CIVIVI Guile Review: Slim Carry and Excellent Front-Flipper Action

The Guile is 7.47 inches overall, with a 3.25-inch blade and a 4.22-inch handle. Blade stock is about 0.120 inch, handle thickness is about 0.470 inch, and it weighs 2.87 ounces.

This ivory G10 version uses 14C28N, my personal favorite budget knife steel. The sleek Wharncliffe blade has a flat grind, and the knife has a liner lock with reversible left- or right-hand tip-up carry. It is a Shawn Ashmore design.

My review price was $59.50, which I think is very reasonable for what you get. The exact version here is C24062B-3, with ivory G10 and a satin 14C28N blade.

The slender shape and front-flipping action remind me of the Boos Blades Smoke. They are clearly different knives, but the overall feel brings back good memories.

I loved the Smoke. It was one of the knives that helped pull me into the more expensive end of the hobby, so finding a little of that feeling in a much more affordable knife is a big part of the Guile’s appeal to me.

My Kizer Militaw and Escort make useful size references. The Militaw is actually pretty close, and the Escort is another familiar point of comparison.

The CIVIVI ExOne and Conspirator help put it in context, too. I tend to underestimate how big the Conspirator is until I put it alongside another knife. The Guile is noticeably smaller. I would call this a medium-sized knife.

This stands out among the CIVIVI knives I have handled. It has that slender front-flipper character I enjoy, middle-finger deployment and a shape that carries so well in my pocket.

The deep-carry clip is typical of this style. The base is not recessed, but the screws are, and I am happy with how it carries.

I really like the ivory G10. The color is clean, the stainless steel liners have a straightforward blasted finish, and there are no wild accent colors competing with the design. Shawn kept this one very clean, and I am a pretty big fan of it.

The blade has a very useful, aggressive point. Because it is narrow, it does not have the super-thin edge you find on some CIVIVIs and Sencuts, but I am not concerned about that for ordinary everyday carry.

I had my example at around 0.022 to 0.023 inch behind the edge. That is not the whole story of how a knife works, though. One of the sliciest Spydercos I own is thicker behind the edge, so I do not get too caught up in that one number.

For most of us, everyday use means opening packages and food packaging. I would choose a knife around the size and opening methods I want for that work. If you have a specific heavy-duty task, shop for that task. For regular EDC, I think this will make a very nice piece.

The detent is incredible. Front flipping is butter, with a firm enough detent to make it really snappy. The reach-over technique works, too, although it is a little tougher because that detent is fairly strong. I like that firmness in a front flipper.

The middle-finger flick is just as satisfying. The action is absolutely on point for me.

I also like how CIVIVI handled the blade hole. Instead of extending the opening all the way down, there is a recessed lower section. I can still use that area to flick the blade out, and I think it adds a good visual detail while keeping the knife fun to use.

The handle has a very nice balance of length and thickness for my hand. The few milled lines are mostly about appearance, and I like the little bit of texture and visual interest they add.

The choil is on the small side. With bigger fingers, it becomes more of a half-finger pinch area, with most of the grip coming from the other three fingers. I would treat that as a position for more detailed work rather than a place to put a lot of heavy pressure.

I can get four fingers on the main handle without using the choil, which is good. It fits my hand just fine, and I do not really have any issues with the grip.

The Guile brings back memories of knives that got me excited about higher-end folders, but the price is much easier to manage. At $59.50, it is really hard to beat. If you like the look and the opening methods, this is definitely worth checking out. I am a fan.