Vosteed’s Bugout-Alternative EDC Knife Gets Some Highly Upgraded Special Editions

This excellent pocket folder already had an outstanding blade, but now it gets handle enhancements to match.

Vosteed Psyop Elmax knife cutting paracord closeup

Published March 17, 2025

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At the tail end of last year, we wrote about a more affordable alternative to the Benchmade Mini Bugout called the Vosteed Mini Psyop. It turns out that knife was just one in a larger fan-favorite series from Vosteed.

Now, that knife’s larger sibling has gotten an extra-special-edition release. The Vosteed Psyop Fat Carbon Fiber is a gorgeous, highly upgraded version that raises the handle scales to the same level as its super-steel blade.

Vosteed Psyop Elmax knife on black sand — The handle upgrade to this version of the Psyop helps bring the whole thing up to an even higher level.

Blade, meet handle

The Vosteed Psyop has been around for a while. The brand’s catalog includes 22 versions, including both simple colorway swaps and more comprehensive variants.

While all 22 have differences, they have one constant in common: Elmax super steel blades. This high-end, fan-favorite steel (often called one of the best all-around knife steels) is one of the likeliest reasons this lineup has succeeded.

As expected, this version of the Psyop retains its Elmax steel blade but gets a big handle material change to match. Whereas other variants have had great materials — including Micarta and titanium — this one gets fat carbon fiber.

Unlike other entries in the series, this configuration was driven by customer and fan requests. Well, Vosteed heard those requests loud and clear, dropping a trio of colorways to suit.

Closeup of Vosteed Psyop Elmax knife handle — The fat carbon fiber handle scales come in a trio of gorgeous colorways.

What to expect when you’re spec’ing

The big change in this edition is the fat carbon fiber handle scales. The rest of the knife remains the same as its similarly sized siblings.

As mentioned, that includes the Elmax blade, which is still 3.32 inches long and has an oversized thumb hole for manual deployment. It also boasts its usual ergonomic finger choil and spine jimping.

The 4.69-inch handle also has a button-operated top liner lock (as opposed to a crossbar lock, as found on the Mini). Furthermore, the handle features interior weight relief, meaning the material is removed where you can’t see it to cut the ounces as much as possible without sacrificing its style.

Other details and mechanisms include a ceramic ballbearing pivot, a 3D-milled aluminum backspacer and a front flipper.