- the friendly giant
Civivi has once again collaborated with a knife designer, and the result is this model called Buster FG. A knife that has a very clear design language and a lock that, for the initiated, speaks of who is behind the design. That said, it also feels like a continuation of or perhaps a cousin to another knife, the Vision FG. A model I have previously reviewed positively here on the blog.
The question is, am I just as satisfied this time?
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| Civivi Buster FG |
The man behind the look and certainly also the lock is Snecx Tan from Malaysia and his Snecx Design Lab. It's time for a new "FG" model, where the abbreviation stands for Field Grade and means production versions of custom knives.
This time, a few things have changed and mainly the format that distinguishes this one from the Vision FG. The size has increased significantly, which is the first noticeable thing.
Buster FG is available with handles in both G10 in a couple of different colors and Micarta for those who prefer it, which I happen to do.
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| Buster FG is a full-sized knife designed by Snecx Tan |
Short version: Civivi Buster FG, a Snecx design for those who like big, bold knives with a Super Lock
Blade
This is an impressive blade. Partly it is the shape that does it, and partly, of course, the size itself. As mentioned earlier, the Buster FG is a substantial knife, which is also noticeable here. The blade is over a decimeter long, 107 mm even. In addition, it is 34 mm high and 4 mm thick. This makes it both visible and noticeable.
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| The imposing blade is a sheep's foot that measures over a decimeter in length. |
In this version, it is provided with a black coating, and otherwise it is stone-washed. The steel used is Nitro-V. A steel that has been used on and off by several different manufacturers. The steel is something of a derivative of Swedish 14C28N and AEB-L and therefore has similar properties. This makes it practically an all-round steel in the mid-price range. In other words, a competent steel for EDC knives. If you want to delve into the properties of the steel, you can find an article here.
The blade shape is a very large sheep's foot. This means in practice, a completely straight edge. Only the last part of the edge towards the tip has a very small bend. The blade is also almost completely flat ground down to a thickness behind the edge of around 0.5 mm. It is quite sturdy, but so is the knife.
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| If you look closely, the blackened blade is discreetly marked. If you have eagle eyes, you can read the steel type at the ricasso, Nitro-V |
When you cut with the knife, it doesn't really offer any surprises. It works as it looks.
If we start with the tip, it is more noticeable than many other knives with this blade type. Here it is quite pronounced, which means that it penetrates excellently. It is also sharp without being too thin, which makes it durable as long as you don't use it as a pry bar.
The blade itself would probably work on a kitchen knife because it's so wide. But because of the completely straight edge, it's not a favourite in that area. Which, as I always point out, no folding knife really is.
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| There's a lot of cardboard when you buy an ice cream maker. Buster can handle it, but he's not really the best at it. |
For small jobs like cutting tape, string, nylon straps and cable ties, this is an excellent blade. This is especially true for tasks like the last one, where the rather steep edge comes into its own; it is strong. But for the same reason, you need to use more strength when cutting cardboard of different thicknesses with this knife. The resistance is simply greater due to both the geometry and the thickness of the blade, although the latter disappears a little due to the height of the blade combined with a flat grind.
In wood, the blade is better than you might think, especially when cutting fresh branches and the like and when you have to cut something off. But the Buster FG is not something you do crafts with. The height of the blade and the completely straight edge are not the best in that regard.
Overall, it is a practical blade, but not really for everything. Then the size means that, at least where I live, it is not something you drag into the office to open a box of paper with either.
Handle
The handle of this knife is quite large, but of course, it needs to be to accommodate the massive blade. The length is 139 mm and is based on a sturdy steel frame that is black to match the colour scheme. To reduce the knife's overall weight, there is not only a lightened frame but also through holes in the handle. Interesting to note is that there is also a round hole that looks like a lanyard hole. But hey, it's not. If you place a string there, the blade will cut it!
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| A large and spacious handle with Canvas-Micarta sides in this case |
The Buster FG is open at the back, with only the visible lock bar. The knife is assembled at two points along with the adjustable pivot screw, which is Civivi's usual type. This means that the logo is the head on one side, and a T8 screw is found on the other side. It is also D-shaped, so it does not twist if you want to adjust or disassemble the knife.
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| The knife is semi-open at the back as the lock bar takes up some space. |
The length of the handle is matched by a thickness of 13 mm, which together makes it impossible not to find a good position on this handle. The available area behind the part of the handle that forms a smaller finger guard to the back end of the handle, where it swells, is almost ten centimetres. If you have thicker gloves on, you can also have your finger behind that point if necessary.
The sides are made of Canvas-Micarta, which is one of my favourite materials. It gives a warm and comfortable feel to the hand while providing some friction without feeling rough. Another important feature is that it ages with style. The more you use the knife, the more patina the handle gets.
On this knife, both hammer grip and sabre grip are equally good. If you also want to get even closer to what is being cut, the surfaces are so large that you can sneak a finger close to the blade if you wish. The good balance contributes to the nice feeling in the hand. Fortunately, all the holes are in the handle; rather than luck, it is good design. The balance point is found in the same area where the lock bar ends.
The sides are made of Canvas-Micarta, which is one of my favourite materials. It gives a warm and comfortable feel to the hand while providing some friction without feeling rough. Another important feature is that it ages with style. The more you use the knife, the more patina the handle gets.
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| In hand, all grips work without complaints |
Opening and Lock
Buster FG is intended to be opened with a thumb stud. But due to the type of lock and the mass of the blade, there are alternative ways to get the blade out for those who want to do a little trickery.
The thumb studs are otherwise excellent. They meet the requirements that can be set. That is, they sit a bit out from the handle, which provides good leverage and thus makes the blade easy to fold out. Furthermore, they are long enough to provide grip but short enough not to stick out too much. Then they are also completely out of the way when you cut something because they are found near the handle when the knife is open.
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| The thumb buttons work exceptionally well, but there are alternative opening methods |
But then there were the more or less thought-out alternatives. The lock is, of course, not completely out of the ordinary, as all variants where the blade can be completely released work the same. This also applies to button locks and different variants of cross-bar locks. Here it is a different lock, but if it is released, the blade swings freely and as it swings. The blade is not only heavy, but it also runs on ceramic bearings, so it moves almost friction-free.
Added to this is a more involuntary opening method. Thanks to the above-mentioned properties, it is possible to "gravity open" the Buster FG. If you flick your wrist, the blade flies out! There is no detent in the world, not one that works anyway, that can hold that blade in place if it is provoked in that way. That said, the detent is not so weak that there is any risk of the knife being accidentally opened.
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| The lock is an invention from Snecx called "Super Lock". A really solid lock |
The lock in question has been named "Super lock" and is, as previously mentioned, an invention of Snecx. It is a very effective lock. It really holds the blade in place with authority. There is not a hint of movement in the large sheep's foot blade.
The lock is released by pulling the lock bar back, and then it also slides slightly upwards. The spring resistance is quite strong, so there is no risk of it being released by mistake.
The only thing the user needs to be aware of is that the weight of the blade makes this a "finger guillotine". The blade comes flying at a hell of a speed, which risks cutting off a fingertip. In addition, it is so heavy that, combined with the speed, it tends to bounce back out again. The solution to both problems is to put the knife a little on its side when closing so that the speed is not quite as noticeable.
To Carry
The Buster FG is big, a fact that cannot be ignored. Especially not when it is carried. In this case, a big knife also means a lot of volume due to the blade shape. This is not a narrow fillet knife blade we are talking about. The height of the knife is 44 mm, and the thickness across the spine is 13 mm. The latter is not excessive, but together with the height and a folded length of around 14 cm, you have a lot of knife in your pocket.
The weight is also noticeable. No anchor, but the Buster FG still weighs in at 175 grams. This is even though it is lightened in several places and even has through holes!
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| The clip is nothing unusual, but the placement is |
It makes you notice that you are carrying this knife. In thinner linen pants, I notice that it even weighs down the pocket. But of course, that is a choice you make. On the other hand, you get a lot of blade in your pocket for the weight.
However, pulling and putting the knife away is quite easy. The micarta has structure, but nothing that stops the knife, and the clip works well.
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| Is that a Buster in your pocket or are you just happy to see me? Buster FG demands its space |
The clip is nothing extraordinary, but taken from the Civivi catalogue. It means a simpler spring steel clip that does its job very well. The ramp works, and so does the space underneath. Large enough to accommodate most fabric thicknesses except possibly the thickest. The space is maximised by the clip being thankfully recessed in the handle side and equipped with flat screw heads. The screws are in tandem and are size T6. The size can cause problems if you tighten the screws or remove the clip frequently. However, it is not something I do, so I very rarely experience it as a problem.
The clip is black to match the rest of the knife's colour scheme and is placed a little differently. It is not located centrally on the handle but towards the back. In that case, it is excellent because, combined with the size of the handle, it means that the clip does not rub against the hand at all. The rear end of the clip, which can otherwise cause discomfort when it comes to "deep ride" clips, ends up outside the hand here.
To the delight of all left-handed people, the clip can be moved to the other side if desired. This, together with the type of lock, makes the knife completely ambidextrous.
To Conclude
I don't really know what to think of the Buster FG. Or well, I actually do, but my relationship with this knife is not entirely straightforward.
First of all, it can be said that, like all knives from Civivi, it is extremely well built. All the usual quality markers can be checked off. The blade is centred, the factory edge is good, the edges and corners are rounded and ground, the fit is good, and both the lock and folding mechanism are excellent. So far, no problems.
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| The design language is recognisable. Both knives are collaborations between Civivi and Snecx Tan |
I have no objections to the design either. It is typical Snecx, that's what I was referring to in the introduction when I wrote that it was recognisable. In this case, it is mainly the blade that sets the tone with its distinctive appearance. There is something certain about both wharncliffe and sheep's foot blades when they are scaled up.
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| Buster FG works as an EDC knife, but feel free to supplement with something smaller |
In return, you get a blade that works well for almost everything and a handle that is generally excellent. This applies to most hand sizes as it is narrow enough for smaller hands and long enough for larger sizes.
But it was probably the "almost everything" thing that stuck out to me. I have found that apart from the appearance, I am not completely sold on the idea of completely straight edges. It is neat, and it gives a certain air to the knife, but it is also a bit limiting. It is mostly about sweeping cuts, but above all about the fact that they are more difficult to use against flat surfaces such as pieces of wood or cutting boards. When working against such, the tip is automatically used most.
It is also not a blade that is completely optimal for cutting wood, although it is better than you might think.
Then there was the big stumbling block. For some people, it is a non-issue, and it may be for me some days. But the Buster FG is too big and, above all, too heavy to be my daily pocket knife. The 175 grams is not much, given the dimensions of the knife, but in absolute terms, it is something that feels substantial in a pocket.
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| So it's finally spring, Civivi Buster FG is a sturdy knife also for outdoor use for those who like straight edges. |
But with that said, for those who like straight edges and this type of look, the Buster FG is a really good option. There aren't many knives that offer it in this format. Especially not one that also includes a "Super lock" and the quality that comes with knives from Civivi. For all of you, this is a damn good buy. The knife is priced at around $117 on the website.
Specifications:
Length Overall: 245 mm
Length Closed: 139 mm
Weight: 175 g
Blade Length: 107 mm
Blade Thickness: 4 mm
Blade Steel: Nitro-V
Handle: Canvas Micarta
Lock: Super Lock
Produced by: Civivi, made in China
/ J - looking for a sheep missing a foot
