In the 1990s Spyderco was approached by a specialized branch of U.S. law enforcement about making a knife for their undercover agents. These plain-clothes
LEOs found themselves in situations where they often could not carry a firearm but carrying a knife was not a problem. Most had no formal training in self-defense tactics or
MBC but as a last resort could use a blade to protect or extricate themselves from a life-threatening situation. This was how the Civilian model came to be.
The Civilian has a patented
reverse "S" blade that's intended to be used like an oversized claw. The tip is ground to an ultra-thin profile. Deeply curved and full at the belly, the
VG-10 hollow-ground blade excels in slicing and is available fully
SpyderEdged. Because of its distinctly specialized features it is not intended or designed for general utility or everyday use. Curved in all the right places for
ergonomic use and retention of the knife, the handle is black
G-10. Mounted for
tip-down carry with a custom curved black clip, the knife rides deeply and unobtrusively in a pocket. One of the most specialized
CLIPITS in the Spyderco line-up, the Civilian is available in limited quantities.