When it comes to blending style and comfort, simplicity is often the best choice. The Raven’s handle shows how much attention Kansept put into balancing aesthetics with form factor. The contouring flows naturally with the beak-inspired lines, giving the handle a sleek profile without sacrificing grip. The bead-blasted titanium feels smooth yet secure, and the subtle shaping along the edges keeps it from feeling blocky. At 3.77 ounces, the knife is light enough to carry comfortably all day but still feels substantial in use. The jimping along the spine is aggressive enough to lock your thumb in place but not so sharp that it digs in. Still, I wish it was positioned further forward. Where it sits now, it lands just behind my thumb pad. When using the knife hard my thumb may gravitate toward it, but not always.
Visually, the handle is attractive. Crows like shiny things, and these inlays Kansept chose definitely make me go “ooh, pretty.” Indexing is natural, and I feel locked in nicely. If it wasn’t for the jimping placement, this handle would be absolutely perfect. But I’ve yet to find a knife that’s flawless, there’s always something that could be tweaked. That’s the nature of the beast.
Keeping things secure is the titanium frame lock. I love a frame lock and honestly it’s my favorite locking style. Lockup is smooth and satisfying with a reassuring thwack. Tension is dialed in so it’s easy to disengage and manipulate. The steel lock bar insert should ensure the knife is golden for a long time.
The clip on the Raven is a deep-carry titanium style. It’s the norm these days, and I can’t complain here. It’s deep enough that most of the knife tucks away nicely in the pocket, yet enough sticks out for easy retrieval. I appreciate Kansept’s dedication to making clips that go in and out of the pocket smoothly while still holding tight. One last note, the clip is anchored externally. I’ve seen some designs lately with hidden screws on the inside of the handle, but that makes adjustments or replacement a pain since you have to disassemble the whole knife. Hidden screws may look cleaner, but I’ll take easy maintenance over aesthetics any day of the week.
Now for the sharp end of this avian-inspired pocket pokey. I can see the lines that hint at its namesake. The Raven sports a beautifully executed drop point blade with just the right balance of tip and belly to make it versatile. Performance was solid thanks to its flat grind and 20CV steel. General tasks were no problem, though I did notice some binding when pushing through thicker cardboard. Cutting rope, prepping food, and even making sticks for roasting marshmallows all went smoothly. I like the blackwashed coating much more than the old painted-on finishes of years past. It has held up well so far, and I think it’ll only look better with a worn-in, battle-used patina.
Edge retention has been what I expect from 20CV, which is basically M390’s American cousin. It held sharpness well, only needing the occasional touch-up on a ceramic rod. Corrosion hasn’t been an issue either, helped along by that blackwash finish. Other than the cardboard binding, I didn’t have much to complain about. The Raven handled everything I threw at it.
The Kansept Raven is an in-house design that proves Kansept doesn’t need collaborations to put out something excellent. The ergos are good, though the jimping placement could be improved. The blade handled everyday tasks with ease and held an edge well, even if it struggled a bit with denser material. Overall, the Raven is a well-executed design, both stylish and functional, and a great addition for anyone looking to add a Raven to their flock.
SPECIFICATIONS
Overall Length: 7.57"/192.34mm
Blade Length: 3.13''/79.44mm
Blade Thickness: 0.118''/3.0mm
Blade Material: CPM 20CV
Blade Style: Drop Point
Blade Grind: Flat Grind
Lock Type: Frame Lock
Weight: 3.77oz/106.8g
