Civivi Elementum vs QSP Penguin - Budget Knife Showdown 

Matt, thank you for those words. It means a lot to me! I’ll keep working on putting out better content!

Yeah actually teflon washers are possibly the smoothest! The only down side is that they are more susceptible to damage =\

Spot on with your analysis! Yes drop points are much better when it comes to piercing. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you Ben! I’m glad you enjoy the content!

Oh sick you received it! :)

Yeah it showed up 3 days ago. Its impressive!

LOL that's always the best answer to any dilemma isn't it? Thank you for the kind words, too!

Glad you found the video to be of some help! So... which did you decide on in the end?

I agree with you wholeheartedly!

Civivi 3x more expensive

Thank you for watching as well!

Wow that's something that I have absolutely no knowledge about but now I'm getting interested. Thanks for sharing, Gordon!

That's a great way to put it. A rotation between the two certainly is refreshing!

Thank you bro!

Wow yes that indeed DOES speak volumes! A penguin over a BM is quite the statement. Glad you're enjoying yours my man! My Penguin is still serving me well.

Oh a sencut! I’ve heard nothing but good things about their knifes.

Okay I need to check out the Hawk then! I've been eyeing the QSP Leopard but I can't justify the price with the steel it's using.

Oh sweet. What variations do you have?

@@avgsgn green and brown, u have to put them side by side to tell any difference. D2 version. I seen a s35v for $ 60 bucks

Usually a sharpening choil is way smaller - so small that you can’t even fit your pinky in. But yeah, either way - I guess you could say that the sharpening choil on the elementum is large enough for me to use it as a forward finger choil, haha!

Yeah you’re not the only one who shares this sentiment regarding ambidexterity especially in knives. I believe that it’s one of the things that Civivi doesn’t focus on in order for them to maintain their budget-range prices.

I’m glad you stopped by and welcome to the channel! Most people would generally veer towards the Elementum because in terms of design it’s a little sleeker with nicer rounded lines. Whichever you pick, I’m sure you’re gonna love it!

The penguin is fantastic. I carry it as often as I carry my Spyderco Para 3, knife which is also a fantastic EDC. One thing that wasn't mentioned here, for obvious reasons is edge retention. IDK about the Elementum, but the Penguin has excellent edge retention. I process A LOT of cardboard at work. The Penguin holds an edge better than any knife I own, including the Para 3. Though D2 is notoriously difficult to sharpen, the thin blade geometry of the Penguin actually makes the blade easy to retain. I have been able to maintain it by stropping alone If you can only buy one of them, buy the Penguin. You can even get it in S35VN at Knives Plus for $59.99, just a few dollars more than the Elementum, though I really like the D2. LTK tested the Penguin and it came back with a Rockwell of 61.

Never could understand the hype on the elementum. I recently purchased the brass penguin with black blade and have been VERY impressed!

I wholeheartedly agree!

11

The dark brown micarte then model A to J

Yeah I suspect it might also be due to the heat treat process, but I think it’s the forging... why would the metal have those fold-like lines.

Same here, on my Elementum.

For me, I feel that the denim micarta on the Penguin is a little too smooth. I wonder if it’s possible to source out phosphor bronze washers for the Elementum?

It's an awesome choice, no doubt!

Interesting take. I don't find the thumb studs on the penguin sharp but I can totally relate - I've handled some pocket knives with thumb studs from hell. And yes - while the action on the Penguin is great, the Elementum is, hands down, smoother!

@@avgsgn if u enjoy the Elementum then the best advice is to pickup the button lock Elementum, it's a vast improvement from the liner lock version, if you're interested, knifecenter has them in stock now, (they sell out really quick) u will most certainly not be disappointed!

Oh nice! Glad you have those screws. Which Civivi are you looking at?

@@avgsgn i dont have a flipper yet so any flipper will do. :)

Yeah I agree, that’s a good point. However there are quite a number of US knife merchants that carry both, so that could potentially negate the import tax for you!

That’s the right answer, haha!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

The tanto version of the Elementum is really awesome. More like a “mini” Brazen. It has a flat grind so a tougher blade but still 3” with that same sleek handle. The Penguin is just a great knife. I didn’t think I’d like it til I got one.. one of my favorites regardless of price.

Ah, I learn something new today. Thank you, Andrew!

OUCH!!

Oh, awesome!

Ah! I need to get myself a Biblio!! Thank you for sharing!

Yes you need a ace biblio it's a sweet knife

DUDE! I'd Love to get the Burgundy Micarta Biblio! M390 flat saber grind looks like a sick slicer too. I've been drooling over that one for some time, maybe a next year purchase. Thanks for reminding me about it, so I can ogle it in the meantime. :) cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1283/1197/products/Burgundy2_1160x.png?v=1587675730

Daaaaaaaaanggg

Dude a Squid is classic. Blade HQ recently announced a D2 Squid!

@@avgsgn Nice I gota check it out.

I keep coming back to that CRKT Squid. It’s a great go to beater knife

You’re gonna love them both, I just know it.

Oh man! That really sucks! Maybe next time, if you have access to a soldering iron, you could try using that to heat up the screw, which may help soften the loctite? Dang dude, that sucks.

One of the things i love about my penguin is that if i totaly destroy it they are basicaly replacable for the price..👍

@@avgsgn Great advice,works,,,,almost every time👍

I’ll need more info - what do you mean “small profile”? What is your definition of a “good defined” handle? Haha.

@@avgsgn, thanks for responding. Small profile as in thin blade, overall easy to carry in the pocket. Ergonomic but not big handle.

Yeah it does rust easily - gotta keep up on the maintenance game!

Very valid points, neighbour! That’s true. The action on any civivi is really top-notch - their QC is truly of high standards. Recently I’m leaning away from flipper tabs because I’m starting to find that knives without flipper tabs are looking much sleeker!

@@avgsgn Have you looked at the Elementum Buttonlock then

@@kennymason3518 Yes I have and I've handled it - I don't like that it's longer than a standard Elementum, but I also don't like the deployment method.

Which micarta version did you get? Green? Interesting - I mentioned in my Penguin review that the denim micarta I received looks rather different from other people who purchased the denim micarta version as well - mine seems to be very, very smooth. Almost like cotton - that's a good way to describe it.

@@avgsgn I got the denim as well.

Oh goodness, that's true - I totally missed out on that! Thanks for pointing it out!

They are pretty simple to countersink also if you are so inclined. Truth be told, I have both and neither pocket clips snag or bind at all. Both work great.

Best answer.

That’s something I’ve not heard anyone point out so far but that’s a super valid point you’re making. If anything, I guess I would stonewash it. However it does match when the blade is deployed... but that’s just my opinion.

@@avgsgn I’m definitely not alone in my dislike of shiny clips. I’ll keep my eye on them to see if they come out with a black clip model.

@@petemitchell6788 I'm sure you're not alone - for me it depends on the knife it's on. If the knife is of a darker finish and has, say for example, a stonewash on the scales, in general then I would want a stonewashed clip.

It’s listed as OD Green Micarta. Hope that helps!

You can check out my knife collection video :)

@@avgsgn Oh,I see,is there any website or store of knives in Singapore? Where do you get all your collection?

What a way to phrase it! That's awesome!

YES The pocket pecker on some flippers are obnoxiously large!!

I might have to take a look at what CJRB has in their product lineup again, last I checked, nothing really caught my eye.

Oh wow! That’s awesome. Mine’s getting a little more drop shutty, but also because I’ve been doing my usual maintenance on it.

Yet, statistically it's more popular than the Penguin.

Yes - and one of the factors is “value for money”. Just because something is more / less expensive doesn’t mean it’s worth the price.

WHAAAAT!

Yeah and if you go to qsp website they are showing titanium versions in a lot of colours. I have 5 I want the brass with black blade, a carbon fibre and any titanium version and I’ll call it good at that. Fantastic quality for the price

@@waddell849 You're a true Penguin collector!