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Civivi Baby Banter Review
- Pros: Incredibly compact size, perfect for unobtrusive fifth-pocket carry. Excellent slicing performance thanks to a thin edge and Nitro-V steel. Surprisingly comfortable and ergonomic handle design. Solid build quality with no flex or play. Smooth, snappy action and satisfying fidget factor. Versatile drop point, almost sheepsfoot blade shape. Outstanding value for a budget knife.
- Cons: Small size can make deployment challenging initially. Not the most fidgety knife due to its compact dimensions. Flat G10 scales, as opposed to contoured, may not be as comfortable for some users.
Greetings, knife enthusiasts, and welcome to this Civivi Baby Banter review, where we’ll be taking a close look at a pint-sized powerhouse – the Civivi Baby Banter!
This diminutive folder may be small, but it is definitely not a baby when it comes to cutting performance. I’ve been putting it through its paces to find out if it could be one of the best fifth-pocket knives ever.
First, let’s run through the key specs of this little guy.
Key Takeaways
- The Civivi Baby Banter is an incredibly small knife with impressive cutting performance.
- It features high-quality materials, solid construction, and excellent ergonomics.
- The blade shape is perfect for precision tasks, while the thin edge and Nitro-V steel ensure great slicing.
- The well-designed choil and jimping provide a comfortable and secure grip.
- Deployment can be tricky at first, but the Baby Banter is still fun and fidgety.
- It offers exceptional value for a compact EDC knife.
Specs & Overview
SPECIFICATION | DETAILS |
Overall Length | 5.46 inches |
Blade Length | 2.34 inches |
Blade Width | 1.00 inch |
Blade Thickness | 0.09 inch |
Blade Material | Nitro-V |
Hardness | 58-60 HRC |
Blade Style | Drop Point |
Blade Grind | Flat |
Handle Length | 3.125 inches |
Handle Width | 1.00 inch |
Handle Thickness | 0.41 inch |
Handle Material | G-10 |
Frame/Liner | Steel |
Weight | 2.00 oz. |
Carry | Right or Left Hand, Tip-Up |
Pocket Clip | Tip-Up |
Opener | Thumb Stud |
Pivot Type | Bearings |
Lock Type | Liner Lock |
Country of Origin | China |
At the price point, I think the Baby Banter offers fantastic value, especially if you’re into compact EDC knives. One thing’s for sure – when you first get this knife in hand, you’ll be shocked at just how tiny it really is.
Size Comparisons
To give you an idea of just how small the Baby Banter is, here it is next to some other popular compact knives:
KNIFE MODEL | OVERALL LENGTH |
CIVIVI Baby Banter | 5.46 inches |
CIVIVI Odium | 6.19 inches |
CRKT Pilar III | 7.19 inches |
CJRB Maileah | 5.51 inches |
Kizer Feist | 6.5 inches |
As you can see, the Baby Banter makes even these small knives look big! In fact, the only knife in my collection that’s smaller is the Ferrum Forge Micro Fortis, which the Baby Banter absolutely dwarfs.
Blade & Cutting Performance
Now, don’t let this innocent-looking little blade fool you. The Baby Banter is an absolute slicing beast. With a crazy thin edge, measuring just 14 thousandths behind the edge, paired with the 0.09″ thick Nitro-V steel, this thing is a recipe for cutting greatness.
I love the drop point, almost sheepsfoot blade shape, for this small knife. It provides a ton of useful cutting edge and works great for precise tasks. Sure, a Wharncliffe might be slightly better for cuts that focus on the tip, but this blade shape is excellent and highly functional.
Ergonomics & Handling
Here’s where the Baby Banter really shines. I’m not exaggerating when I say this might be the most comfortable, ergonomic tiny knife I’ve ever handled. The way the choil flows seamlessly from the blade into the handle is just perfection, giving you an insanely good grip for such a small blade.
The well-placed jimping on the choil and spine only add to the control. Honestly, it almost feels like Ben Peterson teamed up with Jesper Voxnaes on this one. It has that same amazing in-hand feel as knives like the CRKT Pilar and Civivi Odium, just in an even smaller package.
Build quality is rock solid, too. There’s zero flex or play in the handle, and the liner lock provides secure, confidence-inspiring lockup. This little guy just feels like a mini tank in hand.
Deployment & Fidget Factor
Okay, I’ll admit, the small size can make the Baby Banter a bit tricky to open at first. The key is to use the clip to anchor your grip, then either flick it out with the thumb studs or roll it out with your middle or index finger, depending on what works best for you.
Once you get it down, though, it’s super fun to fidget with. The action is snappy and smooth, with a nice shake-shut closing. No, it’s not the most fidgety knife out there, but for such a tiny blade, it’s really satisfying to play with.
Video Review
Conclusion
All right, so what’s the verdict on this little giant? Honestly, I’ve been blown away doing this Civivi Baby Banter review. I was expecting to like the Civivi Baby Banter based on the specs and design, but I didn’t think it would immediately become a top contender for my favorite fifth-pocket knife.
With its outstanding ergonomics, solid materials and construction, useful blade, and impressively compact size, this thing is just a home run. At under $60, I think it’s an absolute steal and a must-try for any small knife fanatic.
Is it perfect? No, of course not. I wouldn’t mind seeing some contoured G10 scales to make it even more comfortable. But that’s really just nitpicking. As it stands, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Civivi Baby Banter if you’re looking for a truly tiny knife that punches way above its weight class.
So there you have it – my hands-on Civivi Baby Banter review. I hope you found it helpful, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on this little beast of a blade. Stay sharp out there, friends!