- the knife that is almost there
Trends come and go in the knife world, just as they do everywhere else. One such trend, or movement, depending on how long the phenomenon lasts, is that YouTubers not only test knives but also design them. Without thinking too much, I can immediately think of four or five names that have done it that way.
One of the latter I have come across is behind this model from Civivi called Clingman. A question that immediately arises is whether the experience and knowledge that comes from having tested many knives shines through in the end result. Another, and perhaps more difficult to answer, is whether the end product differs from something that a more typical knife maker/designer would have made.
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| Civivi Clingman |
The man who designed this specific knife is, in any case, called Taylor Martin and runs the YouTube channel Best Damned EDC.
According to his own statement, the inspiration for the Clingman was taken from his upbringing, his father and grandfather. The fact that it became something that can partly be said to be a "modern traditional" is perhaps not so strange. The blade has a bit of a Bowie feel to it, even though the format is otherwise small.
The goal with the Clingman was to design what Martin considers the perfect knife for EDC - "Every Day Carry". It is a field that is quite broad and, of course, clearly influenced by what your everyday life looks like. But one thing they all have in common is that they should be easy to carry. A requirement that the Clingman definitely meets. Let's find out what it can do beyond that.
Incidentally, the knife is named after a mountain peak in the Appalachians.
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| Taylor Martin's interpretation of the perfect pocket knife. Here in the dim winter light |
Short version: Civivi Clingman is an attempt to create the ultimate EDC knife, but it only partially succeeded
Blade
What makes me associate the term "modern traditionals" in connection with Clingman is definitely the blade shape. It is a pronounced clip point with a sabre grind. Or if you want a small Bowie knife blade, as I mentioned above. With that also comes a fairly pronounced false edge. This, in turn, gives a distinct aesthetic.
The finish is satin, and the marking is discreet as usual in the case of knives from Civivi. Completely unmarked on the presentation side and the BDE logo on the opposite side.
The blade is three inches or 76 mm long, 20 mm high and 3 millimetres thick. Relatively sturdy for a small blade, in other words.
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| The small blade has clear "Bowie" references |
How do you get a small blade to cut well? Especially since the thickness in this context is actually quite substantial and a primary grind that is as low as 11 mm. The answer to the question is, of course, that you do it hollow grind like here. Then you quickly get the thickness behind the edge down to 0.4-0.5 mm. That, combined with an equally excellent edge that Civivi usually has, means that you have a real small scalpel in your pocket. A surgeon's blade that also has a formidable tip. Or maybe that wasn't a completely correct analogy, I realise now. The knife came really sharp, but the analogy with the aforementioned surgical tool is lame, as the knife is actually quite thick behind the edge.
It is then combined with a steel in the form of Nitro-V.
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| The steel is Nitro-V, with a hollow grind. |
What is a bit special and almost makes the Clingman feel like a recurve/S-shaped edge is that the blade sits at a fairly steep angle downwards in relation to the handle. The advantage of such a solution is that it is easier to get power into the cut as the blade bites harder, after which the cut continues.
This is reinforced by the blade shape, which gives a clear belly and is therefore also good for longer, sweeping cuts. Think of a skinning blade in miniature.
The tip is given the blade shape, very good. It is not only sharp and penetrates well, but it is also found exactly where it should be. Or more simply put, in the knife's imagined centre line.
But I still have to admit that I'm not completely satisfied with the blade. A blade with such a low primary edge and relatively thick material means that it cuts, especially double-walled cardboard, heavier than similar flat-ground blades. This applies to all similar materials. The same can be said if you cut fruit and vegetables. Not impossible by any means, but not perfect either.
As usual, the blade geometry is a trade-off of properties, and the user must decide for themselves what is best.
Handle
The construction of the handle is not much to talk about. It is well built, as always with knives from Civivi. A heavily lightened steel frame forms the basis. The knife is open at the back and is held together by two spacers and a bolt that acts as a lanyard attachment. Clingman is built according to the modern template 1A for simpler knives, as I usually say.
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| The handle's overall shape is one of the areas where I disagree with Taylor Marin |
On the outside of the frame, you will find sides of either G10 or, as shown here, Micarta. The latter is also available in a couple of different colours. I chose brown because I think it gives the most traditional look. Especially since Micarta is a material that ages and gets a patina over time. The sides are completely flat and only slightly bevelled.
The length of the handle is 102 mm, but since the front part forms a smaller finger guard and the back end curves slightly, only 84 mm of grip surface remains. That's not much, and one of the features I don't fully appreciate about the knife. The thickness is 12 mm, which is quite a lot in relation to the height, which varies between 20 mm at most and 16 mm at least.
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| The handle is open at the back |
Micarta is a material that doesn't provide much grip in itself, but here it's the shape of the handle that makes up for it. The handle is slightly curved, and the back follows the inside of the hand in a good way. But then we get to the part I don't agree with at all. Mr Martin must have very different hands compared to mine, because the Clingman is not my favourite to hold or work with.
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| The grips that work best with the Clingman are those intended for very light work, such as holding the knife in a pinch grip or in a loose sabre grip. |
The thing is that, in addition to being quite "low", which doesn't fill the hand very well, the underside is shaped so that you have a bump in the middle. I don't know exactly what it's there for, although they are usually there to provide a better grip for the fingers, usually the index finger. But here the space in front of it is too big for just one finger, and the others don't have enough space if the knife is held that way. But it's also too small for two fingers. My middle finger then ends up directly on top of the bump, which just feels strange.
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| When the hand is closed around the handle with the index finger behind the finger guard, my middle finger ends up right over the raised part of the handle and my little finger right over the back edge, which is not optimal. |
This makes the Clingman not particularly comfortable to hold, except for very light tasks, as it is difficult to get a firm grip, as the handle is so small, not just in length but also in height. At the same time, the bump makes the hammer grip feel less good.
Overall, a handle that does not fit my hand very well despite the seemingly simple and straightforward shape.
Opening and Lock
When it comes to opening methods, the Clingman is very modern. It offers a thumb spring but also a discreet front flipper. Consequently, there are several ways to open the knife. Especially since you can flick it out with an index finger on the back of the blade, or open the knife with two hands, of course.
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| Clingman also boasts multiple opening methods |
Sometimes it can be tricky to combine several different ways to open a knife, as they often require different resistance in the detent ball or the lock, depending on which one is used. Here it is a ball that, like the bearings found in the knife, is also made of ceramic. This ensures a long service life, and as a bonus, they cannot rust.
But Civivi is good at locks and openings, so in this case, both basic methods are equally effective.
The double-sided thumb studs are certainly small, but they are well placed and stick out just enough to be easy to access. In addition, they are out of the way when the knife is used, and are found close to the handle. There are horror examples where thumb studs are found halfway out on the blade. Here, it is clear that Taylor Martin knows what he is looking for in an EDC knife.
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| The lock is a liner lock that performs its function excellently. |
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| Accessing the lock itself is trickier, however. The resistance in the lock bar is not particularly strong, but poking your thumb into the blade notch is a necessity to get there. |
Unlike many others, I have nothing against liner locks. It's lucky because that's what's found here. It's not terribly thick, given that the thickness of the frame is 1.5 mm. But it's very well made. The blade is held in place in a firm grip without movement in the open position, and it locks as it should. The plus point is also that it's relatively easy to disengage.
However, that only applies to moving the lock bar. Getting there is a bit more complicated as this is a small knife, which means that even the blade notch is small, and you have to poke the tip of your thumb in to access the lock. Not exactly easy with big fingers. The recess on the opposite side is actually a bit small.
To Carry
I wrote at the beginning of this review that all good EDC knives have at least one thing in common. There can be different opinions about blade shapes, and the same applies to handle design and materials. But they have to be good to carry to qualify, and the Clingman does that.
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| A luxurious detail, given the price range, is that the Clingman comes with a milled titanium clip. |
This is perhaps not surprising, as the weight is really low at 75 g. Then the dimensions are modest as mentioned. What was a disadvantage when it came to filling the hand now shows its strengths. Small volume, a low handle and soft outer shapes make the Clingman excellent to carry.
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| Given the nature of the clip, some of the handle is visible when the knife is carried. |
Another positive aspect is that the clip is actually good. I write "actually" because one of the few concessions to the purely cosmetic is that the knife has been fitted with a titanium clip. A milled one at that.
It is small, discreet and fits the knife well. Even better is that it does not negatively affect the grip when working with the Clingman. The tension is good for this type, and the space underneath is, if not large, then adequate. The ramp also works as long as the fabric in the jacket or trouser pocket is not too thick.
To Conclude
So what remains is an attempt to answer the questions posed in the introduction. Or at least as far as possible.
It is difficult to answer whether this model looks different compared to one that some other knife maker or designer has been behind. One thing can be said, however, that it is not as "confused", if the expression is allowed, as some knives can be these days. In the eagerness to constantly come out with new models, it sometimes happens that knives are pure desk designs. That is, they are never tested in reality or even particularly well thought out. They are made to look a specific way, and if they happen to have good properties, that is a plus, but not a requirement.
To answer the question, I would have needed to see more knives from Martin. Only then would it have been possible to see whether there is a general design language on his part. That detail is overlooked if one only starts from practical considerations with a stated goal. Knives then tend to become somewhat generic. In addition, a single model is not a very broad selection. Especially not if one wants to study whether there are common denominators.
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| Clingman is good-looking, in a sort of old-fashioned way |
However, it can be said that the average knife reviewer has probably handled more knives than most, including many knife makers, and in several respects, it is noticeable that this is a well-thought-out design and that it is designed by someone who has tested a lot and knows how he wants it.
This is evident in the fact that certain characteristics have been prioritised. One such is that the knife should be easy to carry. In that area, the Clingman undoubtedly gets the highest rating. Another area is that the knife should be flexible in terms of use. The blade shape provides both a point and a belly, and the relatively thick material provides stability while avoiding the disadvantages of a low sabre grind through a hollow-ground edge. The Clingman thus cuts well in most, if not all, cases. So far, the overall impression is good.
Then there are more examples, such as the placement of the thumb studs making them almost completely out of the way of what is being cut, that there is a substantial "sharpening coil", and the angle between the blade and the handle that increases the power of the cuts. The design of those details is also no coincidence.
But then there are things that I personally would have chosen to do differently. Firstly, I would have chosen to make the knife slightly larger. Not turn it into a large knife, but a "half" size larger. This applies especially to the handle. As it is now, it is too "low" for me to appreciate it. I prefer handles that do not lean towards the round/square direction when it comes to the width/height ratio. Think of Laguiolle knives as real sinners in this regard. That type of knife always gives me the feeling that they want to roll in my hand.
What bothers me the most is the knob in the middle of the handle. It doesn't suit everyone and should, in my opinion, have been made smaller to accommodate only one finger or removed altogether. If it were to be done afterwards, it would make the handle even thinner.
But everything is chosen based on personal preferences, which makes the knife unique in that respect and therefore may not suit everyone.
Then, in general, I think that knife manufacturers should stop being so anxious and try to satisfy every single knife aficionado. It's actually enough to have one way to open the knife. In this case, the thumb studs, although the front flipper is not in the way in any way, are just redundant.
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| Civivi Clingman is a good pocket knife for lighter tasks, with the emphasis on "pocket". |
Not many concessions to style have been made on the Civivi Clingman, apart from the luxurious detail of a titanium clip and possibly the combination of a stylish blade with distinctive lines, combined with, above all, Micarta in the handle. But that was actually what I fell for from the start. The Clingman looks like a small Bowie knife or perhaps a small reinterpretation of a Buck 112 or similar folding knife. At the same time, modern materials and manufacturing methods make it superior to them in most respects.
If you appreciate that aesthetic and want an ultra-light, modern EDC knife for lighter tasks, then this is something for you. But you should be aware that it is smaller than you might be led to believe and that the handle is a bit special.
The price is currently around 780 SEK in Europe.
Specifications:
Length Overall: 178 mm
Length Folded: 102 mm
Weight: 76 g (weighed by me, stated 75g)
Blade Length: 76 mm
Blade Thickness: 3 mm
Blade Steel: Nitro-V
Handle: Micarta
Lock: Liner lock
Produced by: Civivi, made in China
/ J - almost satisfied
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