Ergonomics & First Impressions

Comfort is king with any knife, and the Dako nails it. The handle’s subtle taper and clean lines feel right at home in hand. It’s devoid of finger grooves or aggressive shaping, and that’s part of what makes it so appealing - it feels both traditional and modern at the same time. There’s a touch of Laguiole or Opinel charm in the shaping, but it’s wrapped in Kansept’s contemporary design language.

There’s no jimping or aggressive texture here - just smooth, chamfered curves that make it disappear into the hand. My version features titanium bolsters with shredded carbon fiber scales, and it’s downright elegant. Even the hardware is polished, adding just the right amount of flair without tipping into gaudy. It’s clear the Dako was built to make an impression and it does.

Deployment & Locking

The Dako uses a cross-bar lock, and Kansept has it tuned beautifully. It’s smooth, easy to operate one-handed, and just fidgety enough to be fun without feeling like a toy. Thumb studs are your only deployment method, and I’m glad they kept it that way - no unnecessary flippers or thumb holes here. It slow-rolls smoothly and flicks out with a confident snap. As with most cross-bar locks, the detent isn’t quite as tight as a liner or frame lock, but it’s dialed well for the style.

One really neat detail is the adjustable spring tension inside the liners. You can actually fine-tune the lock feel by shifting the spring to different notches, and Kansept even includes a spare spring for good measure.

Pocket Clip & Carry

The milled titanium pocket clip stands out, and not just because it looks good - it’s shaped more like a traditional spring clip than most milled ones, and I mean that in the best way. It slides in and out of the pocket with ease and stays put. The only real complaint? No left-hand carry option. For a knife with an ambidextrous lock, not offering a reversible clip is a bit of a miss. I’m right-handed myself, but I always notice when a design forgets about the other half of the population.

Blade Performance

At first glance, the blade almost looks like a spear point, but a closer look shows it’s clearly a drop point with a nice bit of belly. The blade shape gives it versatility - precision cuts, light chopping, and everyday slicing tasks are all within reach. The full-flat grind makes for an excellent slicer, and the CPM S35VN steel strikes a great balance between edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance. It’s a dependable, high-performance steel and one that Kansept frequently uses to great effect.

During testing, the Dako breezed through rope, packaging, and even light food prep. That high grind paired with the thin blade stock (3mm) gives it great slicing geometry without feeling delicate.

Final Thoughts

The Kansept Dako hits that sweet spot between form and function. It’s stylish enough to carry at a wedding or formal event, but it doesn’t shy away from real-world use either. Every detail, from the hardware polish to the clean blade deployment feels intentional and well-executed.

If you're looking for a knife that can dress up without dialing back performance, the Dako is a strong contender. It's refined, capable, and just plain satisfying to carry.