The Civivi Knives Ortis Pocketknife: The Full Nick Shabazz Review

Today, we'll take a look at a new budget knife from Civivi that has a lot of the details right, the Ortis.

[@metal_complex]

👍 glad you enjoyed!

[@manifestgtr]

9cr (specifically Civivi’s) is actually shockingly good for the price. My praxis, between the steel and the blade shape, really holds an edge. In practice, I don’t see a huge difference between their 9cr and most S30v, to be honest…

[@jfradella100]

This is a great point. I feel like too many people look down on certain steels and dont stop to consider the quality of the heat treat. I'll take well heat treated 9CR over poorly treated S35VN any day.

[@havoc1zero]

The civivi badlands vagabond is pretty much the same knife but with a drop point blade and thumbstuds. I have it in cf and damascus. Love it. Thanks for the review.

[@cueball981]

Prefer the BV too. Also liking the front-flipper version, the Imperium.

[@Wayfarer45]

Since I own this knife as well I can confidently say you've got tiny little hands lol good review, it's not a bad little edc. Good review.

[@josephSF]

Tiny and soft.

[@flipflat4814]

@@josephSF 😂

[@Ripinda1911]

Nice to see, you came to apreciate 9Cr a little more. It´s really not as bad as 8Cr.

[@jolness1]

9Cr is a solid budget steel in my testing. Definitely better than 8Cr

[@benshort9071]

Ah yes, the Civivi Artist, from the disassembly. I’ve been waiting lol

[@jacknemo8021]

How are we talking about this so late in the game? I thought The Nick covered this one tbh. Knife version of the Mandela Effect. If the Dogma and the Backlash had a baby..

[@bobbobbert9376]

One thing I noticed on most Civivi knifes. Which I’m not sure if anyone else has seen/done this. If you try to close it fast with one hand it bounces out of its housing and you can re deploy with a small wrist flick.

[@roberthaines1227]

I have the CF/Damascus version. A really great little knife.

[@michaelaaron7504]

Really anxious/excited to see your thoughts on the Nox & the Pilar 3, hoping you do reviews for those. I think the Pilar 3 D2 is the best knife CRKT has ever made.

[@henchman_ben3725]

Pilar III in D2 is an amazing knife.

[@GG-ml3vr]

Wasnt expecting mine to be so good but its an amazing slicer and edge retention is simply unbelivable,i keep thinking ill have to touch this up when i get home but rarely do🤷‍♂️👍

[@Gambit33]

You should really check out the CIVIVI Brazen drop point in 14C28N steel and G-10 handle. Probably the best bang for the buck CIVIVI under $50 out there. Good materials, cuts well, solidly constructed knife. I got mine for $43.92.

[@ihave7sacks]

Lol I came looking for this comment. The brazen is without a doubt the best budget knife of all time imo.

[@Gambit33]

@@ihave7sacks Yeah I'm surprised Nick hasn't reviewed it yet, seeing as how many knives and CIVIVI's in particular, he's reviewed. I can't find anything to nitpick about the Brazen other than maybe it's a bit heavy, but that's because of the steel liners needed for the liner lock. Makes the knife feel substantial and solid, but not too heavy. I prefer to EDC lighter knives like my S90V / carbon fiber Bugout and Hogue Deka more, but those knives are 3-5X the cost of the Brazen and blade length is shorter.

[@GG-ml3vr]

Ive got the blacked out tanto,best action on a ,budget, knife ive ever seen.Cant seem to get the drop point in the UK😡🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@Thexeroxed43]

If you haven't yet, you should get your hands on the Imperium, another one of those "more thought out" feeling knives by civivi. Loving mine, suspect others would love it also.

[@patrickg8744]

I thought you were me for a second and was confused

[@StereoTyp0]

A balance of gription in the handle and slipitivity in the action is key.

[@danielbarnes547]

Hi, Nick! Keep keep'n, bro. Just your voice feels welcoming to me, after a hard day's work. God bless...

[@WestSyde303]

I have this knife. The damascus CF. Excellent knife.

[@CSGraves]

I got the Damascus/CF on sale, and now I'm waiting on the 9Cr/G10 version because I think the damascus 'camoflages' the nice clip point shape too much. 😄

[@jamespiper4360]

Any chance we’ll see the nox or Ki V sometime soon? Also are you planning on reviewing your exarch or is the chronic review a stand in for that

[@briankennedy3251]

A bit late to the party but got this from a mystery box and love it! What a great surprise.

[@terrylew6565]

I wish Civivi would not extend the liner lock "nubs" beyond both scales. It gets a little uncomfortable when you really grip the knife.

[@erikl6988]

Civivi never disappoints. I wish bought this instead of the Rat 1

[@Wayfarer45]

Blasphemy lol I got both BTW lol

[@jolness1]

They have had some flops but definitely a good value for the money in general.

[@modofatak]

Yeah as much as I love the rat, it’s mostly nostalgic. Production knives have come such a long way.

[@Dreibein82]

Rat in D2 is one hell of a workhorse.

[@jayr526]

I have two or three Rat1s and one R2. I don't expect this will supplant those, but . In spite, of Nick's bad jokes, I am hoping to get one. I highly respect his Opinelions HA - HA- HA. Thank you, Nick.

[@leolamorie-fitzgerald9216]

I LOVE the blade shape on this beauty

[@matthuck378]

I wish Civivi would improve their existing line up rather than just push out new models all the time. For example, I'd love it if the Elementum had a counter sunk clip, a hidden lanyard hole, and a left handed carry clip spot. Instead, they just put out this. Id rather buy an improved Elementum...

[@AhmadRiyal]

Agreed. If they only had a g10 mckenna but with 154cm id rebuy that knife. Its a perfect knife design but i need a stainless blade.

[@donaldslayton2769]

Bought one of the after the opening protrusion on my mantra 3 broke off. Thanks for the review

[@stevenlachance8576]

Not a fan of the faux bolsters, the imperium comes to mind, in that case ruining the nice carbon fiber.

[@Orochi_001]

Would this still be recommended for someone who won’t be disassembling and de-burring the knife? Thanks!

[@NickShabazz]

I hope that that's a fluke of this particular knife.

[@Orochi_001]

@David P. I appreciate the report

[@BradleyGibbs]

I bought a blue one and it arrived with a broken bearing cage... Busy talking with the reseller about a possible replacement.

[@knifenoob5411]

Could the coated blade have a smoothing effect effect on burrs? What’s not so good about the clip, because it’s their standard clip? So so materials made to high standard , budget knives dream. Thx for vid.

[@jasonb5817]

Is this the We Arctic?

[@Jezus42]

No it's the civivi backlash lol

[@davidtate166]

I miss this one . nice .blade .👍

[@drfunkinstein1]

At a first glance I was thinking I'd only be impressed if this was like $40 bucks. Then you said it's $40 bucks.

[@Jezus42]

Looks like the backlash with a hole in the blade

[@TheJeffFortner]

Agreed! I wish they had a premium option with non FRN though =P

[@BrandonGavin_EDC]

Check out the pintail and the Imperium. Pretty nice new offerings with some different materials.

[@rcjoe406]

Just ordered the blue one for 25 shipped tax was included at white mountain 😮😊

[@matthewadler1329]

I get this mixed up with the badlands vagabond and at least one other of their knives, but maybe I shouldn't. For the price, I think I'm gonna jump on this. Maybe wait for a sale...

[@flipflat4814]

Does anyone know of an online knife retailer with free shipping?

[@matthuck378]

3" laws are a thing. I don't like it when makers go over that, but don't go over it enough to matter. That .25 of an inch isn't giving you any more cutting power, but if a cop hates you, you're looking at a bad day and a free knife for the cop.

[@derekbrock6673]

Nick moves to California and starts measuring weight in grams 🤣

[@danieldrake2199]

Lmaoooo😆😆

[@teddysthaiadventure2534]

We call them freedom units ;)

[@bennyc409]

He is clearly more worldly now.

[@django1]

I actually own this knife. I don't particularly like it. I like the elementum. What I don't like about this knife is the blade. It's more needle than knife. Very thin blade ridiculously sharp point. Steel is decent. One handed operation is awkward. Not the best ergonomics. And the lack of jumping is inexcusable. A much better knife at this price point is the harands wind. Now that is a fantastic knife for the money.

[@MikeHere]

Thanks Nick

[@MMD_-jx2yu]

Finally!! Civivi Ortis!

[@alexanderbertallo1995]

Sweet knife, great review!

[@MMD_-jx2yu]

i want the od green one!!!

[@jeo1349]

"Gription." Bwahahaha

[@PLBW81]

Where can I get original Native 5 dark blue Lightweight scales?

[@lukescrase5134]

It's the yellow lc200n version dyed.

[@PLBW81]

@@lukescrase5134 I don´t get it. I have a black one lw and want blue scales.

[@dm3639]

@@PLBW81 Spyderco doesn't sell their scales separately, and I don't think anyone makes aftermarket scales for linerless frn knives. So the easiest way to get what you want would be to buy a Native 5 in S110v or SPY27 that comes with blue scales. Alternately you could do what Nick did and buy a Native 5 salt (comes yellow) and dye it blue.

[@PLBW81]

@@dm3639 Too bad...160 Euros for the blue SPY27 is a lot for just a color. Going first for the AD 20 only 50 Euros more.

[@TheWibbo]

more brr's than a walk in freezer...

[@JustKnifeThings]

I like the look of this and its brother the Badlands Vagabond, which I own, but I was surprised when it got such high acclaim. Instead of G10, which they could have used at this price point, having used it at this price point already and even lower on Sencuts, they went with plastic instead. It feels cheap, and they've milled the liners enough that you can squish this thing and get some flex like you could the original Bugouts. It's no functional impediment to use but it's just disappointing. Solid slab of G10, a bit less milling, and it would be solid as a rock and feel better. Don't know why they went this way when they didn't have to, but that's the main thing that keeps this from being a gem for me. I agree on the clip too, it's a hotspot. I put it on the finger side, not the palm side, so that it now serves as a grip helper for my fingers to hook around. Lastly I've noticed that the pivot/bolster area is a place where a knife can't afford to be slippery, because that's the main area where you grab when you're maneuvering it into place to open. You need grip texture there during that fiddly process, but this one is smooth as a baby's butt there while the otherwise great grip texturing is present farther back, which is great once it's open and you're in your usage grip. Mine is otherwise well assembled with great action. A great knife, a great price, yet three flaws. As a minor nitpick, a knife like this will be a work knife, not a show knife, and wants some functional spine jimping, yet this one is smooth.

[@danielm.v.8449]

I saw a review from Canadian Cutting Edge that made me decline this knife. I'd rather have "boring G10" than any kind of FRN. For $40, I think the Sencut line offers better knives, although I have none of them. Anyone can confirm?

[@danieldrake2199]

I think i like the design of the vagabond better

[@wupwop]

Heck yeah

[@matthewadler1329]

Yup. 9cr has gotten a bum rap for a while now. Glad to see that Nick has kept an open mind, and frequently admits his biases. I personally love 9cr as a budget steel. Better than 440C imo, and I think only Sandvik steels are the only ones I like better in the price bracket.

[@JustIn-op6oy]

You should definitely check out a folder with Acuto 440 or Acuto+. They're both really solid budget stainless steels. I received a crkt ripple in Acuto+ and was very pleased with its edge retention, it strops up nicely, and took a near mirror polish without a ton of effort.

[@wupwop]

Badlands Vagabond vs Ortis death battle!

[@clintonlewis1261]

Nice knife for the price.

[@jolness1]

The civivi orvis! Yay. Lol

[@aaonly1]

did WE send you a Thug? not to be missed!

[@jeremymueller2848]

Hurts my little fingers 😔😭😭 . Lol

[@dillo1594]

Nick vegan?