Vase Chipmunk Review: A Small Pocket Knife with Big Personality

Introduction

Small pocket knives have become a category of their own, and the Vase Chipmunk is one of the more interesting newer entries. It is a compact, style-focused folding knife that is clearly aimed at light-duty everyday carry rather than heavy cutting work. The first impression is a knife that is not too big, not overly aggressive, and not super tactical, but simply nice to carry and, perhaps more importantly, genuinely fun to open and close repeatedly.

It uses 14C28N steel, a liner lock, a reversible pocket clip, and three claimed forms of deployment: a front flipper, a rear flipper, and a thumb stud. Some of those work better than others, which we get into below.

Who the Vase Chipmunk Is For

This is a knife for people with smaller carry needs. If you have large hands, smaller blades can feel underwhelming, but the Chipmunk manages the size well. It suits summer carry, a small bag, or anyone who wants a light-duty knife that does not shout for attention.

The standout surprise is what happens once the blade is open. Deploying the blade reveals a deep finger groove in the handle, and it is remarkably deep. Even for larger hands, the finger sits at least halfway into the groove and locks in tightly. That single feature provides most of the grip you need, which matters because the scales themselves could use more texture given how small the knife is.

It is also an excellent fidget knife. The action is loose, clean, and smooth, and it is easy to flip open and closed all day long. Each knife also comes with a small sticker, a small touch that adds to the brand’s friendly personality.

Design and Build Details

The scales have a pleasant texture on the surface, though the overall grip texture is lighter than ideal on a knife this small. The liner lock is not everyone’s favorite mechanism, but on a knife this size it makes sense and works fine.

The pocket clip is standard rather than deep carry, and it is reversible left to right but not up to down. That is workable, especially if you prefer carrying point-up, which lets you pull the knife out ready to deploy.

The thumb stud is well sized and easy to find, even for people who do not usually like thumb studs. The rear flipper works great and is pronounced enough that it can hook onto a belt or another surface to swing the blade open, which is a fun and practical trick.

The front flipper is the weak link. It blends into the black blade so well that it is easy to miss entirely, and attempting to use it feels awkward enough that you worry about cutting yourself. In practice this is really a two-deployment knife: rear flipper and thumb stud. The claim of a third deployment method feels overstated.

The jimping on the spine is low enough that it is honestly ineffectual where it sits, but between the thumb stud placement and the finger groove, grip is not a real problem in use.

Things to Consider Before Buying

There are a few trade-offs to weigh. The scales could use more texture for a knife this small, though the deep finger groove largely compensates once the blade is open. The front flipper is effectively unusable, so ignore the three-deployment claim and count on two. The clip is not a deep-carry style, and the liner lock may not suit everyone.

One more consideration: rear flippers on traditional designs have a known drawback in the pocket, where the flipper tab can accidentally get pressed and the blade opens slightly, giving you an unwelcome surprise when you reach in. The Chipmunk’s front flipper would avoid that issue in theory, but since it barely functions here, it is worth checking how you plan to carry it.

Buying Advice

At $59, the Chipmunk sits in a price range that some will find a little high for a knife this size, especially given the ineffective front flipper. A 10% discount takes about $6 off and makes the proposition noticeably easier to accept. Feedback from deal-focused shoppers has been mixed for the same reason: plenty of people like the knife, but some find the price steep.

If you value the compact size, the smooth fidget-friendly action, and the excellent rear flipper, those strengths justify the price. If you mostly want maximum capability per dollar, a larger knife at the same price may serve you better.

Conclusion

The Vase Chipmunk is a charming small pocket knife that gets the important things right: a solid 14C28N blade, a smooth action, a great rear flipper, and a finger groove that turns a tiny handle into a surprisingly secure grip. Its flaws, a weak front flipper, modest scale texture, and a mid-level clip, are real but manageable. For light-duty summer carry or small-bag duty, it is a genuinely enjoyable little knife, provided the price feels right to you.