Kansept Main Street

[David Bowen]

Kansept has many models that define the brand, and one that stands out in particular is the Main Street. Designed by Dirk Pinkerton, the Main Street exemplifies his no-nonsense, purpose-driven philosophy. His approach to knife design is simple: big enough to get the job done, but in the smallest package. It features a comfortable yet versatile grip, able to handle whatever tasks you would expect a knife to handle. That sums up the Main Street perfectly.

The company often makes variations of their models, some of which are quite striking. I decided to take a look at the lightning anodized version with 20CV steel. If I don't get to this now, I'll forget—there's a lot to talk about. The overall length of the Main Street is 7.92 inches, with a blade length of 3.36 inches.

My first impression left me momentarily speechless; this knife is quite beautiful. Companies are starting to get creative with their titanium finishing, and this one is pretty innovative. The titanium has a bluish-purple hue that changes depending on how the light hits it. The lightning pattern crawls across the handle like a discharge from a Tesla coil. It's not so much like lightning as it is non-uniform, but beautiful nonetheless. It adds a bit of class to the Main Street and draws attention when in use. However, as striking as it is, it comes with a caveat. Titanium handles are usually textured in some fashion, making them smooth yet grippy. Tactile feedback is important to me. Until I started reviewing knives, I didn't realize how much of a determining factor it was. The Main Street's finish is so smooth it lacks texture; it's almost as if they polished the handle. The Main Street begs to be used in a manner that gets it dirty and heavily used. This lack of texture makes me think twice about putting it through rigorous use. If it gets wet, it will compound the issue and make it hard to handle.

But, the ergonomics are absolutely spot on. I've got a full four-finger grip on this knife, with no hanging pinky here. The finger guard and jimping on the spine position my hand in a super comfortable manner. I've held a lot of knives that feel like they were molded for me, and the Main Street is one of those models—a testament to the designer's vision. There's also a bit of jimping on the bottom to provide some traction against my fingers. The lock on the Main Street is a cross-bar lock. Having used the cross-bar on so many brands now, I am thankful for the expired patent. The only downside of the lock is the weak detent; it's easy to open the knife with a strong wrist flick. It's the nature of the beast; every type of locking mechanism comes with its pros and cons. The milled pocket clip feels more like a standard steel one. Milled clips tend to have a distinct look, and it's nice to see one that's deep carry.

The blade on the Main Street is a wharncliffe with a flat grind and black stonewash finish. It's funny how places that sell knives online can have different specs for the same knife. This blade is also described as a reverse tanto, which I can see as well. Regardless of the description, the blade performs amazingly. The tip wants to bite into anything it touches. Penetration is easy thanks to the very precise tip, and the flat grind helps it zip through material with less resistance. The blade thickness isn't too bad at 0.126 inches. I love a blade that moves effortlessly through stuff, and the Main Street doesn't disappoint. The steel is 20CV, which until now, I hadn't had any experience with. It seems the steel has a similar composition to M390, and that feels about right. The blade has gone a long while before needing touch-ups. Sharpening isn't too difficult; more modern steels can prove difficult to resharpen. I used silicon carbide stones, and they made short work of the touch-ups.

The Kansept Main Street is the epitome of functional art. It's not only breathtakingly beautiful but also performs exceptionally well. The only downside I can mention is the absence of texture on the handle. It's not a deal breaker, though; the knife performs great for an EDC role. However, there's potential for the knife to perform less than expected in some situations.

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[AndyAaron]

Great review, sir. Although I would not pick up this specific knife I have to look more closely what Kansept offers as I am not familiar with their product lines.
May your edge be always sharp!

[David Bowen]

There's still a lot of stigma surrounding knives made in China. About a decade or maybe a little more things switched, quality became the focus and they're changing the game. Sometimes I'm seeing better product coming out of the East as other countries. Kizer, Kansept, Vosteed, WE (and umbrella brands), Maxace, etc. All companies to watch. Anyone want suggestions, or information I'd be happy to help.

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[AndyAaron]

I can see the same thing in watch industry for example. They still produce some kind of crazy design to the eye of the European however in terms of quality it is very competitive.

[David Bowen]

I think what the turning point was is consumers said we're ok with buying your products, provided quality is there. The manufacturers learned that it wasn't based on cost anymore. Walmart and dollar stores always pushing for the lowest dollar on production caused an influx of products that are horribly made and won't last. We don't mind paying for foreign made products if they're made the way they should be. The end result is products which are often being produced cheaper than domestic, and often with better quality. It's scary, and I really hope domestic companies step up. It's a fiercely competitive marketplace, and these companies and winning time and time again.

The only thing I'm tired of is the still constant flow of D2 steel. Don't get me wrong, D2 is still a great steel. Holds a good edge, decently corrosion resistant, very tough. It's better than seeing a lot of 420 variants. 14C28N is starting to become the bottom choice, and that's a good think. Sandvik 14C28N has a lot of properties that make it a good all around steel. Some people throw around the term budget super steel. Thinking about it, I'm not unhappy about 154CM either.

Which just got me thinking, even though I love these new steels (still getting used to Magnacut), I think we've gotten kind of nuts about things. It's got me wondering if I should put things away and carry a traditional for a while. The industry continues to innovate because of consumer feedback. But we've become obsessed, and it's sad to done degree. There's nothing wrong with a carbon steel blade in 1095, or Case's CV steel. Nothing wrong with 420J2, or 440C. They're plenty sufficient for an everyday carry blade, and there are times I don't take my knife out for days on end. I think going back to basics is in order.

Eastern production, changes in the knife industry, innovation or otherwise are things I like to talk about. I'm impressed, and worried all at the same time.

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