Civivi Conspirator, a folding knife with a touch of retro charm

G.B., © G.B.

The stonewashed blade has a nice matte grey hue. Nice pivot pin with the letter "C" on it.

The Conspirator folding knife is one of the latest additions to the catalog of Civivi, a Chinese company we already told you about recently, when we tested the Tamashii fixed-blade model designed by the great U.S. cutler Bob Terzuola.

In the Civivi catalog we find in fact both models designed by knifemakers of international stature and those designed in-house, such as the Conspirator. The one we show you is actually one of four versions available on the market. Three have a Nitro-V steel blade with a black or gray stonewashed finish, like the star of our notes, and black Micarta, green Micarta, and Bubinga wood grips, respectively. At the top of the range we find the DS1 variant with gray Micarta grips and Damascus blade with blued finish.

The packaging of the Conspirator is the standard Civivi packaging, so it is very rich. Inside the cardboard box we find a Nylon case that holds the knife, cleaning cloth, warranty certificate and two stickers.

Civivi Conspirator, essential but without neglecting aesthetics

G.B., © G.B.

On the right side of the handle we find the blued stainless steel clip that allows the knife to be carried in the "tip up" position.

The Civivi Conspirator is a classic EDC folding knife with a drop point profile blade 88.3 millimeters long and 3 thick that opens in the blink of an eye by acting on the side flipper tab. The most interesting feature of the Conspirator is the very simple push-button blade opening system that is well integrated into the handle. In fact, it is a small circular button that protrudes from the left scale, and with a simple press it allows the blade to be unlocked. The button controls a plunger and also has the function of keeping the knife closed, preventing any accidental opening. But that's not all: when the knife is closed, a slight pressure on the button is enough to unlock the blade, which can be opened with a simple outward flick of the wrist, without even having to use the flipper tab. Credit is also due to the ceramic ball bearings on which the blade pivots, which makes opening and closing extremely smooth. As if that were not enough for you, there are nail grooves on both sides of the blade for easy handling.

The blade itself has a finish called grey stonewash, which actually looks more like sandblasting to me, as the surface tone is perfectly even. In any case, the machining of the planes and the execution of details such as the back knurling reveal great precision. Factory sharpening is also good.

G.B., © G.B.

A detail on the push-button that operates the blade lock. Operation is very smooth.

The blade release button moves without friction, causing only a slight spring noise. The inner plates are made of stainless steel with a blued finish, as are the Torx screws that fasten the grips and the clip attached to the right side of the handle, set up for "tip up" carry. The clip can be removed and mounted on the opposite side.

A few words about the handle scales: the model photographed features tropical wood scales, defined on the company's website as "Cuibourtia." We forgive the small transliteration error, as the correct name is Guibourtia, a plant native to tropical Africa that is better known as Bubinga. Bubinga wood is highly prized for fine furniture and in the making of stringed instruments, being distinguished by beautiful grain and great strength in relation to weight. The smooth finish of the scales makes the knife very pleasant to the touch. 

For those interested in more technological materials, but still with an eye to tradition, remember that the Cospirator is also available with a Micarta handle. Looking at the handle also confirms the good quality of the assembly, there are no smudges or gaps between the plates and the scales, whose thickness is perfectly uniform.

Civivi Conspirator, wrapping up

G.B., © G.B.

As usual, the packaging is rich and includes a Nyon case and a microfiber cloth.

The Civivi Conspirator costs about 95 euros, and with a little attention to various promotions, you can even take it home at a bit of a discount. It is not a particularly flashy knife, but in the wooden-handled version it certainly stands out with a vintage-flavored elegance that will surely catch the collector's eye. Plus the button lock system is an interesting innovation, which Civivi is gradually extending to other new or existing models in the catalog. It works well, it cuts and it is beautiful to look at – this is usually what enthusiasts are looking for. Plus it comes in rich packaging, making it ideal as a gift as well. Think about it.

Civivi Conspirator specs and price