Civivi’s Tiny, Affordable Japanese Gentleman’s Knife Embraces an Emerging Material

Inspired by one of the most iconic pocket knife styles of all time, this budget-friendly folder gets a minty-fresh redux.

Close-up of a folded gray pocket knife with textured handle and visible metal blade spine.

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By Sean Tirman

Published March 18, 2026

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At the tail-end of last year, Civivi quietly put a prototype knife, called the Kukei, up on its site. The design drew on Japanese history and one of the oldest and most iconic folding knives. However, it also had some noteworthy contemporary updates.

Now, some of the production versions of that same knife have hit the brand’s site, including the Civivi Kukei Natural G-10, which embraces an emerging, trending material and could be the most interesting of the bunch.

Folding knife with a brushed steel blade and light green textured handle on a pale yellow background. — The design is incredibly minimalist, which is in line with its inspiration, the Japanese higonokami.

Jade-like gem

When the prototypes of the Civivi Kukei launched, they were done with marbled carbon fiber and wood handle scales. However, the upcoming production knives are all different.

There are four of them, and while they share many of the same stylistic elements and prototype specs, they differ in their handle materials. There’s still a carbon fiber version, but it’s twill-woven instead of marbled. Similarly, there are ivory and powder pink G-10 options.

Folding knife with partially open brushed steel blade and light green textured handle on pale yellow background. — The Kukei has a front flipper deployment for its reverse tanto Nitro-V blade.

However, the most interesting of the bunch is the one you see here: the natural G-10 version. It’s perhaps a bit of a misnomer, as G-10 isn’t a natural material; it’s a high-pressure fiberglass laminate. However, in its basest, most untreated form, it has a jade-like light green appearance.

While natural G-10 has existed for, well, as long as the material has been around, there does appear to be an emerging trend around this particular execution (for instance, CRKT just launched a trio of knives showcasing the material). And this Civivi knife is another stellar example of its application.

Slim silver folding knife with a pointed blade extended against a light yellow background. — This knife is slender and minimalist from literally any angle.

Nippon knife

Beyond the handle material differences, the rest of the Kukei is true to the prototype. As mentioned, the design draws directly from Japanese history, as it is based on the classic higonokami friction folder.

Like its inspiration, the knife is geometric and incredibly minimalist. In fact, it doesn’t even have a pocket clip. Instead, it comes with a leather sheath for simpler hauling. It also has very little stylistic flair on its exterior, beyond the handle material itself.

Two closed folding knives with light gray handles and visible screws on a pale yellow background. — Like its traditional inspiration, this knife doesn’t have a pocket clip.

It also has a bulldog-like short blade measuring just 2.02 inches. Thankfully, thanks to its shape and Nitro-V material, it still has plenty of cutting power and a curved belly that can handle longer cuts. It even retains the higonokami’s signature front-flipper deployment, although executed with a more modern, low-profile style.

The biggest difference, however, is the locking mechanism. Classic higonokamis do not lock; they don’t even have slip-joint mechanisms. Rather, they are friction folders (meaning they rely on the user’s hand on the handle to keep the blade in place). Unlike traditional knives, the Kukei features a liner lock, which is more modern and ultimately safer.

Folding knife with a silver blade and translucent pale green handle next to a black leather sheath embossed with "CIVIVI. — The knife does ship with a leather sheath for easier EDC hauling.

Availability and pricing

The Civivi Kukei Natural G-10 is available for preorder right now for $59, and it is expected to ship on March 30.

Folding knife with a wide, straight-edged stainless steel blade and a translucent pale green handle.

Civivi Kukei Natural G-10

$59 at Civivi

About the Author: Sean Tirman is an associate editor at Gear Patrol who specializes in EDC, cannabis and outdoor gear.

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