CKF vs WE vs Reate...Who you got and why?

[nails1908@gmail.com]

Curious to hear the responses. I've only owned a Reate and it was one of their first models. Looking at possibly grabbing a WE model or a CKF T90 or SSE.

 

[mmmotorcycle]

I own and carry a CKF ELF (one of their largest flippers) and love the quality of that knife. I enjoy it because of the contoured ti/CF handles which work well with or without gloves.

I cannot speak for WE knives but CKF makes knives with bigger handles in mind, I think. Someone can correct me but WE knives strike me as much more streamline and sleek. Maybe better overall for EDC?

 

[powerslave]

How about Maxace? I love mine

 

[Sergeua]

One of the reasons I like ckf is because of their limited production.

 

[palonej]

I have a Sukhoi 2.0 and that knife is built exceptionally well! Fantastic action and a very sexy knife!!
I have 2 WE knives. They are some of the best flippers I have fondled!!
Both companies impressed me quite a bit!!
Never held a Reate.......they look nice, but are very pricey.

 

[SpySmasher]

I have a WE and a pair of Reates and they are very nice knives. The fit and finish are excellent on all three. What separates them is not their quality but their design -- looks, size, blade shape, etc.

I'm pretty over buying titanium framelock flippers at this point but I've never handled a CKF or a Shirogorov and I have to admit that I'm curious if these Sino-Soviet creations actually flip as well as legend would have it. I might buy one if it was truly the pinnacle of the flipper.

 

[Hackenslash]

I've got a fairly wide spectrum of knives from all three manufacturers:

CKF:
MORRF 1,Gratch

Reate:
Hills, District 9 (the original version with District 9 branding), Horizon A, Horizon B, Horizon CF, Wave, Valkyrie 1, Mini Bodega, Kwaiken, Remedy, Warrior 1

WE Knife:
601, 604, 605, 606, 615, 616, 704

In terms of overall quality I'd put CKF and Reate ahead of WE by just a little nudge. Every CKF and Reate I own are great flippers whereas I've had a little variability in the WEs in terms of flipping. My 605 has almost a too strong detent and my 704 is a little weak. Nothing to the point of a Hinderer, but these two WEs can be a little technique dependent while the CKF and Reate flip great using any kind of approach. All three brands have great fit and finish with top notch materials. The "katana" style complex tip that WE uses on a bunch of their blades is a beauty.

I like the limited run nature of CKF. If you see something you like, better grab it because once they're gone, they're gone. Lately, many of their designs haven't appealed to me and (IMO) they no longer represent a very good value. That's probably why the two knives I have are older models. I think the MORRF 1 might be the best flipper I own. I really love that little knife! I've never had to use service or support, but its my impression that it's basically non-existent for CKF in any convenient form.

Reates are a beautiful, precision made knife. Reate tolerances might rival a Chris Reeve. IF you can still find a Hills in the $170 range, it's one of the best values in the knife world. Like CKF, I haven't been in love with most of the newer designs by Reate. The Future and the K series strike me as a little bit like art knives with all the Timascus and Mokuti. Ever since the Horizon D (Ti and CF), Reate hasn't been a very good value either. Reate was one of the first to co-op with known designers and I think this really cemented them as a member of the knife enthusiast community. David Deng does a great job taking care of his customers, but Reate unfortunately doesn't offer convenient support or warranty service. I think everyone should own at least one Reate as part of their collection.

WE Knife is, comparatively, the new kid on the block. What they've put out in the relatively short span of WE as a knife entity is amazing. They seem willing to take more risks and offer some color combinations that frankly can be a little off-putting to some people. They continue to use proprietary hardware, but each knife comes with a tool to deal with it. I'm not crazy, happy about the "star" fastener, but I can live with it since they provide a tool free of charge. Also, that stylized hardware is part of the design of their knives so that justifies it a bit. Right now, WE Knife is the best value of the bunch and as more vendors pick them up many prices have inched down. They don't enforce MAP (as far as I know), so you can get some smoking deals on some excellent knives if you look around. If you're on the fence about a WE, I can say without reservations to jump on in!

Maxace, Stedemon, Kizer and some of the others are all a notch down in quality and performance, but still great knives!

If you were looking to rank these three in relation to some common brands, I'd put them into three tiers:
Tier 1: CKF, Reate, Rike
Tier 2: WE, ZT, Taichung Spyderco
Tier 3: Maxace, Stedemon, Kizer, Benchmade, US Spyderco

For some models I might even pull Benchmade out of Tier 3 and dump it into a Tier 4...

Anyway, sorry to be so long. I think about knives way toooooo much, lol.

 

[PURPLEDC]

Ive had a few ckf knives. Always seem great at first then i find soething about the way it was made that bothers me and id dump it. Plus with most of their stuff being made by kevin john I find most of the prices to be a bit extreme for what you get. Reate makes a great knife but again i find they increased their prices faster than any other knife company in thhe history of knife companies which has kept me at bay. WE however are my favorite company. People complain about the hardware but i love it and dont have any issue with the supplied tool. And their prices are way below average while giving more custom touches than just about anyone. Id say the only negative if you can even call it that is they offer so many variables its hard to pin down what to get as the options are so vast.


My list of knives owned past and present(that my brain will allow me to remember).

Reate: Horizon B. As well as many knives they made before becoming reate.

Ckf: morff in several configs, venom and venom new concept (technically k.john but sold by dealers as a ckf product.

WE: 702A X 2 , 708D, 704cf,



I know there was more butni flip knives so fast its hard to keep them all straight.

 

[n850gt]

Just met the guys from CKF, Liong Mah and David from Reate and the folks at WE. WE and Reate brought a few new pieces while CKF brought some sick full custom pieces by Alexey Konygin. SICK. Handled much of what Reate and WE have in their lineup and a few upcoming. Really I have nothing bad to say about any of them. WE has sleek blades, hefty ones and lightweight too. Just awesome stuff.

I'm torn as I'd like a WE but I also want to pick up a Mah tuxedo GSD tomorrow just so I can say I bought it directly from him. Only have enough for one. Decisions, decisions.

 

[Officer's Match]

I have a CKF MILK and a CKF Ratata. Two of my favorite knives, and two of the best flippers I've every tried. The MILK is simply insane in terms of length (nearly four and a quarter inches of FFG hand rubbed M390) and weight (about 4 ounces and feels lighter than that). The Ratata has a character and style that just plain works for me. The Konygin design is captivating to hold and behold, with hidden elements that reveal themselves over time and usage. Dude is talented.

 

[Officer's Match]

Here is a quick vid I uploaded of my MILK's action (my son's MILK is slightly better than mine):

 

[Sergeua]

Here is a quick vid I uploaded of my MILK's action (my son's MILK is slightly better than mine):

Its there any play when you depress the lockbar and wiggle the blade holding it somewhere close to edge in the open state?

 

[Deltadag]

Being the owner of six CKF, nine Reate, and eighteen WE knives, I agree with the generalization that CKF excels at making long-bladed flippers that handle nicely yet remain aesthetically pleasing, that Reate knives exude a lot of precision fit and finish, and that WE knives tend to represent sleek, fairly lightweight and elegant designs that may well be the biggest bang for your hard-earned bucks.

Obviously, all three brands will not disappoint you as far as build quality and technical execution, and taken together offer enough variety (especially WE) to interest most people seeking a modern folding knife that will also carry with it considerable pride of ownership.

 

[jbmonkey]

just got a couple of we knives. a 704 and 703.

both are quite nice fit and finish, but.....close to the worst factory edges ive ever gotten on any knife besides a couple of ontario american made and sharpened apache folders.

very obtuse maybe 60 or more inclusive...very uneven and just very poor bevel work. lock up, fit and finish, scale work, you name it of those two knives are top notch and will rival made anywhere else easily.

 

[Officer's Match]

Its there any play when you depress the lockbar and wiggle the blade holding it somewhere close to edge in the open state?

Negative, the ceramic bearing pivot in these is outstanding. And even though they come with a really cool pivot tool that matches the pivot screw, a penny also works perfectly to adjust the pivot tightness. I have snugged mine up just a tad since that video.

 

[jill jackson]

just got a couple of we knives. a 704 and 703.

both are quite nice fit and finish, but.....close to the worst factory edges ive ever gotten on any knife besides a couple of ontario american made and sharpened apache folders.

very obtuse maybe 60 or more inclusive...very uneven and just very poor bevel work. lock up, fit and finish, scale work, you name it of those two knives are top notch and will rival made anywhere else easily.

I only bought one WE Knife to check out, a 702 and it's just as sharp as my ZTs , Reates, CKF and anything else. The bevels are outstanding. Strange you have two that both are poor.

 

[palonej]

I would have to echo Jill's comment. My WE 603 & 606 have excellent and even edges. Screaming sharp too.
Great pic JJ!!
Joe

 

[Deltadag]

just got a couple of we knives. a 704 and 703.

both are quite nice fit and finish, but.....close to the worst factory edges ive ever gotten on any knife besides a couple of ontario american made and sharpened apache folders.

just got a couple of we knives. a 704 and 703.

both are quite nice fit and finish, but.....close to the worst factory edges ive ever gotten on any knife besides a couple of ontario american made and sharpened apache folders.

very obtuse maybe 60 or more inclusive...very uneven and just very poor bevel work. lock up, fit and finish, scale work, you name it of those two knives are top notch and will rival made anywhere else easily.

I don't dispute your experience, although to be fair, it should be noted that the 703 is part of their "budget" line that, at about a hundred bucks purchased new, costs less than half of their other offerings. I also agree that the edges of these lower-end knives exhibit edge angles more obtuse than many "knifeknuts" would prefer.

And I would also agree that any manufacturer can let a bad specimen get by. That is precisely why I'll never again consider purchasing sight unseen a Chris Reeve knife. Based upon this company's much lauded quality control and impeccable reputation, I bought my first CRK, an Umnumzaan, a couple of years back from one of the better Internet purveyors. Blade centering was much worse than many less than $100 frame locks I have personal experience with. As I posted in a reply here quite some time ago, I relegated this 'zaan to "beater" status to scrape hardened chewing gum off of tile floors. It succeeds admirably for such tasks but it is in no way an example of fit and finish that elicits much pride of ownership. No, I considered but did not attempt to exhange or return it, chalking up the experience to just another case of "live and learn."

It just goes to show that basing one's purchasing decisions on reviews consisting of small sample sizes is fraught with risk, and that even experts can mess up once and awhile.

 

[jbmonkey]

I only bought one WE Knife to check out, a 702 and it's just as sharp as my ZTs , Reates, CKF and anything else. The bevels are outstanding. Strange you have two that both are poor.

well they are obtuse and dull from the factory. i aint lying.

 

[jbmonkey]

I would have to echo Jill's comment. My WE 603 & 606 have excellent and even edges. Screaming sharp too.
Great pic JJ!!
Joe

not mine. wouldnt cut paper. seriously. easy fix though. since i can rebevel and sharpen.