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With the face of an axe and the center of a cleaver, it’s a hell of an idea, that Idea 22 … And that, my mates, is the final Joseph Heller joke you’ll discover on this evaluation. (Frankly, I’m just a few chapters into his seminal novel, Catch-22.)
However literature apart, I’m right here to judge Civivi’s new mounted blade, the Idea 22 ($110 at Civivi, $93 from Blade HQ).
Designed by Geoff Blauvelt of TuffKnives, the Idea 22 is just below 10 inches of wedges, edges, and angles, someplace between a tomahawk and a cleaver. It manages to be each giant within the hand and smaller than one would anticipate from the pictures, and I discovered the evaluation course of a equally baffling expertise. Learn on to see how the Idea 22 managed to cut its approach into my good graces after an preliminary failure to launch.
In brief: The Civivi Idea 22 is a well-made, super-fun mounted blade with a considerably slim use case. Whereas it struggles with element work and slicing, its cleaver-like blade is ideal for splitting logs, roasted chickens, and different middle-tough mediums. The deal with slabs are a bit skinny and the lanyard is probably not for everybody, however generally it’s higher to be enjoyable than completely sensible.
Civivi Idea 22 Fastened-Blade Knife Assessment
When a brand new piece of drugs, I are likely to ask myself two questions: Why was this made, and the way effectively was it made?
Within the case of the Idea 22, the second query is less complicated. Consumers typically know what to anticipate from Civivi — its materials decisions are spot-on, and it presents a few of the most dialed-in manufacturing you’ll see on the price range finish of the pastime.
With its D2 blade, G10 deal with slabs, and black Kydex sheath, the Idea 22 is as solidly put collectively as a reliable BLT sandwich; a small variety of high quality substances, all completely of their place.
However the “why” is much extra fascinating. At first look, this knife concurrently presents as each a futuristic battle instrument and a gasoline station artwork object. Let’s dive into the testing to see if we are able to type this query out.
‘Axe’ Me No Questions
Let’s begin with the knife’s ultimate checks. I carried these out within the woods, amongst sticks, branches, and half-frozen logs. And on this setting, the Idea 22 makes good sense.
Its tall, axe-shaped head proved to be an absolute beast for batoning, and I used to be genuinely shocked at how effectively it managed as a chopping instrument. In spite of everything, the knife itself weighs simply over 7 ounces, which doesn’t look like sufficient mass for the job.
However for those who choke down and use the lanyard so as to add some leverage to your swing, the D2 edge bites deep. Simply make certain your physique is positioned in order to keep away from any hazard from glancing blows.
What about carving? Properly, it’ll get the job completed, however I discovered that the Idea 22 was typically happier as a notcher and scraper.
Its tanto form gives a number of angles of assault, permitting you to shed bark and clean wooden with simple effectivity. In brief, it is a knife that seems like a hatchet. It’s a stable, sturdy, and (because of its reconfigurable sheath) easy-carrying possibility for basic yard work and brush clearing.
Shortcomings
Earlier than going to the woods, nevertheless, my ideas have been a bit much less optimistic. The very first thing I seen when dealing with the Idea 22 was the narrowness of its G10 scales. This makes for a much less hand-filling expertise, which wore on me a bit throughout precision duties.
Take dinner prep, for instance. I anticipated that the blade’s tallness would assist offset its 0.16-inch thickness, permitting for first rate slicing efficiency. Properly, form of.
It really works higher than most devoted bruisers (like this trio I examined years in the past). However see that angle the place the 2 primary edges meet? That’s precisely the purpose at which one thing like, say, an onion would fall beneath a standard reducing stroke, so that you wind up nearly spiking the produce quite than parting it.
The cleaver-like bent of its deal with helps a bit, retaining your knuckles considerably in step with the sting. General, it’s a serviceable instrument for supper work, for those who’re making ready one thing like sandwiches or a stew.
Additionally, right here’s the compulsory notice about hearth steels: This knife gained’t scrape one, because of its oxide coating. Truthfully, I feel I’m going to start out leaving this out of checks, except a knife makes a selected declare as an “all-around survival instrument.”
Lastly, I wouldn’t advocate this knife as a basic bundle opener. It’s a bit too giant for this process, and the ahead finger choil (whereas helpful for sharpening functions) might be a little bit too cramped for any hand sufficiently big to wield this blade.
Conclusion: Civivi Idea 22 Fastened-Blade Knife Assessment
Ultimately, my expertise with the Idea 22 mirrors a number of books I’ve learn. Issues begin out unusual, unwieldy, and a little bit slim till the narrative finds its correct context.
By the point I left the woods, I used to be having a full-blown, log-chopping journey with a knife that weighs just a bit greater than two hefty paperbacks. And for this alone, the Idea 22 gained me over.
English main nonsense apart, ought to you spend your money on certainly one of these knives? If you happen to like angular-looking choppers with a vaguely tacticool sense, then certain! I wouldn’t advocate it as your one-and-only wilderness mounted blade, however as a typically enjoyable object to instrument round with within the yard or again 40, there’s loads of well-made, reasonably priced enjoyable available right here.
And that’s actually Civivi’s factor, isn’t it? Intriguing designs, stable development, and reasonably priced pricing — in some ways, the Idea 22 appears to embody the traits which have gained the model its following.
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