- almost Scandinavian simplicity
Designer and knifemaker Justin Lundquist is known through a number of collaborations with well-known knife brands such as Kizer, Kansept, and not least WE-Knives. WE have recently released a number of smaller knives signed him such as Angst, Black Void, and Eidolon.
But it can not be ignored that WE-Knives are not among the cheapest of brands. It has therefore been a while before any of his designs were more accessible to those with not quite as spacious wallets. This is where WE's sister brand Civivi comes into the picture. This is the first model released by Lundquist under their direction. The knife has been named Lumi and it is the one I will present here.
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| Civivi C20024-3 Lumi |
There is no doubt about who designed this knife for those who are familiar with his design language. A knife that it directly reminds me of is, for example, an older collaboration between Lundquist and Kizer that resulted in a knife called Feist.
His style fits very well with the smaller type of pocket knives that Civivi often makes. One thing that characterizes Lumi is that it is straightforward. By that, I mean that it is not a knife that can handle "everything". Something that can be nice as a change at a time when marketing departments sometimes go a little too far when it comes to how to formulate sales texts regarding folding knives.
This is a dedicated EDC knife that can also be seen as a "gentlemen's knife", whatever that is. But a knife clearly leaning more towards the package opening side of the spectra than the bushcrafting side, so to speak.
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| Sharp and pointed is how this blade can best be described |
Twitter version: Civivi Lumi, a real pocket scalpel. Razor-sharp edge and needle tip for the smaller chores in everyday life that need a knife.
Blade
The blade on Lumi is a drop point but a very pointed one. A fact that is hard to miss. The length is 65 mm and the height is a modest 17 mm at most. The thickness matches the otherwise modest dimensions with its 2 mm. A small and slender knife blade in other words. In addition, it is equipped with a nice stone-washed finish and is almost as discreetly marked as all knives from Civivi. I wrote "almost" because here, unusually for them, you find a logo, although not Civivis but Lundquist's "J". Which brand it is about can, as usual, be indicated by the stylized c on the head of the pivot screw.
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| Lumi boasts a thin needle-sharp drop point blade |
The steel Civivi has chosen is in my opinion well adapted to the price range and area of use. This is a piece of Swedish Sandvik 14C28N. It is dedicated knife steel that was developed together with Kershaw once upon a time. The features are recognizable from the simpler 12C27 it is based on but are better in all respects. Above all, it can be said to be very stainless at the same time as it takes a good edge and is easy to sharpen.
Speaking of sharpening, the factory edge was as usual with Civivis knives excellent straight out of the box. In this case, the edge is helped by the fact that the blade is very thin from the beginning and that it is nevertheless provided with a hollow grind. A really good choice for this type of knife as it gives a knife that cuts really well. Not in very rough materials, but that's not what this little knife is meant for anyway.
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| On the lock side, you find Justin Lundquist's logo |
Extra competent is of course the tip, which is needle-sharp. However, it is not something you use to pry with. But in return, it is excellent for things that require precision. Not least to remove metal shavings from fingertips and palms.* For the same reason, it is good for all penetration that does not require brute force. Something that is a good property when that tough plastic around cheeses is to be removed, for example. And, yes, that is a very common task in my household.
The small blade also cuts excellently in cardboard, tape, string, and similar things that a knife like this can be used for. The fact that the blade is thin and also hollow grind gives, as I said, good cutting properties. It feels especially when you shred boxes and the like. Theoretically, you could use this as a small peeling knife in the kitchen but it is not something I recommend. Otherwise, the blade is too small for kitchen chores.
Handle
This handle is characterized by Lundquist's deceptively simple design language. The soft lines and the slim shape hide more work than you might first be tempted to believe. This slightly streamlined handle is not flat or straight anywhere. To begin with, both ends are rounded as can be seen. All edges are also beveled or slightly broken.
Then the handle sides themselves curves both longitudinally as well as having a curved cross-section. To further enhance the rounded feel, the frame rises slightly over the sides around the entire handle.
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| A deceptively simple handle that fits well in the hand |
The material used in the sides is G10, which in addition to being well rounded, has a quite smooth finish. Very comfortable to hold but nothing that provides enough grip in a fish factory. The sides have a single depression and this is the groove milled for the clip. It is centered to enhance the visual impression of symmetry. There is also the only screw that holds the knife together in addition to the pivot screw. The screw head is exemplarily countersunk and does not protrude.
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| The knife is open in the back and the steel frame is heavily lightened on the inside |
The screw goes through a nice hourglass-shaped stand-off. The knife is otherwise completely open in the back. The steel frame that makes up the knife body is well machined. All edges have been rounded and sanded exemplary without exception. Civivi does not miss such details. In addition, the frame is really drilled out or perhaps rather milled out for lighter weight. I am grateful for that because the knife nevertheless has the balance shifted towards the handle. Something that in itself does not play such a big role in a small knife.
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| The handle is not large but still holds almost all four fingers thanks to its soft shape |
Lumi has an almost Scandinavian simplicity in the handle shape. Think of a slimmer version of a Mora No 1 and you will understand what I mean. For that reason, there are no limitations at all on how the knife can be held. It's up to the user. The clip could be a problem, causing hot spots, but because the knife is so small, it usually slips away in the hand. On the contrary, the clip almost helps to fill the hand better. The only thing that sets limits on how this handle can be used is the size. With a length of about 8 cm, I can just place all my four fingers there, but then a bit of them protrudes outside the handle. The handle is quite exactly one centimeter thick and 21 mm high. It is rather small in terms of volume in other words.
As mentioned, the actual material in the sides does not help with traction as it is semi-polished. But in return, neither this, finger guards, "jimpings" or anything else is needed for this format. If you want to do penetrating cuts with the tip, you simply place the back end of the handle against the palm of your hand and push.
Opening and Lock
The opening mechanism on this knife is not completely intuitive. Firstly, the placement of the flipper is not the most common and then the size is very modest, even for being a "front flipper". If you look at the knife from the side, the flipper tab is actually difficult to see. It only protrudes one and a half millimeters from the handle and most of it is grooves.
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| Lumi probably offers one of the market's most discreet flipper tabs |
The function is good but it requires certain habituation to be able to be used. To begin with, it's if not impossible so at least very difficult to use with the index finger. Here, instead, it is required that you place the knife on the side and hit the flipper tab with your thumb. A bit like using a lighter. In return, the blade really moves when you do it correctly. Despite the blade's modest weight, it comes out with impressive speed. Some of it is explained by ceramic ball bearings. Something that Civivi often uses. In such a small knife aimed at the EDC segment, I do not mind that finesse. By the way, the well-tuned "detent" ball is in the same material.
A well-made lock but the small line that appears on the lock bar is less fun
A small depression in one of the handle sides reveals some grooves that belong to the lock bar of a liner lock. It's fairly easy to access even if they kept the recess to a minimum so as not to ruin the beautiful lines on the handle. But it is large enough to function as the lock bar is only 1.5 mm thick and thus does not offer much spring tension. However, the function is excellent. The blade feels solid without play in any direction, it can handle a bit of pressure from the wrong direction without the lock bar starting to move and it engages with about thirty percent. In other words, there is room for the lock to wear in without problems.
Then it remains to be seen if this particular specimen can be worn at all because a defect was discovered when I edited the pictures. Namely, it is barely visible to the naked eye, the thin line that has arisen in the lock bar when the detent ball was pressed into place. It appears to have cracked the steel. It is not something that is noticeably so far, but it is also not something you want to see in a lock. It can't be trusted! I intend to contact Civivi in the matter.
To Carry
Civivi Lumi is a knife that is simply perfect to carry. The shape, size, and weight are factors that contribute to it. A length of 9 cm and a weight of 59 grams. Everything in a streamlined cigar-like package is just great in that respect.
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| As usual, the Civivis standard clip is very good in terms of function |
Especially not as the material under the clip does not make the knife catch on the way up or down in a pocket. The sleek format also allows you to remove the clip completely and carry the knife loosely in a pocket. In comparison, it is no bigger than an old Barlow or a small Swiss Army knife.
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| None of the knife itself is visible when in a pocket |
The clip is one of Civivi's standard ones which in this version works well as usual. The only thing that could be improved is the visual impression. A straight milled titanium clip that accommodated the handle would have been nicer. But you will find it on the WE knives instead.
Here you get an excellent feature at a lower price. The ramp is good, the tension well-tuned, the space underneath is adequate, and not least, they used screws with flat heads countersunk in the clip itself. This means that the entire space under the clip can be used. In addition, it is a "deep ride" clip that basically hides the entire knife when carried. The look is well in line with the rest of the knife's appearance as well.
To Conclude
Civivi Lumi is an honest knife. By that, I mean that it does not pretend to be something it is not. This is a small knife intended for the small tasks of everyday life. Someone claimed on Youtube that the tip is too delicate for them to dare to use it for anything. There is something in the criticism but I do not completely agree. Rather, some caution is enough. Don't use it as a pry bar or twist the blade when cutting into stuff. With that, I want to relate to what I said initially. This is not a knife for all chores.
Instead, it is a small slicing machine made of proper materials and with the usual Civivi precision. Also in Lundquist's typical stripped-down style.
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| Lumi is a good EDC knife in the smaller format |
That concept includes an intricate handle with a deceptively simple appearance and a matching blade. The overall shape makes me suspect that Justin took inspiration from Scandinavian Puukkos. Something that I only see as positive.
The flipper action on this knife is a bit special. An impression that was reinforced when I lent the knife and noticed that several people who are not very used to knives actually do not know how to open it. Once you get used to it, the opening mechanism works great. It is both quick and reliable.
So is the lock, reliable, even though this specific knife was probably made on a Monday since a crack was found in the lock bar. Otherwise, the fit and finish are excellent as so often with knives from Civivi. Both frame and handle material are finely shaped and polished and the blade is well sharpened and centered.
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| Civivi Lumi |
Thus, it can be stated that for those who like Justin Lundquist's design paired with Civivis quality, Lumi is an excellent alternative as a small pocket knife. It is sharp, easy to carry, and above all damn good-looking. If you do not appreciate the aesthetics, you are either blind or have bad taste. Jokes aside, the look is clean and elegant and if that is something that appeals to you, this is a hit. For the rest of you, Civivi has a very comprehensive catalog to botanize in.
Specification:
Length Open: 155 mm
Length Closed: 91 mm
Weight: 59 g
Blade Length: 65 mm
Blade Thickness: 2 mm
Blade Steel: Sandvik14C28N, 58-60HRC
Handle Material: G10
Lock: Liner lock
Produced by: Civivi, made in China
/ J
* Metal shavings are something you end up within your hands if you are a knife thrower. It is in the nature of things.
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