This Darkly Dazzling Civivi Folder Quietly Outshines EDC Knives Twice Its Price

No knife brand casually drops more sub-$100 stunners — this already award-winning bit of magic is just the latest example.

Close-up of a black textured folding knife handle with brass accents and a thumb stud on a green background.

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By Steve Mazzucchi

Published October 16, 2025

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Updated October 16, 2025

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There’s perhaps no more satisfying feeling for a parent than watching your child blossom into a standout human being. Or so I hear.

But hey, making a mighty metaphorical leap, you need not be a breeder to appreciate the evolution of a finely crafted pocket knife from introduction to superstar status.

Black folding knife with textured handle and partially open black blade against a white background. — Costing just $4 more than its award-winning predecessor, this black-heavy new Yonder is tough to bet against.

I’ve certainly enjoyed watching such a scenario play out with Civivi’s Yonder, which demonstrated huge promise from the start, winning Best Buy of the Year at Blade Show 2024.

Advancing beyond that early accolade, this EDC champ has hit a new high with the latest variant, a black-and-tan beauty that still won’t break the bank.

Back in black

To be fair, the original award-winning Yonder knives are quite attractive in their own right.

However, this latest execution (sku: C23073B-2) really elevates neophyte knife maker Zac Whitmore’s design.

Black textured folding knife with gold accents and a ridged thumb stud on a white background. — This angle provides a nice look at the blade jimping and desert tan-toned thumb studs and liners.

It starts with the spey point blade, 2.88 inches of black stonewashed 14C28N, an affordable Swedish-made steel that offers a strong blend of sharpness, corrosion resistance and toughness.

With its wide belly and narrow point, this blade shape is an EDC rock star, able to pierce and slice with the best of them, aided by some jimping on the spine for delicate detail work.

Black folding knife with textured handle, gold thumb stud, and clip on a white background. — The Yonder’s blade shape not only looks great but also makes it adept at tackling a range of EDC tasks.

The scales, meanwhile, are made of black burlap micarta, which adds some aesthetically pleasing texture while also making the hand-filling handle easier to grip.

Of course, I’d be remiss not to mention the “desert tan” thumb studs and liner, which add an elegant pop that calls to mind a particularly beguiling Kansept Fenrir that, at $176, costs well over twice as much.

Same great snap

Like every Yonder, this new treatment retains the deployment and locking features that helped the original bag that big Blade Show honor.

Chief among them is the crossbar lock, which is similar to what you’ll find in nearly every folder from the leader in high-end EDC knives, Benchmade.

Black and gold mechanical caliper with a sliding scale and adjustment knobs. — Nestled between the stainless steel liners, the crossbar lock is equal parts sturdy and smooth.

This smooth and sturdy mechanism works in concert with a caged ceramic ball bearing to make deployment and retraction a snap.

All you need to do is grip the handle, pull down on the side of the bar and flick your wrist (or let gravity do the work) to brandish the blade or return it home.

Black textured folding knife with a black pocket clip and gold pivot accents. — The pocket clip is a handy finishing touch. I would love to see it in desert tan but black is the next-best option.

The aforementioned thumb studs, meanwhile, provide an additional one-handed deployment option that is, in fact, the primary one.

Last but not least, this 2.53-ounce dynamo features a reversible tip-up pocket clip to make toting your award-winning knife just as easy as actually using it.

Availability and pricing

This particular Civivi Yonder (C23073B-2) is available for pre-order now for $72. The brand also offers several other tempting Yonder variants starting at $65.

Black folding knife with textured handle and stonewashed blade, featuring brass accents and a thumb stud.

Civivi Yonder (C23073B-2)

$72 at Civivi

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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