Thoughts on the Chris Reeve Cult....

crzyhorse said:
I gotta agree with the first couple of posters. I first discovered bladeforums around 2000 (my original user id got deleted I guess). I kept seeing people talking about sebenzas, to the point I wanted one. A good friend of mine who turned me on to bladeforums bought one from the exchange here and when I saw it, I was like "Thats it?". I just couldn't figure out all the "beam of light from heaven and an angel's chorus" posters. No doubt sebenzas are nice knives, but in my opinion they are not worth the price tag. Not to crap on anyones opinion, i'm all for you guys who love your sebenzas, but they just aren't for me. Leaves more for you as someone above said.
Click to expand...

for me it is the simplicity of design. it fits my hand better than any other folder i own, and the number is substantial.

simple, elegant, yet tough and durable.
 
I never heard of a Chris Reeve Sebenza until I rediscovered this forum a short time ago. When read all the threads about the Sebenza I knew that I had to get at least one to experience the thrill. When I received my first one (plain large Classic MM) I was enthralled by the appearance and quality. Within a month I purchased a couple more Sebenza knives plus a CRK Shadow III fixed blade. I am very happy with my purchases and hope to use them as much as possible (except my unique computer graphic Sebenza which is a drawer queen). I can understand why collectors enjoy owning the Sebenza - because they feel it is worth it.
 
severedthumbs said:
wouldn't you consider a Hinderer more akin to a production (ie. Sebebza) than a true custom?:confused:
Click to expand...

No, Rick is a full time custom maker (just stoped taking orders for a bit this week) and a one man shop. Yes, he uses CnC, but can also get things the way you want them. Makes a hell of a nice knife and really a nice man too boot.

What would make you think he's production?

Now if you said Strider I'd be agreeing with you. Which you can find in the same price range as a Seb. Which I'd label as production.
 
There are plenty of true custom knives that have been made with the use of CAD and CNC. These are not handmade customs, but they are customs nonetheless.
 
I don't think any knife knut would say it isn't a good knife. I think lots would question the value you get for the price you have to pay.
 
I think owning a CRK knife is part of a Knife Knut's education . They are a piece of industrial art . That said , I dont particularly like the " slippery " feel , the Mnandi is a totally different proposition . The hollow handeled all steel models are the highest evolution of that genre .

Chris
 
rosconey2 said:
crk - busse-spyderco-
they all have a following of lunatics-so what

the spyderco guys,they are the tight fisted cheapwads of all lunatics,because of spydercos price range they try and get 1 of everything ,remember to check your wallet after you talk to one-
Click to expand...

That's me! Who told you? Whoops....Where's your wallet? Ha Ha! Mine now! Off to the races!:D
 
Saberman said:
No, Rick is a full time custom maker (just stoped taking orders for a bit this week) and a one man shop. Yes, he uses CnC, but can also get things the way you want them. Makes a hell of a nice knife and really a nice man too boot.

What would make you think he's production?

Now if you said Strider I'd be agreeing with you. Which you can find in the same price range as a Seb. Which I'd label as production.
Click to expand...

Sorry but I view the knives Rick makes as more of a mid-tech than anything. If the majority of the knife is made using cnc machines, to me that takes the custom out of it. now I am not sure of all of the intricies of how Rick makes his folders but I doubt they are made one at a time on manual hand operated machines but rather the parts are ran in batches of 100 (just speculation here)? So what is custom about that? Any cnc machinist can program a cnc to make those parts, there is no manual hand skill involved in making those parts. Now if the blades are handground that would classifiy these as mid-tech, but still not custom. To me a midtech folder is more akin to a production folder than a custom folder. This is just my opinion.
 
severedthumbs said:
Sorry but I view the knives Rick makes as more of a mid-tech than anything. If the majority of the knife is made using cnc machines, to me that takes the custom out of it. now I am not sure of all of the intricies of how Rick makes his folders but I doubt they are made one at a time on manual hand operated machines but rather the parts are ran in batches of 100 (just speculation here)? So what is custom about that? Any cnc machinist can program a cnc to make those parts, there is no manual hand skill involved in making those parts. Now if the blades are handground that would classifiy these as mid-tech, but still not custom. To me a midtech folder is more akin to a production folder than a custom folder. This is just my opinion.
Click to expand...


That line of thought always made me wonder what to call Strider custom folders since the handles were production pieces.:confused: (Some were handgrooved which, to me, is more of a customization than an actual custom piece.)
 
OilMan said:
That line of thought always made me wonder what to call Strider custom folders since the handles were production pieces.:confused: (Some were handgrooved which, to me, is more of a customization than an actual custom piece.)
Click to expand...


I have always thought of them as mid-tech. I may be alone in this thinking but that is how I view it.
 
my hinderer is a custom as far as im concerned,its the only full ti with the anopaint effect-2 tone blade-


if it was just a matter of a cnc all knives would be as good
 
Rick's knives ARE custom. In fact, he is going to start making EVERYTHING on them, down to each screw etc.
 
TheKnifeCollector said:
Rick's knives ARE custom. In fact, he is going to start making EVERYTHING on them, down to each screw etc.
Click to expand...



no no knifecollector he will not be making EVERYTHING on the knives. cnc machines will be making every part on them. he might be programing them but not making them. this is what I am talking about, if he makes them then custom if, cnc makes them then mid-tech at best.

okay he got a screw making machine, still these screws are not manually made but rather in batches of possibly 1000 at a time (purely speculation). it is neat to have and do that but still not custom. now go on a manual lathe and turn and thread each one of the screws then we might talk custom.
 
The technology and machinery to make Sebenza knives must cost quite a bit. Of course the materials must also be quite expensive, too. I'm pretty sure that's another reason a Sebenza costs what they do.
 
I don't know what everything a Sebenza is made from, but from what I gather the two primary ingredients are titanium and S30V blade steel. To that, I must bring up Spyderco's 40$ S30V native and their (planned) titanium framelock Byrd, which I doubt will retail at a higher pricepoint than the Native. I would imagine more of the baseline expense is from warranty and precision craftsmanship, but that's just speculation on my part.
 
CR knives are very much production knives. They are also hand fitted and finished. The very close tolerance machining is exceptional and precision of the blades and handles is remarkable.
I only have one custom knife--a knife that I discussed with the knifemaker and for which I chose the materials and the shape. It is my favourite knife by far. It does not have the precision of my Sebenza.
BTW That's my definition of a custom. Made for me to my specifications--like a custom made suit!
Greg
 
You know, you guys (specifically severedthumbs) are confusing the terms "Custom" and "Handmade".

If you're going to require that every screw have its threads cut manually, then where do you stop? Hey. He used a lathe. That's a machine. He should have cut the threads with a triangle file. And that handle material? He didn't make it. Some animal GREW it. Sheesh.
 
partridge said:
You know, you guys (specifically severedthumbs) are confusing the terms "Custom" and "Handmade".

If you're going to require that every screw have its threads cut manually, then where do you stop? Hey. He used a lathe. That's a machine. He should have cut the threads with a triangle file. And that handle material? He didn't make it. Some animal GREW it. Sheesh.
Click to expand...

nicely put. i agree with greg, i choose materials, size, sheath, etc. then its a custom.
 
haha....SeveredThumbs......#1 Dont get on a forum and spout what you "think" you know about how I make knives....batches of 100's?? I wish...keep your "speculating to yourself....
#2 ANY cnc machinist can program a knife...WTF! this obviously shows you know nothing of what you talk about...uuhh...what about designing,engineering,pretty much how to make a knife!..any cnc machinist do that!..if that were the case lets see 1000's of cnc operaters can become knifemakers! wow..plus I would like to see a cnc operater who doesnt know cad program a complex handle...
#3 Whats "Midtech"? dont bother answering...I had a discussion with Ken Onion way back on the phone and we were talking about a new term HE coined that had to do with semi-production knives....and you are off the mark using it!
#4 as has been mentioned I make 100% of my knives in my shop...all the way down to the smallest screw..do I us a cnc lathe to do this..hell yea!...this is a $385.00 knife...and every little screw is spot on tollerance....and I am the ONLY one in my shop working....

#5 Oh gawd are we going to get into the big custom-handmade-cnc made-made by frickin files-debate....:jerkit:

Finally....if you dont like custom knives made with the help of modern technology....great!..hey its a free country...if you never buy one of my knives or any of the other makers knives who use cnc..again great!...but dont get on here and frickin "speculate" how I make my knives!

Rick Hinderer
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top