Overview & First Impressions
The Vault is Jacob Lundquist's design for QSP, and it is the knife that made people take the brand seriously outside the budget bracket. A 3.25 inch 14C28N drop point, an anodized aluminum bolster, tan micarta scales, and QSP's own Glyde lock riding on a ceramic ball bearing. At 7.5 inches overall and 123 grams it is a substantial folder rather than a featherweight, and the ten variants mostly change scale material.
Materials & Construction
Blade steel is 14C28N run at 59 to 61 HRC, which is a sweet spot for a stainless that stays tough when ground thin. The micarta scales are laid over full liners and finished matte, so they grip without the chalky feel of unfinished canvas. QSP knives machines the aluminum bolster separately and pins it in place, which keeps the pivot assembly stiff. A reversible stainless clip and ceramic pivot complete a spec sheet that reads like a much more expensive knife.
Design & Details
The Glyde lock is the reason to look at this knife. It is a bar style mechanism that runs across the tang and is released by pulling back with the thumb or index finger, which makes it fully ambidextrous and far less fiddly than a liner lock in cold weather. The handle shape adds a deep index groove and a flared butt. Among folding knives with bar locks, the Vault is unusual for pairing one with micarta and a bolster.
Real-World Use
Carry the Vault and the extra 50 grams over a plastic handled folder buy you a knife that feels planted. The drop point is a good generalist: it opens boxes, cuts rope, and skins fruit without the tip wandering. The bar lock makes one handed closing easy, and the ceramic bearing gives the blade a fast, almost frictionless swing. A Vault taken from EdcMall stock showed consistent lock engagement and no lateral blade play.
Ownership Notes
Micarta is a forgiving material and that is a large part of its appeal. It darkens where you grip it, which most owners like, and it can be cleaned with soap and water without swelling. Check the bolster screws after the first month and again after a year; a drop of medium threadlocker prevents the slow loosening that plagues pinned bolster designs. The ceramic bearing wants oil, not grease.
Who Is This For?
Within a rotation of EDC knives this suits the buyer who wants a bar lock but not another plastic handle, and who prefers a knife with some mass in the hand. It works well for outdoor carry where a secure grip matters, and for anyone who has struggled with a stiff liner lock. Skip it if you want an ultralight folder or you insist on a deep carry wire clip; the Vault is built solid rather than slim.
Final Verdict
The Vault is QSP's statement knife and it holds up. 14C28N, micarta, an aluminum bolster and the Glyde lock add up to a folder that feels more expensive than it is and works better than it needs to. If you have been curious about bar locks but put off by plastic handles, this is the sensible entry point.
