A Question About Some Knives

r redden

r redden

Joined
May 23, 2015
Messages
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I collected slipjoints for many years and used to be quiet active in the traditional subforum but life got in the way and I have not been active here or in collecting knives for a few years. Lately I've had knives on my mind again and have bought a few in the last couple of weeks. These purchases have been modern folders and I think I would like to buy some more but there are a lot of brands I've never heard of so my question is what you folks think of some of these brands. Here's a couple I would like to see what are your thoughts on them before I spend my money to buy them. They are CIVIVI and GANZO,. I don't mind inexpensive knives I have a few Kershaws 2 of tem are Blurs one in Elnax and one in S30V and I really like them. I also have a few of other brands such as Spyderco and Renchmade. Anyway look forward to your thoughts on the CIVIVI and GANZO brands. Oh yea without pictures it's BS so here's a few pictures I still have as well as several others.


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Greetings, nice collection. Civivi and ganzo are not the same quality brands. They both originate from China. Ganzo usually produces products by crossing popular products of popular brands with each other. For example, he redesigns the spyderco pm2 model using axis lock or produces the lionsteel sr1 model but puts Axis lock and says that he produces an original product. Still, at least he shoots his own brand. Civivi produces better quality products. It has a wider product range. It usually produces its own designs. In recent years, it has done great things in edc and brought a speed to the knife market. It is very admirable, especially in terms of low price and high material quality. They also have different designs and products for every taste. There are models with different handle materials such as copper, titanium, micarta and many different damascus motifs on the blades.
 
Civivi is one of WE's budget lines. They're fine for what they are, but usually nothing to write home about. They mostly make what I think of as 'minivan' models. They get the job done, but their designs are often generic, and they lean towards smaller blade sizes. Fit and finish is good, and their internal construction is unremarkable.

Ganzo are cloner scumbags, and their products are rejected by large portions of the knife community.

If you're looking at Chinese budget folders, Maxace and Twosun are the current leaders on quality/value IMO.
 
I did the same thing as you with taking a long break in knives and then coming back. Depending on how long you were away, what I found most surprising when I came back was, now days Chinese companies are making some really good knives. In fact, it's almost embarrassing how good the fit and finish is on some of them. Some brands that I personally own knives from and can recommend you check out are Kizer (one of my favorites on quality per price), WE/Civivi (WE is their top tier brand with awesome fit and finish, Civivi is the more value knives but done very well, and they have Sencut as well but I've never had anything from that line), Twosun (fit and finish is usually really good for the price, however sometimes I question their heat treat. Not horrible, but definitely not pushing any boundaries). That's about it from the brands that I have person experience with, however new ones are coming out quite a bit, and others have a loyal fan base also.

As far as traditionals in that price range, Rough Rider are pretty popular. As well as A Wright & Son Sheffield.
 
Civivi produces legitimate, quality knives and if that’s up your alley, go for it.

I can’t recommend Ganzo; they have a questionable ethical history and I wouldn’t ever waste my time on them.
 
Yust for fun also check Petrified Fish knives.
I have three of them and all are top notch quality.
As far as I can see, they have no clones. They have their own designs.
 
I highly recommend Civivi. Their designs are functional, usually ground very thin, and combined with actual quality heat treatments. They also have snappy action down to a T.

The Baklash is an absolute steal. Beautiful, extremely thin blade stock ground to an even thinner hollow grind. Great neutral ergonomics, finger choil, jimping in all the right places. Great snappy action (mine is shake-shut buttery smooth). And Civivi heat treats their 9Cr correctly. The only possible downside is that the original deep carry clip sucks as a hotspot. You can buy a milled flat clip from Civivi, or simply carry it without a clip, which is what I do.
 
KenCaz said:
Well, All I can say is if you support the 2nd Amendment in the United States you should NEVER buy "Bench-Maid"
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Not trying to be a smart*** I just don't understand what Benchmade has to do with the right to bare arms like I said I've been out of the knife collecting game for a few years so I know I've missed some things. Do you mind letting me know what been going on with Benchmade that's not cool because I truly don't know.
Thanks man
 
r redden said:
Not trying to be a smart*** I just don't understand what Benchmade has to do with the right to bare arms like I said I've been out of the knife collecting game for a few years so I know I've missed some things. Do you mind letting me know what been going on with Benchmade that's not cool because I truly don't know.
Thanks man
Click to expand...

Benchmade destroyed some firearms at the request of Portland PD (I think ) and some panties have been bunched up some butt crack.....This was also a few years ago....... Caused a hullabaloo for some😱
 
One of the very few Chinese made knives I own is a Civivi Tamashii fixed blade (design by Bob Terzuola), which is surprisingly good for its ~$75 price point. Comes with a decent kydex sheath + Tek-Lok that allows a comfortable horizontal belt carry left/front.
 
r redden said:
thoughts on the CIVIVI and
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It's your money ...buy what you like , especially as far as politics . ;)

As far as quality , value , and performance alone , IMO , both brands are worth what you pay .

If you want a lot of friendly feedback on this forum , Civivi is much more acceptable than Ganzo ,because of design copying .

BM is a no go for me , for both anti -2nd Amendment stance and lack of value for prices .

Some here won't have anything from PRC , including WE / Civivi . Some insist on USA made only .

I say again : "Please yourself ! " 🥳
 
Ganzo and Sanrenmu were two of the first Chinese knife brands to become well-known in the west, and got a following due to their very cheap offerings. In the years that followed, a few Chinese companies like We Knife, Kizer, and Reate decided to go legit and pursue the Western market almost exclusively, as well as push into a much higher end product range. Ganzo and Sanrenmu ended up by the wayside because of their sketchy reputation for making clones.

Now there are a lot of other brands coming out of China at various sections of the market. The more legit ones have set up dealer networks and collaborate with well-known designers, while some of the lesser known ones sell more direct and can offer an impressive value because of that. Here's kind of an approximation of where the most popular ones stand:

(good) budget brands:
Civivi
CJRB
Bestech (also makes some midrange)

Midrange:
We Knife (starting to push into high end)
Twosun
Kizer

Top of the line:
Reate
Rike (also makes midrange)
Maxace (also makes midrange)



Off-topic and political removed by staff
 
Last edited by a moderator:
jfk1110 said:
Benchmade destroyed some firearms at the request of Portland PD (I think ) and some panties have been bunched up some butt crack.....This was also a few years ago....... Caused a hullabaloo for some😱
Click to expand...

Thanks J jfk1110 I had no idea,I looked that up and saw where some were offended so I'll keep my thoughts to my self no matter what side you're on someones going to get mad. I will say I have a Griptilan I bought a few years ago I love.

THIS IS IT WITH MY PM2

iE9RcPN[2].jpg
 
My favorite brands are Benchmade, Spyderco, Civivi, Kizer, Mora, and Cold Steel, judging by how many knives I own and carry. I also have excellent inexpensive folding knives from KA-BAR, Sencut, QSP, Vosteed, and several other brands I can't think of at the moment.
 
I tried a couple of Kizer knives before my sabbatical her in a pass around they were very well made but, I forgot about the brand. I took a picture of them before I sent them to the next in line.

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