Civivi knives have been taking the knife world by storm. This Chinese made knife has won over supporters due to its quality, price and functional styling. The flagship is the Civivi Elementum flipper. Its razor-sharp, satin D2 drop point blade remains sharp and is easy to maintain an edge. With a length of just under three inches (2.96") the blade is the ideal length for a general purpose or EDC type of pocket knife. And at under three ounces, it's comfortable to carry all day long.

Civivi has also perfected the use of bearings to make this flipper easy to open. Using a caged ceramic ball-bearing pivot construction, the Elementum folder has a buttery smooth and crisp opening and closing action. A liner lock keeps the blade open until positively disengaged.

The Civivi Elementum handle comes in a variety of materials including G10, micarta, carbon fiber and wood. The slight curve and checkering provide a solid grip especially for one hand usage. Knives like the Elementum are made to be carried. As much as possible, the Civivi Elementum makes use of rounded edges to prevent snagging and also includes a deep-carry clip that lets you slide the Civivi discreetly into your pocket or waistband. Overall, the sleek yet sturdy design coupled with its affordable price makes the Civivi Elementum a great every day carry pocket knife.

As great as the Civivi Elementum is, the world of 3" folding knives with rapid deployment is pretty rich and there are many excellent alternatives. The following are what we consider to be some of the best alternatives to the Civivi Elementum.

Kershaw Emerson CQC-5K

This collaboration between designer Ernie Emerson and Kershaw has produced one of the most unique tactical folding knives. Designed for everyone from sportsmen to backpackers to military and police, the Kershaw Emerson CQC has become known as a tough and reliable EDC. The blade opens smoothly by either flipping the thumb disk or by using the wave shaped feature which when worn in the pocket will automatically deploy the blade when you withdraw the knife. Very few knives give you this quick of a deployment without using an automatic mechanism.

The 3" blade is forged from 8Cr14MoV which offers great edge retention and resistance to corrosion. The clip point blade is sandwiched between G10 scales that offer a slip resistant grip even when used in wet environments. The reversible pocket clip is not a deep carry version and the knife is heftier (3.78 ounces) than most of its contemporaries. But in exchange you get an amazingly robust build, and the CQC is clearly designed for hard use. A beefy liner lock keeps the blade open when in use. Overall, the Kershaw Emerson CQC is a solid, versatile folding that is at home on an afternoon hike or rescue mission.

SOG Terminus XR

The SOG Terminus XR is a lightweight, robust folding knife with an ambidextrous deep carry pocket clip. Using their proven XR locking mechanism, the Terminus XR opens smoothly and quickly using the flip tab or thumb studs. The D2 steel is stonewashed for additional corrosion resistance. The handle comes in an olive drab green or black or crimson G10 handle with strong checking to ensure a solid grip even when wet.

The 3" blade sports the classic drop point design and at .11" thick is a great balance between strength and precision. The SOG Terminus XR is extremely comfortable to carry and lightweight. The knife makes for an excellent backup or for times when you don't want to carry something more significant. Overall, the SOG Terminus XR is a strong every day carry knife with a proven blade design and smooth opening and locking system.

Benchmade Mini Griptilian

Comfortable? Check. Easy to deploy? Check. Innovative design? Definitely. The Benchmade Mini Griptilian has an almost cult like following. In part this is due to the use of the Benchmade patented AXIS lock system that allows the blade to be quickly deployed using either the thumb stud or thumbhole or with a quick flick of the wrist. Once open, the same AXIS lock ensures the blade remains open and guards against accidental closing. The blade is a 2.91" CPM-S30V steel with a highly versatile modified sheepsfoot style.

The handle is made of polymer which keeps the overall knife extremely light. The profile also allows for a very positive grip (hence the name) and the checkering ensures a non-slip hold. The reversible pocket clips allow for left- or right-sided carry. This perfectly-sized folder uses centuries-old cutting tradition paired with 21st-century materials and manufacturing to give you a reliable utility knife that you can carry every day.

CRKT Drifter EDC Folding Pocket Knife

The CRKT Drifter might look small, but it is one of the toughest knives in this group. The 2.875" blade is forged from durable 8Cr14MoV steel that resists corrosion and provides excellent sharpness. The useful drop point profiled blade is finished with a gray titanium nitride finish. Just as impressive is the solid stainless steel liner lock that provides a highly secure lockup.

The G10 two-piece handle features a reversible pocket clip as well as a lanyard attachment. Best of all is the price. The CRKT Drifter is a very economical every day carry knife. You can use and abuse it without worrying about ruining a high priced tool.

ESEE BRK Zancudo

The name "Zancudo" comes from the Spanish word for mosquito and was designed by survival experts Mike Perrin and Jeff Randall at ESEE. This high quality three-ounce folder is a solid combination of glass reinforced nylon and sturdy D2 tool steel. Full length steel liners provide serious strength to this small folder. The ESEE BRK's blade is a traditional clip point and the steel liner lock ensures it remains open when in use. The 3" blade is deployed with thumb studs located on either side.

There is a non-reversible pocket clip as well as lanyard hole. The profile of the handle allows for a positive grip. The ESEE BRK has a very solid feel and when open handles more like a fixed bladed knife with one important exception -- the blade is only .093" thin. A thinner blade is usually preferred for an every day carry knife which allows for very precise cutting. The ESEE BRK is at home both in the city and in the field.

Spyderco Delica 4 Lightweight

Introduced in 1990, the Spyderco Delica series of knives has many features that make it a standard for everyday use: full flat ground, Japanese made VG-10 steel blade with a drop point tip, a thin blade for precise cutting and an overall weight of just 2.5 ounces. While the handle is lightweight glass filled nylon, twin skeletonized stainless steel liners add stiffness without much weight. A pair of phosphor bronze washers allow for smooth, one-handed opening of the knife using the Spyderco invented "spydie" hole in the blade. A positive lock back keeps the blade open and a simple push will unlock it for closing.

The Delica handle can be completely dissembled using the torx screws which makes cleaning a breeze. A reversible pocket click can be attached on either side and either end to carry it tip up or tip down. The Spyderco Delica 4 represents durability without excessive weight and sleekness without compromising strength. It's excellent for cutting anything from light office tasks to heavy outdoor adventures.

Ka-Bar Dozier Hunter Folding Knife

Ka-Bar is known for their WWII combat knife. Now you can get a Ka-Bar for your pocket. The Ka-Bar Dozier sports a 3" drop point blade in AUS-8A steel. The hollow ground blade is immensely useful and at .11" thick is built like a tank. It is more of an outdoor working knife than a delicate every day folder. The only thing missing is the blood groove.

The handle is hard Zytel with a lock back locking system. Zytel is known for being a high strength and stiff polymer that also is low weight. The molded checking is aggressive and non-slip. There is a reversible pocket clip as well as lanyard hole. The knife opens using a thumb stud. This is a true outdoor folding knife and for the price you won't worry about adding any scratches and dings when putting it to work.

SOG Traction EDC

SOG is known for their tactical folding knives that are favored by police and military. A solid entry is the SOG Traction. The 3.5" 5Cr13MoV stainless steel blade comes in either a traditional clip point or tanto profile. The Traction uses a traditional lock back mechanism that keeps the blade solidly open while also allowing quick deployment using the thumb studs.

The handle is constructed from a lightweight but strong glass-reinforced nylon with aggressive checkering and a rarely found deep pocket clip. This deep clip keeps the knife well hidden in your pocket until needed. The SOG Traction is clearly aimed at the professional EDC crowd.

Conclusion

While the Civivi Elementum is a great EDC folding knife, as you can see there are many great alternatives. For most people the choice will come down to weight, blade steel and overall look. But at the end of the day you can't go wrong with any of the alternatives on this list.

What do you think? Did we miss a great alternative or one of your favorites? Please let us know by leaving a comment below.