If you are into knives, you have probably heard of the Kasador knife before. If not, you have probably seen them and didn’t realize it. Eikonic Knives makes blades for some pretty big brands. Today, we are looking at the Kasador, a compact folder that is more than ideal as an EDC knife.

For some, carrying a knife is more about fashion than practicality. However, for others, it’s an essential tool and a form of self-defense. My Grandfather used to say, “Never leave the house without a knife.” To him, it was just as handy as the pliers he carried in his other pocket. It seems like he always had his knife out for one reason or another.

As a result, I developed the habit of carrying a knife every day as well. For me, knives are no different than firearms; I always want more, and you need a different one for different occasions.

Just for transparency, I’m not a knife expert by any means. But I carry and use one daily, so maybe my experience with this knife will be of some help as you’re looking for your next EDC blade.

Eikonic Kasador Compact Knife

The Eikonic Kasador knife is one of the smallest knives I carry in my pocket. Opinions will vary when it comes to the appropriate size of a knife to carry. Some prefer the Crocodile Dundee-size knives, while others opt for the small, pink knives that dangle from their keychains. To each their own; I’m not here to judge.

The Kasador knife measures approximately 6.88 inches when opened and 4 inches when closed. This makes it a perfect size for those days when you need a light, low-profile knife.

The blade length is 2.88 inches, which is long enough to handle most everyday tasks yet short enough to keep its carry discreet and comfortable.

It’s extremely light, weighing about 2.65 ounces. Another plus. Trust me. As someone who has carried heavier knives that felt like I was carrying gold bars in my pocket, a light, streamlined knife is appreciated.

The brown canvas micarta handles give it an elegant look, but also make it extremely smooth, which helps it slide in and out of your pocket. I don’t mind having a texture on a knife, and I know it’s important if your hands get wet.

But I also grow tired of heavy-textured knives wearing out my jeans. That, and those textured handles can sometimes cause the knife to stick to your pants, depending on the material. So, I suppose the choice between a textured and smooth handle depends on what I’m wearing and doing that day.

Even though I say the grip is smooth, Micarta is not what I would call “slick” either. It’s durable, looks great, but still has just the right amount of texture for a firm grip, even when wet.

The Blade and the Clip

Knives are like watches. Just because they look nice doesn’t mean they are made of quality parts. With a knife, the steel is what makes or breaks it. Cheap steel will break and or lose its edge faster.

Eikonic crafted the Kasador knife from D2 steel, a popular type of steel known for its high quality and solid edge retention. We’ll talk more about D2 steel here in just a minute.

The blade has just a little bit wider swedge than most pocketknives of this size, which I also like. This is the tapered part of the false edge (topside of the blade). It helps reduce the thickness of the blade at the end, which makes piercing things easier.

The Kasador features a drop-point style of blade, a classic design that I tend to prefer. For me, this is a great everyday blade that works for most tasks that require a knife. It opens via a thumb stud on both sides of the knife, so even those weird lefties can use it (just kidding, you’re not all weird). I found it easy to operate right out of the box, so no break-in period is needed.

Another small detail that I’m overly picky about is the pocket clip. If it’s too tight, it makes the knife hard to draw, but you also don’t want it too loose. This one was perfect for thicker material like jeans and tactical clothing. It was a hair loose in slacks, but not to the point of calling out when I pull things from my pocket.

The blade lock is a typical tension bar, and it works great. There is no movement at all in the blade when it’s locked open.

Specifications:

• Model: 331SBR
• Blade Length: 2.88 inches
• Overall Length: 6.88 inches
• Closed Length: 4 inches
• Weight: 2.65 ounces
• Blade Material: D2 Steel
• Handle Material: Brown Canvas Micarta
• Blade Style: Drop-Point
• Opening Mechanism: Flipper
• MSRP: $94.99

What is D2 Steel?

If you are not familiar with D2 steel, it is a high-carbon, high-chromium tool steel known for its hardness and wear resistance. It’s created through an intricate heat-treating process, involving precise heating, quenching, and tempering steps. This process enhances durability and gives it a good edge retention.

Technically, D2 steel falls into the category of “semi-stainless” steels. It contains approximately 1.5% carbon, 12% chromium, and additional elements, such as vanadium and molybdenum. Chromium improves corrosion resistance, though at 12%, it doesn’t quite reach the threshold required to be considered fully stainless (which is around 13%). This semi-stainless nature means D2 is relatively corrosion-resistant but may require a bit more care compared to full stainless-steel blades.

As I mentioned above, D2 steel has a high carbide content, primarily chromium carbide. These carbides significantly enhance wear resistance and contribute to the blade’s lasting sharpness.

The hardness achieved by D2 steel typically ranges between 58 and 62 on the Rockwell Hardness Scale (HRC). This is a good balance for and knife intended for everyday use.

Is the Kasador the Ideal EDC Knife?

I’ve been carrying this blade around for a while now, and so far, it’s been a great knife. For the most part, if I have a problem with a knife, it’s usually the pocket clip coming loose, the blade becoming dull too quickly, or the blade itself becoming loose.

So far, it’s held its edge really well (even after cutting through a lot of cardboard), and nothing has come loose on it. Some of my other knives are larger than this one, but I kind of like this one.

Even though I like all kinds of knives, not all of them make it on my EDC list. Some are cool to look at, some are perfect for a vest, car, or stashing somewhere. But the Eikonic Kasador is definitely a great EDC knife.

A variety of fits for a variety of guns for a variety of optics for a variety of carry styles!