front flipper

Civivi Mckenna Review

Ever been accused of going about something bass-ackwards? Behold the Civivi Mckenna: one of the new breed of “front flippers” that has quietly been developing a following of… well, I wouldn’t say devotees, but definitely a contingent of pleasantly bemused knife flippers who will always give a quirky design a day in court.

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If you’re not familiar with Civivi, it’s a brand extension of the We Knife Company, a Chinese firm founded back in 2000 with a mission of competing on the same quality level with American knife stalwarts like Spyderco and Benchmade (instead of, say, the kind of knives you’d find at a gas station). Civivi specializes in striking a balance of fit, finish, and respectable materials with the intent of higher-volume production.

Note that most people describe Civivi as the “budget” wing of We Knife. I think that’s stretching it a bit, as a shipped price of about seventy bucks here isn’t really “budget” in my book. It’s also questionable to use that term given that this wouldn’t really be anyone’s choice for a rough-and-tumble, tackle the weekend chore list, bet your life on it if you had to kind of knife. The Mckenna is an indulgence through and through, but that’s hardly a bad thing.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Mckenna is an Elijah Isham design. If you’re not familiar with his work, it exists in a continuum ranging from angular to extremely angular. Isham’s Arrakis design for We Knife looks essentially like the kind of knife you’d find in the medical wing of a UFO. His Eschaton (also for We Knife) looks like a bunch of scalpel blades fused together to make a larger knife. I think they’re neat, but they’re not for everyone.

You can find that design lineage here on the Mckenna if you go looking for it, but thankfully Isham has dialed it back. The Mckenna has an intriguing combination of curves and geometric lines, and when deployed the knife has an subtle, angular “S” shape that’s somewhat reminiscent of a lightning bolt.

First and foremost: the Mckenna is not a large knife by any stretch of the imagination. At just under 3 and 7/8” closed and about four tenths of an inch wide, the knife edges pretty close to “pack of gum” sizing. This will absolutely disappear in a pocket and you’ll be hard-pressed to notice the length, but size-wise it may feel more toy than tool.

The near 3” knife blade can best be described somewhere between a wharncliffe, sheepsfoot, and a reverse tanto. Functionally, I think it’s more wharncliffe than anything, with the spine of the blade breaking at a sharper arc in the last inch or so to meet the tip of a mostly straight blade. There is just a very, very small amount of upswell from the sharpening choil to the end of the blade. Put all of these qualities together, and you get a little more tip strength than you might with a typical wharncliffe, but tends to be a better poker than a traditional sheepsfoot.

Like a lot of Civivi knives over the $50 price point, the blade steel is D2. This is a nice upgrade over the typical 8Cr13MoV / AUS 8 normally used within this quality tier thanks to better edge retention, but it does come with the drawbacks of being harder to sharpen and having a little more tendency to rust. Those in wetter and more humid climates might want to keep a bottle of gun or knife oil handy and reapply it every now and again.

As it came from the factory, the blade sharpness was only middling. However, about ten minutes on a Work Sharp Angle Set sharpener and the knife had a razor edge that was surprisingly resilient. The spine of the blade is only about a tenth of an inch wide, which means that the Mckenna is a great slicer. With a pinch grip allowing the index finger to sit halfway up the spine of the blade, the knife allows for extremely precise cuts and excels at scoring. Anyone looking for a classier replacement for an X-acto knife would be well served with this knife.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Mckenna features G10 construction with stainless steel liners. This surprised me; from handling alone I would have sworn it was nylon. This is all to say that the G10 on the Mckenna is not going to be as grippy as you’re probably used to, but it’s well-textured and not slippery by any means. There’s about a quarter inch of jimping on the top and rear of the flipper that allows for a good purchase, and the liner lock is nicely scalloped and only slightly proud of the scales. No complaints here. This isn’t a knife you’re going to need to bear down on.

The pocket clip is fine, if underwhelming. The Mckenna has a provision for left or right tip-up carry, but no holes are drilled near the pivot of the knife. That makes tip-down carry is a no-go if that’s your preference. The clip is not deep carry, but there’s only about a half-inch triangle of handle that protrudes from the pocket.

Frankly, I ditched my clip. The detent is strong enough to give me confidence that the blade will stay closed in a pocket, and the small dimensions ensure that I’m not going to be constantly preoccupied about how this sits loose. Additionally, the action of the knife seems to work best pressed flat between the meat of the thumb and tips of the fingers. For that reason, nixing the pocket clip gives me a substantial real estate upgrade when it comes to getting a comfortable purchase.

Onward to what I’d say is the clearest flaw of the knife (or at least in my hands and given the usage I subject it to): the hot spots. The top rear corners of the Mckenna meet at a near 90-degree angle and aren’t particularly rounded. Given the small dimensions of the knife, almost invariably those corners are going to rub against the tenderest part of the palm along the center-line of the hand during use. Note that this isn’t a dealbreaker by any means, but given the knife’s positioning as being a fidget-friendly knife par excellence, these corners become all the more conspicuous.

Deployment and Lockup

If the ergos and size were a bit of a downside, we’re getting to the “good news” part of the review. As expected, the Mckenna is a whole lot of goofy, stupid fun to play with.

If you’ve never used a front flipper, you basically want to cradle the thing in your hand like a bic lighter, only imagine that you’re flicking the exposed nub backwards as opposed to downwards. With a quick snap of the thumb, you should be able to get your digit out of the path of the blade’s spine, and momentum will carry the blade into full lockup. It is weird, but gratifying.

Hard-nosed, serious business types will ask, “Is there any benefit to this over a tried-and-true flipper tab, or a good thumb stud?” The answer to this is an unqualified “no.” Front flippers, in my opinion, are attempting to reinvent the wheel. In direct comparison to deployment methods that are now the industry standard, I don’t envision any serious context where they become a superior choice.

But is it fun? Oh, you betcha. There’s certainly a learning curve to the front flipping function, and even though I think I’ve gotten the hang of it there’s still a 5% chance I screw something up. However, the knife is just as easily deployed using what I’d call a “three point turn” approach, where you use the thumb to present the blade 90 degrees to the handle, then push down on the jimping on the flipper with the index finger to reach full lock-up. This is also a good deployment method if you’re not looking to spook your co-workers.

The pivot is running on stainless bearings and everything clicks open and shut with quiet authority. Build quality is excellent here: the blade is nicely centered, there’s no squeaking or rattling, and the liner finds the center of the blade with the measliest amount of pressure. There are no hitches in the action, and the blade moves smoothly and evenly. It is extremely, extremely satisfying to work.

Civivi Mckenna Review – Final Thoughts

As a knife, the Civivi Mckenna is a lot like a good bottle of scotch: hardly essential, pricey enough that it’s outside the realm of an impulse purchase, but a great way to treat yourself if you’re feeling a little indulgent.

Again, I don’t think front flippers are going to become a new paradigm in the world of knives anytime soon. Pair that action with the small size, and the Mckenna feels even more like a novelty. But in the same breath: let’s be honest with ourselves: 95% of people could buy a Benchmade Griptilian or Spyderco Paramilitary 2 and not need to own another knife for the rest of their lives. Considering you’re spending your free time reading a review on a knife website, that probably doesn’t describe you.

CIVIVI Knives McKenna Folding Knife - Small Pocket Knife with Satin Blade -One Hand Open Knife for Everyday Outdoor Carry - C905C(Black)

✅【Designed by Elijah Isham and Precision Engineered by We Knife】Folding knife with unique shape features a razor sharp well-built centered D2 2.92” blade,smooth action and nice edge retention pocket knife
✅【Slim Build and Solid G-10Handle】Knife with G10 scales make this folding hunting knife comfortable enough that brings you a nice camping and outdoor knife used experience
✅【Lightweight Carry Knife】Weight 1.76oz with ease carry in your pocket,ideal knife for men and women,a pocket clip for easy and safe carry
✅【Always Ready Utility Knife】Ball bearing pivot offers quick blade deployment, knife art to your collection or as a gift to husband,dad or friends
✅【Civivi Care】Civivi is a subset brand of We Knife Co.,Ltd,limited lifetime warranty covers any defects in materials or workmanship, see official site for details

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Civivi Mckenna at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Also, please join me in welcoming Clayton Walker to the website. Clayton some good stuff in the pipeline so stay tuned for more from him.

Kizer Feist Review

by Grayson Parker 1 Comment

Last Updated: July 13, 2019
The Kizer Feist is a knife that I’ve wanted to check out since seeing it in the 2017 catalog. At first, I almost missed it: it’s seemingly such a plain design that my eyes slid right over its page, and it was only during a follow-up perusal that I noticed it was a front flipper. Internally, that changed the design from “plain” to “minimalist.” Maybe a silly distinction on my part, but that was the train of thought.

Buy the Kizer Feist at BladeHQ

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Unfortunately, the first run of Feists had issues. Some customers complained of gritty actions and stiff lockbars, so Kizer put a hold on production until they could fix those issues in the now-released second run (with the help of the designer, Justin Lundquist). Between the risks of buying a first generation model and the speed with which the second run sold out, I never had a chance to pick one up.

Luckily, someone offered to trade me their Feist a few months back, and I’ve been carrying it frequently ever since. Incidentally, that person is Tony Sculimbrene of Everyday Commentary. His review of the Feist was published back in September 2017, and I recommend checking it out. This is a rare occasion where two people review not only the same design, but the exact same knife. [This happens to be a high quality unit from the first production run, for the record]. On the whole we’ve come to similar conclusions, though I think I’m a bit more taken with the Feist than he is.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Kizer Feist is a relatively small knife. It features a 2.875” blade housed in a 3.625” handle, and measures in at 6.55” overall. At 2.68 ounces it’s also pretty light. Numbers never tell the whole story, but I’m impressed by the size of the blade they manage to fit into the handle. The attention to detail is similarly impressive: the blade is perfectly centered, has a rounded spine, a curved plunge line, and a very attractive stonewashed finish. It also bears mentioning that the sub-3” blade of the Feist is legal to carry in a wide array of jurisdictions.

In addition to falling into my favorite size range, the Feist also features one of my favorite blade shapes. The modified drop point (especially this iteration of it) is far and away the most useful profile I’ve encountered for everyday tasks. It is comparable to the blade of the Viper Dan 2, or (if that’s too esoteric a reference) an ordinary paring knife. There’s enough belly to handle a picnic lunch, but not so much that the blade will slide out of prolonged cuts in, say, cardboard.

I have to admit that after reviewing the Alter Ego I was more than a little concerned about how the Feist would be ground. I needn’t have worried. Not only does the Feist have thinner stock (.12” thick as opposed to .14”), but the dished grind nearly reaches the spine of the blade, making for a much keener knife overall. As the picture below suggests, it didn’t cut the apples as cleanly as a paring knife, but it didn’t split them, either. It’s not perfectly ground – there’s a hair of wobble along the plunge grind – but that’s a fairly minor detail, and it doesn’t impact the cutting performance.

Crucible’s S35VN is a common choice for Kizer, so I wasn’t surprised to see them implement it on the Feist. That’s not to say it’s a bad choice, mind: S35VN is well regarded for its edge retention, rust resistance, and general toughness, especially compared to its predecessor S30V. I’ve sharpened the Feist once in two months, and truth be told it didn’t need it, I just wanted to polish it up a little. As always, regular stropping is recommended.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Simplicity is a wonderful thing. There is nothing extraneous to the Feist’s handle: no scallops, no inexplicable bumps or angles, just plain, contoured titanium. The only concession to vanity is a decorative pivot screw, but even that can be turned with an ordinary torx driver. Flaws would stand out on a design as simple as this, yet the handles are symmetrical, clean, and blemish free. The matte finish Kizer put on the Feist adds a bit of grip and contributes to the spare design language.

The themes that make the Feist’s handle visually appealing also make it incredibly practical. There is not a single line that forces the user to hold it in a particular fashion. Combine that, the excellent contouring, and a balance point just shy of the overtravel stop and you get a remarkably deft and responsive knife. There is no flipper tab, finger choil, or jimping that will stop your fingers from sliding onto the blade though, so be careful.

The Feist features a milled titanium pocket clip that’s mounted for tip-up, right-side carry. Unfortunately, that’s the only position to attach a pocket clip unless you want to modify the Feist or find someone who can. It’s fine as far as milled clips are concerned. The edges on it are buffed enough that it doesn’t generate a hot spot, and it has some (though not much) spring tension. Stowing and retrieving the Feist wasn’t an issue in jeans, work pants, or gym shorts, but for some reason I needed to use both hands to clip it to the pocket of my slacks. I honestly couldn’t tell you why.

Once stowed, the Feist is an excellent pocket companion. It’s lightweight, slim, fairly short, and has contoured scales to boot. There’s enough tension in the clip that it doesn’t shift in the pocket, regardless of what pants I wear. The clip leaves just under half of an inch of the handle exposed. An over the top style clip wouldn’t be unwelcome, but I’ve found the Feist discreet enough for my needs.

Deployment and Lock-Up

One of the reasons I really wanted to check out the Feist was because of its deployment method: the front flipper. Unlike traditional flipper knives (part of my brain is screaming as I type that), front flippers don’t have a tab that’s pulled to deploy the blade. Instead, the rear tang of the blade is elongated and machined to add a bit of grip, which in turn gives the user’s thumb enough purchase to pop the blade open. It’s a very elegant choice, and eliminates problems like accumulating gunk and snagging threads that other deployment methods are subject to.

Unfortunately, this new flipping has a learning curve to it, and Kizer’s execution of the front flipper was less than perfect. Many customers complained of gritty actions, which made opening and closing the knife more difficult. Apparently (and this is secondhand knowledge, so take care) the internal stop pin wasn’t press fit but left free floating, and that was responsible for the grit. If you own a first generation Feist, don’t worry: Kizer is running a redemption program where you can exchange it for an updated model. My review sample hasn’t exhibited this problem: the pivot is reasonably smooth, the detent is crisp, and deployment is easy, though there is a trick to it. Instead of trying (and failing) to describe how to use a front flipper, here’s a video that may help:

Once deployed, the Feist’s blade is held in place by a titanium frame lock. This particular lock features a stainless steel lock face, an inclusion that should be the industry standard by now. Not only do they reduce the need for maintenance, they also make it easier to service the knife, and thus prolong the life of the tool. Furthermore, it’s easy to incorporate a hidden overtravel stop into these inserts, which is exactly what Kizer did.

The lock’s performance has been excellent in the two months and change that it’s been in my possession. There is no blade play, no lock rock, and it consistently engages around 40% of the blade tang. Thanks to some careful machine work from Kizer, there’s enough room for my thumb to access the lock, and the internal edges are chamfered for comfort. Some users have reported overly stiff locks, but this seems to be limited to models from the first run. As before, mine has no problems.

Kizer Feist Review – Final Thoughts

Overall, I’m very impressed by the Feist. It’s a practical, elegant design that matches my needs perfectly, whether I’m in the field, the office, or enjoying a day off. That its debut was marred by reports of shoddy manufacturing is a shame, but by all accounts the second run has none of the problems of the first. The only cross-generational complaint is that the milled clip is a bit stiff, but that’s far from a dealbreaker, at least for me.

Unless you find a sale, the Feist costs around $170. That price bracket has some pretty stiff competition, including the Benchmade G-10 Griptilians, the Spyderco S110V Paramilitary 2, and the Zero Tolerance 0450. I wouldn’t turn my nose up at any of those, but for my money I’d rather have the Feist. Its unique, refreshing, and hopefully a sign of more to come from designer Justin Lundquist.

There are a few people that may want to steer clear of the Feist. Firefighters, EMS workers, law enforcement, and military personnel might find that the design is ill-suited to their needs. The design cues that make the Feist a fantastic everyday carry knife also make it a less than ideal rescue or ‘tactical’ knife. However, if – like me – your needs are fairly simple, and you’re just looking for a pocketable, elegant cutting tool, I think you’ll be more than happy with the Kizer Feist.

Next up: the Prometheus Lights Beta QR V2 in brass.

Kizer Feist – From $168.00
From: BladeHQ

Editor: I recommend buying the Kizer Feist at BladeHQ or Amazon. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.