Review Sencut Borzam

  

-  a solid knife for EDC and Work

It is time for me to return to Sencut, you know, that sister brand that spun off from Civivi, which in turn is a sub-brand of WE. This time, it is a slightly larger model called Borzam that will be reviewed.

Part of the attraction in this case lies in the size. This is an obvious attempt to satisfy those who are not content with a three-inch blade. Sometimes, bigger is actually better.

Then again, I kind of expect the usual level of manufacturing quality that I'm used to from this company. If those parameters are met, I'm sure this is a good knife.

Sencut Borzam

Borzam is a typical "in-house" creation and not attributed to any single designer, although someone, obviously, must have designed it. Whoever it is, they have created a knife that is not unpleasant to look at and seems very competitive in this class of knives. 

What is meant when I say "class" are budget knives and in this case larger budget knives. This not only results in a longer blade but also a more substantial handle, which facilitates heavier work.

To keep the price down, of course, something has to be sacrificed. Here, it's a lot about skimping on the right places and often choosing the right material. Something that Sencut is usually good at.

Borzam is a good example of how it is possible to make good knives without having to cost an arm and a leg

Short version: Sencut Borzam, is something of a "Working Class Hero". A slightly larger EDC knife that can handle most things while looking perfectly fine and not costing an arm and a leg

Blade

There are a couple of different ways to make a drop point more interesting and they have been used in this case. The blade has a spine that turns towards the tip in two stages. One that is slightly concave in front of the thumb ramp and then a convex part forward to the tip. There you will also find a swedge.

The blade has, either a large indentation for sharpening or a small one for a finger, depending on how you look at it. Then the back is not rounded but well beveled, which in this context feels luxurious.

The finish is a well-done satin and the branding is as unobtrusive as it usually is from this company. The Sencut logo is on one side and somewhere on the other side, you can read the steel type if you happen to have perfect vision.

Borzam comes with a substantial drop-point blade 

What is written there is 9Cr18MoV. Not a bad choice of steel for the price point. My experience is that it stays sharp longer than the lower-rated 8Cr steels.

But what impresses me the most is not the steel but how it is used. Sencut/Civivis has learned how to make blades that cut well. It's all about geometry. In this case, a stock thickness of only three millimeters is used. The blade is made strong enough by making it taller instead of making it thicker. It is three centimeters at the base.

The material has then been thinned via a high flat grind to 0.3-0.4 mm behind the edge. That's HOW to make knives that cut well. Blade geometry trumps steel quality in that case.

The steel is 9Cr18MoV but a magnifying glass is needed to read it

It is, of course, something that is noticeable when Borzam is used. All materials that even resemble paper and cardboard or the like are handled with accuracy.

Likewise, this is an excellent package opener as it is easy to cut nylon packing straps, cable ties, tape, and the like. However, for tape, I usually turn my knives around and use the back of the tip as you avoid getting glue residue on the edge and don't run the risk of cutting what's in the box.

Speaking of knife tips, it is also highly effective on this knife. It is sharp without being too fragile. Certainly, the knife is so thin that I do not recommend using it as a prybar. But for everything else it is excellent. Actually also for cutting wood, both fresh and dry. 

But of course, if it's whittling on the menu, I prefer a different edge angle. Thin, flat-ground blades can be damaged when prying them out of a piece of tough wood to free the knife. But with that said, this is an excellent knife for outdoor life as well, thanks to its extra edge length.

This knife is a real "Working class hero", not least because the handle makes it possible to use some power when needed.

Handle

The handle can be summed up with the words, thin but comfortable. How thin, someone might wonder, and then I say 12 mm, which is not much for a handle that holds the whole hand, including gloved ones. The length of the knife when folded is 120 mm, of which the grippable length is around ten centimeters. By that I mean the handle behind the finger guard which is made up of the flipper in combination with the shape of the handle.

The handle on the Borzam is simple but well-shaped

Otherwise, the construction offers no surprises at all. Everything is done according to template 1A and also correctly executed. This means that the manufacturing quality is high. The knife is built around a steel frame that has been greatly lightened. The handle is open in the back where two hourglass-shaped spacers are found through which screws with T6 heads have been pulled. They are the ones who hold the knife together. One of them is also used by the clip.

From above you can also see the blade stop and an extra bolt around which a lanyard can be attached if such things are used.

The construction of Borzam offers no surprises. A lightened steel frame with an open back and a couple of pieces of G10 on the outside. But it is well done

On the outside of the frame are two pieces of G10 that are not shaped in any way beyond a small chamfered edge. That, together with the fact that the frame rises slightly above the sides, makes the handle feel more rounded. Then it is impossible to get away from the fact that it is a slim handle.

This is a knife that fits very well in most hands

By that I mean that the handle is certainly very comfortable to the extent that it is enough for the whole hand and that it is easy to find a good grip regardless of how you hold the knife. It is also easy to switch grips as the balance point is found in the middle of the recess for the index finger. A detail which, by the way, is really nice.

But the objection I have is partly that the curved rear end of the clip must be avoided, but above all that the thickness certainly makes the knife easy to carry, but also that the thinner sides feel a bit in the hand if the knife is used for carving, for example. A negative that immediately disappears if you use gloves can be added.

Opening and Lock

Borzam is fairly trendy, which means that it can be opened in different ways. Two hands work great because a lot of blade sticks out when the knife is closed. Otherwise, the intended opening methods are two. There are both a flipper and double-sided thumb studs to choose from.

The thumb studs are the opening method I prefer. Here they are very well done

The flipper works about as well as the thumb studs, a balancing act that the Sencut has mastered

Sencut/Civivi belong to those brands that manage to tune the detent ball close to perfection. Both ways of opening the knife work equally well. It almost doesn't matter how you approach either the flipper or the studs on this knife. The blade flies out anyway. You can push, pull, or press both with your thumb and index finger. Everything just works. Kudos to Sencut for that.

The thumb studs are also correctly positioned. They are easy to reach and they are out of the way when cutting. I really hate knives that have thumb studs halfway out on the blade. It arises when the rest of the knife has lousy geometry and more leverage is needed. Such mistakes are not made here.

Unsurprisingly, the sturdy frame lock also works excellently

The grooves found on the lock bar are rounded but still provide traction

Likewise, this lock is exemplary. Maybe a bit "boring" as it is a liner lock in steel. But this is how you make them. It locks nimbly, distinctly, and every time. It holds the blade in place in an iron grip and it feels very strong due to the fact that the thickness of the frame is around 1.5 mm.

The lock is also really easy to disengage. There is room to access the lock bar, which is also grooved for better traction. Then the tension is just enough which also contributes. 

To Carry

Even the sun has its spots, after all. But in this case, they are as small as can be. But the Borzam can never be a perfect pocket knife, and it is simply too big. After all, it measures 12 cm in length and it is quite wide with its 3.4 cm. The weight is 122 grams.

The clip does not stand out in any significant way

After all, it has a flipper. It's not overly large and the edges are beveled but it's undeniable. On the plus side, however, the handle is thin, as I mentioned before. This puts the knife in the class of other large but still easy-to-carry knives such as the Cold Steel Code 4.

In other words, as good as it gets when you have an almost nine-centimeter blade available. 

The clip fulfills its function but is glossy and thus visible

About the clip it can be said that it is a classic simple deep-ride clip of the type usually found on knives from Sencut. It works great in terms of tension and space under the clip. The same can be said about the ramp, which handles almost all fabric edges competently.

The clip does a decent job of being imperceptible in the hand, but if you grip the knife very hard, especially in a saber grip, it leaves its marks but not otherwise. The handle is so long that in a normal hammer grip it usually ends up outside the hand.

The finish is very glossy so that way it is visible but not much of the knife sticks out of the pocket.

The only thing that reveals that the clip belongs to a budget knife is that it appears on several models and that the attachment is not recessed in the handle. It saves processing time during manufacturing and thus money. The clip is otherwise attached with two T6 screws that sit in tandem to prevent the clip from moving laterally. By the way, it does with that honor. The clip is also removable and can be shifted to the other side.

To Conclude

Sencut is a brand known for delivering high-quality knives and Borzam is certainly no exception. In fact, this knife rivals its more expensive relatives in the Civivi lineup.

This is an excellent option for those who want a slightly larger folding knife for EDC use, in the workplace, or for the outdoors.

Borzam belongs to the slightly larger knives in the catalog and thus fills a niche

What you get with the Sencut Borzam is an excellent knife with extremely good performance at an attractive price.

The package includes a substantial knife blade of almost nine centimeters that cuts like nobody's business. The slightly wider blade also gives better control when cutting in soft materials and the finger choil also gives the opportunity to sneak closer to the edge for detailed work.

Then you can't go wrong with the fact that Borzam has a fantastically smooth action and a strong lock. This too shows the quality offered by Sencut. To that can be added that the blade came completely centered and very sharp. It is completely in line with the rest of the finish, which is high class.

Sencut Borzam belongs to the top tier of its class

For that reason, it can only be said that for those who want to upgrade from the very cheapest EDC knives to something more substantial both in terms of size and quality, the Sencut Borzam feels like a given option. Here you get quality that gives a foretaste of what a better knife can offer while not being excessively expensive. Currently, it can be obtained from around 45€.

The only thing I can possibly object to is that it feels a little, maybe not boring but a little generic. It has nothing that stands out. But with that said, it's still pretty and, above all, damn good. My advice is, buy it!

Sencut Knives

Specifications:

Length Overall: 209 mm

Length Folded: mm

Weight: 122 g (weighed by me, stated 122,4 g)

Blade Length: 88 mm

Blade Thickness: 3 mm

Blade Steel: 9Cr18MoV, 58-60 HRC

Handle Material: G10

Lock: Liner Lock

Produced by: Sencut, made in China

/ J - says, buy!

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

Recension Sencut Borzam

 

-  en rejäl brukskniv

Dags för mig att återvända till Sencut, ni vet det där systermärket som knoppat av sig från Civivi som i sin tur är ett undermärke till WE. Den här gången är det en något större modell som är aktuell kallad Borzam. 

Det är i storleken som en del av lockelsen ligger i det här fallet. Det här är ett uppenbart försök att tillfredsställa även dem som inte nöjer sig med ett tretumsblad. Ibland är större faktiskt bättre. 

Sedan förväntar jag mig på något vis den sedvanliga nivån på tillverkningskvalitet som jag är van vid från det här företaget. Om de parametrarna är uppfyllda är jag säker på att det här är en bra kniv. 

Sencut Borzam

Borzam är en typisk "in house"-skapelse som inte ståtar med någon enskild designers namn trots att någon bevisligen måste ha formgivit den. Vem eller vilka det än är så har de åstadkommit en kniv som inte är oangenäm att se på och som ser ut att kunna konkurrera i klassen. 

Det som avses när jag säger "klassen" är budgetknivar och i det här fallet med tilltagen storlek. Av det följer inte bara ett längre blad utan även ett mer rejält handtag vilket underlättar tyngre arbeten. 

För att hålla ned priset måste det förstås göras avkall på någonting. Här handlar det mycket om att snåla in på rätt ställen och ofta om att välja rätt material. Något som Sencut brukar vara skickliga på. 

Borzam är ett gott exempel på att det går att tillverka bra knivar utan att de behöver kosta skjortan

Kortversion: Sencut Borzam, något av en "Working Class Hero". En något större EDC-kniv som klarar det mesta samtidigt som den ser helt ok ut och inte kostar skjortan. 

Blad

Det finns ett par olika sätt att gör en drop point mer intressant och de flesta av dem har nyttjats i det här fallet. Bladet har en rygg som viker av ned mot spetsen i två etapper. En som är lätt konkav framför den tumramp som finns och sedan en konvex del framåt spetsen till. Den sistnämnda har dessutom försetts med en falskegg. 

I övrigt har kniven endera en rejäl fördjupning för slipning eller ett litet för ett finger beroende på hur man ser det. Sedan är ryggen inte rundad men väl fasad vilket i sammanhanget känns lyxigt. 

Finishen är en väl utförd satin och märkningen lika diskret som den brukar vara från det här företaget. Sencut-loggan på en sida och någonstans på andra sidan kan du utläsa ståltyp om du dras med perfekt syn. 

Borzam är utrustad med ett rejält drop point-blad 

Det som står där är 9Cr18MoV. Inte ett dåligt stålval för prisläget. Min erfarenhet är att det håller skärpan längre  än det lägre rankade 8Cr-stålen. 

Men det som imponerar mest är inte stålet utan hur det använts. Man har från Sencut/Civivis sida lärt sig hur man gör blad som skär bra. Allt handlar om geometri. I det här fallet utgår man från en godstjocklek på endast tre millimeter. Starkt nog blir bladet genom att det byggs på höjden istället för att göra det tjockt. Det är tre centimeter vid basen. 

Materialet har sedan tunnats ut via en hög flatslipning till 0,3-0,4 mm bakom eggen. Det är SÅ man gör knivar som skär bra. Bladgeometri trumfar stålkvalitet i det fallet. 

Stålet är 9Cr18MoV men för att läsa det behövs förstoringsglas

Det är förstås något som märks när Borzam används. Alla material som ens påminner om papper och kartong eller dylikt klaras av med ackuratess. 

På samma vis är det här en utmärkt förpackningsöppnare då det är lätt att skära av packremmar i nylon, buntband, tejp och liknande. Även om jag för tejp oftast vänder på mina knivar och använder baksidan på spetsen då man dels undviker att få rester av lim på eggen och dels inte riskerar att skära sönder det som är i kartongen. 

Appropå spets så är även den högeffektiv på Borzam. Den är vass utan att vara alltför bräcklig. Förvisso är kniven så pass tunn att jag inte rekommenderar att använda den som bräckjärn. Men till allt annat är den utmärkt. Faktiskt även till att skära i trä och virke. Men det är klart, skall det täljas föredrar jag en annan eggvinkel. Tunna flatslipade blad kan bli skadade när man bänder i tjurigt trä för att få loss kniven. Men med den brasklappen kan konstareras att det här är en utmärkt kniv även för friluftsliv tack vare sin extra egglängd. 

Den här kniven är en riktig "Working class hero", inte minst som handtaget gör att det går att använda kraft när så tarvas. 

Handtag

Handtaget är tunt men bekvämt lyder sammanfattningen. Hur tunt kanske någon undrar och då säger jag 12 mm vilket inte är mycket för ett handtag som rymmer hela handen inklusive en med handskar på. Längden på kniven hopfälld är 120 mm varav greppbar längd är kring tio centimeter. Då avser jag handtaget bakom det fingerskydd som utgörs av flipperfenan i kombination med handtagets form. 

Handtaget på Borzam är enkelt men väl format

I övrigt bjuder konstruktionen inte på några överraskningar alls. Allt är gjort efter mall 1A och därtill korrekt utfört. Med det avses att tillverkningskvalitén är hög. Kniven byggs kring en ram av stål som lättats kraftigt. Handtaget är sedan öppet i ryggen där det hittas två timglasformade distanser genom vilket det dragits skruvar med T6-huvuden. Det är de som håller ihop kniven. En av dem nyttjas dessutom av clipet.

Från ovan kan man även se stoppbulten för bladet samt en extra pinne kring vilken en fånglina kan fästas om sådana tingestar nyttjas.  

Borzam bjuder inte på några konstruktionsmässiga överraskningar. En lättad stålram med öppen rygg och ett par bitar G10 på utsidan. Men det är väl utfört

Utanpå ramen hittas två stycken G10 som inte formats på något vis utöver en liten fasad kant. Det tillsammans med att ramen höjer sig något över sidorna gör att handtaget känns mer rundat. Sedan går det inte att komma ifrån att det är ett smalt handtag. 

Det här är en kniv som passar mycket bra i de flesta händer

Med det menar jag att handtaget förvisso är mycket bekvämt såtillvida att det räcker för hela handen och att det är lätt att hitta ett gott grepp oavsett fattning. Det är även enkelt att skifta mellan olika sätt att hålla kniven då balanspunkten hittas mitt i urtaget för pekfingret. En detalj som för övrigt är riktigt sympatiskt. 

Men den invändning jag har är dels att den böjda bakänden på clipet måste undvikas men framförallt att tjockleken förvisso gör kniven lätt att bära men också att de tunnare sidorna känns lite i handen om man exempelvis täljer med kniven. Något som genast försvinner om man använder handskar kan tilläggas. 

Öppning och lås

Borzam är sådär lagom trendig varpå den kan öppnas lite hur som helst. Två händer funkar utmärkt eftersom det sticker ut mycket blad när kniven är stängd. Annars är de avsedda öppningsmetoderna två. Det finns både en flipperfena och dubbelsidiga tumknoppar att välja mellan. 

Tumknopparna är det öppningssätt jag föredrar. Här är de mycket bra utförda

Flipperfenan fungerar ungefär lika väl som tumknopparna, en balansakt som Sencut behärskar

Sencut/Civivi tillhör de där märkena som ofta närmar sig perfektion när det gäller att trimma motståndet i detent-kulan. Båda sätten att öppna kniven fungerar därför lika bra. Det spelar nästan ingen roll hur du närmar dig vare sig flipperfenan eller knopparna på den här kniven. Bladet flyger ut ändå. Du kan trycka, dra eller pressa såväl med tumme som med pekfinger på baksidan av kniven. Allt bara fungerar. En eloge till Sencut för det. 

Tumknopparna är därtill rätt placerade. De är lätta att nå när de skall användas och de är ur vägen när man skär. Jag avskyr verkligen knivar som har tumknoppar halvvägs ut på bladet. Det uppkommer när resten av kniven har usel geometri och det behövs mer hävarm. Sådana misstag görs inte  här. 

Föga överraskande fungerar även det bastanta ramlåset utmärkt

Låsarmens räfflor är rundande men ger fäste ändå

På samma vis är det här låset exemplariskt. Kanske lite "tråkigt" då det är en liner lock i stål. Men det är så här man gör dem. Det låser kvickt, mjukt och varje gång. Det håller bladet på plats i ett järngrepp och det känns starkt mycket beroende på att godstjockleken på ramen ligger kring 1,5 mm. 

Låset är dessutom riktigt lätt att släppa. Det finns plats att komma åt låsarmen som därtill är räfflad för bättre fäste. Sedan är inte motståndet särskilt stort då de fina toleranserna gör att Sencut inte behövt addra överdriven spänst i låsarmen. 

Att bära

Även solen har sina fläckar hetet det ju. Men i det här fallet är de så små de kan bli. Men Borzam kan aldrig bli en perfekt kniv i fickan, därtill är den för stor helt enkelt. Den mäter trots allt 12 cm på längden och den är tämligen bred med sina 3,4 cm. Vikten ligger på 122 gram. 

Clipet utmärker sig inte på något nämnvärt vis

Sedan har den trots allt en flipperfena. Den är inte överdrivet stor och kanterna är fasade men den är likt förbaskat där. På pluskontot hamnar emellertid att handtaget är tunt som jag var inne på tidigare. Det gör att kniven hamnar i klassen av andra stora men ändå lättburna knivar som exempelvis Cold Steel Code 4. 

Med andra ord så bra det blir när man har ett nästan nio centimeters blad tillgängligt. 

Clipet fyller sin funktion men är blankt och därmed synligt

Om clipet kan sägas att det är ett klassiskt enkelt deep ride-clip av den typ som brukar hittas på knivar från Sencut. Det fungerar utmärkt vad beträffar spänst i stålet och utrymme under själva clipet. Detsamma kan sägas om rampen som hanterar nästan alla tygkanter på ett dugligt vis. 

Clipet klarar sig hyfsat från att vara omärkligt i handen men greppar du kniven mycket hårt och särskilt i sabelgrepp så lämnar det sina avtryck men inte annars. Handtaget är så pass långt att i vanligt hammargrepp hamnar det oftast utanför handen. 

Finishen är mycket blank så på det viset är det synligt men det är inte mycket av kniven som sticker upp ur fickan.

Det enda som avslöjar att clipet tillhör en budgetkniv är att det förekommer på fler modeller och att fästet inte är försänkt på något vis i handtagssidan. Det spar bearbetningstid vid tillverkningen och därmed pengar. Clipet är annars fäst med två stycken T6-skruvar som sitter i tandem för att hindra clipet från att röra sig i sidled. Det gör det förresten med den äran. Clipet är också avtagbart och flyttbart. 

Sammanfattningsvis

Sencut är ett märke som är känt för att leverera knivar av hög kvalitet och Borzam är sannerligen inget undantag. Faktum är att den här kniven konkurrerar med sina dyrare släktingar i Civivi-uppställningen. 

Det här är ett utmärkt alternativ för den som vill ha en lite större fällkniv för EDC-bruk, på arbetsplatsen eller för friluftslivet. 

Borzam tillhör de något större knivarna i katalogen och fyller därmed en nisch

Det du får med Sencut Borzam är en excellent kniv med synnerligen bra prestanda till ett tilltalande pris. 

I paketet ingår ett rejält knivblad på nästan nio centimeter som skär som om det hade betalt för det. Det något bredare bladet ger också bättre kontroll vid skär i mjuka material och fingerfördjupningen ger också möjlighet att smyga fram närmare eggen vid detaljarbete. 

Sedan går det inte att sticka under stol med att Borzam har fantastiskt mjuk gång och ett suväränt lås. Även det visar på den kvalitet som erbjuds från Sencut. Till det kan läggas att bladet kom helt centrerat och mycket vasst. Det ligger helt i linje med resten av finishen som håller hög klass. 

Sencut Borzam tillhör toppskiktet i sin klass

Av det skälet går det bara att säga att för den som vill uppgradera från de allra billigaste EDC-knivarna till något mer substantiellt både vad gäller storlek och kvalitet så känns Sencut Borzam som ett givet alternativ. Här får du kvalitet som ger en försmak av vad en bättre kniv kan erbjuda samtidigt som den inte är överdrivet dyr. För närvarande kan det fås från kring 550 kr. 

Det enda jag möjligen kan invända mot den är att den känns lite, kanske inte tråkig men en smula generisk. Den har inget som sticker ut. Men med det sagt är den ändå snygg och framförallt jäkligt bra. Mitt råd är, köp den!

Sencut Knives

Specifikation:

Längd utfälld: 209 mm

Längd hopfälld: mm

Vikt: 122 g (vägd av mig, uppgiven 122,4 g)

Bladlängd: 88 mm

Godstjocklek: 3 mm

Bladstål: 9Cr18MoV, 58-60 HRC

Handtag: G10

Lås: Liner lock

Producerad av: Sencut, tillverkad i Kina

/ J - säger, köp!

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre 

Review Civivi Starflare

  

-  anything but modest

It was no wonder that I fell for this model. The lines feel familiar and have been seen on some knives over the years. First up was a rather unusual model from Klötzli designed by Wimpff. Des Horn was clearly inspired by it when he designed a similar knife for Spyderco that bears his name. It's a knife I have and in addition, there is an even smaller knife on the same theme from SRM in my collection.

This knife from Civivi called Starflare keeps the same tone so to speak. This means a slim Wharncliffe blade which is more or less mirrored by the shape of the handle, which thus becomes drop-shaped.

The result is visually striking. The question is, however, how is this knife as a tool?

Civivi Starflare

The Starflare is an example of a fairly trendy knife in certain areas. The lock construction is one of them. The handle material, on the other hand, comes and goes in terms of popularity. Civivi holds the flag high in this regard and usually has aluminum in some models in the catalog, even if G10 and Micarta dominate the market at the moment.

The blade is also in tune with the times. Certainly, the type is old but has been rediscovered in recent years when quite a few knives aimed at "EDC" or everyday use as we say have that shape.

But in this case, after all, the design is the big selling point. Similar functions and materials are also found in other Civivi models. Looks don't.

A blade and a look that doesn't apologize

Short version: Civivi Starflare, a knife with a striking exterior that is matched by corresponding features. It cuts well and is comfortable in the hand. As a bonus, the handling is second to none.

Blade

Actually, you could say that the appearance of this knife is based on the shape of the blade. That is for the simple reason that the handle is a mirror of it. What we have here is, as I said, an interpretation of a traditional Wharncliffe. Here I don't even need to use the suffix "modified", because it is not. Here, as it should be, there is a dead-straight edge with no obstruction in the shape of even the slightest of belly. It then meets a blade spine that starts to slope down early. They meet in a, in this case, needle-sharp point.

The shape of the blade has been underlined by a design element that is recognizable from Spyderco Des Horn in the form of grooves that continue from the handle out onto the blade or if it is possible the other way around.

The blade shape is an archetype of a Wharncliffe

It can be said straight away that the Starflare is not a tiny knife. The blade measures close to eight and a half centimeters, 84mm in length, and is 28mm high at the base. The thickness, however, is a modest 3 mm. Through a high flat grind, it gives a blade that measures only 0.3 behind the edge. 

Civivi has learned this by now. Once upon a time, they built knives in the same tradition that their luxury brand WE began. That is, with very thick blades that do not cut well at all. They have gone from that to now being among the best on the market. Model after model is released that cuts terribly well.

Starflare is no exception. The pictures show that the tip is needle-sharp. This of course means that it penetrates excellently but also that it can be sensitive. No prying with this tip or it will break.

The straight edge ends in a needlepoint. Both equally sharp

But as an EDC knife, that needlepoint is a good asset both when it comes to punching holes in plastic packaging and various small jobs where you need to fiddle with something sharp.

Starflare cuts like nobody's business. I've been looking into the blade geometry and if you add a sharp edge to the mix, you get an excellent result. This knife is really competent, especially for the material this type of knife might encounter. Unfortunately, plastic in all forms belongs to that category, but also tape, cardboard, thinner cable ties, nylon straps, and similar packaging materials.

But some food handling has also been included in the tests. This is not something that I personally think should be done with folding knives. But for some strange reason, those who are fond of nice folding knives seem to have an aversion to having equally fancy knives in the kitchen. Therefore, I include that aspect.

And if you now want to use the Starflare as an improvised paring knife or petty for fruit and vegetables, it is relatively good for that. I write "relatively" because a Wharncliffe blade is abysmal against flat surfaces. In those cases, only the tip is used and it wears down, which means that the entire knife has to be maintained more frequently.

Speaking of wear, the blade is made of Nitro-V. It keeps the sharpness well, but not extremely so I've noticed. The good in that context is that the edge and the steel respond well to being stropped.

It doesn't very easy so no spots on the blade and no other problems have arisen during the test period. 

Handle

As previously mentioned, aluminum is used for the handle. The construction is apparently simple as they took two solid pieces of 4 mm each and connected them at two points beside the pivot screw. The back is open and there are two spacers along with the two stop pins for the blade that was used.

The handle is large enough for a solid four-finger grip and there is the possibility to sneak closer to the blade as desired

But it is not the material that is striking, but a couple of other things. One is, of course, the color. This one is really bright lime green. If you don't like the color, the knife is available in an equally shiny fire truck red color. For the more modest user, the knife is also available in black and grey.

In addition to the color, some distinctive design elements in the form of a large circle around the pivot screw/Civivi logo and the stars marked through the lines in the handle are also visible.

The handle is made from two well-rounded 4 mm thick pieces of aluminum

The aluminum sides are softly shaped and even though the sides are flat, they are so finely rounded that they feel arched. It gives a soft feeling against the hand in general and against the index finger in particular when it has found its natural place in the recess intended for this purpose.

A handle that is comfortable in the hand with one small exception

The length means that even a rather large hand can fit all the fingers. The soft shapes also make it easy to change grips when needed. It is also possible to sneak forward with an index finger on or in front of the rounded front part of the handle when or if needed.

The only fly in the ointment I will come back to. In general, this is a well-functioning handle as long as you stay away from heavier work. But the blade is not suitable for that either. The handle is too slippery and spool-shaped for that type of adventure.

Opening and Lock

In all simplicity, it can be said that the Starflare is one of the fastest knives to open you can find. It is something of an achievement as knives with this type of lock lack a detent ball. Here, it is the locking mechanism that is responsible for the resistance that holds the blade in place in the retracted position.

In this case, Civivi has tuned it so well that the blade comes out with lightning speed as soon as you use the double-sided thumb studs. It certainly applies if you use your index finger on the back of the blade as well. It is possible to open the knife slowly, but then you have to break the resistance first and then continue the movement.

The double-sided thumb studs are quite small but work extremely well

In fact, the knife is so easy to open that when you want to close it, you have to turn it on its side in order not to get full speed on the blade as it has a tendency to bounce out again if you don't have absolute timing with the lock. The blade runs on fine ceramic ball bearings and that explains part of the performance.

The second partial explanation is, of course, that the knife has a button lock or "plunge lock"* as it is also called. 

This is what a plunge/button lock looks like in the locked position. The thicker part of the bolt seen on the right rests against the top of the blade base. When the lock is deactivated, that part is pushed into the side of the handle and releases the blade. The tension in the bolt is provided by a very small spring inside the thicker part

For most people, the lock type needs no explanation at this point. But for those who don't know, it can be said that it consists of a concentric locking bolt that is spring-loaded. When the lock is activated, the thicker part of the bolt falls into place above the blade base.

On this knife, it is performed far beyond expectations. By that, I mean that everything works and makes it perfect. The lock is easy to use, it locks every time and it is easy to release. It's also reasonably strong and in this case tuned to perfection. This is the basis for the excellent action of the knife. 

To Carry

Streamlined like a seal is one way to describe this handle. A shape that is also enhanced by the well-rounded edges. It is a good basis for a knife that should be easy to carry in a pocket. The smooth aluminum surface does not impair the conditions.

This is one of Civivi's standard clips and the shape of the handle makes it stick out very far

The length is closer to twelve centimeters, 11.7 cm and it is certainly not small. Especially not as the thickness is 11.9 mm. Good for comfort and ergonomics but slightly worse in the pocket as it increases the volume. But on the other hand, this handle is, as I said, drop-shaped, which concretely reduces it. But that means that the Starflare is not among the thinnest of pocket knives. But the weight is just under one hundred grams, which makes it easier to carry.

If you combine the features, you get a knife that doesn't feel noticeable in your pocket unless your pockets are tight. Then the thickness is felt. The Starflare is also easy to pull and tuck away due to the smooth sides and a clip that works well in that area.

The clip allows most of the knife to be hidden in the pocket

A few more things can be said about the clip. One is that it is one of Civivi/Sencut's generic models and is found on more knives. Another is that it works reasonably well in this case. The tension is good and the attachment is solid. The clip is held in place with two T6-screws placed in tandem. The rest of the screws on the handle are consistently T8s. The screw heads are flat but the clip is not recessed in the side. Despite that, it doesn't move sideways and there is enough space underneath. The same can be said about the ramp which is decent.

One problem, however, is that the tip of the clip points outwards. On the Starflare it usually hides in the middle of the hand where it is not in the way as much as otherwise. 

It's worse with the back end of the clip. Since it is of a deep ride character and is also found on an almost drop-shaped handle, it almost sticks out of the handle sides. This means that it forms a sharp edge that rests against the hand in an uncomfortable way. No problems with fast light cuts, but it feels when you are closing the hand with more force. This applies to both hammer and saber grips.

To Conclude

Those of you who follow me on Instagram know that I'm a fan of the Spyderco Des Horn as it pops up there from time to time. From there, the step is not that far to this knife, although this one is significantly larger. It is actually more substantial than one might be led to believe.

Possibly the design could be a divider. It is very bold and this is emphasized by the color in this case. And in most cases, it can be added. Of course, Civivi Starflare is also available in all black or with a dark damask blade, but it is the bright colors that otherwise characterize the model. Bright red or, as here, lime green are examples of that.

The starting point is the round part made up of the Civivi logo with the associated gray aluminum collar around it. It acts as the center. The blade's distinctive lines have then been reflected in the shape of the handle. Therefore, it becomes drop-shaped. Then everything is emphasized with the fast-paced shooting stars with their lines that tie together the blade and handle.

It has a bit of an art deco design about it, a sense of movement even in stationary objects.

Starflare is an excellent EDC knife but is slightly larger than you might first think

But the Starflare isn't just a good-looking knife. It is actually quite practical as well. The handle feels soft and comfortable. There is a notable difference between rough G10 and soft aluminum in this regard. The blade is effective as long as it involves quick small cuts and all tasks that require a straight edge or a sharp point. Quite obviously, it's not a knife for heavier work, outdoor use, or things that require a stronger tip.

As usual, this knife is extremely well-built. In that area, Civivi is a champion. An example of that is the lock. Starflare is a fanfare for button locks. I don't think it gets much better than this. Not only is the function itself excellent but it is very easy to handle when it comes to disengaging. In addition, it is so well-tuned that the rest of the knife's action is extremely good as well. Especially since the thumb studs are correctly applied both in terms of placement and shape.

But also other quality markers such as sharp factory edge, centered blade, etc. are in place.

Civivi Starflare is a knife you get for looks. You get good functionality on the side

Starflare is therefore a knife I really appreciate! There are no practical objections here, apart from the small details I mentioned. Even so, I cannot recommend it unconditionally. As I said, it can't handle everything, but above all, it's a knife that stands out from the crowd, so it's not for those who want an anonymous knife.

Civivi has many knives that are similar to each other and several of them are good but few are as striking as this one.

Civivi Knives

Specification:

Length Overall: 200 mm

Length Folded:117 mm

Weight: 98 g

Blade Length: 84 mm

Blade Thickness: 3 mm

Blade Steel: Nitro-V

Handle: Aluminum

Lock: Button lock

Produced by: Civivi, made in China

/ J - appreciate practical design exercises

*My first contact with the lock type was on a Böker Speedlock I bought in the nineties.

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