Tremendous Talent for Tight Squeezes: CIVIVI Baby Banter 2 TG Review

Smaller knives, whether they’re fixed blades or folders, are appealing because their size lets them be discreet. However, the tradeoff in size reduction can be found in the knife’s inability to perform as well as a larger knife. At 5.5 inches, CIVIVI’s Baby Banter 2 TG could easily fall into that category. However, a few tweaks in design allow it to overperform.

I will gladly test, use, abuse, and review knives of all shapes and sizes. However, there’s some special merit to small knives that punch above their weight and can adapt to various situations.

As someone blessed with a bearpaw-shaped hand, I spent years focusing on bigger knives because I assumed that the smaller ones would just get lost in my hand and therefore be less useful than what I expected. Honestly, most did, but CIVIVI’s Baby Banter and follow-up Baby Banter 2 performed really well for folding knives under 6 inches long.

Recently, CIVIVI released its latest version of the Baby Banter 2, the Baby Banter 2 TG (BB2TG). Replacing the drop-point blade common to the Baby Banter line is a 14C28N stainless steel clip-point blade. The handle scales are made from milled G10 for excellent grip, and then there’s the always-welcome crossbar lock.

But the BB2TG adds a couple of extra features that have been staples on outdoor folding knives for years.

In short: I spent a lot of time with the BB2TG and found a new love for the clip-point style blade. The CIVIVI Baby Banter 2 TG is a fantastic, small-form folding knife, suited to life outdoors or indoors. And it proved that size doesn’t matter; a well-made, well-designed knife — used correctly — can prove outstanding.

CIVIVI Baby Banter 2 TG Review

Design & Features

The CIVIVI BB2TG is a three-finger knife with four-finger capabilities due to its choil, a common feature across the Banter line.

It has a 14C28N stainless steel clip-point–style blade, milled G10 handle scales, a crossbar lock, and a deep-carry pocket clip.

In addition to those desirable features, the BB2TG comes complete with a pair of stainless steel tweezers and a toothpick, both of which store in the butt of the knife. Those two additions are something fans of Ben Petersen of Knafs — the mastermind behind CIVIVI — have been asking for in more knives ever since he first included them in the Sendy.

I love the milling on the G10 because it adds to the overall look of the knife, but you also benefit from its increased grip. However, the star of the show here, for me, is the clip-point blade. Aside from the ability to switch between a three- or four-finger hold, the clip-point blade shape is what allows the BB2TG to be as highly functioning as it is.

Clip-point blades are great for precision and detail-oriented work, but can also shine in utility tasks. 

Choosing to go with the knife world’s rising star steel, 14C28N, puts this knife over as the right choice for discreet everyday carry. Aside from its corrosion-resistant properties, 14C28 is a tough steel that holds a good edge and is easy to resharpen.

In a world where MagnaCut steel keeps prices at a premium, a viable steel like 14C28N helps tug that price back down.

First Impressions

The current trend in the knife world is small form-factor fixed-blade knives, or “pocket fixies.” So there’s no surprise in the success of the Baby Banter line.

In fact, if you take a closer look at what Petersen has been doing, his latest knives are all smaller than what most might consider normal. 

Recent releases like the Lander 5, Little Lulu, and the just-announced O.C.T. are all under 6 inches in overall length and are breakout hits in Petersen’s lineup. The Little Lulu and O.C.T. both blew past their Kickstarter goals within a day of being launched.

I think for a long time, we were hardwired to believe bigger is better. But as conventional wisdom softens up, smaller, less conspicuous knives have become increasingly appealing. And with something like a clip-point blade, a small knife has the ability to do more precision work. 

I also really appreciate the ability to choke up on this knife, via the choil in front of the pivot. This aids the BB2TG capabilities in tight quarters or when performing time-intensive tasks like shaving down sticks for tinder or whittling. This is where the benefits of adding milling to the G10 scales really show their worth.

All in all, it’s things like this that would put the BB2TG at the head of the class for a fifth-pocket knife, if not your dedicated EDC.

Testing in the Field

Over the years, I figured out the best way to lay out my vegetable garden so everything can thrive. But once everything is in bloom, it can get tight trying to pick the veggies.

When you’re trying to slice zucchini and tomatoes off a vine, you want to do your best not to nick or cut the surrounding vines. Here, the clip point on the BB2TG, paired with its comparably small overall size, allowed me to tuck into tight places better than a larger knife would.

In these instances, you can even drop your hand back a little on the handle, so you’re pinching it behind the pivot. This lets you get into even tighter spots without losing the ability to get the job done.

For me, the BB2TG became both a fifth-pocket knife and my handy-around-the-house and yard knife. I carry a Leatherman with me when I mow the lawn or use power tools outdoors, but when it comes to all the various fruits and vegetables around here, I prefer a nice, sharp knife that won’t corrode from juices or sap.

It’s also very fitting for me to pick a knife that has tweezers and a toothpick on it, as our wineberry vines are covered in small thorns, and the berries themselves are loaded with seeds that get stuck in your teeth.

Suffice to say, the BB2TG has become a summertime hit. I wonder if it’ll carve a pumpkin as well as its bigger brother, the Banter, did? I’ll find out in October.

Conclusion: Who’s It For?

Ben Petersen stated that his reasoning for branding this version of the Baby Banter 2 the “TG” was for “Touch Grass.” He intended this knife to be used outside.

Will some people think it’s too small to be their quintessential outdoors folding knife? Yes, 100%. But I also think there are people who will realize they may not need a big knife to do what they need their knife to do.

I also think the BB2TG embodies the modern EDC, or at least the direction the industry may be headed. It’s small and discreet, yet it has a highly functional, high-performing blade for all the elements. The milled G10 handle scales are a bonus in both form and function, and the tweezers and toothpick are universally appreciated.

These elements make this knife great for everyone who’s open-minded about smaller knives.

I was pleasantly surprised, from start to finish. Being smaller, but not drowning in the middle of my palm, the BB2TG made me focus a little more on what I was doing. It is a precision knife, after all. But it’s also a task knife. You’re not going to chop down a tree with it, but you will have a lot of fun tackling everything else you can think of with it.