Chris Reeve

Christopher Stanley Reeve (born December 4, 1953) is a South African-American knife maker, recognized as one of the most influential people in knife making history.

Background Christopher Stanley Reeve was born on December 4, 1953, in Durban, South Africa.

His original vocation was that of tool and die making. Reeve trained at the Pineware Manufacturing Company, serving a four-year tool- and die-making apprenticeship that finished in 1978.

Reeve credits his experience in tool and die for developing his grinding skills and giving him the manufacturing and materials knowledge he needed to jumpstart him in professional knife making.

As a young man, Reeve’s spare time was largely spent engaged in motorcycle racing. In 2003, Chris and Anne were granted US citizenship.

Career

Early days

Reeve began his knife-making career by chance.

Before being called up for a 3-month compulsory military service period in 1975 on the Mozambique / South African border, he noted that the standard army kit did not include a good all-purpose knife.

As a result, Reeve decided to design and make one. Reeve’s resulting one piece knife concept was first produced as a custom knife in 1982.

The one piece concept hit production as the 7 inch bladed MK IV, with 40 pieces becoming available for sale early in 1983. Chris stopped tool making and became a full-time knifemaker in January 1984.

Custom knifemaking

Reeve founded Chris Reeve Knives (CRK) in 1984.

Early in Reeve’s career, he engaged in making custom knives.

Helix Lock A modification of the Opinel folding knife ferrel lock, which enables one-handed opening and closing.

Integral Lock A folding knife lock, introduced with and popularized by the Sebenza folding knife, where one of the handle slabs is slotted to form a lock bar, which falls into place behind the blade to stop the blade from closing.

CPM S35VN

A stainless steel using the powder metallurgy process.

Reeve worked with the Crucible Steel Company to develop this steel specifically for the cutlery industry.

Kubuli serrations Serrations placed in a knife blade, alternating from both left and right sides of the blade, forming two rows of serrations that are not collinear. As a result, Kubuli serrations move the material to be cut from side to side as the cut is being made.

Perforated thrust washers Initially brought to market by the Umnumzaan folding knife in 2008, Reeve's design of perforated washers reduce pivot friction, and serve to retain lubricant.

After their successful employment in the Umnumzaan, perforated thrust washers were incorporated into the design of the Sebenza.

Ceramic ball integrated into integral lock bar Also introduced as a feature in the Umnumzaan, the ceramic ball embedded into the end of the lock bar, creating the interface between the blade locking surface and the integral locking arm surface. The ball doubles to drop into a mating detent on the blade to ensure that the blade does not open accidentally. South African National Knife Collectors Association: Best Collection Displayed - 1984 Blade magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame at the 2015 Blade Show in Atlanta, Georgia.