Review - SOG Aegis AT

- a folding knife intended for outdoor life

The last two folding knives I presented from SOG or Studies and Observation Group as they are called are actually quite atypical of them. There have been two extreme lightweights intended for the EDC segment. Certainly, SOG is no stranger to that category either, but they mainly made a name for themselves once upon a time by making solid and reliable knives for military and outdoor life. This also applied to their folding knives with classic models such as Sidewinder and Tomcat. Therefore, models such as Ultra XR and Terminus XR LTE may not be fully representative. In any case, not for the brand as a whole.

To balance the impressions, today's review object is a more sturdy knife that is clearly focused on outdoor activities of all kinds. The knife has been named Aegis AT.

SOG Aegis AT

To emphasize that this is not a "tactical" knife aimed at the police and military, this model is equipped with rather cheerful color combinations. They are called things like "indigo & acid", "rescue red" or in this case "tan & blaze". A color combination that otherwise usually can not be bought in Europe but is intended for the North American market. I have no idea why they chose to do it that way. Otherwise, Aegis AT is available in at least eight versions at this time, some of which are equipped with Tanto blades for those who prefer it. There is also an entry-level model called Aegis FLK. 

Aegis in the colors "tan & blaze" including a blackened blade

Twitter version: SOG Aegis AT, a very good folding knife for outdoor use that could have been even better.

Blade

The blade feels quite hefty. Not that it is excessively thick, the stock thickness is a modest 3 mm. The blade isn't very long either as the length is just under eight centimeters. However, it is quite high with its three centimeters. This is what makes it feel sturdy.

The shape is a quintessential drop point. One of the best options for this type of knife and here in a design that is excellent in terms of proportions. 

Some people say that SOG writes too much on their blades. Personally, I think it depends more on how you do it than what is printed there. In this case quite a lot of information, but in return, it's only found on one side and in a not too conspicuous format. The other is completely sterile. On the presentation side, the entire abbreviation can be read besides the model name and steel type. There you will also find out how the steel is hardened.

An ingeniously simple drop point blade

This means that it is "cryo" -treated. In all simplicity, a procedure that involves cooling the blade to low temperatures during hardening. If it is preferable to all other methods, I can not comment on it, but there are a number of manufacturers who successfully use that method.

The steel that has received that treatment is D2 in some form. I say so because D2 is the term for a group of tool steels that are not completely in unison with each other, even though of course they have a similar composition. In general, they provide good properties for knives to be used outdoors. It takes a good edge and holds it well while it is tough.

One drawback with D2 steel is its corrosion resistance. Or rather the lack thereof. Put simply, it tends to rust. Here, SOG went for a solid coating of titanium nitride to avoid it. The black coating has proven more durable than the gold-toned variant found on Terminus LTE. It got stains almost immediately and that does not apply in this case. In addition, it fulfills its function. Despite the humid autumn, the blade has not shown any discoloration or rust.

Stålet är D2 med beläggning för att skydda mot korrosion

The blade bites as well. Everyday materials such as cardboard and plastic are handled with ease. A flat-ground blade with a good edge is the reason why. The factory edge was well made, both symmetrical, even in height, and sharp. Then SOG obviously knows how to make a proper "sharpening choil". This is how you do it! Look at the picture above and you will see what I mean. No problem sharpening this blade in the future.

The tip is also quite capable and puncturing packaging such as shrink plastic and the like does not pose any problems. It is also easy to "find". By that, I mean that it feels like a natural part of the hand when you have to poke something. The tip is thin but can withstand some lateral abuse. It has been tested by jamming the knife in my throwing targets and then prying the knife loose again.

But above all, the knife actually works well in the forest. There, Aegis has been tested on wood of various kinds, both dry wood and fresh branches and also nylon and hemp rope. After cutting some of the latter, it can be said that the edge holds well but that it is not super steel. But in return, it responds well to a few strokes on a leather strop. Then this knife has the positive property that it is easy to position your hand forward on the handle and thus get close to what you are cutting. More power when you carve in other words. For that, the edge angle is also decent. Without being a mora knife, you still get good control when cutting. But you do not get the same solid chips as with a scandi-grind blade. After all, this is a folding knife. However, a good one with a very good blade.

Handle

Aegis AT belongs to those knives with a strange imbalance between the blade and handle. As I said, the blade measures in at just under eight centimeters, while the handle is a full 12.7 cm long. There is a noticeable gap there. However, there are advantages to this way of doing things. Firstly, there is room for large hands and secondly, you can work with gloves on if needed. The handle is also thick, measuring 1.5 cm across. It fills the hand well, especially for those who have large paws.

But designing a knife in this way is not entirely problem-free, especially if you build it on a steel frame. With such a long handle, the knife becomes quite handle-heavy, even though the backspacer is made of plastic. The balance point is located just behind the locking bolt on the Aegis. It's more than two centimeters further back in relation to where I'd wanted to see it.

The handle is large and spacious made by GRN

The material on the sides is "GRN" which is one of many fiber-reinforced nylon materials available on the market under various names. In this case, it is fiberglass that is involved. It provides a strong and durable handle that handles cold, heat, and abrasion relatively well. However, it cannot be compared with, for example, the G10 when it comes to the latter. 

The handle sides have two different patterns. One to mark the beveled parts at the index finger groove and one for the rest of the handle. It gives a little texture but not as much as I wanted to see on this type of knife. There are some grooves on the top of the handle that extend a bit out on the blade for a slightly better grip. But I'm glad that they did not provide the knife with more of that kind. I sometimes want some grip, but from the shape of the handle, not due to artificial additions. I do not like knives that feel like gripping a sea urchin no matter how well they sit in your hand.

Aegis is partially open in the back but there is both a small backspacer and an extra lock

The base of the handle consists of a steel frame. It is not very weight relieved, there are two holes, one per side but no more. The sides are then screwed on the outside of the frame with three screws through the small but colorful backspacer. They are the ones who together with the pivot screw hold the knife together. The size of the screws is consistent which is good. Less good is that they chose to keep the size of all to minimal T6 heads. It feels strange on an otherwise very sturdy knife.

The backspacer extends beyond the handle and includes a lanyard hole. This solution makes it easy to access but is, among other things, a tributing factor to the disproportionately long handle. 

In the hand, the Aegis is very good and the handle is long enough so that the protruding backspacer does not cause hotspots

In hand, Aegis is a pleasant acquaintance and so is working with it. The knife is thus ergonomically sound. The width gives more contact surface against the hand and the length makes it easy to adjust the grip. The groove available for the index finger does not lock the hand but makes the grip more secure.

The fairly simple shape makes it easy to change grips when needed. Particularly sympathetic is the knife in a hammer grip and reverse grip. Excellent when you cut wood and need some power. The only downside is that the extra lock is of course felt against the hand if you hold the handle tightly. I do not know why so many manufacturers assume that you should always work with a thumb on the back of the handle or blade? It is good for lighter chores but does not work otherwise. Apparently, you do not cut wood in the USA. But it is not unique to SOG.

Opening and Lock

One thing that surprised me when I first got this knife in my hand and that is how it opens. The thumb studs are hard to miss as they, together with the backspacer and lock functions, have been given an accent color. So the surprise was not really how but more the feel. The knife offers a strong feather kick when the blade is partially open. Aegis AT is thus assisted. Slightly unclear why but that is the case.

The brightly colored thumb studs on this specimen are hard to miss. They also work well

In addition, it is a fairly strong spring. The function itself is good. The classically shaped thumb studs are placed correctly and are easy to access, but due to the resistance, you have to use some force before anything happens. Then the blade really flies out. The reason why you must use more strength than usual is due to the spring also acting as a "detent". It ensures that the blade is kept in place in the retracted position.

The combination of the spring and the type of lock means that this knife must in principle be closed with two hands. Alternatively, you must be acrobatic and pull the lock bar backward while pulling the knife towards the leg or other surface. Elaborate and impractical but doable.

There are plenty of locks on this knife. One on the back of the handle that ensures that the knife can not be opened accidentally and SOG's excellent XR lock which is one of the better cross-bolt locks on the market

The lock is SOG's own version of a cross-bolt construction called "XR Lock". Here they added the suffix "AT". I do not know what it stands for. Maybe it has to do with the extra lock. The one I never use as it is completely meaningless. In this case, it is not like many other solutions to reinforce the existing lock and prevent it from disengaging. That's good before it's surely not needed. The XR lock is more than secure, it holds the blade rock hard. SOG claims that the lock can hold 1500 pounds. It's more than I've tried but I've never noticed any tendency for it to fail which is good enough. The blade does not suffer from any play either, so I am very happy with the function.

The extra lock is for preventing the knife from being unintentionally opened. Something that is hardly possible with the strong spring resistance. To use the function, you must also open the knife with two movements instead of one because the actuation button is located on the spine of the handle. First, you have to push it forward, preferably with your thumb to release the lock, and then angle the knife on the side to reach the thumb studs to be able to let the blade fly.

Att bära

I can put it like this, Aegis is a tangible knife. It is not a disaster to carry but the things I listed when I wrote about the handle are also relevant under this heading. It can be summed up as being a voluminous handle. It is both long and thick. However, the knife is actually not excessively high so the profile is not too bad.

SOG offers a good clip, not as fully advertising-heavy as they can be but why the huge screw heads?

Nor is the weight extreme with its 127 grams. It is, after all, a sturdy knife we are talking about. In the same way, the smooth material in the handle helps in an excellent way when it comes to pulling the knife in or out of a pocket. The thumb studs do not protrude so far that they get stuck in anything and the sides are fairly slick. It is especially nice that they are not abrasive where the clip comes into contact with the handle.

The clip could be of the deep ride type if it were not for the screws. 

The clip is both good and bad. The shape is excellent with just the right height to hold fabric, a good ramp for getting over fabric edges while not pointing outwards, which has a positive effect on ergonomics. The rear edge does not cause problems either, as the handle is so long that this possible source of discomfort can be ruled out. The clip is also removable, which of course is a plus, at least for left-handers.

But then there were the screws. What are they doing there? The clip is not recessed on the handle side and neither are the screw heads. They are also round and tall. They are thus stealing half of the space I just praised above. So what's the point of a good design to begin with? This clip is thus clumsy to use together with pants and jackets where the edges of the fabric are a little sturdier. Something that is typical of just clothing items aimed at outdoor life. The area for which this knife is also intended.

To Conclude

Aegis AT is a knife that I generally like but which could have been significantly better in some respects. The blade is excellent and the handle comfortable. Two of the most important properties ticked off the list of desirable properties for a folding knife intended for outdoor life.

SOG calls this knife the "perfect companion for outdoor use". They mention activities such as hiking, camping, and hunting in their promotion text. However, I would not do the latter with this kind of knife. I have no problem seeing that the blade would be excellent for such tasks. But a knife with a handle full of small nooks and crannies caused by details such as a lock with associated small springs, an extra safety feature on the back and not to forget another spring to accelerate the blade. That is not a handle I would like blood, hair, and remnants of intestines in. For the same reason, the knife is unusually difficult to clean by disassembly for those who are interested in such. SOGs seem to be aware of this since they have provided the knife with very small screw heads which in the long run will not withstand that treatment in any case.

For those reasons, Aegis AT is in my eyes, not a suitable hunting or fishing knife. Of course, you can use it for that, it is a competent tool if it is the only one available but there are much more appropriate knives. On the other hand, it is a good knife for outdoor life, whether you move by canoe, bicycle or on foot and spend time camping, car-camping or traveling by boat. It is solid and reliable.

Aegis is a really nice knife that would have looked even better if it had been better balanced

Then it can be discussed whether the materials correspond to the price tag. GRN or fiberglass-reinforced nylon is really not a bad material, that's not what I mean, but it's certainly not exclusive either. The same applies to the choice of steel. D2 is something that is available on low-budget knives and Aegis does not belong in that category. 

But a knife is more than the sum of the constituent materials. A proverb that may not exist but should exist. Because in this case, the D2 steel is well treated what it seems. It maintains sharpness well while being easy to hone and sharpen. Part of the explanation may be found in the "cryo" treatment. The steel has also been given a good and durable coating to better protect against corrosion. This means that you have stretched about as far as you can with that material.

The choice of a nylon handle can be discussed a bit more. I would have liked to have seen the knife in, for example, Micarta or at least the G10 for that price. Not because it makes an extremely big difference in performance. But Micarta is just as durable and superior in appearance. G10 is stronger than both of them and provides a better grip than the GRN does. Especially in this embodiment.

Personally, I also think that a few changes in the design and construction itself would have made the knife better. In addition to another material in the sides, I had shortened the handle by changing the design of the lanyard hole. By the way, such a large folding knife does not need any. What is it used for? It seems to be there because some individuals on the internet require one. Such a large knife should not be fished out of a pocket, the handle certainly does not need to be extended and you do not chop wood with a folder so the knife risks flying out of your hand. This only leaves if you were to use the knife close to the water and don't want to drop it to justify the existence of a lanyard hole.

But more importantly, I had skipped the extra lock and above all the spring assistance that is the origin of it. Those functions only complicate the knife and make production more expensive and make cleaning more complicated. Instead, putting the money on materials is my suggestion and two of the problems will be solved in one go.

Then I do not understand why you make an otherwise good clip but forget the screws? They steal half of the available space under the clip and make it less compatible with thicker fabrics in, for example, winter clothes. The reason for the larger handle was, among other things, the use of gloves, so here I would have liked more consistency in thinking.

SOG Aegis AT is a solid and reliable folding knife well suited for outdoor life

All in all, I would therefore like to say that SOG Aegis is certainly a good folding knife for outdoor use, but not quite as all-round as the manufacturer wants to claim. 

However, it could be. As it is now, however, I can still recommend it. The solid construction including a strong lock together with the sturdy handle and a good blade gives plenty of power to put behind the cuts. This makes Aegis a folding knife that is unusually good to tackle, for example, wood and thick rope. Typical materials to handle when out in the woods. Due to the blade geometry, Aegis is quite suitable for outdoor cooking as long as you keep the ingredients away from the handle. So the knife has its merits and apart from a lack of balance, it does not look so tedious either.

Specification:

Length Overall: 207 mm

Length Folded: 12,7 mm

Weight: 127 g (weighed by me)

Blade Length: 79,5 mm

Blade Thickness: 3 mm

Blade Steel: D2 

Hande: GRN

Lock: AT-XR

Produced by: SOG, made in Taiwan

/ J 

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

Ny(a) kniv(ar) - Biting Metal Bug Osetr TZ

Låt mig presentera en uppsättning kastknivar från Biting Metal! Sällan har knivar varit så efterlängtade kan konstateras. För tillfället tycker jag nämligen att det oerhört roligt att kasta kniv. Då är nya knivar förstås något som är efterfrågat. Utöver väntetiden blir det lite extra frustrerande när jag faktiskt haft de här knivarna i några dagar utan att kunna testa dem. Det har nämligen ösregnat i de här trakterna. Och när det inte regnar är det kolsvart ute. Men igår och idag fick jag chansen. Första känslan är att de är helt perfekta för mig. De känns helt naturliga för framförallt No spin-tekniker men även för rotationskastning från tre och fyra meter. Mer än så har jag inte kunnat prova men vilken mersmak de ger!

De här franska knivarna är tolkningar av en "Osetr"-kniv. Ett ord som för övrigt betyder stör på ryska.  

Biting Metal Bug Osetr TZ

Biting Metal är Throwing Zones egen husmärke

Den här modellen är extra intressant då den är formgiven av en herre vid namn Guillame Henry. Han är även känd som "Abeille Mètallique" eller metallbiet på Youtube. Där hade han en av de första franska kanalerna inriktad mot instinktiv knivkastning. Den har han inte mycket tid med nuförtiden misstänker jag då han bland annat driver nätaffären Throwing Zone. Förutom att de säljer knivar från kända märken som Cold Steel, Pierre Cazoulat, AceJet och Opus Knives med flera så har de i dagarna även lanserat ett utökat samarbete med ett par av världens bästa knivkastare, tyskarna Werner Lengmüller och Thomas "Tom Tom" Hampich. Därtill tillverkar Throwing Zone yxor och knivar under helt eget märke. Bland andra den här modellen. För att vara mer exakt så är de här knivarna från Biting Metal vilket är deras eget husmärke. 

Ursprunglingen var det här en ren customkniv som faktiskt handsmiddes. Men varefter efterfrågan ökade så var man tvungen att ändra produktionstekniken. Nu skärs knivarna till och slipas fram men det är fortfarande människohänder som står för arbetet. I fällknivsvärlden hade väl knivarna kallats "mid-tech" med modern terminologi. Enkelt uttryckt görs de i små serier till största delen för hand. Det resulterar i enastående kvalitet. 

Namnet Bug Osetr TZ speglar den dubbla bakgrunden med fransk design utifrån rysk inspiration. Typiskt för just den här varianten är det mjukt svängda handtaget. Såväl under som översida har noggrant uträknad kurvatur för att ge bästa kastegenskaper vid no-spin- kastning. Det är främst det knivarna är inriktade mot men de fungerar även utmärkt till de flesta andra tekniker också. Själva grundtypen är mycket flexibel därvidlag. Detsamma gäller den här kniven. 

Som sagt, bara strålande första intryck. Jag återkommer med en recension när knivarna har använts ordentligt!

/ J - hivar knivar

#knivesandbikes #knivigtvarre

Nä, nu kastar jag mina knivar!

Sorry, jag kunde inte låta bli den fåniga titeln. Men det ligger viss sanning i den. Jag kastar förvisso mina knivar, fast det är förstås kastknivar som avses Jag ämnar inte dumpa knivsamlingen i ett dike eller så. 

Fast för ögonblicket är jag en smula frustrerad vilket skulle kunna leda till någon form av extrem åtgärd åt det hållet. Jag gör nämligen framsteg i princip för varje träningspass jag genomför. Så motivationen är hög. Men tyvärr vill inte omgivningen vara med och bidra. Vädret är en faktor som inte direkt samarbetar. Det regnar tämligen frekvent och mycket i de delar av världen där jag bor vilket ställer till det. Fast det som komplicerar knivkastartillvaron mest för stunden är ändå mörkret. Eftersom det nu är i princip kolsvart vid 16.30 så finns inte så mycket tid mellan skurarna och skymningen att ta tillvara på. 

Men jag försöker så gott det går, genom att faktiskt kasta en del i mörker också. Halv fem en novembereftermiddag

Nu har jag försökt kringgå en del av det genom att helt sonika kasta i mörker också. Det visade sig vara ett intressant tema. Men så länge det kastas på fasta distanser som tre och fyra meter är det inga problem. Man får gå övervägande på känsla istället för syn. Men det begränsar vad som kan tränas. Men det ger en ny innebörd till begreppet "instinktiv kastning". 

Ännu mer begränsade för stunden är tillståndet hos mina måltavlor. Den bärbara tavla jag har med mig i skogen har spruckit på mitten. Förvisso gör det nya formatet att man  måste sikta bättre men det är inte så bra när nya tekniker eller distanser skall tränas.

Mina Woodpecker från Pierre Cazoulat förseglade ödet för den bärbara måltavlan

Min "huvudtavla" har det också snabbt gått utför med. Från att ha varit en rejäl bit tall med både omfång och volym är den nu ett såll. Först var det bara en grop. En grop som snabbt växte till att bli så djup att det började påverka hur jag kastade rotationskastning. Ett par decimeter gör trots allt skillnad. Det gick att placera en kaffekopp i hålet till slut. 

För många träffar tar sin tribut, till slut

Den här tavlan är inte vad den var. Man vet att slutet är nära när man kan ställa en kaffekopp inte framför utan inuti tavlan!

Den har numera ett snyggt instansat hål där Bullseye en gång befann sig. Så jag vet vart jag träffar mest i alla fall. Trots idoga försök att på olika sätt sprida träffbilden är tavlan nu en saga all. Tyvärr gäller det min planktavla också. Trots att den bestod av två rejäla brädor. Mer än åttio år gamla och över fem centimeter tjocka! Nu ser de ut som på bilden nedan!

Nej, plankorna är inte tunna, de är fem centimeter tjocka och nej, inte heller är knivarna små. De är 35cm långa!

Det gör att jag knappt vågar inviga mina nya Bug Osetr TZ-knivar. En rejäl träff medför nämligen att knivarna går igenom tavlorna! Det är vare sig bra för mitt trädgårdsplank bakom dem eller knivarna då de skramlar ned på stenläggning under. Även om jag har en matta där så har spetsarna en tendens till att ryka. 

På grund av omständigheterna jag nämnt ovan är jag nu under november inte i närheten av de volymer jag kom upp i för en tid sedan. Under rekordmånaden september tillbringade jag mer än 69 timmar kastandes kniv. Under den tiden fick jag iväg något över 28 000 kast. I oktober blev det något mindre men fortfarande över 60 timmar och kring 26 000 kast. Hittills den här månaden har det blivit runt 25 timmar eller så. 

Jag började föra bok när jag startade träningen. Enligt den träningsdagboken har jag nu genomfört 165 träningspass av mer eller mindre kvalificerad och planerad art. Jag talar om det bara för att jäklas. Jag har nämligen upptäckt att det inom knivkastarvärlden står till på samma sätt som inom cyklingen. En värld som jag är mer bekant med. 

Det är närmast tabu att tala om att man tränar. Istället skall man låtsas om att man är någon form av naturbegåvning som bara tar upp, knivarna i det här fallet och kastar som man aldrig gjort annat. Jo, jag har kastat knivar till och från en stor del av livet, särskilt i tonåren. Men det är först sen i våras jag försökt att medvetet bli bättre på det. Även känt som att träna. Så det gör jag. Tränar alltså. 

Nu ämnar jag försöka gå ut och göra just det. Trots att temperaturen svävar kring nollan och underkylt regn hänger i luften. 

Glad fredag på er go' vänner!

/ J - kastmaskinen

Review - Civivi Mini Elementum

- small knife with an exclusive feeling

The other day I reviewed a knife belonging to the smaller category. But that knife was of a different kind, a "modern traditional", a slip joint fixed with modern materials. The knife presented in this review belongs to a completely different category, a shrunken version of a larger knife. It is now a very common procedure among knife manufacturers. Sometimes they even go so far as to release a larger version of an existing model. This is what Civivi actually did in this case when they first released Elementum. It then came in several versions and after a while in an edition with a different type of lock, a "button lock". That knife was also larger than the original. They thus reversed the order.

But then it was time for a Mini Elementum to see the light of day. This is the knife I intend to present here.

Civivi C18062Q-1 Mini Elementum

Another discussion is what is meant by terms such as "mini" and "micro" respectively. The language use or rather the practice differs between different manufacturers. There is a difference between what Medford and Cold Steel mean when they talk about "mini" and when others do it to exemplify. But then you can also drop knives under the epithet "micro". Cold Steel, for example, has done this in a couple of cases, and then the designation was applicable.*

The reason why I mention that example is that I have seen a number of reactions, including on Instagram where it is pointed out that this knife, Mini Elementum, is significantly smaller than they first thought.

A small but very stylish knife from Civivi

Twitter version: Civivi Mini Elementum, a well-built and stylish knife where the "mini" part should be emphasized with all that entails!

Blade

The blade shape is of course recognizable from the original. However, the format has shrunk. In concrete terms, this means a blade length of 4.6 cm. The height of the blade is 1.4 cm and the thickness is a modest 2.2 mm. The proportions are thus left and it gives a very elegant and harmonious blade.

Stylistic it's a drop point that pulls in the spear point direction with its almost symmetrical shape. As usual, the Civivi is extremely sparse with text and logos. If you have very good eyesight, you can find the blade steel written on the ricasso, near the handle on the locking side. That's the only marking.

The blade finish must be emphasized as it is part of the whole knife's theme and is one of the reasons why the price is not the lowest. In this case, Civivi has chosen to have a fairly coarse longitudinal satin that is done by hand! It is not common for knives outside the custom scene, although quite a number of knife manufacturers still have people involved in, for example, grinding.

The gray knife blade has a hand-sharpened, rather rough finish, which harmonizes well with the rest of the knife

In addition to the look, it is precisely the sharpening that is really good with this blade. It cuts really well, surprisingly well even. There are several reasons. To begin with, the edge is really good and sharp. And besides proper craftmanship, this is due to a nice hollow grind. This means that the blade is thin behind the edge. In addition, the stock thickness is only just over two millimeters, to begin with. 

The steel found in the blade is Swedish, 14C28N from Sandvik

Then the steel should not be forgotten. Despite the diminutive format, they have chosen to go for Sandvik's 14C28N, which is in my opinion very good steel in the middle class. It keeps the sharpness well, but above all, it is easy to sharpen and takes an edge quickly. In addition, it is quite stainless. 

Batoning may not be Mini Elementum's forte, but for small tasks it is good

For wood splitting, this knife may not be the ultimate. But for all the small tasks of everyday life, it is very good. Then I can think that it, like most knives in this class, is a little too small in that they almost require you to carry more than one knife to cover all needs. As a staunch knife nerd, I have nothing to object to that particular bit, but for others, it can be a bit impractical. The blade length but also the handle size still sets certain limits for what is practical.

But within that context, this knife is excellent. Solid construction, good steel, and even better geometry mean that this small blade cuts excellently. Strings, thin ropes, tape, cardboard, package opening, and other material are no problem. 

 

Handle

The handle and the whole knife feel surprisingly solid and give an impression of weight. This is perhaps not so strange as the knife is actually quite heavy in relative terms. In actual numbers, of course, it is not. It weighs just over 40 grams. The weight stems from the fact that this is an all-metal knife. The lockside is made of steel and the presentation side is in this case made of brass.

The presentation side is made of brass   

The construction, like the other design language, is very frugal. The two sides are held together by the adjustable pivot screw and a screw in the rear end of the handle which is pulled from the lock side straight into the presentation side. A procedure that works when the material is not soft titanium. The screw sizes are T8 and T6, respectively. 

The screws are as usual on Civivi knives very nice. The smaller one has a flat head hidden in the side of the knife. The pivot screw has the usual C-logo and is D-shaped, which makes it easy to adjust or disassemble.

The construction is like many frame locks open in the back

Mini Elementum is open in the back and there is a nicely shaped hourglass-shaped spacer. A lanyard hole has also been created at the rear end. It's almost a must in this case. Partly because the knife is small and needs to be fished out of the depths of pockets, but also because the knife is also intended as a keychain knife. It even comes with one in the box! A nice detail that has been made to make it work better is that the handle is thinner at the lanyard hole so that a lanyard or ring does not protrude unnecessarily.

As the flipper tab, which also acts as a finger guard, steals some space, there is room for two fingers

Well, what to say about how the knife is experienced in the hand? That it is small is probably the first impression. This is a two-finger knife for me, no more. The size could have accommodated three fingers but a flipper tab steals some of that space and what is left is about five centimeters.

It also means that the knife can not be held in more grip than with the thumb on the blade back if you want to try to apply some force. In addition, you can also place an index finger on the blade or use a pinch grip and cut sideways. 

Opening and Lock

Mini Elementum is a small knife and it is equipped with a flipper tab. I have come across knives before that have tried that combination with less successful results. Here, however, it works excellently. Much due to the fact that Civivi is known for having impeccable precision in manufacturing. This also applies to this knife. It entails a flipper that is well balanced in size and placement. It also has a pair of much-needed grooves for better grip for the index finger.

Mini Elementum is a lesson in how to make an extremely small flipper tab that is still effective

In addition, the Civivis has tuned the resistance of the detent ball to perfection. It gives a very fast blade when activating the flipper tab. Incidentally, this can be done both by pulling the finger backward or pressing downwards, which feels most comfortable for the user. The blade can even be opened with some pressure on the lock bar. Something that is sometimes inevitable on small knives as there is not much to grip around. However, it is better if you remember not to rest on the lock bar when the knife is to be opened.

Another contributing factor besides geometry and resistance is the ball bearings this knife has been fitted with. Yes, actually. Very small ball bearings can be added.

A steel frame lock for safety

The lock is a steel frame lock. On this knife, it is very well done. It locks securely, as in every time the knife is opened as well as solid. That is, the blade has no appreciable lateral play or moves in height when it is open. The locking arm also does not slide if you press on the back of the blade. On my copy, about sixty percent of the lock bar rests against the blade. But given the nature of the tasks, this knife will face, I have no worries that the lock will not last the life of the knife. 

To Carry

Apparently, Mini Elementum has no clip. It simply could not fit. It is not possible to make one in this size and still get it functional. The advantage of not having a clip is that it allows for a more symmetrical look. In normal cases, it also usually gives better ergonomics, but in the case of such small knives, it is almost the opposite. They can help fill out the hand.

In this case, you have to content yourself with putting the knife deep in a pocket or attaching it to a bunch of keys. The latter is not for me as I do not want a whole lump stuck to my knife when it is to be used or forced to take it off when it is relevant. Both effectively counteract the idea of having a one-handed knife by the way.

Here is the reason why the knife is so easy to carry. It should be noted that the original Elementum is not a big knife either

As I said, the weight is 40 g. Nothing that feels in a pocket and especially not when it is distributed on just under six and a half centimeters. Rather, it has a tendency to disappear. For example, I have dropped it both in the infinite depths of a sofa and in the car when I sat down and had trousers with slightly shallower pockets. Something to think about.

A lanyard hole may be needed. It is nicely done with edges that are thinner at the back

Therefore, this is probably one of the few knives I am considering putting a lanyard on. Mostly to prevent it from being dropped. Then it may be needed to find it faster when it is to be used.

To Conclude

Initially, I mentioned the term "mini" versus "micro" and this is where I end up in my final review of the Civivi  Mini Elementum. Perhaps "micro" would have been a more appropriate epithet. Especially as the original Elementum is not a big knife at all. In fact, I read a couple of stories via Instagram about people who expressed a disappointment so great that they returned the knife. This is based on the fact that they felt cheated by pictures compared to how the knife looked in reality.

You may want to consider reading the description again before pressing the buy button. But it is a general problem with internet shopping, that you lack the opportunity to see and touch the products. Therefore, it feels like I have a certain responsibility in that regard. To convey impressions so that other buyers possibly get a bit more solid foundation to stand on.

Mini Elementum is a good EDC knife as it hardly attracts any attention even in a lunchroom

The fact that Civivi has invested in the small blade means that, despite the discreet format, it still cuts well. As good as a blade of this size can do, I would probably say. Good steel has been given an efficient hollow grind and the entire length of the blade has been used to achieve as long an edge as possible. They have also used good steel that has been treated well in everything from hardening to sharpening.

Brass is a material I used to avoid like nothing else. Not because it's not pretty, because it is! But because it's heavy it's not an element I want to add to a pocket knife. In such a small knife, however, it mostly gives a feeling of being sturdy and it of course gives a certain look. Especially when it got a hand-sanded finish as in this case. One thing can not be ignored, Civivi Mini Elementum is a really good-looking knife! If you do not think so, you will probably have to see an optician as soon as possible. The lines are harmonious and this is enhanced by how the finish on both the handle and the blade is done. A really successful combination.

Civivi Mini Elementum is an extremely attractive little thing

However, the question is whether it is enough? A knife with a striking appearance, in fine materials and which maintains a very high manufacturing standard should be enough to render top marks. But then there is the question of format and what impact it has on performance.

I think that is where the crux is. Mini Elementum plays with your mind a little. Because it is so similar to the original, it gives the impression of being even more capable than it is. The same is true when you hold it. It actually cuts well and feels very solid. But only in relation to the fact that it is a "two-finger knife". This, of course, limits the tasks that the knife can be used for.

So the question that remains is whether this is a gimmick or a serious knife? Actually, I think that question could have been avoided if it had instead been named "Micro Elementum" and thus perhaps toned down expectations a bit. Some presentations I've seen online lean towards that direction. They call it "keychain knife"**. A smart addition to the advertising.

But the price remains even in that case and the MSRP from Civivi's is $50, which in Europe will be about 50€ in retail price. Therefore, I see this knife partly as a must for those who collect Civivis but perhaps more importantly, as an excellent gift! It is both stylish, luxurious, and small enough not to scare a non-knife fan. That makes it a great gift in my eyes.

Civivi on Amazon 

Specification:

Length Open: 110 mm

Length Folded: 63,5 mm

Weight: 40 g

Blade Length: 46,5 mm

Blade Thickness: 2,2 mm

Blade Steel: Sandvik 14C28N, 58-60 HRC

Handle: Brass

Lock: Frame lock

Produced by: Civivi, made in China

/ J 

* One knife I immediately think of is Cold Steel Micro Recon. With a blade of five centimeters, it is in the same size class as the Civivi Mini Elementum.

** For example, Dutch Knivesandtools.com does so.

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

A few words about ergonomics

Ergonomics (from the Greek ergo, work and nomo, law) is actually the study of how the work environment and work tools affect people.

I have noticed that there is some confusion regarding what good ergonomics, especially when talking about folding knives, are*. This confusion is mainly fueled by a number of big YouTube channels that are literally flooding with knife presentations at a never-ending pace. Sometimes they seem to make one a day what it seems. When do they have time to carry and use the knives they are talking about?

But there is a problem hiding in that production pace. There is no chance in hell to talk about how "ergonomic" a knife is if you don't use it! It lays in the nature of things. To grip the knife in the hand, usually in "saber grip" with a thumb on the intended "jimping" and state "this feels good" is not to examine the ergonomics of a knife but something else. ALL knives feel good in such a "test".

This one feels perfect! Brilliant ergonomics or ...

A shining example of this is how Paramilitary 2 from Spyderco has gained a reputation for being extremely comfortable in the hand and ergonomic. Then it may come as a surprise when I claim that

IT'S NOT ERGONOMIC AT ALL!

Or rather, it is comfortable in the hand and that even after I cut a piece of paper. But no matter how much I like Spyderco as a brand and that model, even if it is not my favorite, it is definitely not ergonomic! However, it has many other good features.

The human hand is extremely adaptable.

In fact, this piece of wood feels comfortable when I just hold it

There is an easy way to test the real ergonomics of a knife even without working with it for several hours **.

• Take a piece of wood of any kind. Then grab your favorite knife and press the edge into the wood with full force a few times or cut a couple of solid chunks from the piece of wood.

• Feel how your hand has been affected.

• Then look at your hand to see what it looks like. Are there red lines or dots?

If you are now a big fan of the mentioned PM2 and claim that it is exemplary in this area, then you perform this test. The result speaks for itself. There is nothing I like to do again, I can tell you. It is not far from drawing blood and then we are not talking about the edge.

My poor thumb fold. After a few minutes, it hurts!

The same goes for the little finger that gets to take the rest of

the force when the knife pivots in the hand

In defense of this knife, it must be said that it goes for many many folding knives. This one just happens to be very famous.

What is most often tested in this context is how knives feel at very light cuts, preferably in paper and cardboard because it is something that is easily accessible to most people. Especially those who live in cities. This is also what makes people insist on holding knives with their thumbs on the blade. Try to do that and put some weight behind the cut! The lever becomes too large and the wrist bends upwards if you are not extremely strong. The same goes for all the damn "choils" that move the edge further away from the hand where the power is. If they are used, the grip is usually even less ergonomic because you get the blade spine pushed into the thumb web.

There is no right or wrong in the context or perhaps there are, insofar as one should call things by their proper names.

I do NOT claim that all knives need to be made to for heavy duties or to cut in hard materials such as rubber and wood etc. Rather the opposite as very many tasks need a sharp edge or delicate tip rather than brute force.

But please stop claim that a knife is suitable for heavier tasks or is ergonomic when it is not.

/ J - puts his hand in the hive


* It is almost as misused as claiming that various folding knives are "good in the kitchen". That statement only proves that those who say it don't know a thing about cooking either as home cooks or chefs.

** yes, I have worked as a butcher in my younger years so I have that kind of experience.