Storing / Modifying Rare Chris Reeve Knives

JONVHERBERT

JONVHERBERT

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Feb 2, 2023
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So as some of you may know, I’ve put a lot of effort into completing the Chris Reeve Wilson Combat edition collection: 1 of each model, and ended up with 2 large inkosis’ - 1 extra to share with someone.

My dream set up was one of each, with a lanyard spacer, and a hawk clip on each. I have enough Hawk clips to outfit quite a few more CRK’s, but recently found myself really loving the Millet CRK clips. You can see a few shown below and how well they both look on the Wilson Combat CRK’s.

Anyways, I went ahead and ordered the CRK Pelican case to hold this special collection. However, I’ve previously kept each knife and all of their original parts in the original box. Well, with this pelican case, I bought some post card collection keepers and put the documents inside to preserve them from bends, but also to make them easily accessible to be stored in the Pelican case. However, with all of the accessories, I’m not sure the best way to store them. Does anyone have this case, and if so, what do you use all of the bottom level compartments for? I’m thinking of keeping all of the docs/COA’s in the pelican case, but the binder, box, cloths, and grease in the original boxes. I’m just having a hard time organizing it all and figured I’d see what others have done.

Finally - here’s the big question. If you had the chance to modify a Wilson combat CRK to be “assisted”, like the Vallotton Mod, would you? Or would that stand too much of a chance of destroying the value of the knife?

Thank you for any & all feedback!
 

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I wouldn't do it simply because I don't care for autos. I wouldn't mod any reeve to be honest just like them as they are.
 
Moment you do such a mod the "collector value" is gone. However the modded knife may actually be worth the same to a "non dedicated collector" who is interested in the assisted operation.
 
Beautiful collection! Are you going to continue to try to complete it with the various blade shapes, and of course the knife that started it all, the OP Umnumzaan?
 
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I have been exposed to some serious collectors in the camera world in the past. By serious, I mean that I have seen at a collectors' club meeting one camera with serial 004 whose brothers 001 and 002 had flown to the moon on a Russian probe. Another meeting brought similarly rare Hasselblad whose siblings had go to the moon with Apollo missions and so on.

And here is the lesson: Another Hasselblad had been found with some collectable feature that made it an original example of that model. The new owner had it cleane/lube/adjust (CLA) by a competent dealer/technician . . .who also brought it up to the current standard with some fiddly inconspicuous internal improved part, then put a prefix on the serial inside to denote that . . .which changed it from original and rare to common and run-0of-the-mill. In the arena of wooden and brass oldtim view cameras, polishing and refinishing absolutly altr the desirability of a piece.


Setting those experiences aside, one major takeaway for me was never modify a collectable.

I would say; Do not modify your collectable knives.
 
Bob Denman said:
Leave them alone if you bought them for their collector's value.
But if they are users: do what you want.
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I use them, but not really. I carry them in a protective case in my pocket sometimes just because I enjoy having them on me instead of in the safe, but keep a “beater” CRK on me to actually use. Thinking I’ll just modify this one instead. The WC’s are my favorite CRK and I’d love to modify them but I do worry about destroying their value.
 

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What do you think, Mr. Martin? woodysone woodysone
Would you modify a special edition CRK if you intended to keep them, but also wanted to be able to get your return on investment back out if need be?
 
Honestly, I don't think it matters what others think. They're yours to do with as you wish and enjoy.

Me personally? I'd leave them as they were made to be. But then I'm not an "auto" guy and have sold off the few that I've owned. (The last of which, very recently.)

Whatever you do, I hope it brings the satisfaction you seek.
 
JONVHERBERT said:
What do you think, Mr. Martin? woodysone woodysone
Would you modify a special edition CRK if you intended to keep them, but also wanted to be able to get your return on investment back out if need be?
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To be honest I’d leave the new ones alone, but your user is fair game. Having the conversion would add a different value to it, how many sebenzas do you see as autos?🤔🤫
 
Modding almost never increases the value of a knife enough to cover the cost of the modification. On a knife a legit collectible knife, it's likely to decrease the collector value.
A possible exception to that is a "factory" modification done during a spa treatment - I could see a Wilson Combat that had been glass blasted instead of sandblasted retaining its value.
 
JONVHERBERT said:
I can respect that. I’m definitely going to modify one, but most likely not a special one like the Wilson combat. Most likely a new zaan or new sebenza 31.
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I have seen some very cool mods like frag designs and the spidey hole. Will be curious to see what you do.
 
I absolutely would mod one, I've been thinking of trying with one of my CRKs. (Not a Wilson.)

But I also agree with Blues - who cares what I or anyone else here thinks? Your knife, your rules.

As for storage, I dunno. I don't have that particular case, but I use other Nalpak cases for storage. There is always a tension between effective storage and display - look at stuff museums do for extremes of that. Personally, I keep all the non-knife crap in the box, and the boxes in a bigger box, and the bigger boxes in accessible storage, because I tell myself I'm going to sell some of it but haven't managed to. But then I don't really care about the accessories myself, and only keep them for resale.

Edit: If I were to attempt this mod, I'd probably try to entice @ WValtakis WValtakis into letting me pick his brain on the topic.
 
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JONVHERBERT JONVHERBERT I really like your collection and appreciate that you want everything “just so,” according to your personal desires.
I’m very meticulous with certain things too (my bike tools, for instance)..😁

With regards to the auto mod, you have a spare Inkosi. If there’s someone you trust can do a high quality mod, why not go for it?

For me the fun of collecting is in the collection itself. Knowing it’s something of value does add to the enjoyment and richness of the collection, but for me that’s very secondary. If you want the mod and it adds to YOUR enjoyment, that’s what matters most.

As for storage of my CRK collection, the cards and all the goop stay in the OE boxes on my shelf. The knives go into some sort of sleeve (mostly the Spyderco bubble wrap sleeves), and they all get packed together in a small cardboard box that then goes into my safe (which doesn’t have much room left).



This setup holds 8 knives snugly and perfectly. CRK #9 is always in rotation. It works great for me. (Un)fortunately #10 arrives tomorrow…I’m going to have to find a slightly larger box!

To each his own, amiright?
 
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Id leave them alone.

Mod your beater or buy an auto of some description to scratch your itch.
 
The way I see it, the fact that you asked answers your question for you. It shows that you are obviously concerned about collector value, and your purposed modification would certainly impact collector value. Therefore, I think your idea to do the mod to another CRK and leave the Wilson alone is a prudent one, and a way to have your cake and eat it too 👍. This is coming from someone who in some way modifies just about every knife I own.

That being said, if you do modify a different one and find that it doesn't scratch the itch, and you still retain a deep longing with visons of an auto Wilson Combat version dancing in your head as you fall asleep at night...then at that point I say YOLO that mofo and go for it 🤷‍♂️. It is, after all, just stuff.
 
Andy the Aussie said:
Moment you do such a mod the "collector value" is gone. However the modded knife may actually be worth the same to a "non dedicated collector" who is interested in the assisted operation.
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Check the price of an auto converted CRK vs unmodified.
 
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