For this one, I went with the Damascus blade and PEI handle. Damascus because, well, it’s just plain beautiful and still performs well for everyday carry. And PEI… that’s one of those materials people seem to either love or hate. I fall somewhere in the middle, and we’ll get into that. For those unfamiliar, Tenable is a sister company to Kansept. Because of that relationship, they’re able to take proven designs and bring them down to a more approachable price point. Kansept already offers strong value for what you get, but Tenable pushes that even further, making designs like the Tipper accessible to a much wider audience.

When it comes to comfort and ergonomics, the Tipper is essentially a mirror of its titanium sibling. This design just nails it. The finger groove locks your hand in naturally, making indexing effortless. The way the handle tapers toward the rear and finishes with that subtle swell just works. It fills the hand without feeling bulky, and it honestly feels like it was shaped specifically for me. There are plenty of great-looking knives out there, but dialing in ergonomics like this isn’t easy. There’s usually some kind of compromise, and I’m quick to point those out when I see them. Here, there really isn’t much to complain about.

The PEI handle keeps the weight down and adds a unique visual element. Being able to see the internals is still kind of cool, and the material itself is more durable than people often give it credit for. It’s a high heat-resistant plastic used in a variety of industries, and while it showed up in the knife world with a lot of hype, I never fully bought into it. I still don’t, honestly. It’s good, it’s tough, but it’s not some miracle material. That said, I don’t mind it here. It fits the knife well and adds something different. Tenable also added very shallow diagonal milling, which gives just enough texture to improve grip without ruining the clean look. It almost gives the handle a slightly hazy appearance while still feeling secure in hand.

The orange pivot collar adds a nice pop of color and breaks up the amber tones of the handle really well. The liner lock keeps things simple and reliable, offering a similar feel to the premium model without overcomplicating things. Lock access is minimal but completely usable, and I like that it’s not just a flat cut. There’s a slight angle to it, which makes disengaging the lock more comfortable. Small detail, but it matters.

The pocket clip is steel, set up for fairly deep carry, and positioned at an angle so it sits more naturally in your palm during use. That’s a smart design choice. It could have easily turned into a hotspot, but instead it blends into the grip pretty well. I can still feel it, but it’s not distracting. Tension is solid, and the spoon on the end is pronounced enough to work with thicker materials without a fight.

Blade-wise, Tenable went with a Damascus option here, which some might see as a downgrade from something like S35VN depending on how they look at it. I don’t necessarily see it that way. Kansept uses Damascus on their premium models too, and this is legit forged Damascus, not laser-etched patterning. You’re getting a combination of steels that lands somewhere around 440C in terms of edge retention. Is it going to outperform something like 14C28N? No. But for everyday carry, it’s more than serviceable. I think there’s a lot of steel hype these days and not enough focus on actual use and maintenance. At the end of the day, this stuff cuts, and it cuts well.

Performance is where the Tipper really proves itself. That modified cleaver shape reminds me a bit of a tanto in how it behaves, especially with that transition between the belly and the tip. It gives you a bit more precision than you’d expect from a cleaver-style blade. The tip sits a little higher, but it still does a solid job starting cuts, and once you’re in, that belly and full flat grind take over and just move through material with ease. It’s a surprisingly well-rounded blade shape for everyday use.

The Tenable Tipper ends up feeling every bit as enjoyable as its Kansept counterpart, just in a package that’s easier on the wallet. That’s really where this knife shines. You’re getting a design that started as a custom, carries that same personality, and still performs at a high level without the premium price tag attached. It’s a fun knife, a capable one, and definitely something that stands out in a sea of more traditional designs.

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