Chris Reeve Knives
Moderator Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Boise, ID
Posts: 568
I'd like to add just a couple of corrections and a little more information. Ken, good shot at the date, but we actually moved to the USA in March 1989. Our first visit to the USA was in November 1986 when we exhibited at the New York Custom Knife Show.
# 356 Mountaineer I would have been made in October 1988. From around April 1987, all knives were marked "Made in South Africa" or "Made in RSA" - any knife that has no country of origin marking was made in South Africa. When we moved to the USA, we began numbering from 1 again, this time with the knife marked "Made in USA". We stopped numbering in 1994/5 because by then the numbers had little value.
The sheath that you describe as being vertical and horizontal carry must be aftermarket - we have always supplied the Mountaineer I in a simple wrap style leather sheath, designed for vertical carry.
There is added value to the Made in South Africa knives - they are part of the history of the company, they were all ground by Chris himself, they are now upwards of 15 years old. The amount of added value is difficult to advise - I have seen 30% more quoted in some places, double in others.
I hope this fills in some of the blanks!
Anne
#7
07-10-2001, 09:16 AM
Chris Reeve Knives
Moderator Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Boise, ID
Posts: 568
There are quite a lot of questions asked here about our SA made fixed blades and I will try to summarize the answers:
1. SA made knives can fetch quite a bit more than the current retail prices. Several models have been discontinued so there is additional collectibility there.
2. We used D2 for a short while but by 1986, all the knives were made of A2. Every once in a while, we couldn't get A2 and a small, intermediate run would be made with D2 - yeah, I know it's confusing!
3. Any knife made prior to about April 1987 would not have been market with Made in South Africa. There after, they have all been marked either Made in SA or Made in USA. All SA knives were serial numbered.
4. Quick run-down of the models that we made in SA but then discontinued. As you know we have started making some of the 9 inch models again but do not plan to make any of th e7 inch:
Jereboam Mk I - 9 inch clip point, sawback
Jereboam Mk II - 9 inch clip point, no sawback
Mk IV - 7 inch clip point, sawback
Mk V - 7 inch clip point, no sawback
Shadow I - 9 inch spearpoint
Shadow II - 7 inch spearpoint
Pachmayr Field Survivor - what is now known as the Project I
5. The same attention went into the quality of the knives back then as happens today. We did the very best we could with what we had. Probably the weakest part of the package was the sheath - we have made great strides there (not to underplay the wonderful work that John Leth, our SA Sheathmaker did on our behalf!) The majority of the Kalgarding was really excellent - I know, I did it myself!!
Hope this information helps!
Anne
