Why no more One Piece?

[BigDeeeeeeee]

I know it's probably been discussed a hundred times but I live under a rock so humor me.

 

[kidcongo]

I know it's probably been discussed a hundred times but I live under a rock so humor me.

My understanding is that even the later USA made OPKs started with blade blanks made in South Africa. Finishing was done in Idaho. When the company in South Africa stopped making the blanks, CRK discontinued the line.

 

[BigDeeeeeeee]

That's to bad. There are machine shops everywhere though, kinda strange.

 

[kidcongo]

That's to bad. There are machine shops everywhere though, kinda strange.

I also recall (can't remember where I heard this) that one of the issues was getting the round bar that the OPK were made from, as well as export laws with South Africa etc. If you dig deep enough you will probably find the same article I read.

I think there was likely a juncture when they either had to set up a new shop in the USA to make the blanks, and find a supplier of the round bar, or just abandon the line. At the same time they were introducing the Green Beret etc which is arguably a much easier type of thing to make. All of the new line of CRK fixed blades are essentially cut from a flat slab of steel and then the handles are screwed on to each side. It doesn't get much more basic than that when compared to the challenge of making the one-piece knifes. Also to make an OPK you have to waste a lot of steel as they are made from round bar, and everything that is not round has been machined away.

There is a bit of info here (skip to minute 21): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-dGEAFf-vE

Discusses how the blanks came from South Africa for grinding in the US etc around 21:45

 

[nyefmaker]

To make a long story short ;-)........The gentleman that rough ground the blanks in SA wanted to retire. The cost of making them 100% in the US would have been far more, so Chris decided to discontinue them.

 

[BigDeeeeeeee]

I also recall (can't remember where I heard this) that one of the issues was getting the round bar that the OPK were made from, as well as export laws with South Africa etc. If you dig deep enough you will probably find the same article I read.

I think there was likely a juncture when they either had to set up a new shop in the USA to make the blanks, and find a supplier of the round bar, or just abandon the line. At the same time they were introducing the Green Beret etc which is arguably a much easier type of thing to make. All of the new line of CRK fixed blades are essentially cut from a flat slab of steel and then the handles are screwed on to each side. It doesn't get much more basic than that when compared to the challenge of making the one-piece knifes. Also to make an OPK you have to waste a lot of steel as they are made from round bar, and everything that is not round has been machined away.

There is a bit of info here (skip to minute 21): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-dGEAFf-vE

Discusses how the blanks came from South Africa for grinding in the US etc around 21:45

Thanks for the video, watched that part but I'll have to watch the whole thing later, interesting stuff.

 

[marthinus]

2009 saw the end of a 28 year life span of the One Piece Range of knives. The blanks for these knives were always made in South Africa and when the owner of the company doing the work expressed his desire to retire, we were faced with either sourcing a new vendor or retiring the range as a classic. We elected the latter and, even though our customers have expressed much regret, the knives are changing hands at ever increasing values.

http://chrisreeve.com/History

 

[Gaston444]

It truly is a huge loss, especially since so few quality makers of any kind are making hollow-handles now...

Now, for quality makers, all that is left is basically Randall's Model 18, the Martin knives selection, plus Vaughn Neeley and Bill Sanders, who both offer models similar to the old Timberline SA, with Sanders doing others patterns that are more First Blood-like, though only up to 7.5" (Neeley makes First Bloods for the new Lile shop I think). Martin knives and the two former Timberline makers are very expensive (in my opinion you all have to re-sharpen them yourself as well), and Randalls are not cheap either.

The only recent bright spot is the Boker Apparo, which is Martin designed (super strong) and outstanding value, if you can find a good sheath (and it probably also needs re-sharpening). Schrade now has a super-cheap, apparently good value, one-piece line that may have contributed to the demise of the CR one-piece line, as they seem not badly made. Neither of these factory knives go over 7" though, although the Apparo is a lot more imposing in blade width.

Then there is Andy Wood, who does super accurate, with even more outstanding quality, reproductions of the First Blood knives, at around $1250, which is a bargain compared to the Lile shop which runs them at around $2500...

That is not exactly a huge selection... Even the old overweight Buckmaster commands way over Randall prices now, if you can believe that, especially if in pristine condition(!!)... Aitor Jungle Kings are still made but apparently not to the quality of the old triangular teeth knives of the 80s.

Two knives that I am wishing I went for (when they were available) were the old LifeKnife Commando knife, with cast-on aluminium handles, which were incredible value with really superb leather sheaths, and the rather oversized Al Mar SF 10.

With so few quality options around, it is strange that the one-piece CRs didn't sell well enough to continue. All the discontinued big-price hollow handles are extremely hard to get now, even the lowly Buckmaster going through the roof if pristine... A brand-new authorized dealer Randall Model 18 turned out for me to be the easiest high quality hollow handle knife to get, which gives you some idea... I realize my Jereboam Mk II is truly a treasure now... I got it new online from a regular dealer in 2009. Strangely, the paperwork said it was made in 2004, which seems odd for a brand-new knife... The longer 8 3/4" blade one piece knives had also been removed from regular production in the mid-90s, if I recall, which made them even rarer by 2009 (they seem to have made them on an occasional basis in between)...

One gets the sense the quality hollow-handle fanbase is really small, but dedicated...

Gaston

 

[BigDeeeeeeee]

I have a Project I and my wife has an Aviator but I've always wanted a Sable I and the Nkonka but $$$$.