- despite the name, this is no sea monster
Frugal and elegant or just boring? These are judgments that can sometimes be close to each other when it comes to the appreciation for simple and clean lines. Something that is found on today's review item Civivi Cetos. But does it have any unique features or is it just generic?
That I lean towards the more positive judgment is perhaps evident from the fact that I have one in my collection. In my opinion, the one with a wooden side is particularly beautiful. However, the question is how good it is as a pocket knife in addition to being attractive to look at. That is what I intend to try to answer here.
 |
| Civivi Cetos |
Generic means that it is a fairly typical representative of its genre with many recurring details. It is a flipper knife with a blade that runs on ball bearings and is held in place by a frame lock. In addition, it has a "deep ride" clip. So far, most of it is familiar to you, I suspect.
What makes it deviate a little is that the lock side is not made of titanium and the presentation side in this version is made of wood. As is often the case with knives from Civivi, however, it is available in several other versions.
The choice of material on the lock side is probably more a question of price than anything else, I suspect. Here it's steel. The question is how it affects the knife when it comes to things like the function of the lock, and more importantly, the knife's total weight and balance.
 |
| Cetos är en elegant kniv med slanka linjer |
Twitter version: Cetos, as usual, is a very well-made knife from Civivi which, despite its striking appearance, is not my absolute favorite in the range
Blade
The blade shape is what contributes most to Ceto's overall appearance. Instead of a pure drop point, they have chosen a blade that certainly can be viewed as one, but which with its low height, marked "drop" and wide false edge almost can be categorized as a spear point.
The length of the blade is 8.9 cm and the height is a modest 24 mm. The blade thickness is 3 mm. A slim blade in other words.
 | |
|
The material is not Chinese like on the sister brand Sencut. In Civivi's range, you generally find other steel choices and for Cetos they have chosen Swedish steel in the form of 14C28N. As usual, it is a sport to find the marking on the blade. But it is there, in microscopic size on the ricasso.
The text is also hidden by the blade finish which is a very fine blasting. Possibly glass may be involved in that procedure but I'm not an expert in the field. The result is a very homogenous and nicely executed surface that gives a gray look.
As for the steel, it is more than acceptable. I like it in this edition too. It takes a keen edge and reacts quickly to being stropped or honed. Then you have to add that it doesn't hold the edge quite as long as some of the more expensive so-called "super steels" on the market.
 |
| The steel choice fell on Swedish Sandvik's 14C28N |
This blade shape generally results in a knife that penetrates very well. It applies in this case as well, of course, it does. But what about the cutting properties? Yes, Cetos is struggling somewhat uphill there. The blade is not excessively thick with its three millimeters, but since the blade is saber-ground in accordance with the blade type, there is only 11 mm of height to thin out that thickness before it transitions to an edge. In addition, the blade is a full 0.6 mm thick behind said edge. Why is a mystery to me.*
The end result is a knife that doesn't cut as efficiently as it could have. Sometimes you distinguish between a knife that cuts well and one that is "slicey". A blade can be good in one area without excelling in another. So is the case here. No problem cutting a piece of string, tape in different dimensions, or a strong cable tie. But when you cut cardboard or other tasks that require the full width of the blade, you feel that the geometry is not fully adapted to it.
Handle
Slim and spacious is a short description of the Ceto's handle. A length of 11.5 cm paired with a height of 2.1 cm confirms that impression is correct. The thickness is 11 mm.
The materials are steel and wood. The wood is found on the presentation side and Civivi calls the type of wood Cuibourtia" on their website although I think they mean Guibourtia demeusei also better known as Bubinga. It's stylish in any case with deep color and distinct veining.
 |
| A simple but effective handle |
The construction is asymmetrical, with a lock side made entirely of steel and a presentation side that is screwed onto a frame, also made of steel. The back of the handle is completely open and there are two neat hourglass-shaped spacers and a small bolt to attach a lanyard to for those who like them.
 |
| The knife gives very different impressions depending on which side is exposed |
The shape in the hand feels quite soft given that the wooden side is nicely rounded and that the lock side is well-beveled. In addition, all edges and corners are rounded. Civivi simply does not miss such things. A small but brilliant example is that the notches made to enable flex in the lock bar have also been rounded. That is the level of finish Civivi knives generally keep.
Another nice detail is that they chose to countersink all the screws in an exceptionally good way. By the way, the size of them is T8 throughout, with the exception of the clip, which is attached with smaller T6s. In addition, the number of screws has been kept to a minimum, and holes for the lanyard have been skipped, which contributes to a cleaner appearance.
Overall, the handle on the Cetos is quite likable. It is simply a slightly curved stick. Possibly it feels a bit too thin and slim for my hand size. It's strange how different handles can be perceived despite similar measurements.
 | |
|
But no grip is favored and all work without discomfort so on that count this sea monster gets my approval. Well, Cetos means just that in Greek, maybe I should clarify. So you understand where those comments are coming from.
The flipper tab can be a little sharp against the hand and at certain angles, the clip can be felt, but not so much that it is something to comment on. For the reasons mentioned in the previous paragraph, this is still not a knife you work with for any length of time.
Opening and Lock
Civivi is a knife that opens with a flipper, period. It is perhaps a redundant comment for those familiar with folding knives. But for others, it may be good to know. Something that is good for everyone to know is that this particular flipper knife has some quirks of its own. The first is that Cetos is a fairly dedicated flipper.
What that means is that it can certainly be opened with two hands if you really want to but just barely. It is also possible with some finger gymnastics to learn to flip out the blade with the index finger by using one of the notches in the blade. But it is with some effort. Just forget about using your thumb.
 | |
|
That it behaves that way is because the resistance of the detent ball is mainly tuned to benefit the flipper function. But that's where the other quirk comes into play. Cetos has one of "those" flipper openings. What, you might wonder. Well, one of those that absolutely won't work unless you're both determined and absolutely attacking the flipper tab at the right angle and keep all fingers away from the lock bar. It is therefore very complicated. The slightest pressure on the lock bar, which is difficult to avoid because the handle is slim, increases the pressure on the detent ball, whereupon the blade does not move out of the spot almost no matter how hard you press.
In addition, it is absolutely impossible to push the flipper downward. It has to be pulled back in a light switch motion and you must not hesitate. Even then it will be difficult. It is therefore easiest to place the knife upside down in the hand with the back end against the inside of the hand and pull back. Then all opening attempts succeed. Then you turn the hand.
Once you manage to get the technique right, however, the speed of the blade is exemplary and the knife always locks.
 |
| The function of the steel frame lock is very secure |
The lock, well, it's a steel frame lock. As well made as everything else Civivi is behind. This concretely means a perfect function without any blade play and that, as said, it engages every time, and that the lock bar does not wander if pressure is applied to the spine of the blade. The fact that the material is steel guarantees a long service life and means that you do not need to add inventions such as lock bar reinforcements.
 |
| The lock is not entirely easy to disengage |
However, the lock is not completely easy to disengage. As I said, there is good tension in the lock bar. In addition, the surface is certainly nicely beveled, but the space for the thumb is not enormously large and the opposite side is only minimally recessed. The chamfering also contributes to the fact that there is a risk that you sometimes simply slip off the lock bar when trying to operate it. The notches made should be turned the other way.
To Carry
Cetos have its benefits. The fact that it is easy to put in a pocket is one of them. Certainly, it is a fairly long knife with its 11.5 centimeters when folded, but it is slim and thin, which more than compensates for that. The total weight of around 110 g is also not much to say about. It misses out on the ultralight category but doesn't belong to the heavyweights either.
 |
| The clip is well recessed in the handle side |
Then the sides, both the lock and the presentation side, are smooth so no friction against fabric occurs. This makes it easy to pull the knife out and put it away.
The clip on this knife is good. Not extraordinarily pretty but functional. The tension is enough to prevent the knife from going on its own adventures despite the steel underneath. The space is enough to house most common trouser fabrics and the ramp is good. The tip could have been even flatter but is not angled outwards. That, combined with the long handle, means that it is not rough on your hand when working with the knife.
Otherwise, it can be said that the material is steel and it is of the "deep ride" variety, whereupon most of the knife, if not all, disappears when you put it in your pocket. An extra plus goes to Civivi because they both recessed the clip and the screw heads that hold it in place. A small minus, however, because the position can't be changed. At the same time, I'm grateful for it as it makes the knife look better, but I'm not left-handed either. Then I would probably have been less positive.
To Conclude
It can be stated that I still think the Civivi Cetos is a very nice-looking knife. The overall lines are sleek and the wood in the presentation side lends class to the entire creation. Features such as how the flipper tab's design is mirrored in the handle's "beak" reinforce that impression. The same can be said about the color scheme of the knife and smaller details such as well countersunk screws and how well-rounded and chamfered all edges and corners are. The wooden side has also been completely rounded and contributes fine grain in this case.
Some of those things could already be seen in the picture and that's why I fell for Cetos. That and the blade shape.
 |
| Cetos, a knife as elegant as a well-made cup of coffee |
Namely, the blade is something that always goes hand in hand with the design of the handle and creates a harmonious whole. But look there, now I was into appearance again. Unfortunately, there are things on the negative account as well.
When it comes to cutting properties, this knife suffers from certain disadvantages. They are summed up with a geometry more oriented towards poking into things than cutting. The knife has a rather steep edge angle, is thick behind the edge, and has a saber grind. But of course, some of those things can already be deduced from pictures so it shouldn't come as a surprise.
Then you can always think about how much it matters in a pocket knife? How much and what do you cut on average? However, the question can be considered from different points of view just like the performance of a car. Exactly what you do with it versus what it's capable of if you want it to. This knife doesn't go 250 km/h or in rough terrain, I can tell. It is more of an SUV than either a sport or off-road vehicle, so to speak.
But then there were a few more things. One is that I have come to the conclusion that I do not like frame locks made of steel! This applies especially when the presentation side is made of light material. They certainly hold up very well but do something that I don't appreciate, they destroy the balance of a knife. First, they are generally more rear-heavy than is otherwise the case. On the Cetos, the balance point is found more than a finger's width behind the flipper. But the second and worse thing is that it makes the handle heavier on one side which always gives me the feeling that they want to capsize in my hand. Which, incidentally, they also do if you open your hand. It's not that important and has absolutely no practical meaning when you're holding the knife. But I don't appreciate the feeling.
Another thing I don't fully appreciate is how carefully you have to tickle the flipper to keep it in a good mood. The slightest wrong angle and/or pressure on the lock bar and you can forget about opening the knife smoothly. However, if you hit it right and think about the technique, it is lightning fast.
 |
| Civivi Cetos is an attractive knife |
It can also be said of the Cetos that it is manufactured with customary Civivi precision. There is not much to complain about when it comes to "fit & finish". Nor when it comes to material selection. The shortcomings that exist are linked to design choices.
Thus, it can be established that the Civivi Cetos is a knife you buy because you think it's nice to rest your eyes on and you know in your heart that you don't intend to carve for hours but are content to cut a label off your nice branded shirts with your new pocket knife. It also does quite well there, by the way, in the pocket that is. In addition, the quality is, as usual, top-notch.
 |
Specification:
Length Overall: 203 mm
Length Folded: 115 mm
Weight: 108 g, weighed by me (stated 110 g)
Blade Length: 89 mm
Blade Thickness: 3 mm
Blade Steel: 14C28N, 58-60 HRC
Handle: Steel with a presentation side made of wood
Lock: Frame lock
Produced by: Civivi, made in China
/ J
* Especially considering how thin and fine some of sister brand Sencut's latest models have been in that area.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar