Has Chris Reeve Knives Quality gone downhill across the board?

[@jamiejones8115]

It's because of videos like this that your absence was missed. The truest knife reviewer on KZbin right here. Thanks for all the great content

[@tankcrowe5417]

Bought my first Reeve in 1995 , before CNC, he made it himself ,he use to do one of a kind patterns on the titanium scales. I've still got it ,still got the box and description card. Devin Thomas Damascus blade ,couldn't begin to put a price on it. Have bought 5 more since. I have bought 30, 000 dollars worth of knives over the years , all the so called contenders, shirogorov, Hinderer, micro tech, custom marfione, custom Doyle, medfords, handmade, mid techs , Reate, you name it I've bought it. Nothing compares to that 25 year old Reeve. Met him once at a blade show in Atlanta, showed him the knife and he just smiled and said ,I remember that knife. Tightened up the lanyard and handed it back to me. He's a great no nonsense man that builds great no nonsense knives. Don't know why I ever bought anything else ,but you don't know untill you try.

[@iAMboognish]

Man I LOVE this story.

[@thesinfultruth7697]

I spent 25k on knives lol idiot

[@CM-bj8hr]

@The Sinful Truth everyone has their hobbies. It's a lot, but people do collect guns, stereos, and cars, and they're not cheap either.

[@zebulunstadler9902]

I may be incorrect, but i believe Chris Reeves was kinda famous for, among many other things, being a real prick for perfection. I'm sure he was a prick to people he worked with and people that worked for him. I think it's partially because the dude demanded such a high level of quality for materials, fit and finish. My old man was with some things, a prick and a perfectionist to a fault and when I was young I didn't understand it. I kinda hated him for it for a while because it made my jobs more difficult and slower. I lived in his shadow for awhile and i was always out to prove him wrong, to prove to him he could do more work and make more money if he "streamlined the process" which just equated to me cutting a few corners and eventually screwing it up. In my older age I understand what and why my Dad did some of the things the way he did. The pride and accomplishment when you do something to your absolute upmost ability is difficult and rewarding. Anybody can do damn near anything, but to be the best at something is goddamn difficult. I dont know if thats the case with this situation, just felt like saying it. Anyway, Tim seems like a nice guy and I sincerely hope he does well. Not just because he is at the helm of my favorite knife brand or that he fly fishes or that he lives in the great state of Idaho, but because i know how difficult having the sun shine on you when your covered in shadows can be.

[@iAMboognish]

Damn well said

[@hock4540]

Great videos brother. Long time follower. Always good banter and good points of view. Can't wait till you do that shop visit. Whenever I travel I try to pickup a knife and Denver/Breck is one we go to annually. And your small Inkosi videos got me to order a PJ DP last night. Thanks for helping me keep the economy moving.

[@DoingMoreKustoms]

Very well done... Big ThumbZ UP !!!

[@BULLMAN84]

" like they found it in a parking lot" That's the most accurate description of this I've ever seen! lol

[@praetor47]

if somebody told i'd be watching Dr. House's younger brother for 45 minutes talking about Chris Reeve knives and enjoy it, i'd call that man a lunatic and yet, here i am, 45mins later, not skipping a single second, subscribing to my new favourite knife reviewer. really great video mate, appreciate your thoughtful no-bullshit opinions by someone who really actually uses his shit frequently, and doesn't care about the idiotic "bearings drop shut action" and similar stupidity.

[@iAMboognish]

thanks man!!

[@ericmack001]

To say you are wrong is an understatement! Nobody lives forever. Founders of companies grow old and die. Once the founder of a company leaves that does not mean the quality goes down hill. Chris Reeve’s son and wife are running the company and they are doing a good job.

[@davidsapir3764]

Very interesting commentary even if I do respectfully disagree. Last week I purchased my first Chris Reeve knife in my dream variant, the large Sebenza 31 with Macassar ebony inlay made two years after this video posted. As someone who uses and collects, I think this knife is as close to the perfect folding knife as it gets. I have many other knives to compare build quality and workmanship, and this Chris Reeve knife is out of this world great. I've had a blast going over it with a magnifying glass and admiring how completely blemish free it is. The factory edge is insanely sharp. The gravity glide deep clicking lock you hear and feel opening it is pitch perfect. Would've returned it instantly if it had failed to meet expectations in any way, but this knife blew me away in every way.

[@markrodcpa]

i have the the old Umnumzaan (with big Pivit) 21, 25, 31, inkosi, Mnandi, and Tilock, as well as some fixed blades. The new 31 with black micarta is by far the best action of all the knives i bought to date.

[@iAMboognish]

All things considered the Seb. 31 is my fav CRK to date as well

[@jojojaykay]

This is extremely honest. I’ve had a couple 31s recently that had some issues and when talking about it on Reddit I’ve been more or less shut down by me (what I thought was politely) expressing my grievances. After watching this, I think I’ve decided to send them back. At first I didn’t want to deal with it, but these are users and I should be getting what I paid for.

[@iAMboognish]

Absolutely. I would love to hear the outcome!

[@jimterry548]

Thanks for having an opinion AM. Subbed.

[@jotterson1156]

Sebenza 31 lg Sexy blade Love the knife as I've seen on utube I plan on getting one and using it

[@donnyh3497]

I just got one and surprise surprise, not only do I absolutely love it but I am now looking for a sebenza 21 insingo so that I have both sebenza types and both of my favorite blade shapes 😄. Unfortunately they are all sold out everywhere. I hope that you have gotten your 31 and love it !

[@MF_UNDERTOW]

Something you said years ago that I still think about was how maybe 1 in 10 Benchmades are perfect while 10 out of 10 CRK’s are perfect. In the 12 or so years that I’ve been buying and carrying them I think that holds true.

[@gentlemansgear5041]

How come the inkosi is easier to manufacture than the Sebenz? If anything I would have thought it’s more complicated considering the advanced milling on it, for example, between the liners for the lanyard as well as the deeper and more curved edges on the titanium.I rlly have no clue btw, just ordered my first CRK and am pretty excited.

[@londiniumarmoury7037]

It's easier to make because it lacks the bushing pivot system, which requires a higher level of precision and tolerance. Milling contours and curves on a handle scale is not any more complicated because it's all done on computer run CNC machine codes, so changing any design feature on the titanium milling of the handle is just an automatic process, so no design is any more complex than another if it's done in just 1 cnc milling run. The bushing system doesn't just require a one time cnc run code to mill out a piece of titanium stock, it requires lapping of multiple parts and hand sanding and polishing and fitting, involving the blade, the 2 washers and the 2 scales. So it's a more time consuming and attention to detail process than just changing some design shapes on the handles.

[@MrRasnowman]

I find the the new locks slip sometimes which freaks me out a bit. I have an inkosi so I’m happy to own a 21

[@Montblanc1986]

I just got a new Inkosi, quality level is high. In 2007 I received a nice annual Sebenza and the lock at went fully across the blade… what a bummer. My 2006 annual was perfect.

[@playbytherootz4777]

Go with spartan blades! His stuff always on point

[@frankbutta9344]

Tim Reeve and his mother are NOT a substitute for Chris Reeve.

[@5OclockSharp]

I’ve had three large micarta Sebenzas, a 2006 classic, a 2011 21, and a 2017 21. I will say that the build quality on the 2006 and the 2017 is pretty much spot on, the 2011 I felt didn’t always go back together the same. I felt like I almost had to tension the pivot and the stop pin, where as the 06 and the 17 I just crank them down. Had a 2012 pj that was like the 2011. I have a 2019 Umnumzaan that I would say is just as nice as the 2009 I had. One thing I will say is not as nice is the stonewash. The 06 and the 09 Umnumzaan had much deeper, more perfect stonewash finishes, where as the others just don’t look that way, it’s like they all have long scratches in them, not from use. Overall though, I think they may have had a bit of a slump in the early 2010s, but have since gotten better. At least from my experience. I can definitely say the new packaging looks more mass produced, where as I’d have bet money that even the old boxes were made in the USA.

[@TheRyanshamowski]

The only thing thats gone up at Chris Reeves is the price.

[@matthewhill3996]

Eh idk. If they’re going downhill, then the knife world is in huge trouble. I’ve held 6 31’s....each has literally felt the exact same. I call that good tolerances personally. I also live a block away from them, and man that’s nice! Great video, as usual 👍.

[@iAMboognish]

I dont really think they're going downhill... just in a new phase which is a good thing!

[@lindboknifeandtool]

4:20 i started seeing this from spyderco and was super disappointed. Looser qc, “easy to sharpen” steels/heat treatments, molded plastic parts... Are the holes for the hardware like the floating stop pin hole sandblasted? I always felt like you could use sandblasting to sort of accommodate tolerances through break in. Most people have reported to have stropped ore even sanded their washers on the 31, I think that’s insane.

[@MF_UNDERTOW]

When Civivi, CJRB and QSP can pump out $30-$70 knives with perfect centering, there isn’t any excuse for brands like Spyderco, Benchmade or similar American brands to put out knives with off center blades. I love Spyderco but I’d say of the last 25 I’ve purchased, maybe 3 had centered blades. They’re never terrible and they’re easy enough to fix but it still bugs me a little. I just got one of the Knifejoy Bowie’s and it’s dead nuts but that’s to be expected. My Chef is also perfect.

[@shepleonard8695]

Centered blades don't matter. If the knife opens and closes properly it just doesn't matter. You were sold a line that a perfectly centered blade meant it was better. CRK one piece fixed blades had off centered blades intentionally. Multi blade folders have off centered blades and work perfectly. It's like saying if your cooling fan on your car isn't perfectly centered (most aren't) then some how the car is defective or of lesser quality. That's just a load of BS.

[@GG-ml3vr]

@@shepleonard8695 A centered blade matters to me and most other people i know so its hardly bullshit

[@EBFNOQMAGNO]

It seems like centering goes to tolerances and preciseness. Yeah I have some great Spyderco's but not all are spot on and for the money you pay for the great ones, it is a bit irritating.

[@shepleonard8695]

@@EBFNOQMAGNO Just so that I understand this you're willing to pay a $100 more for the exact same knife as long as its blade is centered compared to an identical knife thats blade is slightly off center? I understand what you're saying about quality quality but it doesn't affect the performance of the knife whatsoever it doesn't matter. There's not a knife that has ever been made that is perfectly centered. Even Chris Reeves who works in 1/10000" Means that that knife isn't truly centered. I know I'm being pedantic but it's just driving my point further. Blade centering doesn't matter. My EDC is normally a Small Sebenza 21 clipped in right pocket and some other knife within my rotation in my left pocket. So I understand morning precision and quality but you, but I've got other names that the blades are slightly off center is layoff center and it doesn't affect the function of the knife whatsoever or even the appearance of the knife.

[@EBFNOQMAGNO]

@@shepleonard8695 No. That's not what I'm saying. These prices that spyderco have raised their products to, demand perfection. $220 for a PM2 just because it has a spiffy G-10/Micarta handle and a better (Presumably) steel, demand perfection. While it may or may not affect function and performance, people who collect them give a shit, so it matters.

[@ToxicityAssured]

I've got my gripes with them also. As far as the numbers they give for tolerances... Well, why do my ~15 all have slightly different detents and smoothness's? They have small variations and I've just got to accept it. A lot of bands are worse to me. The simplicity of the 21 makes it near impossible to resist for me!

[@iLLBuddy]

I thought the washers have holes in them so that they can be large but have reduced friction due to the holes. Just my thought tho. They're so tight I fell not much can get in there

[@rmpruitt228]

I understand CRK quit hand lapping the stop pins and bushings so tolerances are not as tight. I hope they return to quality as important. Keeps me reaching for my 21 over the newer stuff. Thanks for your reviews.

[@iAMboognish]

My biggest gripe of the 31 is that the stepped stop pin can’t be lapped. ...and it relies on two screws to hold it together instead of one which theoretically adds a superfluous second point of failure there.

[@fnc5369]

The 2008 debut of the Umnumzaan with that iconic pivot won bladeshow knife of the year. It’s one that Chris said at the time encompassed everything in knife making he’d learned to that point. I really believed that it’s a boss knife that was changed unfortunately because people complained about it at the time about the lock bar tension and access and eventually they changed it for the worse. My favorite Sebenza 21 is when they still had the single sided pins or even the classic’s but up until about 2008 or 2009. After that they made changes that I did not prefer.

[@jameshite4820]

Have always repescted your views and perspective on knives. Even some other reviews, I think you even did your Oris watch at one time in the past... Anyway, you have a very subjective, fair and detail orientated view on products.

[@sonnymorgan4680]

I had a Shirogorov Hati on washers. Those also have a blade that is not centered and it’s a 850€ knife. Still one of the best knives out there. People who are obsessed about centering probably are also the ones concerned about scratching their knives. If you can’t afford to use the knife, don’t buy it. If you really use it, centering isn‘t really a concern.

[@chanabhaji2726]

I would say the quality doesn't justify the price anymore.

[@fnc5369]

I got a 2010 large sebenza 21 and it’s pretty bitchin. No idaho made mark, the stone wash still looks really good and not matte. The flat side of the thumb lug is smooth and polished whereas later they would machine into it or leave it looking like a cast part that looks like a crazy bird eye instead of a blue jewel like flat polished surface.

[@oinnsheathen5684]

Mashes me nervous about getting one.

[@markcollins2704]

I bought a 31 that was made in 2020 I've had it for six months some hard use and not one single issue. Best knife I've ever owned. Picking up a Zaan when the s45 comes.

[@kubawrzyszcz829]

Hi. I've got a tough choice between 2009 no "idaho made" mark, with one-sided screws, in s30v and 2019 in s335vn, both large sebenzas. Can you explain in detail why 2009 is a superior deal, putting aside collectors value? Not much info about it out there.

[@iAMboognish]

I say buy whichever you will carry and use or buy both! One for a collection, one for the pocket!

[@thesho0ter1911]

I disagree, their quality has absolutely gone down. There are nearly daily posts regarding CRK QC. Prior to Chris leaving the company, that was never seen or heard of. Watch the BladeHQ interview with Chris. “I push my people to do the best work all the time, not some of the time” This Is lacking with the CRK as of late

[@iAMboognish]

I think you’re right.

[@KnifeCursed]

I only own one CRK. A large Sebenza 21 Insingo with black micarta. Initially I really wasn’t impressed. The standoff screw was loose and it wasn’t very sharp. The stop bushing also dented pretty quickly and I got up/down blade play. Easily remedied by rotating the bushing a bit. My pivot loosens unless I use loctite which I’ve heard I’m not supposed to need? IDK. The blade steel is ok but does lose an edge fairly quickly. I hate the thumb stud with a passion. It does have a smooth action. No side to side even after lots of use. After a regrind the blade is super thin and useful. Ergonomics are good. Pocket clip is superb. The smooth blade finish is excellent. I kept it because of sentimental value mostly. That said, I really want to try out the large Inkosi inlay model with a drop point in a harder steel like Magnacut , with a regrind and with different thumb studs. I guess I’m conflicted on CRK 😂. Some things I absolutely love. Some I hate.

[@MaineOutdoorsChannel]

I still carry my large regular sebenza w BG42 steel... the 21 does not have the feel of my 2001 regular sebenza ... It is not the same company since Chris was kicked out

[@Cletus_the_Elder]

Like individuals, companies will go through difficult periods or moments when they did not rise to their full potential or when they simply dropped the ball. In 2023, Chris Reeve Knives' production is an impressive standard. I am a fairly novice user and collector. My first CRK knife (large Inkosi) was my most expensive single knife purchase to date. Not having had other CRK knives, I can't compare it to its predecessors, but I purchased many other knives, some approaching the cost of my Inkosi. My Inkosi is in a class high above all my other purchases. The common claim is that many knifemakers have risen and can claim to compete with CRK. I doubt their claim. I understand what you mean by individual passion and the loss of Chris Reeve is an immeasurable loss to the company that survives him. History and workshop culture factor in, too. Excellence is never a flash in the pan. I get the hype now, and the hype, the accolades, the following are well deserved.

[@Eth3realwarrior]

I've heard that the wife of Chris Reeve divorced him and took control of the business. Subsequently destroying the original idea of the company.

[@Eth3realwarrior]

@z z women have a tendency to do such things. From personal experience and observations.

[@Eth3realwarrior]

@z z maybe it's a lack of experience running a business or maybe it's taking the wrong advice. But like what the guy in the video said there will be makers that will surpassed and or replace the companies that falter.

[@Eth3realwarrior]

@z z You as well, stay strong.

[@shepleonard8695]

I have never seen a 21 lock bar wear out. Everyone I know who has a 31 hates it. Lock stick galore and that slanted pocket clip is a hot spot machine.

[@iAMboognish]

I have 5 21s and 4 31s. I prefer the 31s other than 2009 21s.

[@shepleonard8695]

@@iAMboognish Hey to each their own. I just can't get past the lock bar stick and pocket clip reposition. Have they just kept the original 21 design and just added a ceramic detent ball I think it would have been perfect. I mean there's one guy who watched a video of him do it hes opened his 31over 5000 times and it still has lock bar stick.

[@Montblanc1986]

As to all the design quirks like holes in the washers. Chris isn’t an actual engineer and weather they have engineering team at all is a question. Makes one wonder who’s designing most custom makers knives. The SMF is a pretty damn good design that hasn’t needed changing. The Sebenza and Inkosi are really nice knives.

[@MrBluoct]

Has the growing dominance of global knife manufactures based over seas with crafty entrenched marketing dominance locally with crafty names suggesting mid-west USA 🇺🇸 heritage proved brutal to margins and profitability of “premier” US knife makers ? Are the assumptions associated with tolerances as ... “good enough” slipping down the rabbit hole of ... style over substance -? An entity in every company sets the bar of acceptability in their designs and manufacturing and hires / delegates to others to maintain those levels of consistency- Real field use should be a relatable to knives ...but is it these days? Maybe too many fanboys with “soft hands” reviewing knives that are rarely used outdoors or beyond paper and cardboard and have little experience nor ability to think critically-? Is EDC a term with a much less utilitarian meaning and actual field use in 2020? I believe more knives are actually “tactical gentleman folders”. just that owners can’t admit it

[@iAMboognish]

You Fucking nailed it.

[@MrSomeofthem]

20:51 your wife is distracting me lol what did you say? well I do get what you are saying but in all fairness 6 knives is a very very small sample to draw any kind of conclusion. Even if every single of your knives went back, it could be statistically within the range. I did get a large 31 hoping I like the higher Rockwell as I have not liked the softer treatment in the past. This one has no flaws that I can tell and no lock rock, just a little stiff. cheers man

[@MrBluoct]

EDC. Or EDUse ?

[@tomsmyth5138]

If you going to use a knife every day get a box cutter

[@shepleonard8695]

@@tomsmyth5138 Why? A knife will last longer.

[@mrgoodkat8567]

Im new to the game of knives. Bought my first crk last yr and recently got my 2nd. I also have a koenig arius and about 2 weeks ago picked up a hinderer eklipse. All very nice knives in their own right. And I personally don’t care for the new price hike that crk just did but thats the world we live in i guess. But what i will say is this, though they arent perfect, i would rather have my sebenza or inkosi with me that anything other knife. Theres just something to them that i cant put my finger on. But they just do it for me. And yes, the fan boys in the group pages are annoying. No product is perfect.

[@anthonyp7051]

Happy I found ch. Needed break from hand model reviewers

[@alexanderv.8961]

Yes they have

[@eqlzr2]

I have one CR knife, a large Inkosi. Nice knife. Stiff at first, then it loosened up nicely. I didn't expect that, and was nervous at first. I have plenty of money (not bragging), but frankly, I ain't buying any more. It's a big knife world. Many thanks.

[@HarleyVision95]

Who owns crk now? Does Tim Reeve just work there?

[@iAMboognish]

I believe Anne Reeve owns the company and Tim serves some type of higher up role. At least that’s what it seems like. When I sent in my Impinda they made a big deal of me speaking to “Tim Personally.”

[@gazallewellyn7582]

Try TRM?

[@mrdarren1045]

You mean TRC?

[@GG-ml3vr]

ANY knifemaker putting out product at this price with flaws of any kind is taking the piss

[@BigCheeseEDC]

Do you recommend the 21 or 31 more??

[@iAMboognish]

I honestly believe that the ceramic ball lock interface of the 31 will vastly outlive the Ti on steel intetface of the 21. I reckon both may develop "play" over some great length of time but the ball should dig in and create a divot that wont allow for catastrophic lock failure (complete slippage) that I have seen and even owned on knives, CRK and Shirogorov to name a few.

[@jiancai_nocturne]

After 8 years research, I proved human being' s sleep method is wrong with bonafide evidence. I believe next industry revolution is furniture revolution and start from my bed. This is not kidding and I am no mental problem.,*

[@Saratogasledge]

I believe it. Cutting costs by skipping steps and possibly not switching out tooling as often.

[@gubourn]

im australian and the usa based crk fanpage has some members that stink.

[@Smatnm]

Despite being an excellent discussion, videos like these make me sad.....I hate the thought that CRK may be declining. Had Sebenzas since 2000 (Regular BG42 👌). Other companies may be catching up or in some cases exceeded CRK in terms of quality.....but the majority overlook the lefty aspect. For this, I’ll always have love for CRK. And yeah.....perforated washers suck.

[@ToxicityAssured]

I hear ya fellow lefty! When I found a lefty knife art 21 my world was complete.

[@bm510]

I couldn't agree more... Benchmade's quality is crap. Here's a message to Benchmade, who the hell wants to spend $280 for a Carbon Fiber 940 when the blade and grind isn't even centered? Are you high? Same with Spyderco's. Unfortunately, people pay for the designs in those manufacturers, not the quality. Perhaps materials. Manufacturers need stop portraying quality and actually PROVIDE it.

[@gentlemansgear5041]

I would claim that the quality on Grimsmo beats CRK anyday of the week.ofc it’s much more expensive tho.

[@iAMboognish]

I’d love to check out a Grimsmo. Some of the things I’m not attracted to are the captive stop pin, small diameter pivot bearing race, thin handles, the blade shapes & grinds, and very small screws. But you never know until you get it in hand!

[@praetor47]

now if only they were actually good knife designers to go with that great machining...

[@fnc5369]

Well the Grimsmo is a custom knife. An ugly one but is custom made more so than production CrK. And CRK is not what it used to be without Chris Reeve, the soul of the company is gone and it affects quality.

[@sshooter454]

39:40 ! hahaha YES the ZB knives are fucking ugly. Make something nice for the love of god!

[@werner134897]

Why do you believe you know better than CRK what good design is? I doubt it. But you could apply for senior designer at CRK, or start your own product.

[@iAMboognish]

I don’t think I mention anything about design. I’m talking about nominal tolerances. CRK gives a tolerance of “within .005” But that number is meaningless if each part can have that swing. That means a knife made of two handle slabs, two washers and a blade could be .025 out of tolerance which is about the thickness of one of CRKs washers. So what is it? Also I do have a machining business with a product. My parts are within .001. No big deal.

[@jackjacobs4578]

@@iAMboognish I've always thought machining is so cool. What kind of stuff do you make? Cheers

[@iAMboognish]

@@jackjacobs4578 you can see the things I’m making on ig @niceguymachine