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| Civivi Vision FG |
The title of course refers to the fact that this knife is a collaboration between
Civivi and
Snecx Tan from Malaysia and his Snecx Design Lab. The original version was called Vision and was a custom knife with an associated price tag. However, Snecx wanted it to be available to more people, and the idea for "FG" which stands for
Field Grade was born.
The first production knives were and are made by WE with the suffix "R".* The materials used in them are more luxurious than in this case, the clip is different, and likewise the lock bar of the very special lock. He says himself that this knife is aimed at knife enthusiasts.
The next step was thus to further broaden the customer base and so Civivi Vision FG was born.
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| "Budget Snecx" med mycket fin prestanda |
Short version: Civivi Vision FG shows that some visions shine brighter than others, especially if it's Ultem that shines. This is a damn good knife!
Blade
This blade shape** is very popular and is often referred to as "reversed tanto" by Civivi themselves on the website, among others. But I don't know, I personally think the term is misleading. It mostly shows that folding knife enthusiasts are not as familiar with kitchen knives as they are with other knives. If they were, they would recognize the look. If there is anything this blade resembles, it is a Japanese Kiritsuke. Google it and you'll see!
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| Although not everyone knows it, the inspiration for the blade shape comes from a kitchen knife |
Either way, it's a very viable shape for an EDC knife. The edge itself has a slight curve, which makes it easier when cutting against flat surfaces. The cut part of makes the tip very effective can be added. Especially as it is found low, which makes it easier when cutting with the tip when, for example, opening a box or if something is to be shredded against a cutting board.
The blade is quite substantial and measures a hair under nine centimeters. The height is just over 27 mm at most and the thickness is 3 mm.
The steel used is Nitro-V. A steel that I first became familiar with when I tested another knife from Civivi. That meeting was essentially positive and so is this one. It is a steel that is quite easy to keep sharp as it responds well to being stropped which is my main method of maintaining edges these days. It maintains sharpness well without being the most extreme steel in terms of endurance on the market. Stated hardness is 59-61 HRC, by the way, which is relatively high if it at least stays in the middle of that range, which explains that characteristic.
The finish is a glossy satin and the marking is exemplary and discreet as usual. You can use a magnifying glass to read the steel type far down on the ricasso and then find "Design by Snecx" on the lock side. The blade is otherwise completely clean. The only logo used is the Civivis "C" on the head of the pivot screw.
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| The blade is sparsely marked |
Once in use, you can't help but be satisfied with the Vision FG. The blade is almost fully ground flat, which thins the thickness to 0.3 mm behind the edge. That's really thin, Civivi is starting to know how to make blade geometry by now. Not many other folding knife manufacturers can beat them in that area. When it is then combined with a sharp edge, the result is extremely good.
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It is possible to use Vision for this type of task as well, but that is not its main strength
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But when it comes to this kind of work, it's really good!
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This blade makes the process short with all types of cardboard. It also bites well into fabric, plastic, and the like. If you then test the knife on various foods, you will notice that it is after all a small kitchen knife you are holding in your hand. It therefore cuts beyond expectations even in apples, celeriac, and the like, i.e. hard fruits and root vegetables.
Above all, this is an EDC knife, so Vision has been used extensively at work for opening various packages. This means some packing straps, tape, and a lot of cardboard and plastic of various hardnesses. From really thin to puncturing cooking oil cans so they don't "gobble" when you pour out of them. Whatever it is put up against, it can only be stated that it is a really good knife. Not least as it is very easy to pull, open, make a cut, and put away again. Exactly what is needed in these contexts.
Handle
This handle is distinguished by four things. It is very yellow, it has holes in it, the lock bar is visible on the top and the shape is otherwise quite simple. If we start from the back with the appearance itself, it is almost a cigar-shaped handle with slightly angled ends. It is a very good foundation to stand on. The dimensions are 111 x 12 x 24 mm in terms of length, thickness, and height. Inside the knife is a stainless steel frame.
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| A rather uncomplicated handle shape which, however, offers some details and an interesting choice of material on the sides |
Then there were the yellow semi-translucent sides. They are a result of choosing to use Ultem in this version. In its search for exciting news, the knife industry has borrowed some "high-tech" plastics from the space industry. Ultem is a brand name for PEI which is a variant of polymer plastic. It is light, strong, impact-resistant, and, for being plastic, can withstand very high heat without being deformed. The latter is perhaps of a more academic nature in this use. Or maybe for those who know that they sometimes forget their knife in a scorching oven.
The surface has fine lines that provide a reasonably good grip so you don't slip off the handle. Even the lock bar, which forms a thumb ramp, contributes to stopping the hand from sliding forward.
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| The Vision FG is not a very small knife and overall it is comfortable in the hand but... |
Incidentally, that brings us to another one of the visible features - the holes. In addition to being a design element, they lighten the knife a bit and provide the fingertips and thus the hands with a better grip. Some people don't like holes in handles, I'm more neutral about that. They work well, especially as they are completely through. Although it only applies to three of the holes. The fourth, I suspect, exists for only one reason. It shows how the lock works. That together with the semi-transparent material allows you to study parts of the inside of the knife without disassembling it.
If you want to disassemble your knives, you can. In the stern, you will find a through screw with a T8 head and loosen it together with the pivot screw of the same size and you are well on your way.
Furthermore, there is a recess in the handle for attaching the clip on both sides. There is no hole for the attachment of a lanyard, but there is a bolt in the back that fulfills the same function.
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| ...if the knife is not held in the left hand with the clip on the right side as in the pictures, the back end unfortunately often digs into the hand. It can be avoided to some extent by adjusting the grip but not completely |
I often say that if you don't want to achieve something specific, keep it simple. This applies to both blade and handle when it comes to knife design. Snecx has done that here. The sides are flat, the back very slightly curved and the underside as well. The ends are rounded with a more pointed shape. Everything is nicely rounded and thoroughly comfortable. In addition, the knife is equipped with a rather substantial recess that acts as a combined "sharpening and finger choil". It is therefore possible to place an index finger there if you want to get even closer to the edge for increased control.
Any way to hold the knife works. Hammer grip is excellent although I would have liked to see the part where the index finger meets the handle even slightly more rounded for even better comfort. In a saber grip, the user can choose to place the hand far back with a thumb on the ramp that is naturally formed by the lock bar or, alternatively further forward. Other variations on grips, such as reverse grips, also work excellently.
But then there is an elephant in the room and that is the clip. Not the piece of metal itself, but where it is placed. I don't agree at all with how it's done. Since it sits far back, it really shouldn't be found that high. It is possible to avoid discomfort if you adjust the grip in the hammer grip and sneak really far forward. Otherwise, it is not convenient. It is a hot spot. In a saber grip, the loop is always felt against the inside of the hand. The knife is significantly nicer to work with if the clip is removed.
But that detail spoils long-term use without gloves can be ascertained.
Opening and Lock
There is no getting away from the fact that the Vision FG is a knife whose handling is exceptionally good. The blade runs on ball bearings and weighs a bit so it swings well. I write swing as the blade moves completely freely when the lock is disengaged. It is at least as easy to handle as most locks with a transverse bolt (Cross bar locks a lá Axis) and actually smoother and easier to use than them. The reason for that is that here, too, it is the lock that holds the blade in place. There is thus no detent ball.
Therefore, this knife can advantageously both be opened and closed by pulling the lock bar backward, which releases the mechanism. For those who value such things, the fidget factor is sky-high in this one.
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| The thumb studs are exceptionally well-placed and work perfectly. Then it is just as quick to fold out the blade by releasing the lock |
If you want to be a bit more traditional, there are a pair of double-sided thumb studs available. The function of them is also excellent. The shape is soft and comfortable against the thumb, they are correctly placed and protrude just enough. The knife's extremely smooth action also allows the user to choose between slow roll the blade, flicking it out with the thumb, or using an index finger on the back of the blade. Everything works equally good.
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| The lock is a subject by itself as it is a completely new type of lock developed by Snecx |
Then we come to this knife's perhaps main asset in terms of innovations and that is, of course, the lock construction. It is called Superlock and is Snecx's own contribution to the increasingly growing lock flora.
But he has really done something good. This is a lock that is easy to use, performs its function excellently, and is not overly complicated. The construction is based on a lock bar that springs backward. It is a bit counter-intuitive at first as you are used to pushing back-mounted lock bars downwards, which you do not do here. On the WE version and the custom knife, you can even remove the lock bar if desired.
The function is very smooth while managing to hold the blade in place without a hint of play in any direction. A certain resistance is felt from the spring, but it is not difficult to release the lock. The lock bar itself has some small grooves on the front and some rougher ones on the top to increase traction.
To Carry
Ultem is not only an interesting material, but the surface also provides a knife that is easy to draw and put away. At least in this version with this pattern. Incidentally, this is not an unimportant feature for a pocket knife, as many tasks may consist of a quick cut or two, after which the knife must be put back in the pocket.
It is facilitated by the rather smooth material and the fact that the clip does not rest against the existing holes. This prevents the fabric from sticking.
What must be put away is, as I said, a handle of eleven centimeters which is not excessively thick and which weighs in at 117g. It is not a monster to be banished to the dark depths of doomsday pockets, in other words.
The overall height is 35mm and that comes from a combination of the handle height, how much the blade sticks out, and the fact that the lock bar rises slightly above the rest.
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| There's nothing wrong with the clip, possibly a little boring, but I'm not a fan of the placement |
Both the clip in its current form and the origin can be discussed. The Vision originally had a back-mounted clip inspired by the CRKT Swindle. Now, I don't know how the Snecx variant works, but I didn't like the template at all. Although it can be said right away that the clip found on the Vision FG does not stand out in any way in terms of shape. On the contrary, it is one of Civivi's standard spring steel clips. Nothing bad about them, they work well.
Especially when, as here, the attachment point is recessed and flat T6 heads are used. This makes all the space under the clip available for fabric. In addition, it can be added that the tension is great. The tip certainly points outwards but the outermost bit is angled so it doesn't cause any problem. All very well thought out so far. Then this is a "deep ride" clip that makes the knife invisible once it's in the pocket.
But then there was the problem I described above. The placement causes the bend that occurs due to the shape of the clip to cut into the hand in multiple grips. It is less good.
Otherwise, the clip can be repositioned to the left side if desired.
To Conclude
I would probably argue that Civivi and Sneckx are playing Robin Hood with this model. More features at a lower price for the people. Now it is perhaps not just goodwill that is the driving force behind them wanting more people to take part in this smart design and not least the innovative lock. There is of course money to be made. But this knife deserves good sales. This is a good example of a win-win situation. They sell knives and we consumers get a good product. And since it has been moved from the promised land of custom knives to Civivi, the price picture is completely different. That without the quality necessarily deteriorating.
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| The Vision FG features the usual high manufacturing quality from Civivi. It does not disappoint in that area |
This is a damn good knife. Certainly, it is centered around a few fixed points where the handle material and above all the lock are the two main ones. However, the former can be varied and if you prefer G10, it is available. But now Ultem happens to be a good material but I know the translucent yellow shade doesn't appeal to everyone. The lock, on the other hand, I find it very hard to believe that anyone has any objections to it. It is easy to use, completely ambidextrous, which also applied to the entire knife, and strong. A very good lock, in other words.
Although it is technology and to some extent design that elevates the knife, the basic characteristics of a good tool are also in place. The blade is practical and works great for most tasks that don't include skinning a moose or carving wood figures as a profession. The beauty lies in the clean lines and the stylish satin finish and not in a plethora of details. However, the surface is prone to scratching.
The handle matches the rest of the knife with its technical slightly futuristic design language, which is perhaps more obvious on the custom knives in titanium, but which is still visible here, lifted by the Ultem sides that allow the inside to be visible. The shape is simple but comfortable and that's enough.
Even the sun has its spots, they say. As for the Vision FG, one of them is found in the clip or rather its location. The original is of a completely different type that I cannot comment on. The clip itself is of the usual Civivi type, but the position, which is far back and above the center line of the handle, means that it is felt in the hand in almost all grips. As long as you don't hold the handle tightly, or use gloves there is no problem. But if you cut hard, it will cause a hot spot. It feels unnecessary on an otherwise superb knife.
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Civivi Vision FG is an everyday companion I highly recommend
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Now it is possible to remove the clip and besides, it is not so bad that it somehow lowers the knife as a whole. It just detracts a bit from the otherwise bright radiance. The Civivi Vision FG is still a damn good EDC knife. If you have heard positive reviews, it is because there is reason for them.
Specification:
Length Overall: 202 mm
Length Folded: 113 mm
Weight: 117 g (weighed by me, stated 116g)
Blade Length: 90 mm
Blade Thickness: 3 mm
Blade Steel: Nitro-V, 59-61 HRC
Handle: Ultem
Lock: Super Lock
Produced by: Civivi, made in China
/ J - supporter of super lock
* There are also some knives produced by CKF.
The same name is used for the blade of the famous Benchmade 940 pocket knife. As you can see for yourself, they don't have much in common apart from the straight clipped tip, and I personally think, as I said, that "reversed tanto" is misleading.
