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This Stunningly Sleek and Compact Flipper Is Easily My New Favorite Gentleman’s Knife

The slight size, swift action and sharp look add up to one fabulously fidget-friendly, incredibly irresistible blade.

Close-up of a black folding knife's hinge and locking mechanism, showing the textured handle and screws against a dark, marbled background.Kansept Knives

By Steve Mazzucchi

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One of the most wonderful things about the knife and multi-tool world, for me, is that it never ceases to surprise and even amaze.

Just in the past few weeks, for example, we’ve seen CJRB innovatively blend two locks, Leatherman upgrade its best all-around multi-tool, CRKT go all iridescent and Benchmade invite its beloved workhorse EDC knife up to the proverbial penthouse.

Five folding knives with various blade finishes and handle designs are displayed on a textured brown surface. The knives feature sleek, modern handles with different color accents and patterns, including black, blue, multicolor, and wood-like textures. The blades vary in finish, including polished steel, black-coated, and patterned Damascus steel.
The Kitpu comes in five variants starting at $169. Fourth from the left is tops for yours truly.
Kansept Knives

Meanwhile, Kansept introduced a captivating new butterfly-inspired knife that deploys like nothing else around — and it’s not even my favorite recent release of theirs.

Nope, that honor belongs to an intriguingly named gentleman’s knife that checks every box. Meet the Kitpu.

What’s in a name?

Though you likely have not read or heard the word Kitpu before, it’s not some AI-generated nonsense.

Far from it. 

Hand holding a black folding knife with a sleek, matte blade and a textured handle. The blade is partially open, and the handle features a clip and visible screws. The background is plain white.
With an open length of 6.69 inches, the Kitpu sits nicely in the hand.
Kansept Knives

For the Mi’kmaq, an Indigenous group situated primarily in Canada’s Atlantic Provinces and Maine, the word means “eagle.”

That makes it an especially fitting moniker for this release, for a couple of different reasons.

Two black folding knives shown in a closed position, featuring textured handles with visible screws and pocket clips on one side. The knives have a sleek, modern design with a matte finish.
In its closed position, the Kitpu is exceptionally compact and discreet. Just don’t forget about it around TSA!
Kansept Knives

First, designer Jonathan Styles hails from this region, specifically Newfoundland. 

Second, eagles are simultaneously beautiful, efficient, regal and fierce — and so is this awesome little knife.

Distinguished gentleman

So what stands out here? Both the materials and the design are pretty primo, to be honest.

Let’s start with the business end, a 2.9-inch drop-point made of CPM-20CV or Damascus steel, depending upon the variant. In either case, you get a potent blend of sharpness, edge retention and toughness.

Close-up of the locking mechanism of a folding knife, showing the liner lock engaging the base of the blade to secure it in the open position. The handle appears to be black with cutouts, and the blade has a textured spine for grip.
A bit of jimping on the spine of the blade improves grip during firm, detailed cuts.
Kansept Knives

The blade deploys with haptically satisfying swiftness courtesy of a smooth ball-bearing pivot mechanism subtle rear flipper, snapping into place securely thanks to a precisely machined frame lock.

It’s worth noting that this particular one is relatively easy to open, so as to retract the blade, using one hand. With a little practice, you can do it without even looking.

The handle is equally distinctive, available in a range of titanium, carbon fiber and even Fatcarbon treatments — with the blacked-out K2123A4 standing out from the pack, as far as I am concerned.

Folding knife with a sleek, silver blade and a handle featuring a mix of gray and blue patterned accents, resting on a textured tree branch with green leaves in the background.
This upscale Fatcarbon treatment is known as Arctic Storm. A Purple Haze edition is also available.
Kansept Knives

The pocket clip keeps things low profile and as does the weight, coming in at just 2.3 ounces. 

All these elements work in concert, resulting in a knife that lives up to its name and likely won’t stay on your desk long. This thing is just too good not to take out on the town. 

Availability and pricing

The Kansept Kitpu is available now in five variants starting at $169. The blacked-out version shown here costs $190.

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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