CIVIVI Knives, made in China and designed by some of the greats of the knife industry, like Ben Petersen, Bob Terzuola, Justin Lundquist and Brad Zinker (to name just a few) are made with top-notch materials, sport elegant and innovative designs, and exhibit peerless fit and finish.

For those of you only familiar with the classic brands in the knife industry, there are a whole lot of modern competitors out there, like Artisan Cutlery, WE Knife Company, CJRB, and Zero Tolerance, all of which can give the classics a run for their money.

CIVIVI Knives are among them. Here are some of the best ones from our collection.

CIVIVI Elementum

We need to start with the Elementum. How could we not? It is the quintessential CIVIVI Knife in so many ways.

First, it is the only CIVIVI that people who are not familiar with the brand actually know. Second, it has spawned a bunch of variants that deserve as much praise as the original.

The original alone sports a utilitarian design that is great for EDC, and while it won’t necessarily make anyone stop in their tracks or do a double take, it’s designed to be practical, and it is.

It’s available in a variety of different steels, scale materials, blade finishes, and colors, so you can take your pick of what appeals to you.

The original Elementum features a hollow-ground drop point with a buttery smooth action and a solid liner lock. There’s also the Elementum II, available with a button lock, as well as a fixed version.

Basically, there’s an Elementum for you. If you’re thinking about delving into CIVIVI knives and don’t know where to start - this is your stop.

CIVIVI Conspirator

The CIVIVI Conspirator is not much to look at but it’s the quality of the build that really deserves your attention.

As stated, it’s a nondescript drop-point with a 3.48” blade and boxy Micarta scales. Nothing there you wouldn’t get in the Elementum, right?

Actually, one of the versions of the Conspirator that we offer here is made with a Nitro-V blade. That alone makes it worth getting one, especially at the prices we’re asking.

Basically, Nitro-V is AEB-L modified with nitrogen (ergo the name). Think of it like a finer, and tougher, version of D2.

Oh, but one more thing: the addition of nitrogen makes it corrosion resistant in ways that D2 could never dream of. So it’s like a razor that won’t rust (easily).

Also, the other big thing to love about this CIVIVI knife is the button lock configuration. It’s all the rage right now, and in addition to being fidget-friendly, it’s also safer than a liner or frame lock because it keeps your hands out of the way when closing the knife.

CIVIVI Baby Banter

You may know the Banter from the collection of WE Knife Company items, and that is where the inspiration for the Baby Banter came from.

The Baby Banter is the Banter but on a smaller scale. It still preserves the same drop-point style blade, thumb studs, and liner lock of the original.

The only thing that’s really different is the size. This little knife is a pleasure to carry and very light and compact. It’s also not an intimidating profile, a bonus when carrying around others. It’s not likely to inspire the “jitters” in those that are not comfortable around knives.

The tinier, CIVIVI version of the Banter also has another trick up its sleeve. It’s made with the same steel as the Conspirator mentioned earlier: Nitro-V.

This gives the Baby Banter unbelievable resistance to corrosion, as well as the ability to take a razor edge and hold it for a decent amount of time. It’s also a really tough steel, as stated.

Sometimes good things come in small sizes. Whether you already have a Banter in your collection or not, a Baby Banter is another good chance.

CIVIVI Altus

The CIVIVI Altus is another top pick from our collection of CIVIVI Knives. It’s sort of like a classier-looking Elementum that looks somewhat more modern, with its sleek lines and nearly spear-point-like drop point.

Only 3.11oz, with a 2.97” blade, the Altus is another good pick, and has a couple other nice features worth calling out.

One is the adequate choil machined into the scales, which provides both good grip and good indexing to the knife. This helps with handling and control, even in less than ideal conditions.

Another is the button lock. This unique CIVIVI knife is designed with one and it preserves all of the virtues already here covered.

But the most important element of this knife (according to us) is the blade steel, which we won’t extol again. At the risk of sounding like we’re beating a dead horse, the CIVIVI Altus in question is made with a Nitro-V blade.

You get the picture. It’s the sort of knife to get if you like the look of the design and features, and it’s definitely one of the best we offer here in our full collection of CIVIVI knives.

CIVIVI Vision

The CIVIVI Vision is a unique knife for a few reasons. Some you can expect: a Nitro-V blade and skeletonized Micarta scales, for instance.

But this knife has a few other cool features. One is a sheepsfoot profile blade (sometimes referred to as a reverse tanto, but it’s basically the same thing). It’s a blunt, downturned point that is reminiscent of a pocket cleaver.

This gives it a very strong point which predisposes it to jobs that are tough on the tip. There’s extra steel behind the point, so it’s less likely to break.

The real gem here is the “Superlock” a locking mechanism that consists of a bar that runs along the back of the knife, with a hook at the front that fits into a recess machined into the knife’s tang.

In a word, the Superlock is ambidextrous, easy to use, extremely strong, and basically impossible to disengage accidentally. Best of all, it, like a button lock, allows you to keep your fingers out of the knife’s path when closing it - but it’s probably stronger than a button lock, too.

This is the one that gets our highest vote at the moment. If you want to pick out one of the best CIVIVI Knives, don’t do it without taking a look at the Superlock-equipped Vision.

Discover These and Other CIVIVI Knives Here

Just because you didn’t see it here does not mean it isn’t one of the best CIVIVI knives. Check out our full collection via the previous link and get in touch with us at WhiteMountainKnives@gmail.com if you are looking for something specific.