If you’re into knives, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of WE Knife. You probably know CIVIVI as well, and possibly even SENCUT. What you may not realize is that all three brands are part of the same family.
WE Knife started as an OEM manufacturer in 2000, producing knives for other companies before eventually launching knives under its own name. CIVIVI came along in 2018 as a more affordable line, followed by SENCUT in 2020 as the company’s budget oriented brand.
That gives WE an interesting three-tier approach to the knife market. SENCUT occupies the affordable end, CIVIVI sits in the middle and WE handles the premium side. The lines aren’t separated by hard walls, though, and there’s definitely some overlap between them. Generally speaking, the biggest changes as you move up the ladder are materials and the level of refinement.
What doesn’t necessarily change is the manufacturing experience behind them. All three come from the same company, with a similar approach to design, machining and quality control across the brands. You’ll even see some of the same outside designers working with more than one of them.
I thought it would be interesting to take a look at all three levels. I rounded up a knife from SENCUT, CIVIVI and WE and have been carrying them in my normal EDC rotation for the past six months or so. Rather than cram all three into one comparison, I’m going to look at each individually. We’ll start at the affordable end and work our way up.
Starting With SENCUT
The SENCUT Tauron makes a pretty good example of what the company’s affordable line is all about. Mine is the S25060-2 version with burgundy G10 scales and a satin finished D2 blade. It’s a full sized EDC folder with a 3.48 inch clip point blade and an overall length of exactly 8 inches. At 3.84 ounces, it’s substantial enough to feel like a useful working knife without being overly heavy in the pocket. It’s also available with black G10 handles scales, as well as a version with OD green handle scales and a black finish blade.
Construction is straightforward. You get stainless steel liners, textured G10 scales and a liner lock. The D2 blade runs on caged ceramic ball bearings and can be opened with either the flipper or ambidextrous thumb studs. A reversible pocket clip allows left or right side tip up carry.
None of those materials or features are particularly exotic, but that’s really the point. D2, G10 and stainless steel are proven working materials. They let SENCUT build a solid knife while keeping the MSRP at $46.50. The real question is how well that combination works once you start carrying it.
Six Months in the EDC Rotation
Like most knife guys, I don’t carry the same knife every day. There’s a shelf in my den where my wallet and keys live, along with a constantly changing assortment of review knives and old favorites. What ends up in my pocket depends on where I’m going, what I’m doing and sometimes simply what I feel like carrying that day.
The Tauron has been part of that rotation since late February. It hasn’t spent every day in my pocket, but it has been carried and used regularly during that time. Most of that use has been pretty typical EDC stuff. I’ve opened cardboard boxes and plastic packaging, cut cordage and dealt with the surprisingly tough plastic banding straps that show up on ammo shipments.
I’ve even used the point to pry a couple of stubborn .22 cases out of a chamber. Using the tip of your pocket knife as a pry tool isn’t something I’d recommend, but sometimes you use what’s in your pocket. The Tauron’s clip point survived my questionable decision making without complaint.
A Classic Blade That Works
I’m a fan of the Tauron’s clip point blade. It’s a classic profile for a reason, giving you a useful point along with plenty of belly for everyday cutting chores. The factory edge on mine was very good and has held up fine through my normal use. I haven’t sharpened it or even touched it up yet.
D2 isn’t the latest wonder steel, but I don’t consider that much of a drawback on an affordable working knife. It offers good edge retention while remaining reasonably easy to sharpen. The bonus of not having a wonder steel is that you don’t need a wonder sharpener either.
D2 does require a little more attention than many stainless steels. When I pulled the Tauron out to take pictures for this article, the blade was looking a little rougher than I remembered. A little oil and a rag cleaned it up nicely. It’s a good reminder that D2 benefits from some basic maintenance, especially if the knife spends time sitting between turns in your EDC rotation.
Flipper, Studs and a Proven Lock
The Tauron gives you two options for opening the blade, with ambidextrous thumb studs along with a flipper. Both work, but after months of carrying the knife I’ve barely touched the studs. There’s nothing wrong with them, I just find the flipper easier and more natural to use. The action is smooth, and the flipper works equally well with either hand.
Once open, the blade is secured by a liner lock. It’s a fairly basic locking system by current standards, but it’s also a proven one. There are newer and more elaborate locking systems available today, but there’s nothing inherently wrong with a well executed liner lock. SENCUT executes this one just fine. The lock engages fully, and I haven’t noticed any blade play. The blade also sits centered in the handle when closed. If using a simple, proven lock helps keep the price down, I’m perfectly fine with that.
Comfortable in the Hand and in the Pocket
The Tauron is a practical EDC size. It’s neither especially thin nor exceptionally lightweight, but I’ve never found it burdensome to carry. The handle shape fits my hand well, and SENCUT rounded the edges of the G10 scales so there aren’t any sharp corners digging into my hand or creating hot spots. The texture provides a good grip without being overly aggressive.
There’s also jimping along the spine that gives my thumb a positive place to rest when I’m bearing down on heavier cuts. Between the handle shape, G10 texture and jimping, I’ve found the Tauron comfortable and controllable during both light and heavier cutting.
I probably pay more attention to pocket clips than some folks do, but a bad clip can make an otherwise good knife useless if it means you stop carrying it. The Tauron’s clip works. Retention is solid without being overly aggressive, and it hasn’t chewed up the edges of my pockets.
The clip is reversible for left or right side tip up carry. Combined with the ambidextrous thumb studs and flipper, most aspects of carrying and opening the Tauron work well from either side. The liner lock itself still naturally favors right handed operation.
It Doesn’t Need to Be Special
There’s nothing particularly exotic about the SENCUT Tauron. It doesn’t have a super steel blade, an elaborate locking mechanism or some radically different opening system. Even the clip point blade is about as traditional and proven as folding knife profiles get. I don’t think any of that is a criticism. In fact, it’s probably what I like about the Tauron.
After more than six months with it mixed into my EDC rotation, there isn’t much to complain about. The action is smooth and lockup is solid. The handle is comfortable, and the blade came sharp and has stayed that way through my normal use. Even the pocket clip simply does what it’s supposed to do without destroying my pants.
The Tauron doesn’t try to be anything particularly special or different. It’s simply a solid, affordable EDC knife, and at $46.50 that’s exactly what SENCUT is supposed to deliver. That also makes it a good starting point for this three part series. If the least expensive of WE Knife’s three brands can cover the basics this well, the obvious question is what spending more actually gets you.
We’ll move up to CIVIVI next and take a look at the Slippie Sendy.
SENCUT Tauron S25060-2 Specifications
Overall Length: 8 inches
Blade Length: 3.48 inches
Closed Length: 4.52 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.12 inch
Handle Thickness: 0.47 inch
Weight: 3.84 ounces
Blade Steel: D2, 59-61 HRC
Blade Type: Clip point
Blade Grind: Flat
Blade Finish: Satin
Handle: Burgundy G10
Liners: Stainless steel
Lock: Liner lock
Pivot: Caged ceramic ball bearings
Opening: Flipper and ambidextrous thumb studs
Pocket Clip: Reversible, left or right side tip up
Designer: SENCUT
MSRP: $46.50