Anthropos — KNIFENEWS BEST NEW VALUE FOLDER 2019
The Civivi Anthropos is the KnifeNews Readers’ Choice for Best New Value Folder 2019 (MSRP of $100 or less)! The first of the Elijah Isham budget knives snagged the gold from some strong foes including the CRKT Slacker, Gerber Jukebox, Kershaw XCOM, and Steel Will Shaula.
Makers are completely redefining what we can expect for our dollar in the sub-$100 knife market. They’re pushing for better materials, better steel, cutting edge designs. Releases are coming out in that arena that are exciting, dynamic, and representative of how high the quality bar has been raised for virtually all price points. In 2019, the Civivi Anthropos was a shining example of this phenomenon.
Until the release of this knife, Elijah Isham’s avant garde style was relegated to the upper echelons of the production world. His work with We Knife Co. and with his own private label releases were well-loved, but not really within the reach of the entry-level user. The Anthropos changed all of that, and opened the floodgates for a trilogy of Isham designs under the Civivi label.
The Anthropos design shows that Isham’s flair for unconventional forms does more than catch the eye; it manages to be visually arresting while also remaining a hard-working utility tool. The sweeping, broad-bellied blade has undeniable swagger, but also chews through EDC cutting chores. The silhouette of the handle is traditional, functional, but the multi-tiered carbon fiber/G-10 scales, cut with sinuous, almost psychedelic lines, make it feel pleasingly strange and new. The Anthropos is an affordable knife that’s also a conversation piece.
Isham/Civivi’s work here also possesses another important feature of excellent sub-$100 knives: the potential to appeal to hardcore collectors as well as more casual knife users. The Anthropos embodies so many hip trends in the industry that it serves as a great starting point for a new collector, but also an intriguing buy for season hobbyists. There’s truly something here for everybody.