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Civivi’s Latest Affordable EDC Knife Has No Business Looking This Good

Even for a brand that consistently delivers the goods, the fine form and function of this flipper stand out.

Close-up of a hand holding a folding knife with a silver blade and black handle featuring a circular logo.Civivi
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By Steve Mazzucchi

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In just eight short years of existence, We Knife spinoff brand Civivi has produced so many excellent budget-friendly knives, it’s almost a given with their new releases.

The downside of such success is a bar set so high that something pretty special is required for knife knerds to sit up and take notice.

Hand holding a folding knife with a silver blade and black handle featuring a circular logo near the pivot.
The satin-finished blade and black handle Kitefin is easily the most classic-looking of the four varieties.
Civivi

Rising to the challenge is Civivi’s new Kitefin, which boasts striking aesthetics and strong performance with a price tag that dips well below a Benjamin.

Button up, buttercup

From a visual standpoint, the Kitefin leans on streamlined, unfussy styling that comes off so effortlessly, it sets me at ease just looking at it. 

It’s also the rare knife that is available in four treatments that all look so good it’s tough to choose a favorite.

Folding knife with a matte black blade and a silver handle resting on textured black rocks.
The black stonewashed blade and silver handle treatment flips the script in a refreshing way.
Civivi

In three variants, the blade is a 3.22-inch drop-point made of one of the more desirable budget steels, 14C28N, which is generally valued for its sharpness, corrosion resistance and hardness.

While the price notches up considerably, there is a fourth option that trades that steel for ancient Damascus, which combines a telltale rippling appearance with excellent edge retention and toughness.

Folding knife with patterned 3.22" blade, gray handle, 7.52" overall length, and 0.47" handle thickness.
The numbers are exactly the same whether you opt for a 14C28N steel blade or the pricier Damascus one above.
Civivi

With all varieties, deployment is ultimately double-barreled.

The traditional method is pulling that rear flipper tab, but you can also use the fancy button-lock and a flick of the wrist to flash the steel. 

Black folding pocket knife with silver clip held in a hand against a white background.
The Kitefin is small enough to stash easily but big enough to feel substantial when called into action.
Civivi

Reverse that motion, and you can pretty easily bring the blade home with one hand.

In all cases, the action should be super-smooth thanks to the caged ceramic ball bearing on which everything hinges. 

Hand holding a black stonewashed knife blade with a purple handle and green paracord looped around the blade.
The full-bellied 3.22-inch blade can cut cord and tackle a wide variety of other everyday tasks.
Civivi

The Kitefin also boasts a light but sturdy aluminum handle that helps keep the overall weight under three ounces (2.78).

Last, a reversible tip-up pocket clip makes the knife easy to keep close, ready to spring into action when the moment beckons.

Availability and pricing

The Civivi Kitefin is available now at a price of $82 for the three 14C28N versions and $110 for the Damascus version.

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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