This knife is the brainchild of KC Spiron, better known in the community as the voice behind the KnivesFast YouTube channel. He’s been reviewing and collecting for years, and somewhere along the way he started sketching out designs of his own. KC draws a lot of inspiration from fast things—cars, planes, weather—and the Thunderhead wears those influences proudly. It's sleek and aggressive, with just enough muscle behind the lines to let you know it means business. It checks a lot of my boxes right out of the gate: premium steel, a striking blend of titanium and carbon fiber, and a shape that looks fast even standing still. It’s the kind of design that practically begs for a closer look.
Handle & Ergonomics
There’s a lot going on with the Thunderhead that makes it both unique and comfortable. The titanium handle features micro milling that adds a subtle texture—not overly grippy, but just enough. The shaping is simple at a glance, but it’s full of nuance. Most knives have a series of well-defined lines and curves. This one feels more organic, like someone grabbed a lump of clay, squeezed it just right, and said, “There’s your handle.” That might sound odd, but it works. The result is something surprisingly ergonomic and more comfortable than it has any right to be.
The blue anodized titanium contrasts nicely with the marbled carbon fiber inlay, giving it some visual pop. I did notice that the anodizing reacts to skin oils, occasionally showing a purplish hue in spots. At first I thought something was smudged on it, but it’s just the way the finish behaves. It's more common with micarta, but it looks like the titanium here picks it up too. Kansept also chose to use T8 screws throughout, which is great for maintenance, but I think the larger heads detract a bit from the otherwise refined design. Slightly smaller hardware might have helped preserve the knife’s clean aesthetic.
Lock & Deployment
This is one of the few Kansept liner locks I’ve had a chance to check out. They typically lean toward frame locks, which I generally enjoy, but a frame lock can visually dominate one side of the knife if not done tastefully. A liner lock, by contrast, hides between the scales and keeps things looking clean. The Thunderhead’s liner lock is well executed—no aggressive jimping, no protruding pieces—just smooth and reliable. Lockup is solid, and the tension feels perfectly dialed in.
Deployment comes courtesy of a front flipper and an elongated thumb hole. I’ll admit I’m not the best with the front flipper here—it’s well executed, but I’m just not as fast with it. The thumb hole, on the other hand, is fantastic. It’s easy to reverse flick, and every time I do it, the blade fires out with a satisfying snap. There’s also a forward finger choil if you want to choke up, though I rarely find myself using it since the the standard grip is so comfortable.
Blade
The Thunderhead sports a large modified tanto blade made from CPM-S35VN. It leans more toward a reverse tanto or sheepsfoot in its final form, depending on how you see it. Either way, it commands attention. There's a bit of tip for detail work, but the real story here is the sweeping belly. That broad cutting edge is great for slicing tasks on flat surfaces—everything from cordage to kitchen duty. The flat grind covers around 80% of the blade, so there’s plenty of thin geometry for solid slicing performance.
I also have to give a nod to the long run of jimping on the thumb ramp. It’s not just there for looks—it’s functional. It provides the only traction anywhere on the handle and makes it grippy where it counts. A great compromise that keeps the knife looking sharp while still offering control.
Pocket Clip & Carry
Let’s talk pocket clip—and I’m picky. This one mounts at the butt end of the knife, which is a nice change from the typical side mounting. It’s a clean, low-profile design and doesn’t scream for attention. It slides in and out of the pocket easily, and while I think the tension is a little on the light side, it hasn’t caused any real problems.
That said, my biggest gripe is the movement. There’s noticeable wiggle in the clip due to the anchor point, and it feels like there’s some flex that shouldn’t be there. It hasn’t failed on me and doesn’t seem in danger of doing so, but it still registers as a design flaw. It’s possible the thinness of the clip contributes to the flex, maybe even intentionally, but I’d prefer something a little more secure.
Final Thoughts
The Thunderhead is an impressive collaboration between KC Spiron and Kansept. It’s sleek, fast-looking, and full of personality, with just enough oddities to make it memorable. The blade performs like a champ, the ergonomics are dialed in, and the design feels fresh without being over-designed. Aside from a wiggly clip and some visual nitpicks with the screws, it’s hard to find much to complain about here. KC may not be a meteorologist, but he sure brought the storm with this one. If you're after a unique and capable EDC that stands out in a crowd, the Thunderhead is worth a serious look.
