- When bigger actually is better
Civivi is a brand that has developed gradually and constantly seems to strive upwards. From initially being mostly a budget alternative spun off from WE-knife to standing more on its own two feet. This knife, called Sentinel Strike II, is brilliant proof of that.
This is an example of a really good knife, regardless of the price level. Maybe not the most exclusive in terms of materials, but good in terms of design, handling and not least fit and finish.
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| Civivi Sentinel Strike II |
First, perhaps we should clarify what "II" stands for. In principle, this is the same knife as the first one, although the blade shape has been given a major overhaul. The first model had a boldly modified Wharncliffe blade with a large hole in it. In fact, I don't find that model particularly attractive.
But then this variant came with a drop point blade, and my interest was piqued. A larger Civivi knife was actually what I was looking for, as most of the others in the catalogue are of a slightly smaller model.
Now, it's not just any blade as it has a compound grind. Then this version shares several features with the original, such as the rather special handle. All in all, a really interesting knife, large, light and quite dramatic.
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| A large and sturdy knife that is nevertheless light and well-balanced |
Short version: Civivi Sentinel Strike II, A folding knife that is not only well-sized, but it is also light and well-balanced and cuts excellently. A real all-rounder!
Blade
It is a substantial blade we have in front of us, the length is 94 mm, and the height is 31 mm. However, it is not excessively thick with its 3 mm. It is even quite neat for being so large. Those proportions make it thin, and that property is reinforced by the fact that most of the edge is hollow ground. This makes it really thin behind the edge, 0.3 mm to be exact.
Then, as I said, the blade has a compound grind, which means that the tip is flat ground, which is what the rounded transition shows. However, that part is also quite thin. So, of course, the tip is reinforced, but not much. It is quite delicate, but that also makes it an excellent tool.
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| The large blade has a hint of a tanto tip and a compound grind where the main part is hollow ground. |
The shape of the blade is enhanced by the substantial false edge that runs along most of the blade. It can also be said that the way the knife is sharpened gives it a slight tanto tendency. With its curved front part, it can probably be said to be a Japanese one. But it can be added that at the first real resharpening, it will disappear, and what remains will be a more traditional drop point with a fairly substantial belly thanks to the height of the blade. Functionally, it is already one of those.
The finish is a pretty nice stone wash. The blade steel is Nitro-V, a well-balanced mid-range steel that is found in the class around or just above 14C28N and similar materials. It holds its edge well, but not to the same extent as finer steels. It is fairly rust-resistant and tough enough not to chip in the first place.
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| The steel is Nitro-V |
Sentinel Strike II is really good for most things. A wide but thin blade makes it particularly suitable for cutting materials where you need good control, such as cardboard and the like. I will, however, grind off the small tanto-like secondary tip as it certainly does not do much damage but irritates me a little as it can be a little "stop" when cutting textiles, for example.
Otherwise, this is a blade that works unexpectedly well for cutting wood. However, you have to be a little careful not to bend too much sideways when you loosen the edge, as it is thin. That it is good for cutting rope was more expected.
I wouldn't use a folding knife for hunting at all, and especially not one with various decorative holes in the handle that make cleaning difficult, but the blade could undoubtedly be used for that as soon as the aforementioned secondary tip is ground away. The shape means that long sweeping cuts are excellent in general.
The tip is also very capable. It is certainly reinforced, but to such a small extent that it is still very thin. This makes penetrating cuts in various materials easy to make. Last time I needed an improvised funnel that I made from a PET bottle, and for that kind of task, this is a good knife. Overall, the tip is also easy to control as it is located in the intended centre line of the knife.
Handle
Sentinel Strike II has a handle that is not one of the most common. What makes it stand out is the combination of aluminium and a back spacer in FRN. The odd thing about it is that it is of the integral type, which means that it covers parts of the sides and the entire back. This also gives the knife the feeling of being an integral (a handle made of a single piece) even though it is not.
The advantage of backs that are not open is that they provide a larger contact surface with the hand, which reduces the risk of hot spots.
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| The shape of the handle is familiar, and the size is quite large. |
The aluminium has been brushed to a grey surface that resembles titanium, which is probably no coincidence. The surface is hard enough that scratches will not occur too easily. The edges are heavily bevelled, which makes the handle a little softer in the hand. From the side, it has three holes drilled from which the function is purely aesthetic. From the side, the Civivi "C" logo that is found on the pivot screw is also visible.
The back spacer can also be seen from the side thanks to its design. It is made of plastic, although it is an advanced one in the form of FRN. It has a square pattern, and a series of holes is found in the back. Both patterns are for the sake of appearance more than anything else, as they do not add much extra traction.
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| In the back, you will find a rather unique back spacer made of FRN |
This handle is sturdy and easily fits most hand sizes, and is also sufficient if you wear gloves. The length is a full 125 mm, and the open shape without a beak or other boundaries at the back means that you can grip the entire handle. The length behind the finger guard formed by the front part of the handle and the flipper is 104 mm. The thickness is 12 mm, enough to fill the hand but thin enough not to be too much of a burden in the pocket.
The shape is quite generic, as it has been made many times before and will be made many times in the future. But that's because it works. A substantial indentation for the index finger followed by a fairly straight shape with rounded edges and corners. A stick, but a stick with good ergonomics.
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| A simple but comfortable and, above all, spacious handle |
Then you can, of course, put an index finger on the back of the blade for better control. Then this knife has a large recess for the index finger on the blade, so if you want to get even closer to what you are cutting, you move your hand forward a step.
With the size of the handle, it is no problem to find a good grip. The same applies if you are wearing thin work gloves. In addition, the Sentinel Strike II can be used in a reverse grip when needed. Both if you hold the knife like an ice pick with a thumb over the back end of the knife, or if you have the edge towards you with the blade upwards.
Overall, a very flexible and practical handle.
Opening and Lock
How do you want to open your knife? Whatever your preference, you will find it here, except for the blade hole. But otherwise, using the double-sided thumb studs or the flipper works just as well for the purpose. You can also open the knife slowly with two hands if desired. Then you can always use the lock just like you can with the cross-bar lock. Just press the button, and the lock is released and the blade swings freely.
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| Civivi has made the lock so that both thumb studs and the flipper tab work equally well |
The reason everything works so well is that Civivi has perfected the tension in the small spring that holds the lock bolt in place. With this type of lock, it follows that they are the ones that hold the blade in place in the retracted position. There is no "detent-ball".
Thumb studs are particularly pleasant to use. The soft barrel shape provides a good grip against the thumb without being uncomfortable. They also sit far enough out to provide good access and good leverage. They are also found on the ricasso, which means that they are not in the way when cutting with the knife.
The flipper tab also works excellently. As usual, Civivi has the good habit of providing them with grooves so that your finger does not slip. In addition, the geometry is such that you can both press the flipper straight down or backwards. This makes handling very intuitive. In addition, the speed of the blade is really good.
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| This is how you make a good button lock |
The locking mechanism is, as can be seen from the pictures, a button lock, also sometimes called a plunge lock. The principle is simple: an asymmetrical bolt with a thicker and a thinner part is moved sideways. When the thicker part is in place, it presses against the back of the blade just like a cross-bar lock. When the button is pressed, the thinner part falls into position and the blade moves freely. Very freely in this case, thanks to ball bearings.
The lock is extremely well made, which partly gives the very nice opening properties I mentioned above, but above all, it holds the blade in an iron grip. It is not possible to perceive any play in the blade even if the blade is provoked or subjected to pressure from the wrong direction.
This type is generally very easy to handle, and this also applies here. So, overall top marks for the lock!
To Carry
For being so large, the Sentinel Strike is really comfortable to carry. It is certainly a long knife, over twelve centimetres when folded, but otherwise it is discreet. The thickness is not excessive, but that is still not what makes it easy to carry in your pocket. There are other reasons for that.
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| The clip is made of steel and quite long, but nevertheless very discreet in the hand. |
One is the design of the handle itself. It is very streamlined, as you can see. Nothing sticks out or catches, even though this is a flipper knife. But what makes the most difference is the soft surface of the materials, which makes the knife slip easily both in and out of a pocket.
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| The knife is completely hidden in the pocket |
Then it is combined with a deep ride clip, which means that very little of the knife is visible when it is in the pocket. What makes it stand out a little, in terms of appearance, is that it is attached to the back of the handle and not on the sid,e which is more common. This means that it is possible to change sides without the handle side having to look like it has been attacked by termites.
The shape is then excellent in the way that the shape makes the clip almost imperceptible when you are working with the knife.
To Conclude
With the Sentinel Strike II, Civivi has managed to create another really good knife. It's big, light, well-balanced and doesn't look too bad. Version one already had all that, possibly with a look that was more polarising than this. Even if you ignore that, drop point blades have other properties, such as being easier to use for sweeping cuts and, not least, against flat surfaces. Two properties I appreciate, even though it is, of course, situational. That's what makes me prefer this edition.
Of course, bigger is not always better, but sometimes it is, hence my subtitle. In this case, it means that you get a solid grip on the knife and that you can use it for heavier tasks if necessary. A solid blade also attracts you to more advanced jobs than just opening boxes. This means that the Sentinel Strike II can be moved outdoors, to the lake, the forest or the mountains and not just used in an office environment.
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| One of the knife's main features is that it cuts really well. |
The handling of the Sentinel Strike II is also very pleasant. The speed of the blade is impressive if you consider two aspects that usually make that part difficult: that the blade is really big and that there is no hard-trimmed detent ball. However, the blade is very light thanks to the relatively thin blade material and, not least, the combination of a swedge and a hollow grind, which removes material. The resistance has been achieved with a perfect level of spring tension in the lock. A detail that is not entirely easy to achieve. Something that is proven by the fact that all manufacturers would have done it if it were.
The appearance is both figuratively and literally a bit grey. But a variant of a back spacer that gives the impression that the knife is an "integral" adds a bit of flair. But that is reduced to part of the use of FRN as a material. I would have preferred to see it made of a slightly more exclusive material that suited the knife a little better, like G10 or, even better, Micarta. But that would probably have driven up the price a little.
Another detail that I can both lose and have is the small ball at the end of the handle. It is actually a glass breaker. But at least it is discreet and not sharp against the hand, as is usually the case. I think the detail is so pointless that I actually didn't even bother to test it.
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| Civivi Sentinel Strike II is an excellent all-around folding knife of the larger variety |
But I don't have much more negative criticism of the Civivi Sentinel Strike II. It's simply an excellent knife.* So if you're looking for a big and sturdy knife that's still light and well-balanced, this is the knife for you. It cuts damn well, is easy to carry and even easier to handle.
Specifications:
Length Overall: 219 mm
Length Folded: 125 mm
Weight:105 g (weighed by me, stated 04,7 g)
Blade Length: 94 mm
Blade Thickness: 3 mm
Blade Steel: Nitro-V
Handle: Aluminium/FRN
Lock: Button lock
Produced by: Civivi, made in China
/ J - goes big
* At the time of writing, you will have to pay between 100 and 150 EUR for this knife, so it pays to compare prices.
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