Philosophy of Chris Reeve

by Chris Reeve

The nearly 20 years that Chris Reeve Knives has been in existence have been remarkable ones! As a young man, I dreamed of owning a comfortable sized workshop where I could make good knives, have some decent machines and earn a reasonable living. Never in my wildest dreams, could I have thought that my 'one man band' knife making endeavor would take me half way around the world, honor me with such a large and loyal group of customers, and take me on a financial and emotional roller coaster ride!

have always "pushed the envelope." During the late 1970's/early 1980's, I raced grand prix style motorcycles. My outfit was funded far more by enthusiasm and passion than it was by hard currency. My dream was to become World Champion - we worked hard to produce every scrap of speed possible, using the best (albeit rather limited!) resources available. I did not win any World Motorcycle Championship but my passion to be the best in the world never left me.

I channeled my enthusiasm into knife making - looking at every feature from a different angle, taking different approaches, using different techniques and different materials. The early years of Chris Reeve Knives were also funded more by enthusiasm and passion than by cash, but I have always striven to produce the best possible knives with the resources available to me. When Anne and I emigrated from South Africa to the USA in 1989, we embarked on an adventure to which we were totally committed. We offered ourselves no option of going back or of failure. As we built our business, we worked hard to put as much as possible into every one of our knives. By that, I mean that I have designed every model with deliberation, taking into account how the knife works and the intended purpose of the knife. I have chosen the materials with care, we have paid exceptional attention to the execution of every knife, and have backed our product with the best customer service we can offer.

It is a privilege to have reached a point where we have a vibrant business, a great staff of 17 employees, and a company that has a world wide reputation for raising the standards bar - "pushing the envelope" - for the industry.

My commitment to the product family of Chris Reeve Knives is as passionate and enthusiastic today as it was 20 years ago. We will continue to make the best knives we possibly can, optimizing design, function and materials.

Philosophy of Chris Reeve