CIVIVI Brova Review: Hollow-Ground S35VN and a Top Liner Lock

The Elite name comes with a slightly different pouch, but the knife is what matters to me. The Brova feels like a meaningful step up rather than a familiar knife with a different label. It’s an impressive start for this part of CIVIVI’s lineup.

Overall length is 8.08 inches, with a 4.67-inch handle and a 3.41-inch blade. The blade is where this gets really good: CPM S35VN, a wicked clip point and a nice, deep hollow grind. This feels like an expensive blade, with the steel to match, without the price being as high as I’d expect.

Blade stock is 0.13 inch, the handle is aluminum and the knife weighs 3.78 ounces. The clip supports right- or left-hand tip-up carry. For this size of S35VN blade and an aluminum handle, I thought $123.25 was really stinking good.

The Brova also introduces CIVIVI’s top liner lock. I think they executed it as well as anyone, with a little spin on the release button that I’m really enjoying. CIVIVI has offered plenty of different locks, but this is a welcome addition.

This instantly became one of my personal favorite CIVIVIs. Top five without a doubt, and probably in my top three. For size, the Conspirator and Brazen tell the story: the Brova is virtually the same size as the Brazen and just a hair longer than the Conspirator. It’s a pretty big knife.

The hollow grind is the difference I’m happiest to see. Those comparisons give a good sense of the footprint, but the Brova’s blade is the part that really draws me in.

My one gripe shows up beside the Headbanger. I love the blacked-out C on that knife’s pivot. Why give us an Elite knife and leave a shiny satin C on this one? I think a blacked-out pivot would look much better against the black handle and brown blade. If that’s my biggest complaint, though, that’s a good thing.

The Wellmax is another CIVIVI over $100. I still love it and would still recommend it: the inlay, larger thumb studs, blade shape and overall design all have their appeal. But at the prices I was comparing, I thought the Brova was the better value. The S35VN blade is a big part of that.

The blade finish is beautiful. It has an antique-bronze look to my eye, but the heavily washed finish reads more brown than bronze. It works really well with the black handle. That’s also why I keep coming back to the idea of a blacked-out pivot.

The handle is quite slim. I didn’t have working calipers to measure my sample, but side by side it was thinner than the Conspirator. You get a little area up front for your index finger and then a nice full handle for the rest of your hand. I don’t treat that front area as a separate forward choil; this is the grip of the knife for me, and it feels really good.

The textured top liner lock button is another detail I like. Taken together with the aluminum finish, comfortable handle and clip-point blade, this feels like a very well-thought-out and excellently executed first top liner lock from CIVIVI.

To put a CIVIVI north of $100, they needed to do something impressive. I think they did. The key takeaway is that good-sized, hollow-ground S35VN blade at the $123.25 review price. Sign me up all day, every day.

The deep-carry clip feels good, looks good and matches the handle well. This is a CIVIVI that made me happy right away. Competition in this part of the market is tough, but CIVIVI came out swinging with the Brova. It’s absolutely worth checking out.