Spyderco Civilian Questions

[tchapman414]

In your opinion, could this process be done using the Spyderco Sharpmaker Diamond Stones?

From the little bit of the tip that I've usually seen broken off, I'm sure I could manage it with the diamond rods. VG-10 isn't too terribly painstaking with which to work.

 

[XxFULLPOWERxX]

I have never done it with the Civilian, but I have reshaped the tip on a friend's knife with it before. It turned out pretty good. I thought it could have been a fluke.

 

[sopmodm4]

I've owned 3 Civilians and 2 Matriarchs and only chipped the tip ever so slightly on one of each and was able to get the point back by filing the spine to tip with a very few strokes.

I do not use them for any sort of Utility beyond maybe cutting a dangling thread or gingerly zipping open a food package.
They are first and foremost my 2nd line of defense after my Glock 19 or Ruger LCR.

The 2 Matriarch's sit in my wife and daughter's purses respectively and they slip them out of their purses and into their pockets when walking to their cars late at night and yes they have both watched the Keating video and practiced the techniques with trainers I cut from paint stirrers and wrapped with gaffer's tape just for the occasion.

 

[tchapman414]

Thank you for the information. It's good to know that the tips can be easily regained, though also that they can truly be so easily damaged.

I received my Police SS Spyderedge the other day, so I'll see if I can get some pictures up. This one may hold me over for a while, as I'm quite pleased with it.

I've owned 3 Civilians and 2 Matriarchs and only chipped the tip ever so slightly on one of each and was able to get the point back by filing the spine to tip with a very few strokes.

I do not use them for any sort of Utility beyond maybe cutting a dangling thread or gingerly zipping open a food package.
They are first and foremost my 2nd line of defense after my Glock 19 or Ruger LCR.

The 2 Matriarch's sit in my wife and daughter's purses respectively and they slip them out of their purses and into their pockets when walking to their cars late at night and yes they have both watched the Keating video and practiced the techniques with trainers I cut from paint stirrers and wrapped with gaffer's tape just for the occasion.

 

[JD Spydo]

I agree with the one Brother who said to get a Matriarch rather than a Civilian. I've had several of both models over the years and have studied them both and have looked at the Pros and Cons of owning both models and I came to the conclusion that the Matriarch is truly right for me. I currently own 2 Matriarchs and I love them both. The Matriarch just feels more natural in my hand. If I ever had to deploy either model for SD then I would take the Matriarch any day of the week.

Now a guy with a really big hand might like the Civilian better but I sure don't. Also if you can find one of the older model Civlilians with a Carbon Fiber handle that would make a good collector piece. But the Matriarch in the hands down winner in my book.

 

[brownshoe]

I agree the matriarch is the most practical choice, but the civilian is just "badass!"

 

[tchapman414]

I agree the matriarch is the most practical choice, but the civilian is just "badass!"

That's my stance on it, too. I'll pick one up for that sole reason at some point

 

[MikeWinter]

Sosa,
Is your possibly-for-sale Civilian an original (aluminum handle) or the newer G10? A collector friend wants an original and I'm trying to find one as a Christmas gift. Thanks.

 

[SURVIVAL&WEAPONS]

For zip ties im sure the tip would recieve damage. I watch a video review by cutlerylover once and a guy sent his to CL and his civilian's tip was broke off from a zip tie.

 

[GIRLYmann]

the spydie civilian talon point
punctures objects best with a downwards strike.
it slices with an inwards pull and draw motion.
the fine point facilitates entry for tearing.
and any pull will rip anything softer than the blade's edge hardness.
the resulting tear
can be further deeply sliced into
by the s-curved edge.
physical contact with such edge properties
would be for the result of producing maximum gashing effects.
this is a finely tuned design for a specific optimum cut.
as a knife, it will edc for general utility
until such time when overly high stresses
placed upon its laterally weak tip structure
might cause it to over bend and fracture at some point.
just know that any attempt at general purpose is not without material risk.
and that any resulting broken tip from such use
had better been for a worthy enough sacrifice
and not some highly regrettable and expensive case of tomfoolery.

 

[JD Spydo]

I agree the matriarch is the most practical choice, but the civilian is just "badass!"

Hey I'm in no way saying that the Civilian isn't a good blade because it most certainly is by any standards. I love the concept of it but I do believe that for my practical purposes the Matriarch just makes better sense for me. Because what good is a SD knife if you can't deploy it quickly and efficiently. I hope to GOD above I never have to but in this day and age anything negative is possible unfortunately.

Now if I was going to go with a Civilian I would much prefer the Carbon fiber version. But with the Matriarch FRN just seems to be perfect for that blade.

 

[stabman]

The Civilian makes pictures more picturesque:

 

[jmclfrsh]

I have both as well and my opinion is the Civilian is one badass knife. It, however, is designed to do one thing.

That is to intimidate someone into leaving you alone, on sight of it alone, or to ensure that whomever you had to deploy it against would be in very big trouble. That is assured.

However, while it excels at what it does, it is pigeonholed by its uniqueness. As others have said, the waved Matriarch 2 deploys easily, and you can actually cut stuff with it. However, as much as I wanted it to, it was not the be-all, end-all I envisioned it to be. Just like you, now.

But lastly, I need to say that if you're a knife guy, you should get both. They are very unique and need to be experienced.

You can always sell them, but at least you will never wonder about them anymore. And if you're like me, you keep them both!

Pair the Civilian with a Kydex sheath made for it (Google it) - Derick Desmond on here makes them, and they are very high quality - and you got yourself a nice SD piece. Trust me on that.

No one in their right mind would ever mess with you unless they had a gun, and they better be far enough away that you cannot reach them. Or they are toast!

 

[tchapman414]

I have both as well and my opinion is the Civilian is one badass knife. It, however, is designed to do one thing.

That is to intimidate someone into leaving you alone, on sight of it alone, or to ensure that whomever you had to deploy it against would be in very big trouble. That is assured.

However, while it excels at what it does, it is pigeonholed by its uniqueness. As others have said, the waved Matriarch 2 deploys easily, and you can actually cut stuff with it. However, as much as I wanted it to, it was not the be-all, end-all I envisioned it to be. Just like you, now.

But lastly, I need to say that if you're a knife guy, you should get both. They are very unique and need to be experienced.

You can always sell them, but at least you will never wonder about them anymore. And if you're like me, you keep them both!

Pair the Civilian with a Kydex sheath made for it (Google it) - Derick Desmond on here makes them, and they are very high quality - and you got yourself a nice SD piece. Trust me on that.

No one in their right mind would ever mess with you unless they had a gun, and they better be far enough away that you cannot reach them. Or they are toast!

Thanks for the input! I've decided to hold off for the time being, but a Civilian is certainly in my future. Since I carry for EDC, not SD, it has to be able to serve well in the role. Ultimately, the best way I can find out is to try it myself!

 

[XxFULLPOWERxX]

I have both as well and my opinion is the Civilian is one badass knife. It, however, is designed to do one thing.

That is to intimidate someone into leaving you alone, on sight of it alone, or to ensure that whomever you had to deploy it against would be in very big trouble. That is assured.

Intimidating someone with a knife is a tactic that can be read through and WILL get you killed. Knives are meant to be felt, not seen. If anyone carries the Civilian or anything like it, they had better make the decision to use it and do whatever is needed to save your life. Scaring people with knives is for high school punks in gangs.

 

[brownshoe]

Intimidating someone with a knife is a tactic that can be read through and WILL get you killed. Knives are meant to be felt, not seen. If anyone carries the Civilian or anything like it, they had better make the decision to use it and do whatever is needed to save your life. Scaring people with knives is for high school punks in gangs.

In my limited street experience. I was told by thug and cop alike; if you must use any kind of weapon, don't signal you have one and use it quickly to do maximum damage. My matriarch is always at the ready but never seen.

 

[Sosa]

Intimidating someone with a knife is a tactic that can be read through and WILL get you killed. Knives are meant to be felt, not seen. If anyone carries the Civilian or anything like it, they had better make the decision to use it and do whatever is needed to save your life. Scaring people with knives is for high school punks in gangs.

Let's say you're cornerded by an hiv positive junky armed with a dirty needle. It might be an option to brandish. Not likely to happen just sayin haha.

 

[XxFULLPOWERxX]

Let's say you're cornerded by an hiv positive junky armed with a dirty needle. It might be an option to brandish. Not likely to happen just sayin haha.

I'll play...

It would be wise to go for a structural stop in that case [citing Michael Janich]. Details may vary, but cutting the tendons of the arms [bicep, tricep, adjoining tendons] and legs [back of knee, tendon directly under kneecap, achilles] of an adversary is enough to let them drag their sorry, bloody carcass down the street, or just lay there crying... And you to go home. Don't grant them a quick death. Make them suffer.

 

[Sosa]

Then retire for the night sipping hot cocoa while watching mr. Belvedere reruns

 

[tchapman414]

Then retire for the night sipping hot cocoa while watching mr. Belvedere reruns

Thank you for retiring the encounter, Sosa. Let's bring this discussion back to the merits of the knife as EDC, so as to avoid what would be Practical Tactical. Thanks for everyone's input!