The young Civivi brand, appeared on the market in the second half of 2018, is a sub-brand of the Chinese Company We Knife. Unlike this, Civivi has as its objective the creation of more affordable products from an economic point of view, without sacrificing the attention to construction details to which We Knife has accustomed its fans.
The Kiri-EDC was conceived by the Italian knife designer Alessandra De Santis (Hydra Design), in her second collaboration with WE Knife Co., after the release of the Hecate folding knife, released during the last Blade Show West.
The Kiri-EDC is a small skeletonized fixed blade knife, made of 9Cr18MoV stainless steel hardened to 58-60 HRC. With a length of 45 mm and a thickness of 4 mm, the blade has a profile that clearly recalls a kiridashi despite the grinding which, unlike traditional Japanese tools, is present on both sides. On the left side of the blade there is the brand mark, while on the right side we find the three-headed hydra logo of the designer (Hydra Design). The finishes available are two: darkwash or stonewash.
The shape chosen for the handle catches the eye, in fact it is completely ergonomic and despite its small size, it can be used by hands of different sizes. Large non-slip jimpings are present both in the upper and lower part of the handle; in the terminal part of the tang there is a bottle opener, in addition to the inevitable and useful lanyard hole. Two large shaped holes on the knife tang lighten the Kiri-EDC bringing the total weight to just 44 grams.
The knife comes with a small Kydex sheath equipped with a black steel chain, to be carried around the neck. In the package there is a comfortable padded nylon case.
We have tested the Civivi Kiri-EDC both to verify the carrying comfort of the tool and, of course, for its cutting qualities. The low weight and the very compact size, make you forget quickly what you are wearing; the seizing jimpings play an important role when you grip the knife, providing an immediate tactile feedback. The grip is comfortable and the bottle opener is not at all annoying in the palm of the hand. During knife extraction and resheathing, the sheath offers good blade retention. The modest length of the blade and the particular shape invite more to precision cuts and carving; the factory sharpening has proved to be very good.
The Kiri-EDC impresses with its original design and attention to detail. Those looking for a small tool to take with them for small daily activities will appreciate this knife, which also wins over the price (which is around € 47 in Europe, and $ 47 in the USA)
Author contact: thefencetraining
SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: CIVIVI – www.civivi.com
Designer: Alessandra De Santis (Hydra Design)
Type: Fixed blade, skeletonized tang
Blade Style: Kiridashi
Blade Grind: Flat
Blade Material: 9Cr15MoV
Blade Length:1.80"
Blade Thickness:0.16"
Overall Length:5.10"
Finish: darkwash or stonewash
Weight: 1.55 oz
Sheath: Kydex, with stainless steel ball chain