at the far end of the blade, but that it is in the height of the knife's center line. It makes it easy to poke holes in things which is something I do fairly frequently. Vault can also handle this task very well.
Handle
If the blade was elegant but discreet then the handle is a little more eye-catching with its two materials. The sides are made of micarta of very good quality and the bolsters are made of anodized aluminum. In the middle of the them you find a large button that arouses interest.
 |
| What is the most obvious thing about the handle is that it has a bolster |
The construction is based on a frame that is somewhat weight-relieved. A couple of holes have been drilled through the steel. On the outside, the bolsters are mounted in a clever way since they kind of overlap the frame. The transition to the Micarta slabs is well executed. The joints can certainly be felt, but it is more due to the fact that two completely different materials with different textures are used than poor fit.
 |
| The back is mostly open with just a small backspacer |
The sides are held in place with two T6 screws. In the middle of the bolster, the recessed pivot screw with its, for QSP typical triangle logo, is found on the presentation side. The opposite side has an adjustable T8.
At the back, there is a small steel spacer otherwise, the knife is open in the back. The lack of a lanyard hole contributes to the pure look so if you know that it is a necessity for you, you either have to look for something else or attach one to the clip. The latter works great otherwise.
 |
| Vault is very comfortable in hand regardless of grip |
All corners and edges of Vault are nicely beveled and rounded which together with the proportions makes this an ergonomic handle. Especially as the clip is short. I will return to why that is a good thing.
There is a groove for the index finger and when it has found the right spot the rest of the hand follows naturally in a comfortable position. The handle is large enough for a proper four-finger grip. If you want to get closer to the blade, there is, that choil I mentioned earlier. It is quite small but works. Then the knife is also convenient to hold in other ways including reverse grips. It's a well-thought-out handle, with no negative surprises at all actually.
Opening and Lock
This knife opens with thumb studs and what thumb studs they are. This is how it should be done. Firstly, they are properly placed, that is, far away enough so as not to hide against the handle but not too far out so the thumb needs to be extended. They stick out just enough not to be in the way but at the same time give a good grip for the thumb. The shape is soft and comfortable and does not hurt when you press. Among the best is that they are placed so they are out of the way when you cut things.
Vault can of course be opened with the lock as on other knives that have some variant of crossbar lock. In this case, it works better than many others.
 |
| The thumb studs are a joy to use |
Speaking of opening, the action is actually exceptionally good. Of course, the ceramic ball bearings contribute, but that is not quite enough to explain this level of refinement.
Instead, the explanation is found in the, I have to suppose, quite heavily tense "omega" springs that usually follow from this type of lock. In this case, they give a very well-balanced resistance matching a well-trimmed detent ball. There is no such one on a knife with a crossbar lock.
What it does is that the knife can be opened in several ways, quickly, slowly, or with the index finger on the "back" of the knife in a "spydie flick". All methods feel comfortable and natural.
 |
| QSP's interpretation of a crossbar lock is called Glydel Lock. It is a real hit |
In addition to the already mentioned benefits of this lock, there are more. QSP calls his interpretation for Glyde Lock. It could very well be one of the best variants of this type made or at least that I encountered.*
The reason for the claim is multiple. First, the lock is quite easy to use with the nicely grooved surfaces on the heads that cover the locking bolt. In addition to being easy to handle, it is a nicer and more practical solution than many others. There is no hole in the side of the handle and in addition to the cosmetic, less crap comes into the mechanism from the side as there is a cover there.
Another advantage is that the bolt cannot turn or angle, which it tends to do on many variants of the lock type including the original. If so, locks can be perceived as a bit crude and in addition, it is more difficult to disengage with one finger if desired. This problem is solved by QSP.
The fact that the springs are strong is noticed when you close the blade and it's really sucked in the last bit as on a knife with a large detent ball or maybe a good back lock. In addition to providing a good "action", it is safer. This blade cannot be shaken out when the knife is closed no matter how you try.
You may wonder if the way the lock-up feels gave the knife its name. It locks like a bank vault. Once out, the blade is held in place in a very distinct way. There is no movement in the blade whatsoever.
To Carry
Even in a pocket, this is a nice knife or rather, it is easy to carry. Vault weighs in at 123 grams and measures just over a decimeter in length, 108 mm to be exact. The thickness is measured to 12 mm.
All measures are kind of in the middle of the road so that the knife is not the smallest, largest, thinnest, or lightest. But, and it is a big but, the knife has very soft edges, no flipper tab or other protruding parts. It makes it comfortable to carry.
 |
| Vault has a spring steel clip that works without remarks |
 |
| The ramp on the clip could be more generous but the space under the clip is decent. The mount to the rear end provides an ambidextrous clip without holes in the handle sides |
Of course, the arched handle sides and polished materials contribute to this feeling. Vault is easy to pull out of a pocket and just as easy to put back. A large part of the explanation is found in the largely excellent clip.
 |
| None of the knife itself is visible when worn in a pocket |
Vault comes with a simple spring steel clip. The tension is good and the lip/ramp is certainly small but usually works well. At least that is applied to chinos, jeans, and work pants. The model of work pants I use doesn't have very thick fabric. If you wear thicker pants, however, the ramp needs to be bigger.
But it is still how it is attached that is the best, almost brilliantly simple. Since the clip is recessed at the rear of the handle, it is enough with a single screw to both hold it in place without sideways movement and make it removable.
Another positive feature is that the clip is short. This means that the tip, although angled outward, ends up inside the hand and does not irritate when holding the knife in a hammer grip. In the same way, the rear end of the clip does not feel very much in a saber grip. You have to angle the knife before the clip becomes a problem.
To Conclude
After owning, carrying, and using this knife for three months, it can be said that QSP has done it again! Vault is a damn sympathetic knife fully in line with the best they have done. Then I think of models like Penguin, Gannet, and Capybara to mention a few. Then that opinion is slightly adjusted with an intended price index for the knives in the back of the head
Initially, I posed the question of whether Vault is innovative or not. The answer is actually no. If you look at it from the side, all the features feel familiar in some way. This applies to both the handle and blade. It is reminiscent of other knives but still not. There are a couple of details that make it stand out from the crowd. The bolsters are of course one.
But the answer is also yes, seen from the QSP perspective. It is their first knife with a crossbar lock and how well they made it! Glyde Lock as their variant is called is extremely good. One of the best in the market even.
So, the details that piqued my interest initially turned out to withstand a closer examination as well.
 |
| Vault is a damn good EDC knife, an everyday friend |
Another question was whether it was comfortable, easy to handle, and had good ergonomics. The answer is a resounding yes even in those areas. If you try, you can find some angle where the rear on the clip causes some discomfort, but some effort is required. This is a knife to work with.
The blade's performance matches the handle's comfort. A good steel for the price range, a sharp factory edge, and capable geometry make the knife cut decently. In other words, Vault is a good tool as well.
The third point is about build quality and in this area, there are many positives to mention. The general construction is one but also the many details. The bolsters are nicely made, I have talked about the advantages of the lock and then it was the 3D-shaped sides, the clip, the smooth action, and not least how exceptionally well the opening and closing work. QSP knows how to build knives by now.
 |
| QSP Vault turned out to be one of the better knives they made so far |
If you have any fears about getting a QSP Vault, you can forget them. If you like the look, just go for it. This is an excellent knife in many ways. Are there better alternatives? On some parameters, yes, but they usually cost much more or they fail in other areas. Speaking of price, it costs around a hundred Euros in Europe.
But it is well-invested money, seen from a holistic perspective, Vault is as solid as its name!
 |
| QSP Knife |
Specification:
Length Overall: 191 mm
Length Folded: 108 mm
Weight: 123 g
Blade Length: 83 mm
Blade Thickness: 3 mm
Blade Steel: 14C28N
Handle: micarta med aluminiumbolster
Lock: Glyde lock
Produced by QSP, made in China
/ J - locked
* Of course, it is not entirely an unproblematic expression but think of steel such as M390, CPM 20CV, Magnacut, and the like.
** Of course, there are a couple I have not tested like the one from Hogue Knives, for example, which is said to be good. But I have knives with this type of lock from Benchmade (the original), SOG, SRM, Kershaw, ANV, and Al Mar.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar