Morakniv Kansbol slippery side "panels"

fivesense · **on:** July 22, 2017, 07:22:22 PM

I just received a Kansbol yesterday as it is one of the few Mora outdoor knives I'd yet to handle. It's a great knife, and while I'm a little concerned about the narrow profile grind tip, what really perplexes me is the slippery plastic of the handle.

The top and bottom part of the handle (in line with the spine and edge of the blade) is just like Garberg- nice and tacky. But the sides (left and right) are really slippery. I didn't expect this at all because I don't notice such slipperiness on Eldris or Garberg. In a fist-grip, my fingers really notice the slick feel.

Is this normal? I've never read about this in any Kansbol reviews so it's got me curious.

zoidberg · **Reply #1 on:** July 22, 2017, 10:53:59 PM

Sounds suspicious, better send it to me for analysis.

styx · **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2017, 10:15:13 AM

This will be an interesting topic to follow

fivesense · **Reply #3 on:** July 23, 2017, 06:33:09 PM

On further examination, Eldris has the same slippery sides; it's just a shorter grip so I didn't recognize it. Garberg however is nice and grippy all around.

I'm sending Kansbol back. I'm really surprised it's received such acclaim. I'm quite sure it's a very good knife in the field, especially if used as a backup or is used specifically for delicate or precise tasks like gutting a fish or skinning game. But between the incredibly thin profile grind tip and the slippery sides, it just doesn't fit into my rotation. I have an original 2.5mm Bushcraft in stainless in which I feel more confidence if I want or need more precise cutting. Other than that, Companion, Companion HD, either of my Bushcrafts and Garberg are much better suited for hard use for me. YMMV.

Don't get me wrong- Kansbol is razor sharp, great Mora steel, very lightweight and has a nicely ground spine. The sheath/mounting options are a plus (although I'd like to see a belt clip option). It's very likely capable of hard use (as evidenced by the YouTube vids) and will work well for some people. But ultimately, one has very similar options in Bushcraft Forest and Mora 2000 (both at a slightly lower cost). To me, Kansbol is out on a ledge.

Image below- Kansbol on the left, Spyderco PM2 on the right.