Three New Civivi Knives: An Updated Elementum, the Cetos, and the Wildly Oversized Bal Tear

Introduction

Civivi keeps its momentum going with three new releases: two familiar-looking folders and one genuine oddball. The first is a new Elementum variant that finally ditches D2 in favor of Nitro-V, the second is a wood-handled Cetos with 14C28N steel, and the third, the Bal Tear, is a huge Tanto-style folder that barely fits in its own packaging. Together they show a brand that is both polishing its proven designs and willing to take a swing at something strange.

Elementum, Refined Again: Nitro-V and a Wharncliffe Blade

The new Elementum keeps the familiar profile but switches to thumb studs for deployment, and the real highlight is the blade: a wharncliffe design with a hollow grind and a satin finish. The steel upgrade is the smartest move here. Moving from D2 up to Nitro-V helps differentiate the Civivi lineup from budget knife brands, where D2 has become the default. The detent works well, the blade still comes in just under three inches, and the ergonomics are acceptable, if never the Elementum’s strongest suit.

Why the Wharncliffe Elementum Works

The hollow-ground wharncliffe is a genuinely practical choice for a knife used mostly for draw cutting. There is generous space behind the edge, even more than on comparable designs, and for a wharncliffe-style knife that does most of its work out at the tip, that extra room makes sense. Compared to the flat-ground Penguin, another longtime favorite in this shape, this one should slice more cleanly, though the Penguin’s flat grind will hold up a bit better under tougher use.

At a expected price of roughly $55 to $60, the combination of Nitro-V steel, the hollow-ground wharncliffe profile, and multiple deployment methods is very reasonable. Like most Elementum variants, there is no reversible pocket clip, which remains a small annoyance, but this is the best iteration of the design so far.

The Cetos: Wood Handles and a Liner Lock

The Cetos will look familiar, and that is the point. This version pairs the same basic profile and stats as a previous release with a liner lock instead of a frame lock, plus attractive wood handle scales. It carries a 14C28N blade of three and a half inches, generous jimping that runs as far back as you would want, and the kind of aggressive look that works in its favor. The flipper tab, as usual for this brand, is excellent.

One missed opportunity: neither version has a reversible pocket clip, which would have been a natural way to differentiate the liner-lock model and add left-handed usability. Even so, this is a very good knife, and the brand’s consistency makes it easy to recommend.

The Bal Tear: A Knife for Role-Playing Leonidas

Then there is the Bal Tear, and there is no polite way to say it: this thing is enormous. It dwarfs a conventional mid-sized folder and comes close to a four-inch blade. The 14C28N blade steel carries over from the rest of the lineup, so at least the steel did not get skimped on, and the edge is surprisingly thin for a blade this size, tapering down to a relatively thin cutting edge. Despite the Tanto-influenced shape, it remains a genuinely useful, slicey cutting tool.

For people with large hands, the handle offers more real estate than almost anything else in this class, finished in burlap Micarta. The one real critique: the lock bar action is mediocre, noticeably stiffer than on nearly every other knife from this brand, and the lock bar is genuinely difficult to manipulate on this sample. It is a strange, fun release, and the willingness to throw something crazy into the lineup alongside endless Elementum variants is welcome.

Buying Advice

If you want a refined, well-priced EDC folder, the new wharncliffe Elementum with Nitro-V is the easy pick, with its $55 to $60 pricing offering strong value. If you prefer a larger blade and warmer handle materials, the Cetos with 14C28N and wood scales is a solid, consistent performer. The Bal Tear is for the enthusiast who wants something completely different and does not mind wrestling the lock bar.

Conclusion

Civivi’s latest trio covers a lot of ground: a best-version-yet Elementum, a handsome wood-handled Cetos, and a hilariously oversized Bal Tear that exists purely because someone thought it would be fun. All three use sensible steels, and all three are worth a look depending on how much knife you actually want to carry.