Kansept Loki Thumb Hole Knife Review
The Kansept Loki thumb hole knife offers Damascus (or S35VN) steel as well as a unique hole for opening. Titanium handles and pocket clip round the design out!
Official Specs
Here’s a link to the Kansept Loki thumb hole knife.
Versions
At least four versions of the Kansept Loki thumb hole knife have been available. One is sold out, but the version with a Damacus blade shown in this review is still available.
Price
The Kansept Loki thumb hole knife ranges in price at around $160. Interestingly this Damascus steel blade version is among the least, at $160. The most expensive version is only $7 more but is also out of stock.
Package and Manual
What’s Included
- Kansept Loki thumb hole knife
- Kansept cleaning cloth
- Kansept carry pouch
- Manual
Look
Again with the Damascus blade! It’s really quite stunning.
Unlike the recently-posted Agi, this Loki thumb hole knife uses only titanium scales (no carbon fiber.)
Much like the Agi, I find the Lok to be absolutely visually stunning. It’s a remarkable piece of hardware!
Kansept includes what looks like a serial number on the Loki, but this is the model number – K1058A3.
Open / Close / Lock
The marketing name of the Kansept Loki thumb hole knife should give you a solid idea of how this knife opens. It uses a thumb hole! It’s not what I’d consider a traditional thumb hole, though. It’s a sort of thin arc, in the usual spot.
I get it, and it’s nice looking, but I’d prefer something a bit more traditional here for easier opening. You could pinch the blade open, of course, but there aren’t any of the other usual ways to open the knife (ie it’s not a flipper).
The lockup is of the framework variety. Through no fault of this knife at all, I’ve come to realize I like a linerlock better. Those two are comparable in my brain (unlike an Axis or bar lock, which I also love.) I will say, though, that the frame unlock action on this Loki is very good. There’s enough material there to push against.
Much like other Kansept knives, the Loki has a TORX screw right smack in the frame lock area. I think this is a wear part (ultimately a “consumable”) but I doubt you’ll ever wear out this (probably) stainless steel part.
Build and Feel
This knife looks quite angular and maybe “big.” And it’s not small, that’s true. The titanium has a great feel, though. Maybe the anodization affects this.
Build quality here is great though – no complaints. (The thumb hole is not a build quality complaint, but something I would prefer to be designed differently.)
The blade is perfectly centered. Lately, it’s been unusual to have a knife with a blade that isn’t perfectly centered. So this is good, but also completely expected at this price point.
The pivot end is pivoty.
The blade spine is not “sharp” but also not as rounded as some others. I don’t really think you would do it, but you could probably strike a flint with this spine.
The backspacer is also fully metal. Probably titanium, but I don’t see that documented anywhere.
Size
Overall Length 6.88″ / 174.7mm
Blade Length 2.99”/76mm
Blade Thickness 0.125”/3.2mm
Weight 3.7oz/105g
Here’s the Kansept Loki thumb hole knife in hand. It’s a nice fit!
Below you can see the Kansept Loki thumb hole knife with the venerable Convoy S2+. The version below is a custom laser-engraved Convoy S2+ host by GadgetConnections.com. I did a full post on an engraved orange host right here! Or go straight to GadgetConnections.com to buy your Convoy S2+ now!
Also above is the light beside a TorchLAB BOSS 35, an 18350 light. I reviewed the aluminum version of that light in both 35 and 70 formats. I also reviewed that specific edition, the “Oveready BOSS FT Collector Vintage Brass” 35. I love it!
Below is the Kansept Loki thumb hole knife with the Civivi Elementum. I still use that knife so much!
Below you can see the Kansept Loki (top) and Agi (bottom). Kansept sent both of these in Damascus. Such nice-looking knives! I posted about the Agi already. (If you want me to pick between the two, I’d go with the Agi! Fite me!)
Steel / Cut / Oats
Kansept simply calls this steel “Damascus” and Damascus is by nature a mixed metal. The other three versions of Loki are S35VN.
Below, you can see the logo of the Loki designer: Steven Dunnuck Design.
Retention
A titanium pocket clip is included on the Loki. It’s installed, and can’t be moved to any other position. This provides a tip-up carry.
The clip is nice. It does look like you’d have to disassemble the whole knife to remove the clip.
The clip provides nice tension, and is a good depth for carry.
The pocket clip also seems to have the same finish as the anodized titanium scales. Because it’s more prominent than most of the scale parts, the clip should age very nicely.
Summary and Conclusion
I am very fond of the Kansept Loki thumb hole knife. I haven’t known myself to really love Damascus steel before, but I have really loved the “specialness” of the Kansept knives I have that use Damascus steel. It cuts just fine and looks extraordinary. I also like the Loki design (especially so if the thumb hole was just a touch more accessible.) For the $160 range, the Kansept Loki thumb hole knife seems like a good deal!
Notes
- This knife was provided by Kansept for review. I was not paid to write this review.
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