Kansept K9 Comes Back as a Bolster Liner Lock: Six Configurations From $189.89 to $278.89

Kansept has revived one of its older designs with a full redesign rather than a simple reissue. The K9 — originally a frame lock from April 2020 — is back as a bolster liner lock, launched September 1 in six configurations ranging from $189.89 to $278.89. It is a Keanison Knives design, and the new version leans into handle materials as the differentiator.

The core specs are consistent across the line: a 3.63-inch blade, a 4.86-ounce carry weight, and a handle geometry that Kansept says keeps knuckles clear of hard surfaces when chopping. That handle-to-blade angle is the design's signature, carried over from the original. The bolster liner lock is the mechanical change, and it is the right one for a knife like this — a full-size utility folder benefits from the rigidity of a bolster-lock construction in a way a slim EDC does not, and it lets Kansept build out the handle with heavier premium materials without introducing flex.

The tier structure is where buyers will spend their time. The entry point is the K1151A4 at $189.89, which pairs twill carbon fiber and G10 laminate scales with blackwash titanium and, notably, a Damascus blade. Stepping up brings the shred carbon fiber and plain titanium A1 at $219.80 and the copper carbon fiber A2 at $229.60, both with CPM S35VN. Above those sit the 80s camo carbon versions at $259.89 and $278.89 — the A3 in S35VN and the A5 and A6 exclusives in fat carbon and 80s camo carbon with blackwash titanium. All six use the same blade length, so the buying decision is purely about materials and steel.

The K9's return says something about Kansept's 2026 strategy. The brand has been steadily reworking its back catalog — the Mini Lanza, the Deadite, the Pretatout — rather than chasing purely new silhouettes, and each revival adds current-gen locks and materials to designs that already had a following. For buyers who missed the original frame-lock K9, the bolster version offers the same proportions with a wider material menu and a Damascus option at the bottom of the price ladder. All six are listed now on Kansept's site.