Civivi Lumi Review
In baseball there are some pitchers that make their hay throwing triple digit heat. Some, a much smaller handful, instead, find success with impeccable control. The problems is that the line between impeccable control and just throwing slow is a very slim one. Even pitchers that end their career as control artists usually start as power pitchers with good control (see Greg Maddux). Watching this tight rope transition can be maddening. When Daisuke Matsuzaka came to Boston it was painful. He had great control, but never threw pitches in the zone. He danced around, nibbling at the zone. The problem is everyone knew it and so no one felt compelled to swing. He was so close to greatness, literally inches away, but it never worked out.
This story is a fear I have harbored for Civivi for a while. They make a boatload of knives and many of them are pretty good. Some are even very good. But they always have some drawback, some issue. Until now. The Civivi Lumi is the first truly great knife from one of the most prolific and important brands in the knife industry. It is an ideal EDC and something you will enjoy carrying. Lets breakdown this great and important knife.
Here is the product page. The Civivi Lumi costs $49.95. There are three variants: SW with gray G10, SW with black G10, and Black PVD with black G10. There is likely to be a damascus version in the future if Civivi’s prior releases are any indication. There are no written reviews, because us knife guys are Luddites apparently. Here is a video review. Finally, here is my review sample (purchased with my own funds):
Twitter Review Summary: Civivi’s first out pitch of a knife
Design: 2
The Lumi isn’t just some random front flipper—it is a clever homage to the great Sami knives of far northern Scandinavia designed by one of my favorite designers in the world right now, Justin Lundquist (this is the second Lundquist design reviewed in 2022 for the those counting, the first is the Baby Barlow). Its distinctly Lundquist—clean, virtually symmetrical, with a fully enclosed blade, but it has real Sami knife touches. The handle has an ever so slight palm swell, just like an authentic puuko would. It has thin blade stock and a very fine tip (more on this later). In all it is clever adaptation of a historically important piece of cutlery into a modern form. It is also a stellar design. This combination of historically-informed shapes and excellent utility make the knife rise above the horde of generic designs that proliferate the current knife market. This is smart and wonderful design at its best.
The performance ratios are very good. The B:H is: .72 while the B:W is 1.45. Both are excellent compared to other knives. This is micarta Al Mar Hawk territory. Few knives play in this rarified air.
Fit and Finish: 2
If you removed the elegant C pivot, you’d be hardpressed in double blind ABX testing to distinguish this little jewel of a knife from its more fancy WE Knives cousins. The grind is clean and even, the contouring is spot on, the spine is crowned, and the action is snappy. In short, you will not find a better made $60 anywhere.
Grip: 2
This is a small knife, but a smart one from a grip perspective. One hallmark of a puukko-style knife was a distinct palm swell in the handle and here, the Lumi doesn’t disappoint. Its not comically large but it is there and it does provide some traction. The shadowboxed and sculpted handle scales also help with grip. I wouldn’t drive this into oak like a stake, but it is surprisingly grippy for such a clean and simple knife.
Carry: 2
The Lumi carries like a pack of Wrigley’s gum—slim and small. The clip is excellent, more on that below, and the simple shape means it won’t get hung up on stuff. The Lumi also drops nicely into a coin pocket or the like. You can even shirt-pocket carry this if you need to with little problem.
Steel: 2
In the budget steel department 14C28N is really great. It has been for a decade, since I first saw it on the Kershaw Skyline (‘member when the Skyline was $40?). Now there are other competitors—Artisan’s budget powder steel and Nitro-V, but I still really like 14C28N. It may be heresy to write this but I like it considerably better than I like S30V. S30V’s effort to results ratio in sharpening is miserable.
Blade Shape: 1
I get the homage and I understand that the original puukkos had zero grinds or something like that, but this tip is just too thin. I haven’t broken it, but only because I have been exceedingly careful. I have actually changed how I cut with the knife. That compromise is probably not necessary. They could have beefed up the tip a bit or gone with a different blade profile that would have resulted in a better tip. Its like the Kershaw Leek, but even thinner. Its not quiet the 0707, but it is close.
Grind: 2
I love the thin grind, I just don’t like it on a blade shape like this. As such I felt it best to take off the point for blade shape and not grind. Put another way, I have many knives this thinly ground, but that is only a problem when you have this acute a tip.
Deployment Method: 2
With a relatively unoffensive, but effective run of jimping on the rear tang of the knife, the Lumi flips open easily and consistently. It is much easier than my small Shamwari, which has a crispy detent. This is ultimately a preference, but I think most people will like the Lumi’s deployment better. It is also better than the deployment on the Kizer Feist, though not quite as nice as on the Baby Barlow 2.0, both Lundquist front flipper designs.
Retention Method: 2
Remember in the 90s when FPS’s were still screwing around with which control config was best? You’d switch games and have to relearn all sorts of muscle memory. Slowly everyone agreed that triggers should be for weapons (no PC nerds, I don’t care about mouse and keyboard). Pocket clips have undergone the same evolution and we are close to a convergence. This is a very good, very simple design that is easy to make and easy to install. If this were the clip that was the final result of that convergence of design, I wouldn’t be sad.
Lock: 2
A liner lock with thoughtful and real access to the lock bar is great. It breaks up Lundquist’s desire for symmetry, but it is worth it. As we all know form should follow function. For all the no-look knives out there, like the Quiet Carry Drift G10, this is how you do it.
Other Considerations
Fidget Factor: Very High
Snappy deployment and river rock shape makes this a great knife to play with and run through your fingers.
Fett Effect: Very Low
Some materials just don’t show wear and other than gray G10 darkening over time there is nothing that will look different out of the box than it does 5 years from now, provided, of course, the tip holds up.
Value: Very High
In the 2021 GOTY, the Lumi won value of the year. Knife News was similarly plauditory. This knife made me reconsider purchasing the Eidolon.
Overall Score: 19 of 20
Only the pointy tip keeps this knife from the Perfect logo. I love the Lumi a lot. It is a smart design with historical callbacks that don’t really muck with the ergos or utility. The tip is too much, but really its not a big deal. It will force you to use a folder the way you should. I like the size as well. The knife just drops in the coin pocket perfectly. Finally, the materials are all nice without being extravagant. This might be the Civivi I go premium on. I like it that much. This is Civivi’s best knife so far.
Competition
Ironically the best competition is from the Civivi stable mate the Baby Banter. I think this is a more handsome knife, but both are so useful that I couldn’t blame you if you preferred the Baby Banter. The Lumi reminds me a lot of the Leek with its thin blade stock and pointy tip. It Leek isn’t as elegant, but it is a time tested design. Size wise I like the Dragonfly (please don’t die from surprise), the Benchmade Valet (which is VERY similar knife, just four times as much and not as elegant), and the Al Mar Ti Hawk Ultralight. I probably like the Ultralight a smidge more, but it is virtually a dead heat. On any particular day, I could be convinced this is superior.
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