If you follow EDC knives, then you know that MagnCut is the latest thing in knife steels. In the same way, Ultem is the MagnaCut of handle materials. We’re starting to see it on more and more designs from many of the top manufacturers in 2024.
I had a chance to work with two of CIVIVI’s newer designs with Ultem scales recently, so let’s take a look at the material, and a better look at their Conspirator and the Button Lock Elementum II.
What is Ultem?
So what is Ultem and why is it so popular now? According to the maker, Curbell Plastics, Ultem
is a semi-transparent high strength plastic material that can operate in high service temperature environments. Ultem is resistant to hot water and steam and can withstand repeated cycles in a steam autoclave. FDA compliant grades of Ultem are available. For Ultem chemical resistance view our chart. Ultem has outstanding electrical properties, with one of the highest dielectric strengths of any thermoplastic material.
So what does all that mean in English? Basically it’s a tough material that’s very resistant to heat and chemicals. There are a lot of good handle materials out there today with those types of properties, but Ultem also has a unique look going for it.
As the description notes, it’s semi-transparent and has a brownish yellow hue to it. It looks a lot like amber, which is pretty neat in my opinion. Its semi-transparent nature lets you see the knife’s frame or locking mechanism too, which makes for a unique aesthetic. If you want something other than basic, boring black scales for your EDC folder, Ultem is the new hotness. It looks pretty sharp, if you can excuse the bad knife knut pun.
The Conspirator
Of the two Civivis I worked with, the Conspirator is the bigger one. It has a 3.48-inch plain edge and a drop point Nitro-V stainless steel blade. Nitro-V may not be MagnaCut but it’s still a very solid steel choice with a good reputation for toughness and edge retention.
It also doesn’t carry the price tag of MagnaCut. It has a full flat grind and satin finish. The Conspirator opens using a back flipper that pivots on caged ceramic ball bearings. The handle is generously sized at 4.63 inches and is fitted with Ultem handle scales. It has a deep carry pocket clip that can be set up for tip up right or left-hand carry. Weight is a very reasonable 3.77 ounces.
The flipper opening system is fast and intuitive. An quick flick of your index finger is enough to snap the blade open. It rolls smoothly on those ceramic bearings and is fast to get into play. There’s also a groove on either side of the blade if you want to open the blade in a slightly less dramatic fashion. And there’s another way to open the blade as well that I’ll talk about in a moment.
Lock up on the Conspirator and the Elementum II is by means of a button lock. The button lock looks like the firing button on some automatic knives, but in this case it just disengages the lock. The lock is spring-loaded and essentially moves a bar into place preventing the knife from closing when engaged, which it does automatically when you open the knife.
Pushing the button moves the bar out of the way allowing you to close the knife. There may be a more complicated mechanical explanation of the system, but that’s basically how it works. Whatever engineering magic is in there, it works well. Lock up is very secure, with no blade play at all.
By holding the button in when the knife is closed you can snap the blade open like a gravity knife as well. This is generally a handy thing, but just be aware if you live in a jurisdiction with gravity knife prohibitions. Closing the knife is easy, too. The button doesn’t take much pressure to depress and you can easily close the knife one-handed either by letting gravity close the blade, or with a slight flick of the wrist to get it moving. The button is slightly recessed, and not positioned where you might inadvertently disengage it in most positions.
Conspirator Specifications:
Overall Length: 8.11″
Width: 1.44″
Overall Height(Include Clip): 0.74″
Blade Length: 3.48″
Closed Length: 4.63″
Blade Thickness: 0.12″
Handle Thickness: 0.51″
Weight: 3.77oz
Blade Material: Nitro-V
Blade Hardness: 59-61HRC
Blade Grind: Flat
Blade Finish: Satin Finished
Blade Type: Drop point
Handle Material: Ultem
Handle Color/Finish: Polished
Liner Material: Stainless Steel
Liner Color/Finish: Gray
Pocket Clip: Tip-Up, L/R
Clip Material: Stainless Steel
Screws Material: Stainless Steel
Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing
Locking Mechanism: Button Lock
MSRP: $105.00
The Button Lock Elementum II
The Elementum is a proven design for CIVIVI, and probably one of their most popular EDC options. The Elementum II updates the design from its previous liner lock to use the button lock. Both versions are still available though so you can have your choice of either.
The Elementum II is a little smaller overall than the Conspirator. It has a 2.96 inch drop point blade with a hollow grind and plain edge. It also uses Nitro-V stainless steel and my test knife came with a black blade and hardware. The handle is 4.11 inches long and not as tall as the Conspirator. It’s an overall more compact EDC knife, and weighs just 2.84 ounces. Ultem was the handle material on the Elementum II, just like on my Conspirator. It has a different, darker look to it being on the black hardware of the Elementum II versus the satin stainless finish of the larger knife.
Like the Conspirator, it uses a flipper opening system with ceramic ball bearings and, again, that button lock. There is no groove in the blade for manual opening, but you can still easily flip the blade open with the back flipper, or by depressing the button lock and snapping it open.
Like the Conspirator, it’s fast and easy to both open and close with one hand. A low-profile deep pocket carry clip is provide that can once again set up for tip up, left or right hand carry.
Elementum II Specifications:
Overall Length: 7.06″
Width: 1.19″
Overall Height(Include Clip): 0.68″
Blade Length: 2.96″
Closed Length: 4.11″
Blade Thickness: 0.12″
Handle Thickness: 0.51″
Knife Weight: 2.84oz
Blade Material: Nitro-V
Blade Hardness: 59-61HRC
Blade Grind: Hollow
Blade Finish: Black
Blade Type: Drop Point
Handle Material: Ultem
Handle Color/Finish: Bead Blasted
Liner Material: Stainless Steel
Liner Color/Finish: Black
Pocket Clip: Tip-Up, Right Carry
Clip Material: Stainless Steel
Screws Material: Stainless Steel
Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing
Locking Mechanism: Button Lock
MSRP: $90.00
EDC Carry
I used both CIVIVI knives for a couple of months, although I will say that the Conspirator spent the most time in my pocket. The fit and finish of both knives is excellent. All of the outside edges are are rounded, and none of the screws stand proud. You can run your hand along the closed knife without feeling a sharp edge or feeling your hand catch anywhere. The smooth contours and flat profiles make them carry nicely in the pocket.
Speaking of pockets, the pocket clips are well designed and slip over the edge of the pocket easily without tearing up the material. The knife is held deeply so that all you see is the clip protruding from the pocket, and both are discretely matte finished. They draw easily from the pocket, having a good balance between proper retention and still being easy to draw with one hand. Honestly, you’d think knife companies would have pocket clip designs nailed by now, but not all of them are. CIVIVI does a very good job with theirs though, and it makes you want to carry their knives, not stuff them in a drawer.
Both knives are back flippers with button locks, so they operate identically. They’re fast and smooth, have solid lock up, and close easily. These are true one hand knives. The factory edge on both was excellent, and I didn’t have cause to touch it up during my use so far. That use was pretty typical EDC tasks. Opening boxes, cutting tape and cord, a little bit of light whittling, and opening a bunch of boxes. I used them at the range as well although honestly that’s still just doing the same kind of tasks other than using the Conspirator to pry out a stuck casing once.
Those smooth contours made the knives comfortable to use, and both were solid performers. So why did I carry the Conspirator more? Two reason really. Part of it was simple aesthetics. I liked the satin finish with the Ultem handles, and the overall lines of the knife a little better. I also felt the bigger knife fit my hand better. Being that both rode deeply on the pocket, it didn’t really bother me carrying the slightly bigger and slightly heavier knife. Maybe if I were wearing dress slacks or khakis that difference would be more pronounced, but not with jeans, cargo shorts, or my work uniform pants.
Conspirator or Elementum II?
So between the two, which should you choose? I went with the Conspirator for the reason I mentioned above. With that said, both are solid performers and I’d feel comfortable carrying either one. I decided to hang on to the Conspirator and gifted the Elementum II to a buddy who just got promoted to Lieutenant at his department. He liked the look and design, and I figure he might appreciate the smaller size being stuck behind a desk or in meetings much of the time now! It’s really hard to go wrong with either choice though. A lot comes down to your preference in the size of your EDC knife, and personal preferences regarding looks and feel.
As much as I like the Ultem handles, if they aren’t your thing CIVIVI offers both knives with a variety of other handle materials including micarta, G10, carbon fiber, and even. wood. You can also get a Damscus blade on some versions as well if you want to fancy things up a bit. MSRP on the Conspirator as tested is $105.00 and the Elementum II is $90.00, although you can save a few bucks off of retail if you get them through Civivi’s Amazon shop.