Civivi ExOne and Starflare, two ways of conceiving a folding knife

Civivi is celebrating its first ten years with a series of new knives and an interesting promotion on its e-commerce site. Among the different models that the Chinese company offers on its website, we have chosen the ExOne and the Starflare, both folding knives and featuring a Nitro V stainless steel or Damascus blade, but very different in philosophy and materials.

Civivi ExOne: a liner lock with Nitro V or Damascus blade

Let's start with the Civivi ExOne, which has a "Reverse Tanto" profile blade made from Nitro V steel or Damascus, as in the version we are presenting here. The blade is 74.7 mm long and 3 mm thick, and its design is extremely rational, thanks to the sloping tip that enables cutting work of surgical precision. The blade edge is perfectly straight while its flanks are ground with a high bevel culminating in a fuller that runs the length of the back. This fuller has the dual purpose of lightening the blade and providing a grip point for the thumb when opening the blade. But that is not all: the initial section of the back has a short jimping, also designed for the thumb, also acting as a thumb rest when the blade is deployed.

A side flipper further contributes to make the opening easy, which is extremely smooth thanks to a ceramic ball bearing. If from a functional point of view there is nothing to complain about, from an aesthetic point of view you can be equally satisfied: the Damascus weave, with a blued background alternating with the silvery flashes of nickel, is truly fascinating and it is really surprising that such a knife costs less than one hundred euros. The general level of workmanship on the blade is excellent, with surfaces and millings made without any uncertainty. The company claims a blade hardness of 58-60 degrees Rockwell. If we are really hard-pressed to find a small flaw, the logo of the designer, the American knife maker Brian Brown, is placed on the right side of the blade in a position that looks a bit random, since it couldn't be marked in the fuller area.

The handle is 10.6 mm long and has the classic design of Civivi folders, with a wide groove for your index finger. In our model the scales are made from Guibourtia wood, also known as Bubinga, with a beautiful grain and very pleasant to the touch. Underneath the scales we find a pair of stainless steel liner plates, with the right one lightened by some milling, while the left one houses the locking plate of the liner-lock mechanism. The latter works flawlessly, engaging with a audible click. On the left side we find a satin finished stainless steel clip, which is reversible and allows the knife to be carried tip-up. The Civivi ExOne is also available with black or ivory-coloured G10 and olive-green Micarta Canvas handles. With a retail price starting at 67 euros for the model with G10 handle and 95 for the one with Damascus blade and wooden handle, it is definitely a knife to keep an eye on.

Civivi Starflare button lock

The second knife we present is an original Civivi design and is called the Starflare: it is a folder with button blade lock and an aesthetic that is somewhat reminiscent of Mike Walker's Zipper knives, with a very sharp Wharncliffe type blade, curved on the back and with a straight edge. The Starflare's handle is aluminum and long enough for people with medium-large hands. But let's start with the  Starflare blade, which in the example presented here is made from Nitro V steel with a satin finish, but is also available with a black stonewashed finish and in Damascus steel. It certainly has a fascinating design, with a sinuous back that accompanies the eye towards a very sharp tip. The bevelling is flat and at the back we find two grooves, one on each side, which serve a purely aesthetic function. Just above the bevel we find an old acquaintance, the ambidextrous thumb stud for deploying the blade, which can be used as an alternative to the button. The Starflare, in fact, has a double opening system, while closing relies on the button alone which, when the blade is folded, keeps it firmly inside the handle. The pivot uses a large caged ceramic ball bearing and makes the opening of the Starflare one of the smoothest I have ever experienced. Just press the button and give a very small flick of the wrist to open the blade. With the same system you can close it again. The tension of the spring underneath the opening button is carefully calibrated so that the tension is sufficient to prevent accidental opening, but the force required for opening is not too much.

The blade of the model we photographed is made from Nitro V steel hardened to 59-61 HRC, is 83.8 mm long and 3 mm thick, and is flawlessy machined. The tip profile is very pointy and this could be a weak point in case of inappropriate use, while for precision cuts it is excellent.

The handle of the Starflare is made of anodised aluminum and is aesthetically characterised by the circular cap that covers the pivot, anodised in a colour contrasting with that of the handle, on which there is a milled decoration that reproduces a meteor shower in a very essential manner. On our model, the light aluminum cap contrasts pleasingly with the titanium grey of the handle. The other colours available are red (with Damascus blade and black caps), lime green and black. There are no internal steel liners and this keeps the weight of the knife under one hundred grams. The retail price is also reasonable as usual: around 85 euros, which can also be a little less by taking advantage of the various offers on Civivi's eCommerce site. It is worth mentioning that the already rich packaging of both knives is further enriched by a sticker celebrating the first ten years of activity and a small catalogue presenting the latest new products.

Both knives, although different, are well made and reasonably priced, and preferring one over the other is purely a matter of taste. They will certainly please those looking for a folding knife for carrying and everyday use that is not too demanding in terms of price, but well made and with a very rich packaging, also ideal for gift-giving.

Civivi Mini ExOne and Starflare: specifications and prices

To find out more, visit the Civivi website.