Chris Reeve Knives

[P2P]

Congrats! Pics or I didn't happen..plus the knife isn't yours till you break it down completely and reassemble

+100

 

[KELAMA]

My man..I couldn't be happier. I think my favorite part about the knife is when you close it and you hear that little "ding" when the detent ball pops into the blade, it's glorious haha. Not to mention I'm a very hands on type of dude, so the fact that I can very very easily take down this knife/clean/put it back together like new is just phenomenal in my eyes.

On the flip side ..I think the Sebbie is where I draw the line in my collection. (I hope)

^ You better start praying.

Seriously, that's awesome- I'm happy it's working out for you!

It's actually kind of therapeutic being able to work on one of your knives like that.

I purchased a really stiff, dirty folder here off the exchange recently. I took the pivot apart & cleaned it up really nice (soft tooth brush and soap bath along with a DeWalt air compressor blow dry). I used some CLP to brighten up the G-10 scale and lubricate the pivot & it's functioning super smooth now. The thwack that this PD-1 coated blade (which I smoothed out and cleaned up with some 1000 grit sand paper), is making now, is purely hypnotic.

I'm thinking, that it must make you feel so much better about your entire self concept...knowing you have that Titanium Sebbie clipped in your front pocket...& the women are probably digging you too!

 

[Aquaholicc]

^ You better start praying.

Seriously, that's awesome- I'm happy it's working out for you!

It's actually kind of therapeutic being able to work on one of your knives like that.

I purchased a really stiff, dirty folder here off the exchange recently. I took the pivot apart & cleaned it up really nice (soft tooth brush and soap bath along with a DeWalt air compressor blow dry). I used some CLP to brighten up the G-10 scale and lubricate the pivot & it's functioning super smooth now. The thwack that this PD-1 coated blade (which I smoothed out and cleaned up with some 1000 grit sand paper), is making now, is purely hypnotic.

I'm thinking, that it must make you feel so much better about your entire self concept...knowing you have that Titanium Sebbie clipped in your front pocket...& the women are probably digging you too!

I won't address every part of your post but I will point out the important pieces.

1. I'm glad you use dewalt..
2. Think I could use 1000 grit sandpaper for my bronze washers in the Benza?
And
3. As much as I would love to agree with the last part of your post dont let my wife see this, as she would probably make my sell off my Sebenza!

 

[ChazzyP]

I won't address every part of your post but I will point out the important pieces.

1. I'm glad you use dewalt..
--I'm not much of a Dewalt guy, but that's beside the point. Living out here on the Cape there's way too much moisture in the air to use my compressors to blow out knives, even with a good in-line water filter. Hand drying AMAP and a hair-dryer on low heat/high air work best here.
2. Think I could use 1000 grit sandpaper for my bronze washers in the Benza?
--If you're just looking to polish, I wouldn't go lower than 2000-2500, or you'll start to take off an appreciable amount. I usually shine mine up on a green-loaded strop. If I'm taking the washers down (.01-.02 mm max each) I'll use 1000 or 1500 grit, then finish up polishing on the strop. Kelama and others are spot on--working on your knives is very satisfying and therapeutic. The key to success is a careful, incremental process--a little bit at a time goes a long way and you can't get back material you've already removed.
And
3. As much as I would love to agree with the last part of your post dont let my wife see this, as she would probably make my sell off my Sebenza!
I'm not sure that having a Sebbie in your pocket will get you chicks. My wife loves me and likes and carries knives--that's enough for this old dude.

Glad you're digging your new Seb, man, and welcome to this wing of the asylum!

 

[adamlau]

1000 grit will take off an excessive amount if not careful. If just looking to clean and polish, Bar Keepers Free is a fantastic surfactant/oxalic acid/polishing agent which leaves no residue.

 

[Aquaholicc]

1. I'm glad you use dewalt..
--I'm not much of a Dewalt guy, but that's beside the point. Living out here on the Cape there's way too much moisture in the air to use my compressors to blow out knives, even with a good in-line water filter. Hand drying AMAP and a hair-dryer on low heat/high air work best here.
2. Think I could use 1000 grit sandpaper for my bronze washers in the Benza?
--If you're just looking to polish, I wouldn't go lower than 2000-2500, or you'll start to take off an appreciable amount. I usually shine mine up on a green-loaded strop. If I'm taking the washers down (.01-.02 mm max each) I'll use 1000 or 1500 grit, then finish up polishing on the strop. Kelama and others are spot on--working on your knives is very satisfying and therapeutic. The key to success is a careful, incremental process--a little bit at a time goes a long way and you can't get back material you've already removed.
And
3. As much as I would love to agree with the last part of your post dont let my wife see this, as she would probably make my sell off my Sebenza!
I'm not sure that having a Sebbie in your pocket will get you chicks. My wife loves me and likes and carries knives--that's enough for this old dude.

Glad you're digging your new Seb, man, and welcome to this wing of the asylum!

Aaaaahhh I've always thought about putting my washers to my strop but I was worried it would make the action not as buttery..next time I break my sebbie down I'll have to try this and see if I can notice a difference. Thanks for the advice! Thanks for the warm welcome. Never thought I'd meet other crazies like me.

1000 grit will take off an excessive amount if not careful. If just looking to clean and polish, Bar Keepers Free is a fantastic surfactant/oxalic acid/polishing agent which leaves no residue.

My wife has a whole can of barkeepers friend under the sink, do you think I could use barkeepers AND my green strop? Or is this just simply how you polish seeing as you may not have a strop?

 

[adamlau]

I have strops, but prefer not to leave any residue (including traces of waxy compound) across bearing surfaces short of applied lubricant. Use a thicker slurry for increased polishing power, reduce the slurry for finer polishing.

 

[ChazzyP]

1000 grit will take off an excessive amount if not careful. If just looking to clean and polish, Bar Keepers Free is a fantastic surfactant/oxalic acid/polishing agent which leaves no residue.

I'm extremely careful with 1000, usually start at 1500, and only use sandpaper if I'm looking to thin out a washer.

I have only a little experience with BarKeepers, the previous owner having left a can under the sink at our Vermont place. I've used it to great effect to clean my SharpMaker hones, but always thought of it as an aggressive sort of abrasive. Maybe that's just because it comes in the same sort of container as Comet and Ajax.

I have strops, but prefer not to leave any residue (including traces of waxy compound) across bearing surfaces short of applied lubricant. Use a thicker slurry for increased polishing power, reduce the slurry for finer polishing.

I clean my parts very thoroughly when freshening a knife, but have noticed a little darkening of my strop when polishing washers. I just figured it was a small amount of oxidation or phosphor-bronze material left behind.

 

[marthinus]

My 2010 Insingo's blade free falls when there is no lock bar pressure.

The secret was...using it. The more you use it the smoother it gets over time.

In the 7 years of owning it it has been taken apart maybe 3 times. 2 times to reblast the handles and 1 time to clean. Will probably have to refurbish the blade in future.

Use and enjoy the knife. Don't sweat the small things. Its like a good oair of shoes. It wears in and develops its own character.

 

[Aquaholicc]

My 2010 Insingo's blade free falls when there is no lock bar pressure.

The secret was...using it. The more you use it the smoother it gets over time.

In the 7 years of owning it it has been taken apart maybe 3 times. 2 times to reblast the handles and 1 time to clean. Will probably have to refurbish the blade in future.

Use and enjoy the knife. Don't sweat the small things. Its like a good oair of shoes. It wears in and develops its own character.

Wow only 3 times?! I don't think I'll be able to resist that much..I've only owned mine for about a month now and it's been taken down 2 times already lol.

 

[BD_01]

A quick figure-8 or two on a loaded strop brings a mirror polish to the washers, then I clean them well with rubbing alcohol to remove any residue afterwards. My washers usually get a quick pass everythime I do a take down.

I fixed a pinched washer using 800-> 1000 -> 2000 -> strop. I did the same to thin out a washer once for a subtle centering issue. It doesn't take much. My results were great, but the PB comes off quickly.

Incidentally, I bought a cheap CRKT Drifter a few months back, just to play with. The same tune-up and washer-buff techniques I learned on my CRK's gave it a seriously great action!

 

[Aquaholicc]

A quick figure-8 or two on a loaded strop brings a mirror polish to the washers, then I clean them well with rubbing alcohol to remove any residue afterwards. My washers usually get a quick pass everythime I do a take down.

I fixed a pinched washer using 800-> 1000 -> 2000 -> strop. I did the same to thin out a washer once for a subtle centering issue. It doesn't take much. My results were great, but the PB comes off quickly.

Incidentally, I bought a cheap CRKT Drifter a few months back, just to play with. The same tune-up and washer-buff techniques I learned on my CRK's gave it a seriously great action!

Awesome I will try these little tips and tricks next time I take her down, hopefully I'll notice some improvements.

 

[marthinus]

Wow only 3 times?! I don't think I'll be able to resist that much..I've only owned mine for about a month now and it's been taken down 2 times already lol.

Just a personal thing. I don't like taking my knives apart, however I know I am in the minority

 

[palonej]

This is my secret, with all my knives, also.
It hasn't failed me once. I just picked up my first 2 CRKs about 3 weeks ago. Must've flicked both 1000 times. Know what?? Both are free droppers now.
I see no reason to take them apart, just for the sake of taking them apart.
Joe

My 2010 Insingo's blade free falls when there is no lock bar pressure.

The secret was...using it. The more you use it the smoother it gets over time.

In the 7 years of owning it it has been taken apart maybe 3 times. 2 times to reblast the handles and 1 time to clean. Will probably have to refurbish the blade in future.

Use and enjoy the knife. Don't sweat the small things. Its like a good oair of shoes. It wears in and develops its own character.

 

[Aquaholicc]

This is my secret, with all my knives, also.
It hasn't failed me once. I just picked up my first 2 CRKs about 3 weeks ago. Must've flicked both 1000 times. Know what?? Both are free droppers now.
I see no reason to take them apart, just for the sake of taking them apart.
Joe

Hmm..I guess that's where professions come into play. It only take about a week of the Sebenza riding in my pocket for me to notice little dirt/pocket fuzz you could call it? to accumulate on the lock bar and whatnot. I guess seeing as I spent so much on the damn thing I'd like it do be in tip top shape for the duration of its life ?

 

[ChazzyP]

Hmm..I guess that's where professions come into play. It only take about a week of the Sebenza riding in my pocket for me to notice little dirt/pocket fuzz you could call it? to accumulate on the lock bar and whatnot. I guess seeing as I spent so much on the damn thing I'd like it do be in tip top shape for the duration of its life ?

Well you, Joe, and I are all in the trades, so profession doesn't play into it so much there. I've always advocated for the patience required to break-in a knife as there are so many posts to be found complaining about action out-of-the-box when all that's required is use and time to get a knife to where you like it. Both marthinus and palonej espouse valid approaches--the former with his admirable patience and my friend Joe with his non-stop flicking. Despite the fact that he's in the trades and uses his blades, Joe's knives hardly have the chance to get dirty anyway due to the amazingly exponential growth of his collection.

For my part, I like disassembly and tweaking if required after break-in, though that's tempered by both ease and necessity. I usually won't knock a knife down just to do it, though bushing pivot knives like my 21s are so simple and easy that it's sometimes hard to resist. AXIS knives are a PIA, though I've found that pulling the blade and washers out the front and leaving the knife together like a Sebenza works well. Loose ball-bearing knives require a huge amount of care and are wicked tedious to re-assemble and I won't muck with my Shiros without great cause. I had my F3 Python apart about eight times curing a persistent lock-stick issue, and while I got pretty good at it (and did get the action fixed) I hope to avoid a ninth.

 

[Aquaholicc]

Well you, Joe, and I are all in the trades, so profession doesn't play into it so much there. I've always advocated for the patience required to break-in a knife as there are so many posts to be found complaining about action out-of-the-box when all that's required is use and time to get a knife to where you like it. Both marthinus and palonej espouse valid approaches--the former with his admirable patience and my friend Joe with his non-stop flicking. Despite the fact that he's in the trades and uses his blades, Joe's knives hardly have the chance to get dirty anyway due to the amazingly exponential growth of his collection.

For my part, I like disassembly and tweaking if required after break-in, though that's tempered by both ease and necessity. I usually won't knock a knife down just to do it, though bushing pivot knives like my 21s are so simple and easy that it's sometimes hard to resist. AXIS knives are a PIA, though I've found that pulling the blade and washers out the front and leaving the knife together like a Sebenza works well. Loose ball-bearing knives require a huge amount of care and are wicked tedious to re-assemble and I won't muck with my Shiros without great cause. I had my F3 Python apart about eight times curing a persistent lock-stick issue, and while I got pretty good at it (and did get the action fixed) I hope to avoid a ninth.

Yah no doubt the Sebenza is the easiest knife I own to break down so it's not so much a pain to do so. Maybe that's why I don't mind it. I just watched a video on a Shiro getting broken down with the MBS deal and it DOES looks like a terrible time! So I don't blame you dreading a 9th.

 

[ChazzyP]

Yah no doubt the Sebenza is the easiest knife I own to break down so it's not so much a pain to do so. Maybe that's why I don't mind it. I just watched a video on a Shiro getting broken down with the MBS deal and it DOES looks like a terrible time! So I don't blame you dreading a 9th.

My Python F3 is "just" SRBS, but still has 20 or so tiny loose bearings per side to keep track of and put back. The hardest part is keeping them all in place when dropping the top slab back on. Like I said, I've kinda got it down, but it's nothing I wanna do if I don't have to.

My 111, on the other hand, is MRBS and I know I can get the action a little better and freer with a disassembly, change of lube, and interior polishing and de-burring. It's not bad, though, by any means, and I always seem to find a different knife to work on first.

 

[Aquaholicc]

My Python F3 is "just" SRBS, but still has 20 or so tiny loose bearings per side to keep track of and put back. The hardest part is keeping them all in place when dropping the top slab back on. Like I said, I've kinda got it down, but it's nothing I wanna do if I don't have to.

My 111, on the other hand, is MRBS and I know I can get the action a little better and freer with a disassembly, change of lube, and interior polishing and de-burring. It's not bad, though, by any means, and I always seem to find a different knife to work on first.

You sound like me when it's my "turn" to do the dishes..I'll just find other stuff around the yard and house to do until it's "her day" again!

 

[Ajack60]

Wow only 3 times?! I don't think I'll be able to resist that much..I've only owned mine for about a month now and it's been taken down 2 times already lol.

You know, the more you take it apart, the more wear you put on all the parts and thus help shorten the life of the knife. Just saying.
With my CRK's or any of my knives for that matter, I clean what I can see and avoid taking a knife apart.
Evidently you've never owned any slip joints or Spyderco's that are pinned together.