Key Specifications
- Designer: Ben Petersen
- Model: C25066A-2
- Overall Length: 5.62″ / 142.7 mm
- Blade Length: 2.34″ / 59.4 mm
- Closed Length: 3.28″ / 83.3 mm
- Blade Thickness: 0.09″ / 2.3 mm
- Handle Thickness: 0.38″ / 9.7 mm
- Weight: 2.18 oz / 61.7 g
- Blade Steel: Nitro-V
- Blade Hardness: 59–61 HRC
- Blade Grind: Flat
- Blade Finish: Satin
- Blade Shape: Drop Point
- Handle Material: Guibourtia Wood
- Opening: Thumb Stud
- Locking Mechanism: Slip Joint / non-locking
- Pivot: Bronze Washers
- Thumb Studs: 6Al4V Titanium
- Pocket Clip: Stainless Steel, reversible, tip-up
Design & First Impressions
The Baby Banter Slip Joint keeps the compact proportions and recognizable ergonomics of the original Baby Banter while changing the locking mechanism to a traditional slip joint.
At only 83.3 mm (3.28″) when closed and weighing 61.7 g (2.18 oz), it is a very compact knife that barely takes up any space in the pocket.
Despite its small dimensions, the handle provides a surprisingly secure grip. The pronounced finger choil gives the index finger a defined position and makes the knife feel more controlled than its compact size might suggest.
The Guibourtia wood handle also gives this version a very different character from the more technical-looking G10 versions. The wood adds a warmer, more traditional appearance without making the knife feel bulky.
Nitro-V Blade
The 59.4 mm (2.34″) drop-point blade is made from Nitro-V and has a flat grind with a satin finish.
Nitro-V is a stainless steel based on the AEB-L family and is particularly known for its combination of toughness, corrosion resistance and ease of sharpening. The blade on my example is hardened to 59–61 HRC according to CIVIVI.
Out of the box, the blade is extremely sharp and produces clean cuts through typical everyday materials such as cardboard, packaging and cordage.
The relatively thin 2.3 mm blade and flat grind also make the knife a capable slicer despite its compact dimensions.
For a small EDC knife, the blade geometry makes more sense to me than simply using a thick, heavily ground blade. This is a knife designed primarily for cutting rather than for heavy-duty abuse.
Slip Joint Mechanism
Instead of a liner lock or frame lock, the Baby Banter Slip Joint uses a traditional non-locking slip-joint mechanism.
The back spring provides resistance throughout the opening and closing movement and keeps the blade securely positioned during normal cutting tasks. A finger choil also provides an additional passive safety feature by making it more difficult for the hand to slide forward onto the edge.
The blade pivots on bronze washers, while the thumb studs are made from 6Al4V titanium.
The opening action is smooth and can be performed one-handed using the thumb stud. However, unlike a locking folder, the blade does not lock open. This is an important distinction when using the knife and should be kept in mind during more demanding cutting tasks.
Ambidextrous Pocket Clip
One of the details I particularly like about this model is the reversible pocket clip.
The stainless-steel clip can be mounted on either side of the knife and uses a tip-up configuration, making the Baby Banter Slip Joint suitable for both left- and right-handed carry.
CIVIVI also includes a small cover plate for the unused mounting position. Once the clip is moved to the opposite side, the plate can be installed over the exposed mounting area.
It is a small detail, but it gives the handle a much cleaner appearance and prevents the unused mounting recess from simply being left open.
Everyday Carry
This is where the dimensions of the Baby Banter Slip Joint really make sense.
With a blade just under 60 mm long and a closed length of only 83.3 mm, it is small enough to carry without feeling intrusive. At 61.7 g, it is also light enough to forget about in the pocket.
At the same time, the finger choil and compact handle provide considerably more control than the overall dimensions might suggest.
The combination of a non-locking slip joint and one-hand-opening thumb stud is also particularly interesting for European users, where knife-carry regulations differ between countries.
For Germany, the exact legality of carrying any knife depends on the applicable provisions and the circumstances of carry. The fact that this is a non-locking slip-joint knife is nevertheless an important characteristic when considering §42a WaffG.
Conclusion
The CIVIVI Baby Banter Slip Joint takes the compact Baby Banter concept and gives it a different character through its non-locking mechanism and traditional-looking Guibourtia wood handle.
The combination of a 2.34″ Nitro-V blade, 59–61 HRC hardness, thin 2.3 mm blade stock, bronze washers and titanium thumb studs gives it a specification that is quite serious for such a small knife.
Its real strength, however, is its size. At just 83.3 mm closed and 61.7 g, it is an unobtrusive EDC knife that still provides a surprisingly secure grip and useful cutting performance.
The non-locking slip-joint mechanism will not appeal to someone looking for a conventional locking folder, but for users specifically looking for a compact non-locking EDC knife, the Baby Banter Slip Joint is an interesting interpretation of the Baby Banter design.
Overall, it is a compact, well-built EDC knife with a thoughtful combination of materials, dimensions and features rather than simply a scaled-down folder.
You can get it here
https://www.knivesandtools.de/de/pt/-civivi-baby-banter-c25066a-2-satin-nitro-v-guibourtia-wood-slipjoint-taschenmesser-ben-petersen-design.htm
or here
