Critique the Chris Reeve One Piece Knives

I

Ian111

Joined
Mar 16, 2006
Messages
15
For my first serious fixed blade knife I decided to get the Chris Reeve Sable IV. Its a lot of knife for me since I seem to get most anything done with one of my Spyderco (Native/Chinook II) or Benchmade (732 Ares) folders. And since I can carry a folder I always have one with me. But, I wanted at least one quality fixed blade knife.

So instead of the usually popular/highly respected ones like Mad Dog, Randall, Busse, Swamp Rat, or Dozier I got a Chris Reeve hollow handle one piece.

So let me have it. Your "honest" opinions. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

ChrisReeveSableIV.jpg
 
I personally really like his knives (yours included) and am seriously concidering getting one for my next fixed blade. the one piece design makes them strong, and the hollow hanlde makes them light. a good, practical knife all around.
 
Beautiful knife, Ian. To me, a hollow handle mean survival knife, and for survival you need a relatively big, solid knife (which this is), magnesium firestarter and a compass. Maybe even a strip of sharpening stone. You can put the firesarter into the hollow handle. But a knife like this should come with a sheath-held compass.
 
Ian111 said:
..... So instead of the usually popular/highly respected ones like Mad Dog, Randall, Busse, Swamp Rat, or Dozier I got a Chris Reeve hollow handle one piece.

So let me have it. Your "honest" opinions. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.
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Nothin' but Good in my opinion! :thumbup: It's also a popular and highly respected blade, as are the others you've mentioned. :)

I have an MK VI, which I gave to my son as a good fixed blade for him to have.

I think I prefer the absent top guard, as yours is.

Good choice!! :)
 
LOL ...... You did get one of the "usually popular / highly respected ones."

Hollow-handled knives aren't my cup of tea. But if I needed a great example of one, I'd get a Randall Model 18 or one of the ones made by Mr. Reeve.
 
My honest opinion, which may get me into trouble around here, is that most of chris reeve's fixed blades are just horribly ugly. :barf:

Of course, ugly has nothing to do with functionality - I've never tried one but I'm sure they're pretty good if all the sebenza fever is anything to go by.
 
Ian, the + and - of these have been discussed a LOT! Use the search function, you'll find much more than will be discussed in this thread
But..... here's my uneducated critism:
-Round handle:???? Okay, but can't give you a sense of which way the blade is pointing,
-Handle opening: Too small to be much use. If you're serious about survival with a knife get a good sheath with the biggest pockets available. THIS IS MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT!!!! I'd rather get a Busse or other with a survival sheath.
-A2: It rusts.... (It is EXTREMELY tough though)
- Guard: Some have small guards, IMO most are too small.
 
Ian - I have a Proj 2 which is a great knife but a bit too big for me so I posted a message about the Sable IV yesterday on the CR forum, which perhaps you can help me with. I want to know what the tip profile is like - my Proj 2 has such a fine tip that I have rolled it pretty easily. The Sable appears to have the full blade width almost to the end - can you describe it or post any photos? Thanks. I think of the CR knives, the Sable represents the best all rounder, not too bit but big enough, efficient cutting shape and good holding sheath.
 
I have many knives ... a few CRK among them. The Sable III is my favorite of all the knives I own, that's the 4" blade version.

I like the round handles and have no trouble orienting CRK knives.
 
I an my G/F own a Nkonka, and a Proj 2. And we like them both, very bland looking knives but they do a great job and they hold their edge well. I like the Proj2 as a chopper and an all around camp knife, it wont replace any of my busse or custom piece but its still a nice knife. The Nkonka is cool because of the little tool set in the handle and I really like that. The handles are a lil abrasive but if they werent people would complain that they slip. You cant please everyone, but if your gonna get a hollow handle I agree with the other guys, go reeve or randall.
 
Steven Roos said:
The round handle is the only drawback if you ask me.
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And a slight one at that.

My Proj2 holds a nice shot of Bourbon in the handle. Quite nicely I might add.

Rob
 
wetdog1911 said:
My Proj2 holds a nice shot of Bourbon in the handle. Quite nicely I might add.
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Oh, NOW I get the "wetdog" reference :D

"If you can't bring a knife in a bar, bring a bar in the knife!"
 
I don't think that tou can go wrong with a Chris Reeve knife, I have owned several of his folders and I am about to buy his skinner fixed blade.
 
I'll never understand why people request opinions after they buy the knife.

FWIW...
I've seen innertube stretched over the handle for extra grip and cold weather use.
 
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