It’s a big EDC market out there, and tons of awesome gear is released all the time. We made The Drop to help you discover the latest and greatest essentials worth a spot in your EDC.
CIVIVI has been hitting it out of the ballpark lately with an impressive offering of affordable knives that don’t compromise on materials or construction. This continues with the CIVIVI Mini Elementum fixed blade, a smaller version of the immensely popular Elementum folder that still packs a punch with its impressive craftsmanship and materials.
The first detail that immediately jumps out to me is its eye-catching drop-point Damascus blade with a hollow grind. The distinctive patterns on the blade’s surface aren’t just beautiful to look at–it’s also indicative of the blade’s strength and sharpness from being forged from multiple layers of metal. The blade measures 2.24”, a good size to keep carrying options discrete. Its full tang construction means that the blade extends all the way through the handle. This makes the knife more solid, stable, and resistant to breaking or bending. The full tang also adds some weight and balance to the knife, making it feel more substantial and satisfying in your hand.
The Mini Elementum’s handle is made of green canvas Micarta, a material composed of layers of fabric and resin. Micarta is an excellent choice for knife handles because of its lightweight and durable characteristics, combined with good resistance to moisture and heat. The segmented Micarta scales feature a textured and ergonomic grip, making the knife comfortable and secure to hold.
The knife comes with a black Kydex sheath and a black bead chain. Kydex is known for being tough, waterproof, and easy to clean, perfect characteristics for a knife sheath. It also has excellent retention, holding the knife firmly in place without scratching or damaging it. The black bead chain can be used to wear the knife around your neck as a necklace, allowing you to always have it close at hand and hidden under your clothing.
CIVIVI’s use of premium materials and high-quality construction on the Mini Elementum is impressive on its own, but what really blows my mind is its retail price of $79, which usually goes as low as $67.15. That’s incredible value for a versatile, durable, and good-looking knife that will serve you well for years to come.
What we like: CIVIVI continues to deliver high-quality knives at near-unbeatable prices.
What to watch out for: While the Micarta handle is grippy and ergonomic, it’s pretty thin, with a width of just 0.20”. This might make the knife tricky to handle for those with larger hands.
Final verdict: The original CIVIVI Elementum has been one of the most popular EDC knives over the last few years, and this fixed-blade version makes it even more usable and reliable for everyday tasks.
