Kansept Baku K1056A5 Damascus Blade Titanium Handle Liner Lock Folding Knife

The Kansept Baku K1056A5 is a masterfully designed EDC folding knife that seamlessly blends Eastern aesthetics with practical functionality. Created by renowned custom knife maker Greg Schob, this slim and lightweight folder draws inspiration from both Persian and Japanese Tanto design traditions, making it equally at home in casual or formal settings. At just 3.35 ounces with a 3.2-inch blade, the Baku delivers exceptional portability without compromising performance. The blade features premium stainless Damascus steel—a genuine layered composite of 9Cr and 440C stainless steels that resists corrosion while maintaining superior edge retention. This distinguishes it from inferior etched imitations, offering durability comparable to high-end alternatives like Damasteel. The black stonewashed titanium handle provides a comfortable, secure grip with a smooth pocket carry experience. An integrated D-shaped pivot prevents spinning during disassembly, while the liner lock mechanism ensures reliable blade security. The knife's smooth flipping action and multiple deployment methods make it intuitive and satisfying to operate. Measuring 7.27 inches overall with a flat-ground clip-point blade, the Baku represents the pinnacle of modern EDC design—where aesthetic elegance meets functional excellence. Perfect for collectors and everyday users seeking a knife that performs as beautifully as it looks.

SPECIFICATIONS

Overall Length	7.27" / 184.8mm
Blade Length	3.2" / 81.4mm
Blade Thickness	0.118" / 3.0mm
Blade Material	Damascus
Blade Style	Clip-point
Blade Grind	Flat
Blade Finish	Damascus
Handle Material	Black Stonewashed Titanium
Color	Black
Lock Type	Liner Lock
Weight	3.35oz/95g
Model Name	Baku
Model Number	K1056A5
Designer	Greg Schob

Kansept Baku K1056A5 EDC Folding Knife

The Kansept Knives Baku {model} is a collaboration with Greg Schob, a Coast Guard veteran and custom maker, and it shows in the details that usually get skipped. The name comes from the Japanese spirit that eats nightmares; the profile comes from a deliberate mix of Persian and Japanese Tanto lines, which is why it reads slim and formal rather than tactical. The blade is genuine layered stainless Damascus — a 9Cr and 440C composite, forge-welded rather than acid-etched onto a single sheet, so the pattern cannot wear off and the Damascus keeps the corrosion resistance and edge retention of its parent alloys. The liner lock knives runs inside a titanium frame on a D-shaped pivot that will not spin during disassembly, and the flipper action is smooth out of the box. At 3.35 oz with a 3.2 in blade it is a folding knives that disappears in a pocket, and it settles into an EDC folding knives rotation and a wider EDC gear kit without asking for attention.

Why the Baku Carries Better Than It Looks

• Genuine stainless Damascus blade. A forge-welded 9Cr and 440C composite with a layered pattern that runs through the steel rather than an acid etch sitting on the surface.
• Greg Schob design. The Baku comes from a Coast Guard veteran turned custom maker, with the Persian-meets-Japanese-Tanto profile that defines the model.
• Black Stonewashed Titanium handle. A black stonewashed titanium handle that hides handling marks and keeps the whole knife low-key.
• Slim, lightweight carry. 7.27 in overall and 3.35 oz, so it rides in a pocket without printing.
• D-shaped anti-rotation pivot. The pivot has a flat so it cannot spin when you tighten it, which makes blade-centring a two-minute job instead of a fight.
• Three opening methods. A flipper tab, a thumb hole and a finger flick all work, so it opens reliably with gloves or cold hands.
• Smooth, satisfying action. The bearing pivot and tuned detent give the Baku a crisp, confident open with no half-hearted snap.
• Claymore-grade lockup. The liner lock engages solidly with no blade play and no stick — the two failure modes cheap folders always suffer from.

Where the Baku Earns Its Pocket Time

• Everyday carry — light enough at 3.35 oz that it disappears in a pocket.
• Boxes, tape, zip ties and packaging, the jobs a carry knife does most.
• Office or formal carry, where a slim titanium profile reads as a tool rather than a weapon.
• Camping and hiking as a general-purpose cutting tool, not a chopper.
• Collector display — the Persian/Japanese Tanto profile is the reason people buy this knife.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Damascus real or just a pattern?
Real. The blade is a forge-welded composite of 9Cr and 440C stainless steels, so the layered structure runs through the blade. Acid etching only reveals what is already there, which is why the pattern cannot rub off.

How big is the Baku compared to other EDC folders?
7.27 in open, 3.2 in of blade, 3.35 oz. That puts it squarely in the mid-size carry bracket — larger than a sub-3-inch folder, noticeably slimmer than a heavy tactical knife.

Does it have a pocket clip?
Yes — a titanium clip set for tip-up carry, matched to the handle finish.

How do I open it one-handed?
Three ways: press the flipper tab, push the thumb hole, or flick it. The pivot runs on bearings, so all three are reliable.

Is there blade play out of the box?
No. The D-shaped pivot holds its adjustment and the detent is tuned, so blade centring can be set precisely and stays where you set it.

Stainless Damascus vs. Common Pocket Knife Steels

Steel	Typical HRC	Edge Retention	Corrosion Resistance	Toughness	Sharpening Ease
Stainless Damascus (this knife)	58-60	Very Good	Excellent	Good	Moderate
Damasteel (premium)	59-61	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Moderate
CPM-S35VN	58-61	Very Good	Very Good	Very Good	Easy
CPM-20CV / M390	59-61	Excellent	Very Good	Good	Moderate
High-Carbon Damascus (import)	56-58	Fair	Poor	Good	Easy
D2 Tool Steel	58-61	Very Good	Fair	Good	Hard
14C28N	56-58	Good	Excellent	Excellent	Very Easy

This blade is genuine layered stainless Damascus made from a 9Cr / 440C composite, not an acid-etched pattern on a single sheet. That matters: stainless Damascus keeps the corrosion resistance and edge retention of the parent alloys, while ordinary high-carbon Damascus rusts if you so much as look at it wrong. HRC figures are typical ranges.

Glossary of Key Terms

Stainless Damascus
A layered blade made by forge-welding alternating sheets of stainless steel — here a 9Cr / 440C composite. The pattern is the actual weld line, not an etch on a single sheet, so it cannot wear off or rub away.

D-shaped pivot
A pivot with a flat ground on the barrel so it cannot rotate inside the handle when you tighten or loosen it. It makes disassembly and blade-centring adjustment far easier.

Clip-point
A blade profile with a concave spine that sweeps to a fine, slightly upswept point. It gives good piercing ability while keeping enough belly for slicing.

Flat grind
A blade ground with flat planes running from spine to edge. It is strong behind the edge, easy to sharpen by hand, and cuts predictably on everything from cardboard to rope.

Liner lock
A spring-steel liner inside the handle that folds in to block the blade tang when open. Fast, reliable and lighter than a full frame lock.

Flipper tab
A small tab protruding from the blade tang that you press with your index finger to snap the knife open. Combined with a good pivot and bearings, it allows fast one-handed deployment.

Titanium
A light, strong, corrosion-proof metal. It will not rust, it takes anodised colour, and it has a warm feel in the hand, which is why it dominates premium knife handles.

Who Should Buy the Kansept Baku K1056A5

• You want a slim, sub-3.4 oz EDC folder that does not look tactical in an office.
• You appreciate genuine layered stainless Damascus rather than an acid-etched pattern.
• You are drawn to Greg Schob's Persian-meets-Japanese design language.
• You want a titanium-handled knife with a real flipper action at this price point.
• You collect Kansept's designer collaborations.

Who Should Skip It

• You need a heavy-use beater for prying and hard field work.
• You prefer a lightweight polymer or FRN handle for maximum durability per dollar.
• You want a large blade — 3.2 in is a carry-first size, not a camp knife.
• You dislike maintaining a Damascus blade or want a completely maintenance-free finish.

Care & Maintenance

• Wipe the blade dry after every use. Stainless Damascus resists rust far better than high-carbon Damascus, but it is still steel.
• Rinse and dry immediately after cutting fruit, meat or anything salty — never let residue dry on the pattern.
• Oil the blade lightly every 4-8 weeks with a knife oil or a food-safe mineral oil, and after any exposure to moisture.
• Do not scrub the blade with abrasives or metal polish. The Damascus pattern is a real layered structure, but aggressive polishing can wash out the contrast.
• Touch up the edge on a fine ceramic rod or a 1000-grit stone; keep the existing flat-grind angle.
• Flush the pivot and bearing area with warm water and mild soap, dry it out, then re-oil. Grit in the bearings is what makes a flipper feel rough.
• Check the pivot and body screws monthly and snug them with a correctly sized driver — titanium threads are softer than steel ones.
• Keep the G10 inlay and titanium frame away from solvents, nail polish remover and strong alcohols.
• Store the knife closed and dry, away from humid drawers and damp leather pouches.