Fate unfolds in mysterious ways. And so it was, in an unpredictable series of events — including a pandemic, a busted real estate deal, and some really damn good beer — that I found myself sitting across from expert knife designer, Paul Munko.

It was a fortuitous meeting that would lead to the establishment of the “Kinsmen Brewing Blade Group” and, more importantly, put the Bestech Knives Constellation in my hand for the first time.

It was, at first blush, one of the most elegant, action-packed gentleman’s folders I’ve had the pleasure to handle. In part, that’s because the Constellation isn’t like other gentleman’s folders, which commonly err to the dainty side so as not to weigh down a pair of slacks. Instead, the Bestech Constellation, though sleek and shapely, is tough and designed for real work.

In short: Gentleman’s knives have long been defined by their smaller stature and slight build. This makes them great for a pocket of a sports coat or pair of khakis. Where the Constellation retains some of that refinement, it builds off it by beefing up the overall size and build, without making it bulky. It also uses premium materials instead of stylish accents to accentuate its opulence.

The result is a knife that’s built to work. If you’re the kind of person who switches from being hard at work to holding a highball, you can rely on the Constellation to be the one knife that looks the part in either situation.

Find your perfect folder in GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Pocket Knives.

Bestech Knives Constellation Review

Design & Features

The Bestech Constellation is a full-sized flipper folder built off of a bead-blasted and stonewashed titanium frame. The backspacer and pocket clip are made from the same material with the same finish.

Both sides of the knife have a black canvas Micarta inlay that adds to the appeal and provides grip. The knife is sleek and curvy, allowing your hand to find its place in both the belly and spine.

For its blade, Munk and Bestech Knives went with heavy stonewashed MagnaCut with a hard stop at a hardness of 62 HRC. The blade, which looks oversized for a knife of this ilk, has a modified Japanese tanto shape. Unlike traditional tantos, with sharp and defined lines, the shape of the blade on the Constellation is flowing.

This is not only visually attractive, but also allows it to adapt to more tasks, big or small.

First Impressions

The dim lighting of the brewery might have had some impact on this, but the Constellation looks almost gothic. It’s dark and ominous, which only bolsters its appeal. Munko has enjoyed a lot of positive attention with his Mystic and Mini Mystic models, which share some styling with the Constellation. However, they are a little more dramatic in shape.

Out of the box, the Constellation was fast and fun to flick open and closed over and over again. Even with ceramic bearings, knives don’t generally operate this smoothly when they’re fresh from the factory. It almost makes the thumb stud seem like overkill, but I like it there, as it completes the look.

Overall, this level of functionality complements the style of the knife — fast and formed to fit every hand type.

As someone who likes chunky knives with big handles and even bigger blades, I really like the fact that the Constellation has a narrow handle that bulges in the back to fit the palm without taking up a lot of space in the rest of my hand. It allows for quick, yet precise, movements. With the extended length of the modified-tanto MagnaCut blade, this knife has all the makings of being effective, whether you’re wearing a tuxedo or a tank top.

It’s also incredibly lightweight. At less than 3 ounces, shaped the way this dandy of a knife is shaped, you can really get out there and do whatever you want with it. And, with Titanium and MagnaCut as the metals on this knife, you can feel free to do that in any climate, rain or shine.

Tested in the Field

It’s hard not to admire a knife that you can’t even feel in your back pocket, yet when you deploy it, you feel like you can take on a ton of tasks with it. That’s the Constellation in a nutshell.

Will I be chopping wood with it? No. It’s not that kind of knife. But it could peel an apple just as well as it can skin a rabbit. It can also prep kindling, open all of my mail, and instill comfort in me knowing I can rely on it.

So that’s what I did.

As someone who wears a belt knife into the woods along with a pocket knife, I left the belt knife at home on my adventures with the Constellation. It could be argued that two knives are overkill anyway, and maybe in some cases, that’s right. However, I have become accustomed to having two, and even with the Constellation, that hasn’t changed.

But that’s not because the Constellation couldn’t get the job done as the one knife to rule them all on a hike, backpacking trip, and beyond.

Most gentleman’s knives provide an option to carry a knife in a fancy situation. However, they’re smaller and less useful in most cases.

So, you could easily consider the Constellation overkill in that category, but I feel like it’s a move in the right direction. While you generally don’t need to bring a knife that’s capable of anything you may encounter in the outdoors to a cocktail party, it’s nice to know you can.

This knife is sleek, ergonomic, precise, and adaptable. It’s what you want in an EDC knife, no matter what you’re doing.

Other Versions

The Constellation is available in four distinct models, all of which are defined by their handle materials, blade finish, and titanium treatment. Each one is just as elegant as the other, but please — just make sure to give it hell if you buy one. These knives aren’t made to be pampered.

I would love to see a fifth version with some crazy wooden handle scales. Maybe even petrified wood? A knife like this could have a lot of different options to appeal to a lot of different people. However, in the end, they’ll all perform in such a way that you’ll have no issue using and abusing them.

Conclusion: Who’s It For?

I’ve never been someone who subscribed to carrying a gentleman’s knife, and I think that’s because they’re usually underbuilt. Where the Bestech Constellation is sleek like a gentleman’s knife, I find it to be overbuilt, in all the right places.

It’ll still do well riding around in fancy clothes, but it also does just fine in a pair of jeans, cargo shorts, or anywhere a working knife is needed.

There are details on this knife that lend it to more opulent environs and therefore make it more suitable to upscale carriage. However, MagnaCut, Micarta, and titanium, while upscale materials, really can have a major impact in unsavory and outdoor environments. These aspects blended together make for an overall desirable knife.

If you’re looking for a lightweight knife capable of overperforming in a multitude of environments at a wide variety of tasks, the Constellation might just be the knife for you. Where I have found knives of this nature for half the price that I’ll praise, craftsmanship goes a long way.

The overall build, fit, and finish of the Constellation make it a rock-solid option for your next favorite EDC knife.