Kansept’s Stunning New EDC Knife Draws on Centuries of Japanese Sword-Making History

You might not guess it at a glance, but this unique flipper combines two different ancient Japanese blade styles.

Published May 28, 2025

·

Updated May 29, 2025

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

As you’ve probably noticed if you’ve spent much time checking out Gear Patrol’s knife coverage (and you should), lots of blades draw from classic Japanese sword shapes.

The most common is the tanto, followed probably by the reverse tanto, of course, inspired by a Samurai short sword that ceaselessly delivers in EDC knife form.

kansept hira hero — The Osaraku-like facets of the blade are easiest to spot on the S35VN version, above.

But what if I were to tell you that a new knife features not one ancient Japanese blade style but two?

That’s exactly what we are getting with Kansept’s new Marco Panella-designed offering, the (somewhat) appropriately named Hira Flipper.

Singular shape

I say “somewhat” because, according to my (admittedly unscholarly) research, the word Hira only tells half the story.

The Hira-Zukuri blade shape is an almost elemental blade design, simple and flat and ridgeless, ideal for utility swords and unfussy battle knives. It dates back to ancient times but was common after Japan’s Heian Period (post-806 CE).

kansept hira folded — When closed, the grooved fuller is easy to access with the fingers and thumb for smooth one-handed deployment.

That style is present here, but so is the Osaraku-Zukuri shape, a three-faceted, long-pointed design whose name roughly translates to, no kidding, “perhaps.” It’s attributed to Shimada Sukemune, a master swordsmith who was active in the mid-15th century.

This fusion is reflected in Kansept’s description, which references traditional Japanese “Hira-osoraku-zukuri” shaped blades.

Google that term, and all the top results take you to this knife, reflecting the fact that this exact combo is not exactly common.

kansept hira off side — The precise machining of the frame-lock ensures safety and stability with every deployment.

The result is a pretty striking silhouette that offers the directness of the former shape and the detail-oriented nuance of the latter shape, but let’s cut through the b.s., shall we?

While you might not want to take it camping, the Hira should easily slice and slash through almost anything any self-respecting EDC enthusiast may encounter in civilized society.

Impressive ingredients

Mysterious and difficult to trace as the Hira’s blade shape is, there can be no debate about the quality of the materials and overall design.

Regarding the former, it boasts a 3.46-inch blade made of either S35VN or Damascus steel, both of which offer fantastic sharpness, strength and corrosion resistance.

kansept hira damascus — The Damascus-bladed version is arguably more striking, although the intricacy of the blade style is harder to spot.

Said blade can be deployed two ways — precisely via the grooved fuller or swiftly using the rear flipper — pivoting smoothly on ceramic ball bearings.

The ergonomically shaped handle is no slouch either. Made of light but tough blackwash titanium or tiger strip flamed titanium, it integrates a frame lock that ensures utmost blade stability when deployed.

Last but not least, this hard-to-categorize release offers something the ancient swordsmiths probably could not have even conceived of: a pocket clip.

Availability and pricing

The Kansept Hira Flipper is available now in two variants.

The K1090A1, featuring an S35VN steel blade and blackwash titanium handle, costs $193.

The K1090A5, featuring a Damascus steel blade and tiger stripe flamed titanium handle, costs $192.

Kansept Hira Flipper

Starts at $192

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.