Production lead times/model scarcity

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GusSharp68

Hoist With His Own Petard
Joined
Jun 9, 2021
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Don’t see this addressed surprisingly but have to ask why the production times on Chris Reeves is so incredibly long and models are so scarce in their authorized retailers. I realize it’s a highly sought after brand but are they keeping production limited on purpose or is this more of a supply chain issue right now. I don’t see this with other name brands other than maybe Hinderer so wondering if anyone has insight into what is really causing this with Chris Reeve. Been trying to find a Mnandi for quite some time now and they seem to always be out of stock everywhere, particularly in damascus versions. Has supply always been this bad?
 
I can tell you from first hand experience that when they become available, they sell out immediately. I'm signed up for a lot of notifications, and an AD that receives a model, especially a sought after one, will sell out in minutes. Knivesshipfree received about 5 Green Berets last Friday - they lasted 30 minutes. This obviously doesn't answer the production question, but when the AD's get them, they are gone. When I bought my umnumzaan, Knifeart had at least 7 of them, because in adding it to my cart, my computer was glitching, and it kept adding. They were gone in minutes.
 
Still better than Hinderer. You can get any CRK model and configuration you want if you're willing to wait the lead time. The next Hinderer to hit the shelf is a drop in the hat.
 
I consider myself lucky to have gotten a large and small Sebenza in last couple of weeks. The small in Damascus. Both with wood inlays. Been watching for availability for over a year on and off.
 
sailfish said:
Still better than Hinderer. You can get any CRK model and configuration you want if you're willing to wait the lead time. The next Hinderer to hit the shelf is a drop in the hat.
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I wouldn’t have patience for 2 plus years to order one. Damascus isn’t currently an order option as of right now as well.
 
GusSharp68 said:
I consider myself lucky to have gotten a large and small Sebenza in last couple of weeks. The small in Damascus. Both with wood inlays. Been watching for availability for over a year on and off.
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I haven't signed up for notifications for PJ 31's b/c I have a PJ 21, but whenever I casually look, those are dodo's. I can generally find an inlay 31 somewhere whenever I look.
 
There are a number of damascus, wood, and micarta variants still available at a handful of retailers from the most recent drops. The PJ variants and Zaans always go within minutes though. Sort of bummed that I intentionally passed on grabbing one of the recent glass blasted sprints though.
 
G GusSharp68 - A couple of the ADs listed on the CRK website (one in FL and one in CA) have several v2 Mnandis in Damascus listed on their sites; both have individual pictures of the actual knives posted. Worth checking out to see if you like any of the configurations and Damascus patterns unless you just have your heart set on the V3 blade shape. Don’t think I can mention them by name here since not BF sponsors AFAIK but not that hard to find.
 
Just the nature of the economy these days. Production is the same, demand on all luxury goods is just through the roof.
 
GusSharp68 said:
I saw those and considered but I’m holding out for a burl wood inlay. Thanks though for the heads up.
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That’s a tough one to find. Of the main inlays, from most to least common, I would say it goes bog, macassar, elder. My wife bought me a macassar ladder Damascus from Recon1, and it’s really nice. But with elder and macassar, it’s really nice if you can see the actual knife first. My wife picked the mnandi based off of the pattern in the wood from pictures.
 
brock stewart said:
Hopefully not far off topic why does KSF have so many 21s available in Damascus? All smalls and bog oak but still?
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I figured it had to do with price in conjunction with less interest in bog. I reached out to them to see if any of them were the date I was looking for and actually got a fair amount of push back. I get that you don’t want to post DOB for an umnumzaan that will be in stock for 13 seconds - but those 21s have been there for at least 2 years at this rate. If they were to post DOBs on them they might move. Recon is one of the sites that posts DOB for Damascus.
 
TrainedBullets said:
I had a long drive last week and listened to the Notoriuos EDC podcast with Tim Reeve. He says production is at an all time high, but demand is way up.

I feel pretty lucky to have scored a recent small 31 black micarta from a dealer drop.
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I actually just got my first micarta knife - small insingo inkosi with back micarta. I’m really enjoying it.
 
I was able to order a Damascus left handed 31 when you still could. I knew going in, it would be 12-18 months. When they called at 23 months, I was asked if I still wanted the knife. I had forgotten about it until they called. I did think about saying no, but I quickly came to my senses and bought it.
It seems that the days of vendors/stores having any substantial stock are gone. Hell, I went to Best Buy and had to order the toaster oven I wanted because no one had one in stock.
I’m happy with my CRK collection and don’t mind ordering direct. Of course, it’s a plus being left handed. There’s still some left handed 21’s out there.
 
Ajack60 said:
I was able to order a Damascus left handed 31 when you still could. I knew going in, it would be 12-18 months. When they called at 23 months, I was asked if I still wanted the knife. I had forgotten about it until they called. I did think about saying no, but I quickly came to my senses and bought it.
It seems that the days of vendors/stores having any substantial stock are gone. Hell, I went to Best Buy and had to order the toaster oven I wanted because no one had one in stock.
I’m happy with my CRK collection and don’t mind ordering direct. Of course, it’s a plus being left handed. There’s still some left handed 21’s out there.
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There’s a left handed 25 still at an AD lol. I saw it just now.
 
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