Chris Reeve: Shop Tour Part 1

[@navydad31]

Who else sends you a tool to take their knife apart. Wants you to take it apart, to clean, libricate etc. and if you screw it up will fix it for you! NO ONE! Mr. Reeve, you are the best!

[@behemothsuperknife]

That is what I love to see. Someone that wants to be the best. Not the most popular.

[@maulstik]

the funny thing is now they're not the best, but have become the most popular

[@durchens]

It reminds me of Nick Saban.

[@wflo77]

Cough cough cold steel, goes for popularity rather than quality.

[@frankthecat1660]

Too bad everything that CRK produces is boring.

[@vincentferreira1135]

@@frankthecat1660tools are boring. How many people with an Oz Roosevelt or Grimsmo Norseman or any of these wildly expensive ($1,000+) knives ever have even a micro millimeter of wear on them? But they’re the ones you see in pictures and they’re the ones you see people flexing. In reality, everyone I have seen that uses knives for a purpose has a Sebenza and they’re all beat to shit.

[@sublyme2157]

I may never own one, but before complaining about $400 for a knife that'll outlive your children's children, ask yourself if your iPhone will.

[@bloatedsodium7301]

Dude, I don’t even want to think about what my children’s children’s iPhone will be able to do. In terms of being a tool, the features of my iPhone easily outweigh a knife.

[@k-9teamzagrebschoolfordogs68]

@@bloatedsodium7301 good knife will always will be good knife 🔪 👌 and R is stoning unbelievable

[@baddoopey]

@@bloatedsodium7301, you’re missing the point.

[@bloatedsodium7301]

@@baddoopey I’m listening, go ahead

[@ramonade_knives]

@@bloatedsodium7301 The mind is ze best toul

[@nicholasgutierrez3200]

Legend has it that he EDC's a Spyderco PM2.

[@b80-s9i]

😂😂😂

[@EDCurr04]

No way he would never stoop that low 🤔

[@TheJohn93226]

Total respect Chris Reeve!

[@BeadsbyNicole]

Love my Sebenza 21...... Best folder I have ever owned or touched......

[@TheDime4life]

Hey guys I think the handles are flat lol

[@208fishingidaho3]

it's pretty crazy how good of quality control they have i personally know Chris and his son. they make very nice quality knifes, I really recommend one

[@JohnGrimsmo]

BladeHQ, this is one of the best videos I've seen on youtube. THANK YOU!!!!!!! It's like you made the video just for me haha, it's exactly what I wanted to see and hear, more so. OK gotta go watch it again. Can't wait for part 2, 3, 4, 5, etc! You guys rock. And now I have even more respect for CRK, I admired him before but to actually see the dedication that he puts into these things bumps it tenfold. Plus I learned a lot from the vid, stuff I can use on my knives to make them awesomer!

[@paullmight42]

nowadays i like your stuff better :) one day hopefully i can afford one haha...

[@Dracomies]

omg I was hyped watching this video. Even from 14 seconds to 24 seconds, straight up reminded me of Guile's theme. But damn just watching this video and watching how this man approaches quality is inspiring. I admire his pursuit of perfection, it's very similar to 'kaizen' where he does everything he can to make the absolute best product. And they are. The Senbenza is a knife which balances aesthetics + power in a beautiful package, a great example of American engineering.

[@torreyintahoe]

Great video. I have a 31 coming in the mail currently. Can't wait!

[@BuffaloNickel9]

Is it your first? I bought my first INKOSI in s45vn about 4 months ago and I now own 2 Inkosi and 2 Sebenzas...21 and 31 I sold about 12 Benchmade and a few spyderco because I just never feel like carrying anything else other than a Reeve nowdays... I think Chris Reeve knives are an acquired taste, kind of like bourbon or a fine wine you only understand later into your knife Journey...

[@BuffaloNickel9]

I remember watching this video several times before my knife arrived and man did it do the trick...

[@randallkelley3599]

I wish I had been a machinist, and worked for this guy, what a cool job.

[@wadata808]

Just wanted to say thanks guys. My wife bought me a lg 21 with double thumb lugs and its flawless! Take care. Aloha, Mike

[@MPerry-ox9qb]

Bottom line is: It's your hard earned money. Buy the damn knife you want.

[@I_Might_B_Wrong]

Damn right. Or for some of us, ALL the knives we want.

[@MPerry-ox9qb]

+EvilBillRoasts How many Manufacturing Quality Awards have either of those companies won? Hell....Cold Steel doesn't even make their own knives. What a joke.

[@sebenza100]

+EvilBillRoasts how can anyone compare a cold steel to anything chris reeve makes. Cold steel is inferior sir.

[@chickensodelicious]

+EvilBillRoasts I've owned a Sebenza and multiple Cold Steel knives and to say that Cold Steel is superior or CRK is complete shit. I enjoyed all of the knives I owned, but I always found something wrong with my cold steels in the fit and finish. Whether it was a blemish in the knife, blade play, off centered blade, gritty or stiff action, I found some inconsistency in all of them. My sebenza was perfect. Dead center, smooth as butter, no blade play in any direction, razor sharp edge that held, and superior materials. I get that not everyone can appreciate the sebenza, especially given its price, but the quality is far superior and I see it lasting longer than any cold steel.

[@stalememe6407]

quite a few actually and "doesn't even make their own knives" is not really an arguement

[@theekrusher]

I just picked up a sebenza 21 and the thing is truly flawless, both in manufacture and its design. I am surprised looking at this thing that they don't cost more. Also the design is totally refined. I have no folder that puts so much blade in such a slim handle. If you pick one up you will not regret the price. The only negative is that they are common, and everyone has one. Not one detail is overlooked.

[@DnG3Brasil]

Did anyone see the little Spyderco box at the top right corner @ 4:41 ? :-)

[@philipmarcus97]

Lol I'd imagine Chris would have one of the spyderco sage's with the Chris Reeve ti frame lock. The knife was made in homage to him after all.

[@skycorrigan6511]

That's his edc

[@spezz01]

I love the way he clearly explain how everything is done

[@msouthworth1978]

I am a big CRK fan,I own several different examples of Chris Reeve work & have looked for quite some time for a decent interview with him on You tube,this is even better a look round the factory showing me how the knives are made.Eagarly awaiting the next video.

[@lberger100]

Outstanding video. It really allows the potential client as well as the current owner to see just how much effort, thought and design goes into a CR knife. Not sure how the factory tour of the Chinese replicas would look by comparison.

[@GainghisKhan]

lberger100 "And here we have the suicide nets."

[@pooder53]

Probably be a lot more kids than adults there 😅

[@devinc865]

A true master of his craft!

[@jonathanjackson669]

His place is just down from our home here in Boise. I SO WANT one (laughs inside... only one?) of his knives.

[@TheShays]

10th of a Thousandth (0.0001 inch): If you take one thousandth of an inch and divide it by ten, you get a tenth of a thousandth, or 0.0001 inch. This level of precision is often described as “tenths” in machinist terminology. For example, if someone says “set it to 5 tenths,” they mean 0.0005 inch. Nothing in life is free and you always get what you pay for.

[@WOEShorts]

Great video BHQ!!! It was wonderful to see just what goes into making the knife I carry in my pocket everyday. I appreciate Chris Reeve knives and my Sebenza even more now. :)

[@nate4472]

Did anybody else notice the spyderco box in the top left corner of Chris's office?

[@SONOFAZOMBIE2025]

that's his personal knife that he depends upon.

[@tonygoro]

Son of a Zombie Trolololo

[@l.h.j.laeven7074]

He used to squeeze that Spyco like a stress relief ball when he heard his son was putting a '31' on the Sebenza boxes..

[@EssenceofPureFlavor]

You sure it wasn't a Sharpmaker? That's the recommended sharpener for CRK.

[@TheStig000]

Fantastic video. I've seen documentaries that are laughable in comparison. You held my interest the entire way through, and I absolutely cannot wait to see part 2! Bravo!

[@dangermouse9494]

Huge fan of Chris Reeve knives.

[@randallkelley3599]

I watch this about once a quarter, still amazes me!

[@Icecold185]

I love the way he talks soothing yet intelligent and interesting.

[@jotero77]

WOW I have been waiting & wanting to see the inside of Chris Reeves shop & how his knives are made for a very long time. Thank you Blade HQ!!!

[@TJackSurvival]

That was a really good video. I like learning about the technical details of how the knives are made.

[@bill3117]

Simply fantastic manufacturing and QC. I'll be proud to own a Reeves knife!

[@spezz01]

CRK is amazing, I finally got an xm-18 3", carry it for 2 week strait and came back to my small sebenza because of the eye appealing, the knife carry better imo and the inlays on my small classic makes it more people friendly.

[@christapherdane]

Such an amazing process and amazing knife. I just wish there would be more variety in steel for the knife itself. Some of us have no problem sharpening S90v or even Rex-121.

[@CoolandNice76225]

4:35 spyderco on the shelf in upper right lol

[@killabee-2384]

There's no wonder this guy has wonder tons of awards he is just passionate and is clearly gifted when it comes to knife making. I don't own a sebenza but one day I will.

[@Chris-fq4xz]

You have it yet?

[@ryanlin4086]

Still fantastic in 2021

[@rickycrews8414]

wow im reading a lot of negativity. BUT i own one and i have to say, i cut copper wire,steal bands. skin wires all day. best knife i have, i use it every day for every thing

[@RioDeLaNorte]

Vielen Dank !

[@theekrusher]

Well, I should say it seems like everyone has one. There is so many review online. I finally bit the bullet and love it. My guess is it takes about $150 to make the knife you see at a glance, and the other $250 is for all the details you only see when you really look at it. I work often in factories that produce electronic components as a subcontractor and Chris Reeve's operation is top notch for sure. It makes a plant I know that produces industrial sapphire components look amateur.

[@redbird963]

I finally pulled the trigger and ordered my first Chris Reeve(a small 21). Years ago, when I started collecting, I thought I would never even consider dropping $350 on one knife. It seemed ridiculous to pay that much. Now, as I 've collected more, I completely understand why they cost what they do, and I can't wait for it to arrive.

[@glamlifeleesh5163]

If u now this this knife is worth 350 ..ur not a tru life collector

[@user-tr2dh4xx6u]

@@glamlifeleesh5163 uh what?

[@therealeightabove]

Tell me again how dead flat your parts are

[@troyhill1924]

therealeightabove Haha I just started watching this video and he said his shit is flat like 10 times

[@skycorrigan6511]

He's definitely proud of it!

[@phm14]

I've been eying a large Sebenza for years. This finally push me over the edge. Just suggested one for Fathers' Day :)

[@polarweis]

Mooi om te weten! Groeten uit nederland

[@calvinlewis8924]

I have one of the original sebenzas that goes back some years however it is still an impressive work of art.

[@Hosunlee89]

I'm getting there. Just dropped three bills on two Kizers. Won't be too long before I'm dropping 350 on a small Sebenza...I still think that's way too much, but you can't call yourself a knife guy without a CRK imo. I love my Spydercos, Benchmades, and Kizers, but owning a Chris Reeve knife means you've finally graduated to hardcore knife nut 😂👍

[@driftborst]

wow awesome! thanks for putting this online! i own several sebenzas and a umnumzaan, and finally it is very cool to see how they are made! Cant wait to see part II :)

[@Kevinthewiseone]

Its nice to see a video like this, it gives us a good idea of what goes into a Chris Reeve knife. And its a knife that i hope one day to own.

[@CalviNNation]

The South african accent is awesome. I like this guy, he is a no nonsense guy who has done this all his life. He just tells it like it is.

[@MaineOutdoorsChannel]

Mr Chris Reeve.... the genius of knife making

[@ramonade_knives]

10:40, exactly, I live in France, close to Nogents, a town that used to have all the cutlery industry and they used to work like that, before everything went to Thiers

[@EDCurr04]

His knives have been awarded as being an industry leader and the standard which all knives are judged. He will not be happy in second place. When you apply there I am sure you are told in advance; that there is a meticulous attention to detail in the factory. After receiving my Sebenza 21 I understood why they are what they are, and why they are so much$. Thanks Blade HQ for posting, I purchased my knife after I watched how much time goes into these knives! What a time piece!

[@TheStig000]

Everyone loves Spyderco!

[@EarthboundV1]

Cannot wait till part 2. Very cool shop visit.

[@jeffwaters5633]

I think the missing finger tip confirms a love and dedication to knife making

[@mastakyle04]

Great, informative vid. Helps to see Reeve's take on the way they do things.

[@CarlAquaForce]

I had a Chris Reeves South African Rambo knife that belonged to my Grandfather and was passed down to me when he died. Someone stole it years ago but recently I just saw the same k I've priced over 2k dollars. The sentimental value was priceless. Shame, it was a beautiful knife.

[@Halfmoon67]

Awesome video !! Thanks a lot for sharing it with your subscribers! It directly goes in my favs !

[@calebmartin5115]

Haha that guy checking thicknesses with a harbor freight caliper

[@tonypantoja]

Lol

[@mongojerry72]

Lol. I thought the same thing. Why grind to a tenths tolerance and measure with an instrument that is only accurate to +/- 0.002"?

[@FearNoSteel]

hahaha I noticed that too. I was like lol wat?!

[@kevinkesler6856]

That's a Mitutoyo digital caliper with a resolution of 0.0005". Harbor freight doesn't even sell any Mitutoyo brand products.

[@svtrader]

@@kevinkesler6856 Come on buddy, that's a Harbor Freight level caliper. Mitutoyo caliper don't look like that.

[@JamesSmith-gt2tq]

Would love to see one of these done on Winkler Knives (Daniel Winkler), my local knife craftsman.

[@luisytacc]

So jelly of you guys, so very much. This was a very interesting video, I can't wait for the next!

[@p8ntballer8491]

Awesome video. I love my Sebenza. I keep going back to it time and time again over other knives.

[@Moose_Hawkins]

I love the way he says "here" XD

[@lopezepol75]

Awesome Video. Super cool to see how somewhat with as much prestige as Cris Reeve makes his knives

[@94cncpro]

Great sales tool! I watched these vids and then ordered a large 21 with cocobolo inlays. Utah to Toledo in 3 days I hope.

[@adsurvivalism6305]

BHQ your marketing team is brilliant... too darn brilliant! you just made me wanting a sebenza...

[@jellzey]

Best video y'all have done yet, more of this please!!!!!!!

[@shadymattuk]

Great video. My favourite of the series so far

[@MrJaycee500]

Thanks lads at bladehq, my first sebenza arrived today of the Honduran rosewood inlay type!

[@TheVeloHobo]

What an excellent look at CR operation. I hope you do more like this. I'd really like an inside look at Rick Henderer's shop. Great job.

[@Errcyco]

Thanks BladeHQ, this was really neat.

[@46alpha46]

Best Meet Your Maker vid yet!

[@G79911997]

Benchmade Volli assisted with patent Axis lock that's guaranteed to resist more then a 1/2 ton of force😮 Grippy G10 scales and thin shallow ground 3.25" wickedly sharp beautiful S30V blade for all my utilitarian needs😄 Built in steel liners inside the CNC machined and hollowed out G10 scales to cut down on width.👍 In the low 4 oz. range with premium components and a life of free sharpening/ upkeeping...- all for 1/4 the cost of a Sebenza....... 💡....... ....................... and I definitely don't have trees that shed bills.....

[@taheelur1]

G79911997 the axis lock is patented?? Wow. What a huge selling point. It can resist more than a half ton of force? Perfect. Just what I need. I hate it when I exert a thousand pounds of pressure on my knife with my bare hands and the lock fails.

[@DeSousausmc]

taheelur1 agreed. Just yesterday I was using the weight of my suburban to help me cut things and my sebenza failed :( man I wish I had an axis lock. I mean who really cares about bladeplay, tolerances, and failed omega springs, amirite?

[@unitedgray]

I'm not sure where Chris's quality engineer worked, but there's no way in hell a knife manufacturer holds tighter tolerances than a reputable aerospace company.

[@erniee4336]

unitedgray An aeroplane is a much bigger object. If he compared it to tolerances of swiss watches, then I'd be impressed.

[@unitedgray]

Quat Ernie The size of the object doesn't matter. An airplane for example, is comprised of thousands of small parts, each of which are held to the same (or greater) standard than a Swiss watch. I've made welded-aluminum transport carts for solid fuel rocket engines, that were held to +- .003 flatness across a 15 square foot area. That is the kind of nonsense you see in the aerospace industry. Even parts that seem trivial are held to extremely tight tolerances. If your watch fails, the manufacturer replaces it. If an engine fails at 20,000 feet, people will die.

[@GainghisKhan]

unitedgray Well, the scales _are_ held to a ~ .00016 in. tolerance.

[@unitedgray]

OriginalName That's because he uses a surface grinder. Unless you're a complete idiot, grinders will always hold a tolerance less than .0005 inches. They are very easy to use, and the fact is, that step in the process is overkill for his application.

[@MontageReflex]

+unitedgray Totally with you. Reeve holds nice tolerances, as seen in the video, but his precision/tolerance isn't even close to Aerospace manufacturing. Quite honestly, "0.0001" is a ridiculous tolerance for a knife. Its not even practical. By the time you hold that knife in your hand for 1 minute, it has raised the length of that knife by 1+ thou. Its all overkill and unpractical in a lot of ways. Far more factors are gonna dictate the smoothness/functionality of the knife. Hell one spec of dust would throw your knife out of tolerance by a country mile. Holding to +-0.002 is more practical and would probably save him so much money. Same outcome. And for Quat Ernie: Its called coefficient of expansion. Small objects are very easy to achieve tolerance. This guy doesn't have shit on any aerospace industry. He wouldn't have first clue of complexity of aerospace manufacturing.

[@kenh4002]

I like the Regulars, and Classics, but the 21 is an awesome knife as well. I don't really consider the 25 a Sebenza since it doesn't have the pivot bushing system.They are the best knives ever made, and there's a reason he has won the "Quality Control" award at Blade almost every year since they started it.I've been to about 15 Blade Shows(in ATL), and have never seen a custom, mid-tech, or production designed as well, or made as well, as the Sebenza.I really like Chris too. He tells it like it is, and never kisses ass(like most) just to sell knives.Thin skinned people may not care for him, but I appreciate a fellow that speaks his mind.If you're a long time knife nut that knows his stuff you'll know why the design and tolerances levels make them the best. Most that troll CRK know little( but think they know all), and just spew garbage.

[@Chris-fq4xz]

Nice knives, but they are far from the best knives ever, as you say.

[@johnnyboy1586]

But you pay for it

[@GabeMacDonnell]

I'm surprised 100 Sebenzas have broken: i never thought so many guys actually USED these things for real "work!"

[@pcruz112]

Gabriel MacDonnell hey rich people need letter openers too !

[@pigpig19d]

Why not? Some of us buy knives to use them. Lol.

[@pigpig19d]

Although not CRK but you should see how many ZTs I've snapped the tips, regrind it and keep using until I lost it on a job site

[@Seveneleven44]

17 XV I broke the tip off a small 21 insingo and abused a large 21 so much that I bought a new blade for it.

[@Chris-fq4xz]

​@@pcruz112 lol. Even in you're year, to this year 22.. no need to be RICH to afford a CRK. 60% of my collection costs more than a " not sharp out the box knife" CRK. Not impressed whatsoever with these overpriced butter knives.

[@evilsquirrel56231]

I had no idea he looked like this. Also his accent is kinda funny, the way he says HIYA instead of here :) Can't wait to see the next one!

[@ironrangerw6r1]

Great to see. His comment to quality

[@keylitho]

That was great... thank for showing us that.. cant wait for part 2

[@SurvivalWienerWald]

Danke fürs uploaden, ich hab mein sebenza seit weihnachten, und finde es toll zu sehen wer und wie es gemacht wurde :) grüße aus österreich !

[@astaschak]

Awesome video, looking forward to the second part

[@samurai165]

Top notch video!!! Excellent production skills

[@lunaticcycle1300]

I want to work for you, no interlocks on the CNC machine doors, no safety glasses, no ear protection, things run a little differently up here in Canada.

[@ALANatWork]

Anyone else notice the Spyderco box in the top right at 4:40?

[@knifetoucher]

Very nice! Always wanted to see the CRK shop

[@Spydercollector]

What a great video, loved it! Can't wait to see part 2

[@Unlimited1Ups]

Nice video! Can't wait for more.

[@SmartTV_Home_Channel]

he comes from where i live XD stoked!!!

[@sixblanc]

Amazing ! can't wait for part 2

[@MFD00MTR33]

I never doubted the tolerances and the amazing technology thats behind sebenzas. I just cant justify dropping $400+ kn a knife with a sub par heat treat. I have quite a few knives in s35vn and the 2 best ones are heat treated to 61.2 and 62.1 hrc. They hold a edge for a respectable time, beating out my s30v at around 60 hrc and I have no problem sharpening or touching them up. I use a strop or a fine ceramic or my black Arkansas stone and in under 10 swipes per side the knife is shaving sharp again. Also ive had no problems with chip out and imuse my knives on just about everything.

[@CorkKNIFE]

I don't understand why you believe the correct heat treat for the application is sub-par. Reeve was perfectly clear on the video; MOST customers are better served by the lower hardness. If you can take care of 62 Rockwell steel, you can certainly touch up Reeve's S35 without issue.

[@user-tr2dh4xx6u]

Right I'd rather have 5 $50 knives than a $500 sebenza that I'd be scared to cut anything other than paper...

[@Pleasum]

This man knows his business

[@christopherkavanagh]

Awesome vid. It only adds to my knife envy

[@Sunnybono999]

Awesome video. Sebenza's are aresome. Cheers mate.

[@matthewturner7691]

We live in the greatest country on earth where all nation compete to sell here and if you cant afford a $450 knife then buy something else instead of grinding this man's reputation over jealousy!

[@MrLNielsen]

Great shop. Nice work on the video!

[@OnTheEdge72]

This makes me take even more pride in my Sebbies =) Thank you for the video!

[@FP00NER]

Wow, more please!!!

[@recordmanful]

Guy's on top of his game alright. Can't stop looking around checking on his workers even during interview.

[@TeensierPython]

Glad your knife tolerances are so high. Those flat sides fit great in my hand, you know because flat sheets are so comfortable.

[@londiniumarmoury7037]

It's not the outer surface of the titanium scales that need to be that flat, it's the inside of those scales that the pivot and bushing system and blade interact with. That's why the Sebenza has a reputation of being the smoothest and tightest fit knife in the production market, and honestly probably has better tolerances than 99% of custom knives too. They are top quality products that even owners of competing brands admire for their engineering and quality, look what Sal glasser says abotu them. That's how you know they are the real deal, when even your biggest competitors admire and openly promote your product.

[@TeensierPython]

@@londiniumarmoury7037 I may have to seek one out someday to put my grubby mitts on one.

[@londiniumarmoury7037]

@@TeensierPythonI've handled a few and just ordered a Sebenza 21. I'd recommend trying to get a sebenza 21, the new inkosi and umnumzaan etc just aren't the same, get one witht he precision bushing pivot system, they are much better if you do get one.

[@DrDubzz]

great video, very enlightening about the brand. Definitely a grail knife as far as folders are concerned

[@youtubethrowaway9324]

11:23 Customers : Please make us a flat grind! PLEASE!!PLEASE !! PLEASE!! Chris Reeves : OK, HERE GOES A VEEEEERY SHALLOW HOLLOW GRIND! Customers : OK BOOMER