CIVIVI's Altus is one of those designs that quietly does a lot with very little. It is a compact button-lock folding knife, 2.97 inches of Nitro-V and just over three ounces, that opens with a thumb and closes with a single press of a button. In 2026 the same silhouette also exists as a small fixed blade with a Kydex sheath. Between the two platforms there are ten variants, three blade steels and five handle materials, and none of them costs more than $70.
This guide walks through every Altus variant, explains what separates the folder from the fixed blade, and helps you decide which one belongs in your pocket.
What the Altus Folder Gets Right
The folding Altus is built around a 2.97-inch (75.5 mm) drop-point blade with a flat grind and 0.12-inch (3.0 mm) stock. That recipe, a thin full-flat blade in a small package, is what makes the Altus cut well above its size. It slices rather than wedges, which is exactly what you want from a knife that lives in a pocket and opens mail, breaks down boxes, and trims rope.
These numbers stay constant across every folding Altus:
- Overall length: 7.12 in / 180.8 mm
- Closed length: 4.15 in / 105.3 mm
- Blade length: 2.97 in / 75.5 mm
- Blade thickness: 0.12 in / 3.0 mm
- Handle thickness: 0.51 in / 13.0 mm
- Blade grind: flat, drop point
- Pivot: caged ceramic ball bearings
- Lock: button lock
- Pocket clip: tip-up, left/right reversible, stainless steel
The button lock is the headline feature. Press it with your thumb and the blade swings free with no liner to push across your finger. On a knife this small that matters, because it means you can open and close the Altus one-handed without looking, and you can hand it back to someone else just as easily.
Three Steels, Three Personalities
CIVIVI specs the folding Altus in Nitro-V at 58 to 61 HRC, and offers one Damascus variant at 58 to 60 HRC. Nitro-V is a nitrogen-enriched stainless that is a favourite for EDC because it balances edge holding with toughness and stain resistance; it takes a fine edge and is forgiving if you are still learning to sharpen. The Damascus version is a layered, pattern-welded steel with a black hand-rubbed finish, aimed at people who want a pocket knife that looks like an object rather than a tool.
The fixed-blade Altus uses 14C28N at 57 to 60 HRC, a Swedish stainless that behaves similarly to Nitro-V: easy to sharpen, hard to rust and tough enough for real work. If you already own a CIVIVI Elementum or a Kizer in 14C28N, the fixed Altus will feel familiar on the stones. If you want to go deeper on how nitrogen-enriched steels like Nitro-V behave at the edge, the tests at Knife Steel Nerds are the standard reference, and CIVIVI publishes the full Altus range on its official site.
Every Altus Folder Variant Compared
All six folding variants share the same frame, lock, blade shape and pivot, so the differences come down to handle material, finish and weight. Everything here is $51.
| Model | Handle | Blade | Finish | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C20076-1 | G10, black | Nitro-V, 59-61 HRC | silver bead blasted | 3.11 oz / 88.3 g |
| C20076-2 | G10, burgundy | Nitro-V, 58-60 HRC | black stonewashed | 3.11 oz / 88.3 g |
| C20076-5 | Aluminum, green | Nitro-V, 58-60 HRC | black stonewashed | 3.37 oz / 95.6 g |
| C20076-6 | Aluminum, blue | Nitro-V, 59-61 HRC | stonewashed | 3.37 oz / 95.6 g |
| C20076-3 | Guibourtia wood | Nitro-V, 58-60 HRC | black stonewashed | 2.87 oz / 81.3 g |
| C20076-DS1 | Micarta, green | Damascus, 58-60 HRC | black hand rubbed | 2.87 oz / 81.3 g |
Two patterns are worth calling out. The aluminum versions are the heaviest at 3.37 oz, and the metal scales give the knife a firmer, colder hand feel that some people love and others find slick. The wood and micarta versions are the lightest at 2.87 oz and the warmest in the hand; they also hide wear better than bead-blasted steel, which shows every scuff.
The Altus Fixed Blade: Same Shape, No Lock
The Altus Fixed Blade keeps the folder's overall length (7.12 in / 180.8 mm) and blade length (2.99 in / 76 mm) almost exactly, but trades the button lock for a full tang and a 4.13-inch (104.8 mm) handle. It ships with a black Kydex sheath, a Bob Terzuola-designed T-Clip, and a black paracord lanyard tied on.
- Blade: 2.99 in / 76 mm, cutting edge 2.95 in / 75 mm
- Steel: 14C28N at 57 to 60 HRC, flat grind, drop point
- Handle: 4.13 in / 104.8 mm
- Weight with lanyard: 2.70 to 3.01 oz, depending on scales
- Sheath: black Kydex with T-Clip and paracord lanyard
Because there is no pivot and no lock, the fixed Altus is the more robust of the two. It is also thinner through the handle and, at 2.70 oz in the wood version, lighter than most of the folders. For camping, hiking and general outdoor use it removes an entire category of maintenance.
Every Altus Fixed Blade Variant Compared
| Model | Handle | Blade | Finish | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C20076B-1 | G10, OD green | 14C28N, 58-60 HRC | stonewashed | 3.01 oz / 85.3 g | $64.70 |
| C20076B-2 | G10, gray/black layered | 14C28N, 58-60 HRC | gray stonewashed | 3.01 oz / 85.3 g | $65.90 |
| C20076B-3 | Guibourtia wood | 14C28N, 57-59 HRC | black stonewashed | 2.70 oz / 76.6 g | $69.70 |
The layered G10 version is the grippiest of the three, and the wood version is the lightest and dressiest. All three use the same sheath system, so the choice is purely about how the handle feels in your hand. The OD green G10 fixed blade is the least expensive at $64.70.
Folder or Fixed Blade: Which Altus Should You Buy?
If you carry in a pocket, the folding Altus is the obvious pick. The button lock makes it a genuinely one-hand knife, and at 2.87 to 3.37 oz it disappears into a pocket. Choose the G10 version if you want maximum grip, the aluminum version if you like a colder metallic feel, and the wood or micarta version if you want the lightest carry. The range starts with the CIVIVI Altus G10 and the Damascus Altus, both at $51.
If your knife lives in a bag, on a belt or in a pack, the fixed Altus is the better tool. No pivot to loosen, no lock to service, and a full 2.99-inch blade with nothing folded back on it. It costs $13 to $19 more than the folder, but you get a sheath, a clip and a knife that will outlast several folders.
A lot of people land on carrying both: the folder for town and the fixed blade for the trail. That is arguably the best use of the family, because the two share the same blade shape and handle feel, so your muscle memory transfers between them.
How the Altus Compares to Other CIVIVI Button Locks
CIVIVI now has a deep bench of button-lock folders, and the Altus sits near the compact end of it. The CIVIVI Qubit is the closest sibling, also a button lock with a thumb stud, but it has a different handle profile and a slightly different blade shape. If you want a larger button lock, the CIVIVI Vision FG sits a size up, and the CIVIVI Elementum remains the default recommendation for a first CIVIVI. Our roundup of the best button lock EDC knives puts the whole lineup in context.
On the fixed side, the Altus is CIVIVI's second small fixed blade worth knowing, alongside the Appalachian Drifter II. If you are weighing fixed versus folding in general, our guide to fixed blade vs folding knives covers the trade-offs, and the best budget EDC fixed blades roundup adds more options at a similar price.
Altus Care Notes
Button locks are simple, but two habits keep them sweet. First, keep the pivot area clean; grit in the bearings is the usual cause of a gritty action, and a wipe-down plus a drop of light oil after wet use is enough. Second, do not force the button while the blade is under lateral load, because the lock is designed to release, not to act as a pry bar.
For steel care, Nitro-V and 14C28N both shrug off moisture reasonably well, but they are not rust-proof, so dry the blade after use. The Damascus variant deserves a little more attention; layered steels can discolour if left damp, and a thin coat of oil on the blade keeps the pattern crisp. If your knife ever develops lock stick or a gritty action, our guides to fixing lock stick and cleaning and lubricating a folding knife walk through the fixes.
FAQ
Is the CIVIVI Altus a good first EDC knife? Yes. At 2.97 inches with a button lock and a $51 price, the Altus is compact, easy to open one-handed and inexpensive. It is a comfortable size for people who want a capable knife that does not dominate a pocket.
What steel does the CIVIVI Altus use? The folding Altus uses Nitro-V at 58 to 61 HRC, with one Damascus variant at 58 to 60 HRC. The fixed-blade Altus uses 14C28N at 57 to 60 HRC.
Is the Altus folder or the Altus fixed blade better for hiking? For hiking and camping, the fixed blade is the better tool. It has no pivot or lock to service, uses the more wear-resistant 14C28N steel, and ships with a Kydex sheath and clip.
How much does the CIVIVI Altus cost? Every folding Altus is $51. The fixed-blade versions run from $64.70 to $69.70 depending on the handle material.
Does the Altus have a reversible pocket clip? Yes. Every folding Altus has a tip-up stainless steel clip that can be set for left- or right-handed carry.