- small knife with a large personality
As a brand, Civivi has established themself at the top of the budget knife segment with many major sales successes recently. Or rather, it has been the last few years by now and it does not look like they intend to slow down. There are constantly new knives coming and also this year there are several models that promise good. Or how about delicious pieces like a larger Elementum with a button lock or a fixed-bladed version of the same model?
But today we will take a small step back and look at one of the knives that is the basis for the success, namely Odium. Now it has not been running for so long when the prototype was presented at Shot show 2019. But nonetheless, it has had time to make itself known.
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| Civivi C2010D Odium |
Civivi Odium is a knife that in one area differs slightly from most other Civivi knives. It is not an "in-house" design but is a collaboration with the brothers behind Ferrum Forge Knifeworks. Odium is basically an opportunity to get a taste of their famous model Mini Archbishop for a little less money. So whoever thought they recognized the lines and the design language from somewhere is completely correct.
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| Odium, a knife for those who like Ferrum Forge as they are the ones behind the design |
Twitter version: Civivi Odium, a knife for those who like everything with Ferrum Forge Mini Arch Bishop except the price.
Blade
As I said, the blade on Odium is recognizable from the original when it comes to shape and format. Or to be completely correct, it is slightly smaller. This blade is a drop point that measures 6.7 cm in length, is 2.6 cm high, and has a thickness of 3 mm.
The finish is stonewashed, but the knife is also available in a black version and in an extra luxurious edition with stainless patterned welled steel. That version also includes a nice wooden handle. In other respects, it can be said about the blade that it is extremely frugal when it comes to text and information. If you look closely, you will find Ferrum Forges logo but not Civivis. As usual, they use their "C" on the pivot screw as the only marking. Yes, you can find the type of steel written on the blade, but it requires good eyesight and a while of searching. That is also quite typical for Civivi and something that I appreciate.
The blade has a not very prominent swedge or rather bevel which makes the blade spine slightly rounded. There are also grooves for better grip for the thumb or forefinger.
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| A drop point blade characterized by the opening groove and a large forward finger choil |
In this edition, Civivi used D2 as a blade material. So far, I have had very good experiences with how Civivi treats their D2. They have succeeded with the hardening as both this knife and others keep the sharpness well. In addition, they are not as prone to corrosion as some other knives in that material may be. Very positive as I am not a friend of brown stains on the blade when you have not used the knife for a while. The factory edge is otherwise appealingly well made. Sharp and even. Then the design itself with its "forward finger choil" provides excellent conditions for keeping the edge nice even after regrinding.
The blade is a high flat grind, almost full, and Odium is fairly thin behind the edge.
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| The steel is D2 and the stonewashed blade has extremely discreet marking |
Odium belongs to those small knives that are capable of slightly heavier tasks than the format suggests. Like some other knives in the category, it's because of the forward finger choil. This allows you to grip the knife with your whole hand despite its small size. Now, this is a distinct EDC knife so some heavier chores are not what this knife is made for. But all the small tasks in everyday life that require something sharp, whether it is an edge or a tip, can be done with bravura.
Handle
The handle on the Odium plays magic with the size in the same way as, for example, Cold Steel Tuff Lite and Spyderco Lil 'Native. Incidentally, it is very similar to the latter in dimensions. This means that you have a marked recess for the index finger, which certainly shortens the edge length but provides the opportunity for better grip. The grip becomes extra solid because there is a second finger groove for the middle finger and the flipper tab ends up as a finger guard between them. In other words, there is no risk of your hand slipping on this little knife.
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| The sides are made of nicely treated G10 |
Odium has a total length of 9 cm of which 7.8 cm is grip area. A little depending on how you measure, of course. It is impossible to get away from the fact that a flipper tab always steals some space. The material in this knife is G10 and in addition to this black version, there are currently four more colors to choose from and, as previously mentioned, a version with wooden scales.
The handle slabs are also heavily beveled and slightly rounded, which actually makes them more grip-friendly and more elaborated than the original model from Ferrum Forge, which has flat sides.
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| The handle is partially open in the back |
The sides are screwed in only two points with T6 and T8 screw heads for the pivot screw. It provides a knife that is easy to disassemble for those who need or want it. Otherwise, the construction is recognizable from other Civivi knives. This means built around a heavily lightened steel frame. The knife is partially open in the back and there is a partial backspacer, also in the G10. Something unusual for knives of this size is that it lacks a lanyard hole.
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| Despite the small format, it is possible to fit the whole hand |
The grip that works best is a saber grip with the thumb on the blade back and the index finger in front of the flipper tab. It is certainly possible to hold Odium with the index finger behind the finger guard as well, but then the knife turns into a tight three-finger knife, at least for me with my hand size. So in practice, it is out of the question. Otherwise, the knife can be held as in the picture with an index finger on the blade spine or in a pinch grip.
Opening and Lock
It is only to be noted that Civivi continues to keep their own standard when it comes to both consistencies between different models and degree of efficiency when it comes to folding knife action. Odium can be opened in two ways and both work equally well.
Depending on how you look at it, the knife may be primarily flipper-operated. The flipper tab in this case is small and discreet. Nevertheless, it is very effective. The milled grooves mean that you do not slip off and the geometry means that the blade gets a good push even though it is light and the lever is short. An equation that otherwise is not always easy to solve. But the blade has, of course, good help from a set of fine ceramic ball bearings.
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| Odium offers both a flipper tab and a blade hole as opening methods |
If you don't like to flip your knives open or just want to roll out the blade calmly and quietly, it also works great thanks to the generous hole in the blade. It is large enough to access and as long as the thumb is placed close to the base, it works great. Not infrequently, one of the opening methods can feel like a post-construction in the case that there are several. This is not the case with Odium, but here you are rather given choices.
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| Like all functions, the lock is completely faultless |
The lock is as nicely designed as the opening mechanism. No surprises await. The safety is handled by a liner lock in steel. Usual Civivi precision ensures that there are no hints of blade play. The Ferrum Forge brothers have also made sure that it is easy to release the lock as the lock bar protrudes ever so slightly, which together with the pattern on it provides a good grip when it is to be moved to the side.
To Carry
In a pocket, Odium is almost as discreet as its label. The knife is small and light, it weighs in at 71 grams. The weight is distributed over a handle length of nine centimeters with a height of just over two centimeters and a thickness of eleven millimeters.
To the modest dimensions, it should be added that the G10 sides are smooth, almost polished, which does not give much friction when the knife is going up or down in a pocket.
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| The black steel clip works well |
The clip on the knife is one of Civivi's standard clips in a smaller version. This means a "loop over" clip that lets the knife sit rather deep in the pocket. However, not so deep that the whole knife is hidden. In this case, the clip's mount is not recessed in the sides but sits on the outside if you can put it that way. However, the screw heads are countersunk, which is an advantage. The clip thus offers a lot of space underneath and in addition, the ramp is quite large. It is therefore possible to get the clip over most pocket edges.
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| The clip itself is not countersunk but the screw heads on the removable clip are |
The material in the clip is steel that has been lightened with a few holes and it is painted black. Pretty nice and low-key. The only downside is that painted clips over time get quite a lot of "patina". Someone might call it wear and tear instead.
To Conclude
Odium is another hit for Civivi. But what can go wrong with a good design from Ferrum Forge combined with the production capacity they possess? It's fun that they from time to time collaborate with designers outside their company even if they are skilled. The only thing I can object to Civivi's catalog is that they have many knives that are quite similar to each other. But even there, Odium stands out by belonging to the smaller ones.
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| Odium, a small knife with a great personality. Like a good espresso! |
Civivi has some peculiarities going on. One is to print the blade steel on the blade in such small letters that it is a bit of a sport to find it on a new knife from them. The information is there but does not dominate the visual. In the same way, they keep their logo to the pivot screw and settle for it. It gives a little extra class to the knives in my opinion.
In addition, there are a number of small details that enhance the impression of Odium. One one is how nice screw heads they use. In addition to the pivot screw, I want you to take an extra look at the recessed and flat screw head that is found in the rear end of the handle. It is not every day that you see such things on knives that do not belong to the more expensive ones.
Then we have several basic steps that are also performed with great manufacturing skills. "Action", as it is often called, to open and close the knife, does not get much better than this. Both systems for opening work well and the lock is exemplary. The functional blade is made of well-treated D2 and the edge is nicely made. Not to be forgotten are the fine ceramic bearings and the elegantly rounded handle sides. All in all, there is a lot to rejoice about when studying this knife a little more closely.
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| Civivi Odium is a very good alternative for those who are looking for a stylish everyday knife that does not break the bank |
Odium is one of those knives that is easy to recommend. It is simply a very well-built small EDC knife with a larger capacity than the format suggests. It fits well in the hand for being so small and the blade is practical. In addition, it is visually appealing. It is especially nice with a wooden handle, but that version did not exist when I got this knife. The G10 may be more practical, but wood always feels more exclusive in some way.
In any case, there is not much to doubt if you are looking for a smaller everyday knife that is both a fidget toy for those who are looking for that feature while at the same time offering appealing aesthetics and not least is practical to use.
If you buy it via Amazon, it costs around $ 52.
Specification:
Length Opened: 157 mm
Length Closed: 90 mm
Weight: 71 g
Blade Length: 67 mm
Blade Thickness: 3 mm
Blade Steel: D2, 59-61 HRC
Handle Material: G10
Lock: Liner lock
Produced by: Civivi, made in China
/ J
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