Chris Reeve: A modern master of industrial design - some favourite details

Great thread. Many micro details and refinements that are never picked up by the casual observer. It's no wonder you hear comments like, "why so expensive? It's just two slabs and a blade thrown together". It gives me that much more appreciation to the thought that went into such a simple concept.
 
supercoup said:
Anyone care to explain's Fooj's reference of "batman ears" ?

Can't seem to figure out what he's talking about --- unless he's talking about the chamfered edges at the top of the handle scales?
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Sorry 'bout that. On the spine of a 21 blade where the rounding meets the chamfering and flat top surface of the jimping, the "ears" are formed. A picture's worth . . .

batman ears.jpg

You can't tell because of the reflections, but these ears are perfectly matched. It's like the micro-inspection of the tip of a knife blade; if the manufacturing is the least bit off, you see it. Every Sebenza I've seen has two batman ears that are identical to each other in length, width, and angles. I've seen several custom knives at 2x-4x the cost where such details were not nearly as precise as a Sebenzas. Admittedly, without such precision, it would mean nothing to the functionality of the blade. The fact that such attention to detail in what you can see is paid is a clue to the attention to detail in what you CAN'T see.
 
Straight shooter said:
Great thread. Many micro details and refinements that are never picked up by the casual observer. It's no wonder you hear comments like, "why so expensive? It's just two slabs and a blade thrown together". It gives me that much more appreciation to the thought that went into such a simple concept.
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I knew it was not a simple design but wow everyone great pics and details explored. Q
 
There have and are so many great threads on this site, but this maybe the best, IMHO. I will never look at my CRK's the same. I knew I loved them and they were great but this just puts it right out there why they are. It took me forever to find the "Bat Ears" but now that I have I can't stop looking at them. Thanks so much for this thread and everyone that contriubuted!

Bill
 
Absolutely amazing that CRK's can stand up to this kind of scrutiny. I'm not sure how important that is to the function of the knives but it sure is reassuring that the details are so well taken care of. How could the things critical to the function and durability not be as well covered?
 
Mal2 said:
Absolutely amazing that CRK's can stand up to this kind of scrutiny. I'm not sure how important that is to the function of the knives but it sure is reassuring that the details are so well taken care of. How could the things critical to the function and durability not be as well covered?
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Maybe I am not reading this right. What things critical to the function and durability are not well covered?
 
Birdhunter1220 said:
Maybe I am not reading this right. What things critical to the function and durability are not well covered?
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All very well covered. Blade centering, grind symmetry and such have little effect on function but attention to such details are normally good indications that the more important features affecting function are every bit as good...... in this case most certainly so.
 
I would call him a grand master. I was thinking today when looking at a small 21 Micarta that Chris Reeve is still the best framelock after all these years. I've had a few customs and other high end knives but these almost always have cutouts where the ti stock is real thin as opposed to the double scooped cut out on my small sebs. The originator is still the master. Almost every popular maker of modern knives uses the frame lock these days but he is the still the best.
 
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