Civilian. Why..

[LRR]

What does one use models like the civilian for?

[TraumaRN904]

Cutting people very deeply.

[SG89]

Yep. Self defense.

[mb1]

The story is listed in the catalog. It's a self defense knife that doesn't require intensive training to be effective.

[Cogito]

Why? Because this is 'Merica, that's why.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

1 It is a very handy self-defense knife.
2 The overall shape and look may be enough to drive away a potential assailant.
3 It is made of top quality materials and is a very unique design.

[The Deacon]

Online catalog description sums up both the "why" and the "why not" pretty well.

[LRR]

OK Gut hook. Interesting. It can inflict horrific cuts but not reach vital organs.

[Evil D]

OK Gut hook. Interesting. It can inflict horrific cuts but not reach vital organs.

You get a good slash in on the torso with this knife and you won't need to hit an organ. Get that slash across the abdomen and you'll disembowel someone. Hit them in the face with it and they'll definitely stop attacking you.

[Chinook3]

Civilian knife runs on two planes of motion; not so good for thrusting but can be used as a controlling device such as a Kerambit.
The fine tip allows the user to pinpoint targets and "extract"; for example flexor tendons in arm, trach take (trachea) and hamstring tendons taking the vinegar out of your assailant.

[Skaaphaas]

Have the possibility of obtaining one of these at a pretty decent price. Will see it on Saturday to see if it is not a fake. If not, I'm taking it for sure.

[SF Native]

I figure that if someone has a civilian and get attacked, anyone could defend themselves. If someone gets the blade up on the attacker and recoils or tries to move away, the civilian will make a nasty, deep pull cut. And the attacker will think twice about continuing the pursuit.

[demoncase]

I use mine for opening my mail.

Because......REASONS :)

[Sharp Guy]

I use mine for opening my mail.

Because......REASONS :)

Haha! That's one badass letter opener!

[demoncase]

I use mine for opening my mail.

Because......REASONS :)

Haha! That's one badass letter opener!

Well, I'm not likely to need it's 'designed in capabilities' for their intended purpose.....so, yeah- Eviscerating my mobile phone bill is about the size of it :D

[JD Spydo]

Yeah the CIVI is not a blade for everyone that's for sure. Actually it's bit too big for my hands but I am borderline fanatical about the Matriarch model which is the Civilian's little Sister>> And I wish that they would make a utility version of the Matriach with a significantly thicker blade.

Unless you're a big Biker type, former football player or just a really big guy with a big hand I bet you also would like the Matriarch a bit better too. That's one rare case where I much prefer an FRN handle over the bigger G-10 handle.

That's one thing I love about Spyderco they have such a wide range of different models and different genres of knives that just about anyone can find a Spyder that they dearly adore. But again I would love a Utility Version of the Matriarch model with a thick blade that can be used in rough cutting jobs.

[zhyla]

The Civilian is probably the model that makes the least sense to me. I know the story behind it, but if you were suspicious of someone in your criminal organization and found a Civilian on him, what would you think?

[The Deacon]

The Civilian is probably the model that makes the least sense to me. I know the story behind it, but if you were suspicious of someone in your criminal organization and found a Civilian on him, what would you think?

True, it's probably not as useful for UC work as it originally was. But remember, it was in production for 12 years before it ever appeared in any Spyderco catalog.

[Evil D]

The Civilian is probably the model that makes the least sense to me. I know the story behind it, but if you were suspicious of someone in your criminal organization and found a Civilian on him, what would you think?

Well, being a criminal organization, I would assume he plans to use it for criminal activities lol. Bad guys tend to do bad things and have the tools to do it with. Unless your criminal organization is non violent, like money laundering or something but crime and violence are pretty much synonymous.

[Blerv]

It was prior to Janich popularizing the defensive wharnciffe. At the time the most aggressive cutters were hawkbills which tend to snag depending on the angle and what they hit. The huge reverse s blade was designed fo avoid these problems. Ultimately this model was designed for those with less blade training similar to the Matriarch which was the original A.R.K. for women in Africa. Defensive swipes cutting the most that gets in the way at any level of pressure.

It's easy to ask "why?" behind a keyboard but the response "who not?" Is bound to arrive eventually. As someone with some knife training and who knows people with far more none who have seen a Civilian have said anything but explicitives. Reach, performance, and aesthetics...all equally terrifying to anyone not holding it.

Well, being a criminal organization, I would assume he plans to use it for criminal activities lol. Bad guys tend to do bad things and have the tools to do it with. Unless your criminal organization is non violent, like money laundering or something but crime and violence are pretty much synonymous.

"Hey! We run a pyramid scheme but we aren't animals!" - A sneaky guy with scruples