Today we’re going to be taking a look at a knife that’s received a lot of mixed opinions from the community.
With its unique blade design and a price point higher than most are used to from Morakniv, we are, of course, talking about the Morakniv Kansbol.
Although being out for some time (released in 2016), this is a knife still widely used today and continues to be a talking point among knife enthusiasts.
Throughout our Morakniv Kansbol review, we’ll break down what we love, hate, and everything in between.
Before we dive into the review, let’s take a quick look at the specifications of the Kansbol.
Specifications
- Blade Material: 12C27 Stainless Steel
- Blade Thickness: 0.1 inch (2.5 mm)
- Flex Grade: Stiff
- Blade Length: 4.3 inch (109 mm)
- Total Length: 9.8 inch (250mm)
- Weight: 0.3 lb (134g)
- Handle Material: TPE-Rubber
- Grind: Scandi
Morakniv Kansbol Review
Handle
Let’s start this Kansbol review off by taking a look at the handle, which is made using TPE-rubber. I find the handle comfortable in hand, with a nice and ergonomic style. For reference, I’ve got medium size hands, and the handle fits nicely, however there’s still plenty of room for those of you out there with larger hands.
The handle also has a good amount of firmness to it, it’s not rock hard like some other knives and has a bit of give/ squishiness to it, for lack of a better word. For me, this is one of the more comfortable knives that I own.
The rubber material itself has a nice feel to it, and feels warm in hand, which is particularly ideal if you’re out in the woods during winter months. Some knives I own make my hand feel colder and just aren’t ideal to use in winter, so this is definitely a good design.
As you can probably tell from the images, the handle has 2 different textured panels. I really like this design, as that inner panel provides a bit of extra traction with your hand, great for getting a good grip on the knife.
To top it all off, there’s a lanyard whole built into the handle, which is only over a good thing.
Blade Material
Moving onto the blade material, which is constructed using 12C27 stainless steel. This steel material is great when it comes to corrosion resistance, unlike some of the other, cheaper knives on Mora’s roster.
One aspect to mention about the Kansbols is that the blood doesn’t have the best edge retention. This is probably down to a combination of the steel itself and the overall thin design of the blade.
Speaking of, the blade is incredibly thin, so if you’re on the market for something a bit thicker, I’d definitely recommend checking out the Mora Garberg, which is essentially just a higher-end Kansbol.
All in all, you really can’t complain with 12C27 Stainless steel, especially when you consider the relatively cheap price of the Kansbol.
Blade Design
Grind
This is where the Morakniv Kansbol is subject to a bit of controversy. As you can see from the image above, the blade itself has two distinct areas – the base and tip.
The base makes use of a traditional Scandi grind however, tapers down towards the tip, kind of like a full flat grind. I personally love this design, as it makes the knife a bit more versatile. The base of the blade can be used for traditional woodworking applications, whilst the thinner tip is great for preparing food at camp.
Now, some people would rather have a specific knife for a specific task, however, I disagree. The Kansbol is great for a ton of different tasks, from batoning a piece of wood, to chopping up a steak for dinner. While it’s by no means a specialist knife, it’s a great everyday carry and has become a go-to knife from my collection.
Spine
The Mora Kansbol features a nice 90-degree spine, which is perfect for striking a fire starter, or gathering fine scrapings of wood. I’ve got no complaints in this department, creates a great spark, and does everything you need it to do.
Partial/ Half Tang
Mora has used a partial tang design with the Kansbol knife, with the blade itself coming three-quarters of the way down the handle. Personally, I don’t mind partial tang knives, especially when they’re this sort of size and won’t be used for big projects anyway.
That said, if you were to compare the Kansbol, with say, the full tang Mora Garberg, then the Garberg would definitely be able to stand up to more punishment. Although, due to the blade’s length through the handle, the Kansbol is incredibly lightweight, weighing in at around 0.3lb.
Length & Thickness
You’ll find a 4.3-inch blade on the Kansbol, which is pretty ideal for your average bushcraft tasks. I also particularly like the thickness of the blade, which measures in at around 0.1-inch. This is a nice thin blade great for intricate work.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference, and for me, the blade ticks the right boxes in both length and thickness.
Sheath
When it comes to purchasing the Kansbol, you’ll have a couple of options – with a plastic sheath, or with a molle multi-mount system. I personally went for the plastic sheath, as it was a bit cheaper and I tend to wear my knife on my belt anyway.
This sheath is without a doubt, one of the best that Mora has ever made, and that’s for a couple of reasons. First of all, the belt attachment loop is made from a synthetic material that has a bit of give to it. This makes wearing the knife on your belt much more comfortable than with other knives, as it has a bit more room to move and isn’t as rigid.
You’ll also notice a plastic hoop that circles the sheath itself. You can remove the sheath from the attachment hoop, which I find very useful. If you want to get your knife out, but not expose the blade, this is a very good way of doing so. It also pops back into the belt attachment easily and stays in place nicely when there.
Thanks to the design of the handle and the sheath, this is also an ambidextrous blade, meaning that it can be used by both right and left-handed people, and can be placed on either side of your hip.
All in all, this is an incredibly well thought out sheath, that I’m extremely impressed by.
Price
It’s safe to say that the Kansbol is definitely going to cost more than you’re used to paying for a Mora knife. That said, you’re going to get more than what you’re used to with a Mora knive as well.
In terms of value for money, this is a great deal and I’d buy the Kansbol again without a second’s hesitation.
Benefits & Drawbacks
Benefits
- Comfortable in hand
- Great value for money, although more expensive than most other Mora knives.
- Incredibly versatile thanks to its dual grind blade.
- Good quality sheath and belt loop.
- Can be used by both right and left handed people.
Drawbacks
- Not everyone will love the blade design.
- Not as strong as a full tang blade.
- More expensive than most other knives sold by Morakniv.
Morakniv Kansbol Review: The Verdict
So, is the Morakniv Kansbol worth that little bit extra? Yes, absolutely in my opinion. It’s a great utility knife that offer incredible value for money.
While the dual grind style of the blade may mot be for everyone, I find it wonderfully versatile and often utilise both ends of the blade on most of my trips, especially over-nighters.
All in all, this is a superb companion knife, perfect for your typical tasks when out in the woods.
Interested in getting the Mora Kansbol? Click here to check the price on Amazon.
Who are Morakniv?
Morakniv are a Swedish based company, comprised of 2 historically rich knife manufacturers, that merged in the late 1980’s. Mora, a province in Sweden, has been the home of top-quality knife manufacturing for hundreds of years, and continues to do so to this day.
Morakniv themselves are often a go-to brand when it comes to bushcraft and survival. They tend to offer their knives at an affordable price point, without sacrificing quality by doing so.
Their product range has since expanded into other useful outdoor tools such as axes and hatches, as well as branching into other industries (I’m a particular fan of their steak knife).
All in all, if you’re looking for a knife brand you can trust, who have been producing quality blades for the last hundred years, then Morakniv is definitely for you.
Other Alternatives
Morakniv Garberg
This is essentially the big brother to the Kansbol, it’s heavier, thicker blade, full tang, and more expensive. You can check out our full Morakniv Garberg review for more information.
- Blade Material: Stainless Steel
- Blade Thickness: 0.12 inches (3.2mm)
- Flex Grade: Stiff
- Blade Length: 4.3inches (109mm)
- Total Length: 9.8 inches (248mm)
- Weight: 0.6lb (272g)
- Handle Material: Polyamide
- Grind: Scandi
Morakniv Bushcraft Black
Another great option from Morakniv is their Buschraft Black. This is one of my favorite Moraknivs and is a good bit cheaper than both the Kansbol and the Garberg. We’ve got a full Morakniv Bushcraft Black review that you can check out for some more information.
- Blade Material: Carbon Steel
- Blade Thickness: 0.12 inches (3.2mm)
- Flex Grade: Stiff
- Blade Length: 4.3 inches (109mm)
- Total Length: 10.2inches (258mm)
- Weight: 0.4lb (175g)
- Handle Material: TPE-Rubber
- Grind: Scandi
Final Thoughts
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read our Morakniv Kansbol review. Hopefully, you’ve found this useful and are armed with the information needed to decide whether the blade is right for you.
If you have any questions or would like to add anything to our article, feel free to drop a comment in the section below.
