When you’re looking for a quality utility blade—something for work, or just those moments when you don’t want to gunk up your favorite EDC knife—there’s a lot out there. You’ve got everything from budget bin beaters to high-end options like the Hawk Shortcut. I usually recommend starting somewhere in the middle. Something built well, compact enough to disappear in the pocket, and tough enough to handle daily demands. That’s exactly where the OKnife U1 Ultra lands. It checks all the boxes, and after spending time with it, I can confidently say it’s a contender.
Some knives are made to disappear into the pocket. The Feweed clearly didn’t get that memo. Designed by Vũ Huỳnh Nam Anh as part of Kizer’s design contest, the Feweed makes an immediate impression. Between the bold carbon inlays, harpoon-style blade, and dramatic lines, it’s anything but subtle. But beneath all that flair is a surprisingly well-thought-out EDC folder that’s more than just eye candy.
Some knives are designed to blend in. The Civivi Elementum II, especially this Damascus and golden shred variant, isn’t one of them. While it shares its name and silhouette with the original Elementum, this model feels like the dressier, more charismatic sibling. It's polished, confident, and packing a little extra swagger. But beneath the showy looks, Civivi’s familiar fit and finish and EDC practicality still shine through.
Ergonomics & Handle Materials
The shredded carbon fiber with golden shred is a showstopper. It’s encased in clear resin that gives it a glossy, high end finish, almost like a custom knife you'd expect to find behind glass at a boutique show. Despite its flashy looks, the handle offers a surprisingly comfortable grip.
At 0.51" thick, it fills the hand just enough without feeling bulky, and the smooth finish doesn’t create any hot spots during light use. You won’t get much traction if your hands are wet or gloved, but for EDC and fidget tasks, it feels great.
Inside, you’ll find stainless steel liners that provide structural integrity without adding too much weight. The total weight comes in at 2.86 oz, which makes this a very pocketable piece.
No texture? No problem. This one leans more gentleman than hard use, and I think that’s perfectly fine for what it’s trying to be.
Locking Mechanism & Clip
The button lock is the star of the show here, and Civivi tuned it beautifully. There’s a spring under the button that provides just the right amount of tension. It’s enough to avoid accidental deployment in the pocket but still light enough to make closing the knife with one hand a breeze.
It’s paired with caged ceramic ball bearings that give the knife that signature buttery deployment. Whether you’re flicking it open with the flipper or closing it with a press of the button, the Elementum II feels dialed in. The action is smooth, the lockup is solid, and there’s no blade play in any direction.
As for the pocket clip, it’s a simple stainless steel design, tip up and right hand only. It rides fairly deep and doesn’t draw attention, but I would’ve liked to see some accommodation for left-handed users, especially given how versatile this knife is otherwise. The clip holds tight, though I wouldn’t call it exceptionally strong or robust. It does its job, and that’s about it.
Blade & Performance
The 2.96" Damascus drop point blade offers a nice balance between form and function. Let’s be honest, most people are buying this version of the Elementum for the looks, and Civivi delivers with a blade that’s visually striking. The hollow grind is well executed, and the edge came razor sharp right out of the box.
In use, the blade handles daily tasks with ease. Opening packages, slicing fruit, breaking down cardboard—the 0.12" blade stock tapers to a fine cutting edge that excels at precise, controlled cuts.
Now let’s talk steel. Damascus looks amazing, but it's generally a compromise between performance and visual appeal. Civivi doesn’t specify the exact composition here, but the 58 to 60 HRC rating lines up with mid tier edge retention. You’ll likely find yourself sharpening it more often than a premium stainless, but it takes a fine edge quickly and isn’t difficult to maintain if you’re used to sharpening your own blades.
Bottom line: it’s a slicer, not a beater.
Final Thoughts
The Civivi Elementum II in Damascus and golden shred is a style forward version of a knife that already had a great reputation. It doesn’t pretend to be a heavy duty workhorse, and it doesn’t need to. Instead, it offers classy materials, premium action, and reliable EDC performance in a package that’s a joy to use and even more fun to show off.
Is It Worth It?
If you’re in the market for a button lock knife that feels more high end than its price tag suggests, and you want something that’s as much art piece as tool, this model delivers.
It’s not perfect. Lefties may feel left out, and you’ll want to be mindful of the resin handle in rough conditions. But at around $90, it offers a ton of value, especially considering the fit, finish, and fidget factor.
When early European settlers first laid eyes on the massive, shaggy creatures roaming the plains of North America, they dubbed them buffalo — a name that stuck, even though these animals weren’t true buffalo at all. Technically, they’re bison — American bison, to be precise. But try telling that to the folks who named Buffalo, New York. Or the ones who minted the Buffalo nickel. Or me, when I still forget and call them buffalo out of habit.
The American bison has become a symbol of resilience, strength, and the wild spirit of the frontier. They were once hunted to near extinction, but conservation efforts brought them back from the brink. Today, they stand as one of the great icons of North America — a reminder of the untamed wild and the sheer muscle that once shook the prairie.
With so many knives in our collections, it’s easy to reach for different ones depending on the day. Sometimes you want something tough for real work, other times you're dressing up for church or hitting the town and want a blade that fits your outfit as much as your EDC needs. That’s where the Kansept Dako comes in. It’s sleek, modern, and undeniably classy - exactly what I look for in a refined dress knife. But is it more than just a pretty face?
What kind of people would write collect and review multitools? Quite simple really- we are designers and do-ers, outdoors types and indoor types, mechanics, doctors, problem solvers and problem makers. As such, we have, as a world spanning community, put every type, size and version of multitool, multifunction knife, pocket knife and all related products to every test we could manage in as many places and environments as there are.