Purple Enchantment: Civivi P87 Pocket Knife Evaluate

Knife design is a refined artwork. A blade could be effectively made, fantastically completed, and competitively priced, but when it struggles as a device, then the entire train is in useless.

Perhaps that’s what drew me to the Civivi P87 ($70). Designed by TV survivalist and knifemaker Kaila Cumings, the P87 represents one in every of her first entries into the mass-market jungle.

And whereas I’ve nothing however respect for the oldsters who wrestle by the wilderness for our leisure, the merchandise launched underneath their names don’t normally are typically refined. Take Bear Grylls, for example. Although I’m a giant fan of his latest wristwatch, his line of cutlery from Gerber has been fairly effectively panned by the outside group.

For this reason, once I first caught sight of the P87, I used to be intrigued by the refined nature of the design. Civivi agreed to ship a pattern over for testing, and I waited to see if the truth would dwell as much as my notion.

In brief: The Civivi P87 is a light-weight, well-built reducing device from designer Kaila Cumings. The blade, flipper tab, and upswept tip exhibit a robust understanding of knife design, and Civivi’s match and end are as much as the model’s normal customary of excellence. For round $70, this is among the extra fascinating small knives of 2022.

Civivi P87 Knife Evaluate

So far as trendy pocket knives go, the P87 is a reasonably modest beast. Its flat-ground, bead-blasted Nitro-V blade clocks in at just below 3 inches, which places it on the safer aspect of the road drawn by some municipalities.

Its handle-to-edge ratio is an efficient one, with 3.6 inches devoted to grip. This latter floor is made up of purple G-10, at the very least on the take a look at mannequin equipped by Civivi.

Consumers can black, inexperienced, and even pay the additional cost for a carbon fiber inlay.

In all configurations, most customers will function the blade with the flipper tab. Nonetheless, the knife could be opened utilizing the twin thumb studs.

These have been thoughtfully positioned (nearly) out of the reducing path. A sharpening choil lies under, with the designer’s brand hovering on the clip aspect.

Within the Hand and Pocket

The P87 lived in my pocket for a full week after its arrival. All through this time, it proved to be a cushty, easy-carrying device. I’ve common/large-sized fingers, and its deal with has simply sufficient actual property to succeed in each finger.

The cutouts alongside the decrease grip really feel pure, and the knife has a manner of nestling into your palm.

The design of the flipper tab can be notably considerate. Moreover its well-executed texturing, its hooked nature helps it function a finger guard as soon as the blade is open.

However the safety doesn’t cease there. When disengaging the liner lock, the flipper tab is in an ideal place to drop in opposition to the person’s thumbnail. This retains the sharp edge effectively away out of your digits. Reposition your thumb, give the knife a fast shake, and the blade swings closed on the sleek arc of its ball bearings.

Talking of clean, Civivi has performed job with the pocket clip. Its clear, deep-carry design permits the knife to journey effortlessly in your denims or shorts.

There’s one little bit of weirdness, although. See that additional gap close to the again? For a minute, I assumed I’d in some way managed to lose one of many P87’s screws. However no — press images have this similar empty house.

It’s a vacant, threaded gap supposed to permit left-handed customers to change the aspect of the pocket clip.

Chopping Efficiency

The P87 proved its functionality by quite a lot of light- and medium-duty chores. The simple deployment and stowage made all of it however easy to make use of, whereas the colours and curves supplied a pleasant little bit of visible attraction.

I particularly just like the strains of the reverse-tanto blade, and the angular swedges that taper towards the tip.

And that, in reality, is my favourite a part of this knife. Wanting on the images, I figured that the lengthy stomach and skinny inventory of the blade would make it a strong device for meals prep. Whereas it did a satisfactory job with some onions, carrots, and mushrooms, it was that lovely upswept tip that received my coronary heart.

Just like the CRKT Razelcliffe Compact Blackout, this ahead level makes a superb bundle opener and field cutter. However whereas the Blackout is extra of a utility-first merchandise, the P87 manages to offer comparable efficiency with a big uptick in fashion.

As talked about, this Civivi carried out simply adequately when it got here to supper. I consider that is as a result of brief distance between the sting and backbone of the blade. The inventory could also be slim, but it surely has to do plenty of tapering in a rush to get right down to the sharpness.

Nonetheless, the P87 was greater than a match for cardboard, rope, and quite a lot of comparable supplies.

Conclusion

After per week’s value of use, I can say this for sure: The Civivi P87 is among the greatest small knives I’ve examined this yr. The supplies and building are wonderful, and the $70 worth level is actually engaging.

However what I discover most fascinating is the thoughtfulness demonstrated in Kaila Cumings’ design. The well-executed flipper tab, the sleek utility of the blade tip, and the positioning of the thumb studs present understanding of the nuances that make up an amazing pocket knife.

In brief, the P87 is one other win for Civivi. And if Cumings has any new blueprints on the horizon, you’ll be able to guess we’ll be paying consideration.

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