When it comes to knives, variety is the name of the game. People are picky, myself included, so having options creates appeal. Over time, I have come to prefer certain materials over others, along with certain shapes and sizes. Suffice it to say, when I go hunting for knives, I know what Im looking for.

　　That being the case, I knew about the Vosteed Psyop; its been around for a few years. I never really had any interest in it. As much as I love the Elmax steel employed on its blade, the size and shape didn’t appeal to me. Last year, Vosteed launched the Mini Psyop with improvements in the overall shape, but it was still too small for my everyday carry liking.

　　But this summer, Vosteed unveiled the Psyop 299. From its steel to its shape, size, and price, the 299 marked a complete improvement over the Original and Mini. It didn’t take me long to realize that from every angle — form, function, materials, and cost — the Psyop 299 was the epitome of EDC knives.

　　In short: There arent too many knives that earn this high a score, but the Vosteed 299 finds its way to the top of the pile with ease. From its overall size to its ergonomic shape to its highly desirable materials and overall function, its a rock-solid EDC knife. So, whether youre an outdoorsy person, someone who works in the shop needs a good knife, or if you just like to carry something reliable, the Vosteed Psyop 299 is that knife, without question.

　　Vosteed Psyop 299 check price at amazon

　　9.9 How we rate products Specifications OAL: 7.17” Blade length: 2.99” Blade steel: S35VN Blade shape: Drop point Grind: Flat Hardness: 61-62 Lock type: Top liner Opening type: Thumb stud Carry: Left or right hand, tip-up Weight: 3.75 oz. Price: $139 Pros Balance between size, shape, and weight Overall look and feel Combination of S35VN, Micarta, and Titanium Cons It could benefit from a crossbar lock Nick LeFort Vosteed Psyop 299 Review Design and Features

　　Norplex Ultrex Micarta is from another planet; (photo/Nick LeFort) Designed in a partnership with Tuff Knives, the Psyop 299 is aptly named for its 2.99-inch S35VN drop-point blade. It has Norplex UltreX Micarta handle scales with titanium bolsters. Additionally, it has a top liner lock with an ample button activator.

　　Designed to slide in between the original Psyop and Mini Psyop, the 299 more resembles the latter but still stands on its own due to its shape and size. The original Psyop has an elongated blade with a secondary choil, which was eliminated on the Mini; however, both knives have smaller primary choils. This was improved on the 299 by elongating the opening and chamfering the bolsters around it.

　　Additionally, at just over 7 inches in length and carrying a 3-inch blade, the 299 sits in the sweet spot for folding EDC knives. The original Psyop is 8 inches in total length and, though some folks may benefit from the extra inch, I find that the tightened-up geometry and shorter length of the 299 give you more control over the knife. More on that later.

　　The Psyop Situation It took a while to get my editor to agree to writing this review. He (understandably) had the impression that the 299 would be nearly the same as the original, which GearJunkie reviewed earlier this year. In the end, he either appreciated my passion — or just wanted to get me to stop talking about the knife — and agreed to this review.

　　(Photo/Nick LeFort) Vosteed is a brand known for its variety. Not only does it offer a wide selection of knife models, but each one also has its own smattering of sub-models.

　　For someone who knows what they’re looking for, it could be like a trip to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. However, if you’re just a casual browser, this can be a time-consuming and possibly confusing experience.

　　That being the case, before launching this knife, Vosteed already had 26 different versions of the Psyop. Eight of those are the Mini, and 18 fall under the original Psyop model. The differences lie in handle and blade materials, as well as lock mechanisms.

　　With the launch of the 299 model, the total number of Psyop iterations stands at 31.

　　Overall, looking at the lineage, the Mini improves on the original Psyop, and the 299 improves on the Mini. Considering the size and shape of the 299, most people might not even consider the original model when looking for an EDC knife.

　　First Impressions

　　The Psyop 299 is much more than just great memories I have of growing up; (photo/Nick LeFort) From its arcing spine to the juxtaposition of the bolsters against its Micarta scales, the initial fit and feel of this knife were fantastic. The size and shape of the 299 allow you to carry it with ease and use it with a heightened level of control. It’s a full, four-fingered knife that parks your palm on jimping on the butt of the spine, and puts your thumb over the thumb stud on another section of jimping.

　　These touch points keep your grip in place in wet or dry conditions and under load. You can also really choke up on the blade in a pinch-style hold for skinning, shaving, and shaping.

　　Pundits might scrutinize the overall length of 7.17 inches relative to its overall weight of 3.75 ounces, but the 299 is intentionally stout. That’s part of its appeal —it allows terrific control. It’s also a knife that, due to these factors, instills confidence.

　　That said, I am not a fan of S35VN. I don’t have any issues with it, but as it’s so prolific, it doesn’t wow me aside from what I expect from it. I know it’s got great corrosion resistance, edge retention, and abrasion resistance. But I personally would prefer Elmax. To be clear, this is a personal preference, as S35VN has a faithful following and has some attractive characteristics compared to Elmax (easier to sharpen, generally tougher).

　　Like all of the other Vosteed knives I’ve tested, the 299 is tough. There’s no flex in the handle or wobble in the blade. Additionally, I really like the button-activated top liner lock.

　　In the Field

　　Good for all seasons, I’ve had a lot of fun watching the leaves change with the 299; (photo/Nick LeFort) I’ve been carrying around this knife since the middle of August, right after it launched. In that time, it’s hiked many miles, crossed a multitude of streams, and has been all over New England. I resharpened it once, just recently.

　　I did quite a bit with the 299. The knife was ready in my pocket when I needed to open boxes and mail, then eager to slice open packages of freeze-dried food and beef jerky.

　　It’s the knife I cleaned off in a stream when it got mucky, slicing up a few apples. Thus, it was quite literally used hard and put away wet. I didn’t get to cleaning and drying it off until the following morning.

　　I found you can beat the heck out of the 299, and then throw it in a river and give it the bird, and it’ll still perform as expected once you retrieve it and clean it up.

　　Why Not a Perfect 10?

　　Though it would take away from the look, a crossbar lock would complete the 299; (photo/Nick LeFort) With a score of 9.9, the Psyop 299 is the highest-rated knife I have ever tested for GearJunkie. It utilizes the most sought-after knife materials, it’s the perfect size and shape, and its built to last.

　　The only reason it’s not getting a 10 is because of the lock.

　　Do I love the look and feel of the top liner lock and its ample button? I sure do!

　　But nothing beats a crossbar lock. And where I think a crossbar lock on the 299 would take away from its overall style appeal, function trumps form in the world of knives every time.

　　Final Thoughts: Whos It For?

　　(Photo/Nick LeFort) I consider around 100 knives a year and test roughly half of them. Some of those that I test are great, some are good, and some you’ll never read about because I’m not in the business of ripping a brand apart over a miss.

　　Out of all of those knives, there are maybe half a dozen that really blow my mind. Thats right, six! In the world of folding knives, the Vosteed Psyop 299 is my top pick from those half-dozen that I have tested this year.

　　I’m not just enthusiastic to be enthusiastic. I approach each knife and tool I test and review from both an engineering and an end-user perspective. I look at trends in the industry, along with what the product can do and where it can do it. So far, I have yet to find the limit for the Psyop 299 based on what it should be able to do. Every outing with it sheds more light on its capabilities.

　　So, if you were to ask me who this knife is for, it’s probably going to take less time for me to tell you who it isn’t for. And even there, Im hard pressed to think of anyone who wouldnt appreciate it. It will outperform indoors, outdoors, and anywhere else that exists on this linear plane.

　　If you’re looking for that one folding knife that you can carry and use everywhere, Vosteed has your solution in its Psyop 299.

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