Chris Reeve Knives

Buy an Opinel No7 or 8, and a Sebenza. I have both and love both.
You have a Timex and an Omega, both tell the time. Both are very very good indeed.
 
Blues Bender said:
Yep. If you're going to carry a knife for everyday use, it must be a $400+ CRK:rolleyes:

If you're carrying a SAK you must be a fraud.
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I was speaking in comparison to other knives of similar cost and configuration to the Sebenza, not to all knives in general. Sorry if that was unclear.

For what it's worth I love SAKs too, I have a Pioneer in my pocket right now.
 
I order to konw what CRK is all about, one need to be able to use other brands and then tryout the sebenza. I have bought, used and sold many brands before CRK. Another reason is I am overseas and it is difficult to get a sebenza as it is premium and there is a risk of loosing it if I buy online, so I had to wait for the oppurtunity to buy it here. I stopped looking at other folders when I bought my 1st CRK, which was the Umnumzaan. Then, the 21Large wa put into into the EDC rotation and now is getting the majority of time with me.

Easy to maintain, cuts well, single tool dismantle/assembly (21 Large), high value tool.
 
I've had a lot of folders, but I seem to always come back to CRK. I do fancy the Regular large Sebbie, the large Classics and the Zaans. I have a Zaan in my pocket, and often carry a large Classic. The Regular just sits there collecting micro-dust, although I think it's a great design.
There has never been any argument about Chris' tight tolerances during the production process. His fellow knife-makers have always seemed to praise his work at Blade when he often wins the top awards for Manufacturing Excellence.
CRK made a good move when they raised the scale on the Rockwell numbers, but that point has no practical use for me, as my use is very casual. As someone mentioned, they don't always come super-sharp, but I did buy one NIB model 25 that scared me. And, as I do know how to sharpen a knife, and do enjoy the process, I'm happy with push-cutting Yellow Pages.
I love the simple titanium slab models, even though the "others" are pretty to look at. IMO, CRK really does belong way up with several other makes...at the top of the heap.
 
In a day and age when it seems everyone on the planet is making their own ti framelock, Crk are still relevant (and still leading the pack). When it comes to folders, A solid warranty is important to me. I need to know, should something go wrong that a company has top flight costumer service and Crk definitely does.
 
I have three, and while they're undeniably overpriced (and I plan to sell the Inkosi), they are made to insane tolerances. Then again, so are the Kizer Gemini and the Spyderco Sage 2.
 
I have a Sebenza 25 & it's the only CRK I own. I have "several" Benchmades, Spydercos, ZTs, etc. The others occasionally get a ride in my pocket, but they never seem to stay there for more than a day, then it's back to the Sebenza.
 
palonej said:
Welcome MM!
I just jumped into the CR waters last week. Picked up a large tanto 21 and a CF large 25. Got both for great prices and I am thrilled with them!
Noticed something I have never seen before.
With very loose pivots, VERY loose, there is absolutely no blade movement in any direction. That blew me away and very tight tolerances makes sense to me now.
They are fantastic knives.
Joe
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You can actually take the pivot screw completely out of the knife and there still wont be any play. Very cool indeed.
 
Max Archer said:
I recently got one as well, a plain small 21, because I wanted to try the hype for myself and see what I thought of the "legend."

I like it a lot, but not for the reasons I expected. Yes, the tolerances are amazing, and the action is pretty good, but what really does it for me is the design itself, which has a sort of Bauhaus minimalism that sets it apart from most comparable knives. It seems to me that it's just about the only knife in its class that's truly designed for everyday use by the average person and doesn't carry any other pretenses. It's the "business casual" of knives in a way that I don't think many other things match, and I love it for that.

It's also just a damn good shape and size, has a great clip and a great blade shape, and as we all know it's built like a friggin' tank.

(Edited for clarity, my comments refer to the Sebenza vs. other options in its price and type range.)
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^^ Yepp

Years ago I googled "worlds best pocketknife". That led me to various forumthreads and finally to a picture of a plain jane 21...

It was love at first sight and the following 5 years I bought some substitutes and tried convincing myself they "are just as good".

Well maybe they are just as good but the classic/21 design just would not let me go. So despite the big bill I went ahead and got one. I didn't stand a chance.

I guess my point is: it's just a super nice design overall and if it grabs you, then good luck shaking it off.
 
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HwangJino said:
If you buy a CRK, I hope you know how to sharpen your own knives.
They do not come sharp from the factory, and you might get an uneven bevel here and there.
Otherwise a great knife.
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I've owned and used CRKs over the past 15 years, and this has been my only real gripe of CRK. Just my opinion, but I feel if the edge bevels came in a standard V grind instead of convex, they would come much sharper, have more 'bite', be easier to resharpen, and better complement the excellent, thin hollow grind of the Sebenzas.

That said, I haven't had any real issues resharpening my CRKs, especially the more recent ones. And some come sharper OOB than others. My Umnumzaan, L. and S. Insingos, and small Inkosi came very sharp. The first Seb that I bought new in 2002 had to be completely reprofiled, as its edge came so obtuse it was dull from the factory.

Jim
 
Ironbut said:
I have a Sebenza 25 & it's the only CRK I own. I have "several" Benchmades, Spydercos, ZTs, etc. The others occasionally get a ride in my pocket, but they never seem to stay there for more than a day, then it's back to the Sebenza.
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This is my first day with the Large 21 and I can already tell my other knives are going to look nice as drawer decorations
 
Aquaholicc said:
This is my first day with the Large 21 and I can already tell my other knives are going to look nice as drawer decorations
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^ So you finally decided to pull the trigger! :)

You have to post some pictures!

And hey- keep those sub-contractor's in line...and remind them who's running the show! :D
 
Couldn't be happier man. It feels like a tank but yet disseapears into your pocket. I don't get it.




[URL=http://s86.photobucket.com/user/Aquaholicc/media/IMG_8509_zpsm654qmyy.jpg.html][/URL]
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Aquaholicc said:
Couldn't be happier man. It feels like a tank but yet disseapears into your pocket. I don't get it.





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Like this
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GEC 47, ProTech Sprint, Buck 110 50th, SAC Ranger, ProTech TR4, and Ontario Carter Prime.

Ever one of these knives are nice in their own right and I use them all but none are EDC over my 21
 
Love that TR4 Chris!! Great knife, awesome blade profile!
I also have a Spring in s35vn, very useful little knife!
Joe
 
palonej said:
Love that TR4 Chris!! Great knife, awesome blade profile!
I also have a Spring in s35vn, very useful little knife!
Joe
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I like it too! For a four inch auto it carries light and is the Sebenza of autos, no hot spots and cuts like a champ. The choil is something I wish the sebbie had it makes it so you can choke up and make the blade nice and small. The TR4 is just a good blade, comfortable secure, safe, has lots of belly, and is backed by some of the best people out there.
 
My sentiments exactly my friend!!
Other companies can learn a few things about customer service from Mapi!! She is a pleasure!!
Been checking out the Harkins.......double action Pro Tech?? No brainer for sure!!
Joe

GermanyChris said:
I like it too! For a four inch auto it carries light and is the Sebenza of autos, no hot spots and cuts like a champ. The choil is something I wish the sebbie had it makes it so you can choke up and make the blade nice and small. The TR4 is just a good blade, comfortable secure, safe, has lots of belly, and is backed by some of the best people out there.
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palonej said:
My sentiments exactly my friend!!
Other companies can learn a few things about customer service from Mapi!! She is a pleasure!!
Been checking out the Harkins.......double action Pro Tech?? No brainer for sure!!
Joe
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I'll order one after my 110 auto, and CF euro barlow ship..at that point the 47 and the sprint will get sold so I'll have the euro barlow for dress, the 110 auto just 'cause its cool and the Harkins to fill the roll the Carter Prime does now as back up to the Sebbie.
 
CKR noob over here, they are worth it to me.

Value is really in the eye of the beholder, similar to beauty. While I understand the care and extremely tight tolerances that go into making a sebenza are not up for debate, the perceived value of anything ( what is the collective human consensus ) is.

They are easy to re-sell and you get the joy of knowing you own one of the best knives. It's 70% mechanical, 30% psychological.

Could other knives do what CRKs do? Sure, but I still feel I own something substantial when I pick up my CRK. Not just mechanically. This is what I believe to be brand building, and they've done a good job.
 
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