This Hefty EDC Knife Found a Stylish Way to Shed Weight

Kansept’s new collaboration with TuffKnives, the Odd 21, offers 11 reasons why it weighs less than 5 ounces.

Published December 10, 2024

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Updated January 19, 2025

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At less than three ounces, some knives we’ve come across are pretty dang light. At 10 ounces, others are comparatively beefy — even if they’re made for chopping veggies.

While the functional value of the holes is debatable, some will tell you they enhance grip — and they do slightly lighten the knife. But let’s be honest: They mostly just look really cool.

However, in our experience, some of the best knives of the pocketable variety nestle somewhere in between.

That’s where we find Kansept’s Odd 21, which boasts a wonderfully full-bellied blade yet weighs 4.9 ounces, thanks in part to an uncommon handle treatment.

kansept odd 21 double down — On one side, 11 perfect circles. On the other, a perfectly integrated titanium pocket clip.

The hole story

This knife emerged from the mind of a Schwenksville, Pennsylvania native named Geoff Blauvelt, who started out as a YouTube knife reviewer and modder before getting into design.

Learning the trade under the legendary John Gray, Blauvelt went on to found TuffKnives and co-found Ticonic — and design knives for Civivi, Vosteed and other respected manufacturers.

kansept odd 21 bronze anodized — Upon close examination, the bronze anodized holes really pop.

What immediately jumps out about this particular release is what isn’t there. The handle’s structure is not at all jeopardized by the presence of 11 bronze anodized holes on the obverse side (aka the front side aka the presentation side).

While the functional value of the holes is debatable, some will tell you they enhance grip — and they do slightly lighten the knife. But let’s be honest: They mostly just look really cool.

kansept odd 21 big 5 — The five Odd 21 treatments boast titanium handles and either CPM 20CV or Damascus blade steel.

Now, if that was all this knife had to offer, we might be a bit skeptical. But holes aside, the Odd 21 is a helluva flipper. The 3.08-inch drop-point blade is made of either CPM 20CV or rippling Damascus steel, depending which of the five skews you choose.

Regarding the latter, Kansept uses a stainless blend of 9Cr and 440C steels, which the brand would tell you is closer to high-end Damasteel than the carbon-based stuff you’ll find in budget brands such as Kershaw (hey, they said it, we didn’t). That means high durability and corrosion resistance over time.

kansept odd 21 flippers — The Odd 21 features both front and rear flippers for easy deployment.

In addition to the materials, we love the shape of the Odd 21’s blade — it looks full and formidable and clears the bottom of the handle nicely, which should make chopping tasks easier on your knuckles. Also worth noting is the semi-symmetry between the extended blade and the ergonomic handle.

That handle is made of sturdy titanium, and that blade deploys via one of two flippers (a small traditional one or a bigger front flipper). It’s held in place with a frame lock — and held in your pocket with a matching titanium clip.