MY 1st CIVVI

r redden

r redden

Joined
May 23, 2015
Messages
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Kershaw has been my go-to inexpensive folder for years but after about a 6 year hiatus from knife collecting I've recently been back on BladeForums and buying a few knives (I guess the 100 or so I own are not enough and they're mostly slipjoints. So I was perusing BladeHQ they have a sale on some knives. I put 2 Kershaws in the basket and came across a CIVVI Backlash Flipper for $26 I liked the looks it had decent specs so in to the basket it went. It came today and I was very pleasantly surprised at how nice it was for a $26 knife. I like the looks of the Elementum so I'm going to order one today. Any suggestion on other CIVVI's I should give a try?

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I have a Baklash, Elementum wharncliffe, and I splurged on a CF & damasteel Savant, just because why not. All punch way above their price points. Very attractive designs, excellent action, and all well built.
 
Try the new Vision it's got a wild lock similar to the shark lock from Demko.

I own a Chronic and Praxis that are nice as well.
 
I bought that exact Baklash a few weeks ago….first Civivi as well. Great bargain!!! Since then, I’ve tried the Civivi Appalachian Drifter (kinda old school slip-joint styling), and the WE Saakshi. I’ve really enjoyed both of those as well. Pleasantly surprised with the two brands!
 
I was just going to say, in my opinion Civivi really shines with fixed blades more than their folders. Their folders are really competitive for the price and a good value, but I haven't been as impressed with them like I have with their fixed blades. The Torbe designed ones and the Tamashii have a level of detail and fitment that I haven't seen anywhere near the price.

Civivi does seem to be making a push to trickle down more innovations from their We line to the Civivi lineup, resulting in more interesting offerings in both the fixed blades and the folders. Personally, though, I think Twosuns at the typical auction going rates represent a better value than Civivi's folders at about the same price.
 
I really like the Civivi brand, more than some of the other ones like CJRB or even Kizer. The Elementum is perfect for me, but I never got into the original button-lock version. The new Elementum II in buttonlock is great though.
 
I really like small and unobtrusive knives (and legally in one state I frequent have to be <3"), and the Odium has been one of my favorites for this role. I also have a damascus Imperium that I dyed the scales purple on that I like, but not my absolute favorite. Was carrying the Spiny Dogfish today which I just think is neat.

That said, the Vision FG is high on my list and I would probably trade some of my current knives to have that one. If I lost the Odium though, I'd buy a replacement.

Overall I've been quite happy with CIVIVI quality for price, though admittedly I don't have as refined tastes as some on here.

Welcome back to the knife collecting hobby!
 
I own the very same Backlash, a Brazen Tanto, a Chronic, and a Chevalier in Damascus. Hard to beat Civivi for value.
 
r redden said:
Kershaw has been my go-to inexpensive folder for years but after about a 6 year hiatus from knife collecting I've recently been back on BladeForums and buying a few knives (I guess the 100 or so I own are not enough and they're mostly slipjoints. So I was perusing BladeHQ they have a sale on some knives. I put 2 Kershaws in the basket and came across a CIVVI Backlash Flipper for $26 I liked the looks it had decent specs so in to the basket it went. It came today and I was very pleasantly surprised at how nice it was for a $26 knife. I like the looks of the Elementum so I'm going to order one today. Any suggestion on other CIVVI's I should give a try?

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My Damascus/wood Riffle was great. I gave it to my nephew. I'm giving my Exarch and McKenna to my step-nephews as an early Christmas gift and welcome to the family gift.

Great knives if you are into budget knives. I'm more into customs now.
 
Nice! The Baklash was one of the initial Civivi releases and they really shook up the budget scene in 2018. These were a great deal at $42 back then and some of the sale prices now are a slam dunk. While Civivi has moved up a little, the Sencut line from the same parent company (WE Knives) has continued to deliver in that ballpark despite inflation.

While 9Cr18Mov is already a good step up from the 8Cr13Mov still being used in a lot of Chinese-made knives from Kershaw, CRKT, etc.; WE does an industry-leading heat treatment with that steel in the Civivi and Sencut knives. I had another of the debut Civivis and some of the Sencuts cut-tested and punched for hardness. They were all close to 60HRC and performed very well.

You might also be interested in the new Laconic line from Kizer in this steel. They really hit the ground running and have some neat designs.
 
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