Some knife families grow by adding handle materials. The CIVIVI Bullmastiff grew by adding a second size entirely.
The original Bullmastiff is a 3.83-inch liner lock flipper built around a broad, flat-ground drop point on 4 mm blade stock. It was later joined by the Mini Bullmastiff, a 2.97-inch version that keeps the same lock, the same flipper tab and the same overall silhouette at roughly two-thirds the volume. Between the two models, CIVIVI has shipped G10, Micarta, carbon fiber over Damascus, and a pair of retailer exclusives with a completely different steel.
That spread is the reason this guide exists. If you are picking between the CIVIVI Bullmastiff and the Mini Bullmastiff, the questions that matter are blade length, weight, steel and price. Everything else is colorway. For the manufacturer's own product pages, CIVIVI's official site is the place to confirm current listings.
What the Bullmastiff family actually is
Both sizes are liner lock flippers running caged ceramic ball bearings in the pivot, which is the same arrangement behind most of CIVIVI's flipper line. A liner lock uses a leaf of the handle liner that springs behind the blade tang, which is why it stays ambidextrous. The blade is a wide drop point with a flat grind and a generous belly, and the stock runs thick: 0.16 inch (4 mm) on the full-size model, 0.12 inch (3 mm) on the Mini.
That thickness is the family's signature. It gives both knives a substantial feel in the hand and leaves room for the flat grind to taper into a working edge. It also means neither model is a delicate slicer. This is a knife aimed at breaking down boxes, cutting rope, food prep on a camp table and the general pocket chores that make up most of an EDC knife's life. If blade geometry is new territory, our guide to drop point vs clip point vs wharncliffe vs sheepsfoot covers why a wide drop point behaves the way it does.
One useful detail for left-handed buyers: the pocket clip is tip-up and reversible left or right on both sizes, so nothing about the family forces a right-hand carry.
Full-size Bullmastiff: the C2006 platform
The full-size Bullmastiff is the version most people picture when they hear the name. The numbers are consistent across the standard 9Cr18MoV variants:
- Blade length: 3.83 in / 97.2 mm
- Overall length: 9.06 in / 230 mm
- Closed length: 5.23 in / 132.8 mm
- Blade thickness: 0.16 in / 4 mm
- Blade steel: 9Cr18MoV, 58-60 HRC on the G10 versions
- Grind and finish: flat grind, stonewashed or black stonewashed
- Lock: liner lock
- Opening: flipper tab, caged ceramic ball bearing pivot
- Weight: 5.57 oz / 158 g (G10), 5.13 oz / 145.5 g (Micarta)
That 158-gram figure is the honest headline. The full-size Bullmastiff is a heavy folder, and it carries like one. The payoff is a handle long enough for a full four-finger grip and a blade that does not feel undersized when you actually put it to work. Among liner lock knives it sits firmly in the "large but still pocketable" bracket, which is the same slot our best liner lock EDC knives roundup covers in more depth.
Standard configurations start with coarse-textured G10 in natural or black, or the dark green Micarta version. The G10 option is the lighter-handling of the two in the hand thanks to its texture, while the Micarta variant is the lighter knife on a scale. Either way, the price lands at $66.80 for the 9Cr18MoV versions.
Mini Bullmastiff: the C2004 platform
The Mini Bullmastiff is not a watered-down afterthought. It drops the blade to 2.97 inches, the stock to 0.12 inch and the closed length to 4.20 inches, but it keeps the flat grind, the wide drop point profile, the liner lock and the bearing pivot.
- Blade length: 2.97 in / 75.5 mm
- Overall length: 7.17 in / 182.1 mm
- Closed length: 4.20 in / 106.6 mm
- Blade thickness: 0.12 in / 3 mm
- Blade steel: 9Cr18MoV, 58-60 HRC
- Weight: 3.5 oz / 99.5 g (G10), 3.46 oz / 98.2 g (carbon fiber over G10)
- Lock / opening: liner lock, flipper tab, caged ceramic ball bearings
The Mini is roughly two ounces and 58 grams lighter than its big brother, and the closed length drops by about an inch. In practice that is the difference between a knife that announces itself in a pocket and one you forget is there. For anyone in an office or a city where a 3.83-inch blade draws the wrong kind of attention, the Mini keeps everything that makes the design work and removes the bulk. Our CIVIVI Elementum family guide makes a similar point about how much a compact CIVIVI can still deliver.
Damascus and carbon fiber variants
Both sizes get a Damascus edition with a twill carbon fiber overlay bonded over a G10 substrate base. It is the same knife underneath, with a black hand-rubbed Damascus blade and a hardness rating of 58-60 HRC.
- Full-size C2006DS-1: 158 g, carbon fiber over G10, $66.80
- Mini C2004DS-1: 98.2 g, carbon fiber over G10, $58.80
If you want the pattern without the premium you might expect, this is the version to look at. Just remember that Damascus is a layered steel: it looks like nothing else in a collection, but it asks for a little more care around moisture than a plain stainless blade. Our breakdown of 9Cr18MoV vs 8Cr13MoV explains the stainless side of the equation.
The EDCGripper Ghost exclusives
There is one branch of the family that behaves differently from everything above. The EDCGripper Ghost exclusive Mini Bullmastiff swaps the drop point for a cleaver-style blade and the 9Cr18MoV for 14C28N at 57-59 HRC. One version is serrated, the other is not, and both keep the white G10 handle and the 95.8 g weight.
The cleaver profile changes the knife's job description. Instead of a belly for slicing, you get a straight run of edge that lands flat on a cutting board or a stack of cardboard. It is a genuinely different tool sharing a handle with the standard Mini, and the exclusive version is priced at $77.40.
Full-size vs Mini Bullmastiff: side by side
| Bullmastiff (C2006) | Mini Bullmastiff (C2004) | |
|---|---|---|
| Blade length | 3.83 in | 2.97 in |
| Overall length | 9.06 in | 7.17 in |
| Closed length | 5.23 in | 4.20 in |
| Blade thickness | 0.16 in | 0.12 in |
| Weight (G10) | 5.57 oz / 158 g | 3.5 oz / 99.5 g |
| Steel | 9Cr18MoV (Damascus available) | 9Cr18MoV (Damascus available) |
| Lock | Liner lock | Liner lock |
| Price (G10) | $66.80 | $58.80 |
The gap is smaller than the numbers suggest. Both knives use the same lock, the same pivot bearings and the same opening method, and both are built on the same flat-ground drop point geometry. The decision really comes down to how much blade and weight you are willing to carry.
Pick the full-size if you want a big-handled work knife with a blade that can handle camp food, thick cardboard and rope without feeling compromised, and you do not mind 5.57 ounces in a pocket. Pick the Mini if you want the same character in a package that disappears into jeans, sits comfortably in a smaller hand, and stays under the 3-inch line that many workplaces and jurisdictions use as a reference point.
What 9Cr18MoV and 14C28N mean here
9Cr18MoV is a mid-range stainless with enough chromium for solid corrosion resistance and enough carbon and molybdenum to hold a working edge through everyday cutting. At 58-60 HRC it is not a high-vanadium super steel, and it is not trying to be. It sharpens easily on a basic stone, which matters if you are the kind of person who touches up an edge every couple of weeks rather than sending a knife out for professional sharpening.
14C28N, used on the EDCGripper exclusive, is a nitrogen-enhanced stainless that is widely regarded for toughness and corrosion resistance. That makes it a sensible pairing with a cleaver blade that will see board work and cardboard rather than fine slicing. If you want the wider picture on how alloying elements drive these properties, the Knife Steel Nerds guide to picking steel for a knife is the reference most people start with.
Hardness figures like "58-60 HRC" come from the Rockwell scale, which measures how resistant a steel is to indentation. For a working folder, that range is a deliberate middle ground: hard enough to resist edge rolling, soft enough to avoid chipping when you hit a staple.
Carry, action and maintenance
Both Bullmastiffs open the same way. Push the flipper tab, the blade rotates on ceramic bearings, and the liner lock engages. If you are used to thumb studs, the motion takes a few openings to become automatic — our flipper tab vs thumb stud guide covers the ergonomics of both.
The 4 mm blade stock on the full-size model means it sharpens back to a stable edge repeatedly, but it also means more material to remove if you let the edge get badly dulled. A guided sharpening system with a consistent angle does this family more favors than freehand work. The stainless liners and G10 or Micarta scales wipe clean with a damp cloth, and a drop of oil on the pivot every few months keeps the action smooth. Damascus blades should be dried after use and kept lightly oiled — the pattern is a feature, and Damascus steel rewards the same basic care as any carbon-containing blade.
Who is this family for?
The full-size Bullmastiff suits anyone who wants a big, comfortable folder for real work and is not chasing the lightest possible carry. It is a good fit for tradespeople, campers and collectors who like a knife with presence.
The Mini Bullmastiff suits someone who wants the same design in a pocket-friendly, office-friendly size, or who simply has smaller hands. Between the two, most people who handle both end up picking on weight rather than blade length — the full-size version is the one you notice.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mini Bullmastiff just a scaled-down Bullmastiff?
Mechanically, yes. It uses the same liner lock, the same flipper tab and the same caged ceramic ball bearing pivot, with the blade shortened to 2.97 inches and the stock thinned from 0.16 to 0.12 inch. What changes is the carry experience: 3.5 ounces instead of 5.57 ounces.
What steel does the Bullmastiff use?
The standard C2006 and C2004 models use 9Cr18MoV at 58-60 HRC. Damascus versions use a layered Damascus blade at the same 58-60 HRC. The EDCGripper Ghost exclusive Mini swaps to 14C28N at 57-59 HRC with a cleaver blade.
How much does the CIVIVI Bullmastiff cost?
The full-size Bullmastiff in G10 or Micarta is $66.80, and the Mini Bullmastiff in G10 is $58.80. The Damascus editions are currently listed at the same price as the standard G10 versions, and the EDCGripper Ghost exclusive Mini Bullmastiff is $77.40.
Is the Bullmastiff left-hand friendly?
Yes. Both sizes use a tip-up pocket clip that can be mounted on the left or right side, and the flipper tab is ambidextrous.
Can I legally carry a 3.83-inch blade?
That depends entirely on where you live and what you do for a living. Blade length limits vary widely by state and by city, and some workplaces restrict knives regardless of local law. Check your local rules before choosing between the full-size and Mini versions.
Bottom line
The CIVIVI Bullmastiff family is a case where the interesting decision is the size, not the trim level. Both models share a flat-ground drop point, a liner lock and a bearing pivot; the full-size C2006 gives you 3.83 inches of blade and 158 grams of presence, while the Mini C2004 gives you the same knife at 2.97 inches and 99.5 grams.
If you want one, work backwards from your pocket and your local rules. The rest of the family — Damascus, carbon fiber, cleaver exclusives — is there once you have picked a size.