REVIEW- The Morakniv Kansbol is a lightweight fixed blade knife in the Morakniv Bushcraft and Survival series. I believe it would be an excellent companion on camping and hunting trips that wouldn’t weigh you down.
What is it?
The Morakniv Kansbol is a simple, no-frills bushcraft knife that gets the job done.
What’s in the box?
• Morakniv Kansbol fixed blade
• Sheath
• Belt loop sheath attachment
Hardware specifications
• Blade Length: 109 mm – 4.3 in
• Blade Thickness: 2,5 mm – 3/32 in
• Knife Length: 226 mm – 8.9 in
• Total Length: 250 mm – 9.9 in
• Net Weight: 134,0 g – 4.7 oz
• Steel Type: Stainless Steel
• Blade Shape: Straight
• Fire Steel Compatible: Yes
• Flex Grade: Stiff
• Handle Material: TPE-rubber
• Handedness: Left Handed, Right Handed
• Edge Protection: Polymer Sheath
• Sheath Orientation: Left, Right Design and features
Design and features
The Morakniv Kansbol is packaged in an easily opened box, so no need for another knife to extricate it. I can, however, suggest some other models of Morakniv blades you may want to add to your collection, like the Eldris Light Duty and Garberg. You can NEVER have too many knives, despite what my wife says.
The Morakniv Kansbol fixed blade knife is noted as being made of Swedish stainless steel. Morakniv uses two different kinds of recycled stainless steel, 12C27 and 14C28N. I don’t know which of the two is used in the Morakniv Kansbol but as long as it sharpens easily and holds an edge, I’m happy. This knife makes me happy.
The Morakniv Kansbol fixed blade knife arrived razor sharp and ready for action. Now for the knife nerds, and I consider myself part of that group, the blade isn’t highly polished, tumbled, or hand sanded. The factory edge isn’t polished, you can see the grind marks, but that’s not the purpose of this knife. It’s to perform a task well without you worrying about damaging it beyond repair.
I immediately put the Morakniv Kansbol with the sheath onto my belt and started carrying it. It’s extremely light. So much so, that I forgot I had it on and accidentally took it shopping at the local grocery store. If anyone noticed, they didn’t say anything. I’m guessing they just associated me with the infamous Florida Man. The belt loop attachment is pretty cool in that it’s compatible with other knives in Morakniv’s lineup that uses the same type of sheath.
The Morakniv Kansbol fixed blade knife handle is constructed of polymer plastic with a diamond pattern and wrapped with a TPE rubber around the edges. I found it comfortable and grippy during use. It’s a four-finger grip for me, allowing a good grip. The knife is not full tang. When coupled with the polymer handle, it makes for a very light knife.
I first tried the Kansbol in the kitchen to slice some vegetables and separate chicken wings and leg quarters. Got to say, it worked extremely well and still held a very sharp edge. I’m not saying it will replace your chef’s knife in the kitchen, the blade shape isn’t conducive to fast slicing of vegetables, but it should be great for camping, hunting, or fishing. Here’s a shot of the thin slices of an unripened orange I picked. This is after I put the Kansbol through some abuse.
I further abused the Morakniv Kansbol fixed blade knife by hacking a dried Crepe Myrtle branch. It was about 1 ½” thick. I will admit it wasn’t an easy job and I didn’t cut all the way through. It would’ve done it, but being so lightweight, I got tired of swinging.
I did put a small nick in the blade doing this test. It was still extremely sharp though. I ran the Kansbol over a fine stone and stropped it to get it back to razor sharp. The nick doesn’t inhibit the knife’s performance. I mean, look at it, it’s tiny and I’m sure after a few more sharpenings, it’ll disappear.
Morakniv suggests cleaning the knife after each use to prevent staining, which is good practice for all knives. Remember, stainless steel will stain. Stainless means it stains LESS than other steels.
The Morakniv Kansbol isn’t going to win any beauty pageants when compared to custom knives or those using exotic steels and handle materials. It isn’t meant to. Morakniv knives are designed to be put to work for not a lot of money. I found the quality of the Kansbol impressive and it’s only $41.99 on Industrial Revolution’s website, the provider of this sample.
What I like
- Stainless Steel
- Holds an edge
- Easily sharpened
- Lightweight
- Inexpensive
- Rugged
- Lifetime Warranty
What I’d change
- Nothing
Final Thoughts
The Morakniv Kansbol fixed blade knife makes me happy and why not. It’s comfortable to use, it stands up to some abuse, and is easy to restore the blade’s sharpness. I’ve paid more money for a fixed blade that I can’t say that about. Get one. Throw it in your bugout bag, toolbox, glove box, boat, or wherever you may need something more than a pocketknife. I don’t think you’ll regret it.
Price: $41.99
Where to buy: Industrial Revolution and Amazon
Source: The review sample was provided by Industrial Revolution
