4 years for a production model? Insight into Chris Reeve Knives lead times plus Q&A with Tim Reeve
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2024
- On July 20th, 2022, Tim Reeve went live on the Chris Reeve Knives (CRK) Facebook Fanpage to discuss current lead times, growth in the industry, CRK shop expansion, and answers to “why are CRK’s knives always out of stock,” plus a Q&A. The video here is shortened and edited to keep the discussion on topic and succinct. The original video can be found on the fan-run Chris Reeve Knives Fan Page on Facebook.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
2:24 We’re not going anywhere
2:57 The surge across the industry
5:58 Demand and growth for Chris Reeve Knives
10:44 Questions and Answers
10:56 Expansion
11:49 Inflation and material
13:09 Price updates
14:12 Cause of increased demand
15:07 Will CRK close the books?
15:52 Will this increase affect current orders?
16:55 Will you move overseas?
17:02 Trade show attendance
19:11 Apply at CRK
19:42 Service lead times
22:14 What caused an order surge at Blade Show?
26:40 Outro
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Not only can you pass your Chris Reeve knife down to your children, you can also pass your Chris Reeve knife order down to your grandchildren! Thank You for an inside look to your current challenges. Hang in there.
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I wondered for years what the big deal was with CRK and why so many people were obsessed with them and paid those prices.
I just bought my first one a few weeks ago when a bunch of retailers got their resupplies of the main bread and butter models. I grabbed a large Inkosi with Magnacut insingo blade because that’s the model I’ve always loved the looks of and I’ve always wanted to try Magnacut. I can say that I now see what the fuss is about and am sooooooo in love with this knife!!! It’s one of those things where you have to get one and feel it in hand and just stare at it for hours and see just how finely made they are. Now I’m already on the lookout for my next CRK. I am keeping my eyes peeked for a drop point Zaan to come in stock. They pop up every now and then.
My Large Regular Sebenza has been my EDC for over 16 years now, simply the best.
Not anymore
@@813johnnflayou have anything that lasted over 16 years yet? If not you don’t get to say that
I have 17 of your knives - there are no other knives that compare, no other knives I care about and I simply love your products! I am thrilled that your orders are so robust, even more thrilled that my favorite knife maker is beyond healthy and strong! Love you guys!!!!
Wow, that's just crazy with the lead times! I have a dozen Sebenzas and the last one was purchased back in 2018. I remember talking with Alycia back then and I would have my knives in about a few months. I'll tell you this much, I own and carried a bunch of Benchmades, Spydies, Striders, ZTs, etc., and my favorite is my plain Jane Large Sebenza. Excellent knives and well worth it. I especially love the birth cards and have a Sebenza with my daughter's birthday. I remember calling CRK the day she was born. Puts a smile on my face every time I think about it. 😁
Time to start working round the clock, weekends, and holidays. It’s a good problem to have. People love your products 😁
Thank you Tim . Bought my first one a small Sebenza exactly 10 years ago for a birthday reward. There was a 4 month wait at that time and you guys came through for me . Thanks again for the no bs report. Sending most to the dealers makes the most sense
I randomly got my Umnumzaan from a DLT drop. It was made less than two weeks after purchasing. The Magnacut is so well done.
Got my small inkosi in 2020 from a dealer and haven't carried another knife since. Love the ergo on the inkosi which is why I picked it over the sebenza. Absolutely lived up to my expectations and everything I'd always heard. It's a simple but extraordinarily reliable knife and I love it to death.
Thanks for this very informative video Tim. I got my small sebenza 31 for Christmas last year and just love it. I brought it with me to Blade Show this year and had the honor of showing it to you and telling you how much I loved it and sharing a few words with you during your very busy show, that was a highlight for me. Thanks for everything and keep up the great work!
I am delighted with you guys and your knives. If I were closer, I would come work for you. God bless you
In the past month I've purchased 5 blades from you guys. I can't find a better knife that I'd rather have. I have 2 of the same model and I plan to pass the extras down to my son which is 1 year old right now. I'm content with what I'm doing. Hang in there guys! You're doing something big in the community!
My #5 31 has been going strong for 3 years, and it's been amazing. Excited to see the growth! Nice hat btw
i guess it’s still reasonable to wait that long for a heigh quality knife. I own the Sebenza 31 and a Umnumzaan. I never bought something that "expensive" before that I enjoyed for so long after purchase. Now I know that it’s worth to wait that long but I also get it if someone who never experienced a CRK isn’t that patient. trust me guys - you will not regret it, even if it takes 10 Years.
@Chris Reeve Knifes: keep up the great work! Love you guys - greetings from 🇩🇪
That mnandi I’ve been thinking about for years will be there when I’m ready to get one
Tim you guys make a great product and with your orders through dealers people will get what they want in time. You look a bit tired, make sure you take care of yourself homie. Keep up the great work. Glad to be a proud owner of a Chris Reeve knife!
Your knives are extremely popular and well made and every time I can purchase one of your knives I do so! I currently own one and I plan on getting many more! 🤩 Also please, as you mentioned, don't ever go down on your quality which you are renowned for at Chris Reeve Knives!! 🥰
As a 2nd year machinist apprentice. I must say this is my dream job! Rightnow i run a mazak quick turn nexus 450my. Knives are my passion . Not oil filed mandrels
Thank you for covering this. I placed my initial Pacific order “roughly” a year ago. Looking forward to it regardless. Very very well done lines/design.
Happy for your success! Can't wait to see what the future holds for CRK
Good video and good message- thanks!
Appreciate this. Thanks!
I called CRK about 10 days ago inquiring about buying a Sebenza 31 small Insingo, they said they only have 3 knives available and none were the Small Insingo! They said there's around a 4-5 year wait! FOUR to FIVE YEARS. They suggested to check with their "dealer network" Incredible... this was Nov 2023. I got email from KnifeArt and there was a "Exclusive" Small Insingo 31 which is their model exclusively so I bought it. t'll be my last CRK I have five others one large 21 and the rest are small 21's and a lonely small Inkosi which I don't care for probably due to size it just doesn't fit at the finger cut outs, if those finger cutouts didn't have such a pointy edge it'd be ok.
The small Macassar wood sebenza 31 was my gateway knife to the upper Echelon of the knife world. Since then I’ve also acquired the large plan inkosi insingo. Definitely worth the wait time because they are lifetime quality tools
I don’t have Chris Reeves Knives YET. My first will be the “Green Beret”. I placed my order directly 06/09/2021. I’m just as excited today when I think about it as the day I placed the order. I’ll keep waiting patiently. My only regret is I didn’t order the pacific along with the green beret.
Being both in contract mfg and a CRK collector/EDC person- I feel your pain, but thank you for what your build, and congratulate you at the same time.
Thanks Tim. I’ve finally got my hands on an umnumzaan from the AD here in Singapore, absolutely love it! Keep up the great work!
I'm a big fan of CRK, would love to see a small umnumzaan one day !! It would also be awesome to see the current umnumzaan brought out in a military style format with black hardware and pocket clip and a cerakote blade finish identical to the Pacific for a full non reflective finish. Anodised hardware would also be extremely popular with the CRK community, possibly in black blue and gold. These are such worthy ways of enhancing the brand and they are very achievable. Either way keep up the great work.
Great company staffed by great people. Have a CRK in my pocket every day. Have experienced some of the best customer service from them as well. Knives worth the wait.
Just got my first CRK. A large inkosi in S45VN and I'm extremely happy. I've had many really expensive knives and for some reason this one just does it for me.
You don’t deserve it
You could just switch to flat grinds - so much quicker to produce...KIDDING! Don't ever lose those beautiful hollow grinds.
Waiting is frustrating, as is dealers out of stock……but I’d much rather that than the business be risked on too great expansion, too quickly. Keep it sustainable. That said, have you ever considered a production forecast/calendar with expected dates of availability from dealers; it’d help those on the lookout plan better and be ready when the model they’re looking for becomes available.
I like this guy,,,,he seems genuine. Your product is worthy of a purchase,,,,,I just hope ONE is enough. Starting with an Inkosi. 👍👍👍😎
You make an unbelievable product! Glad you're not letting quality suffer to fill orders!
keep it up, love these knives. ive got a *few* crk's. few being more than a couple. anyway, a crk is my go to, whenever I cant decide which knife to carry. the simple, well made elegance is what I love about them. a large sebenza 31, with black micarata is what ive been carrying for the last couple months, and I dont see anything replacing it, except maybe my large inkosi. I live in wa state, near seattle, about 5 or six hours from boise. I pass through there, every year, and I plan on stopping in, in the near future, just to say ive been to Chris Reeve knives.
Thanks for the hard work. Buy all my knives directly from you. Understand why it takes so long. Don't see things getting any easer sadly.
Large plain Sebenzas are in stock from Ebay authorized retailer, says they have 29 in stock.
I have Starbenza and I love it.
I was going to order a um with a leo order and saw 6 years and decided i can live with my sebenza and fill the itch with an auto
What about ordering unique graphics again? Is that coming back? I had a few I wanted to order and I waited, now I don’t know if I’ll ever get one.
Hi Larry! Unique graphics are not available for direct order but our Authorized Dealers consistently receive re-stocks. Just keep an eye out!
How many sabenza's would you say you guys have made since the beginning? Approximately?
iam patiently waiting ...
Check Sooner Knives in Oklahoma. I just ordered a plain large 31 in Magnacut today, they have several in stock. Life is wayy too short to wait 4 to 6 years for a productiin knife. Custom? Yes...Production? No way...
I don’t mind longer lead times as long as quality and customer service stay high
Your position of slower, paced expansion is totally understandable. It sounds like you're well aware that this is a plateau and this level of demand probably will not always be that high. Expand too quickly and next thing you know you're, A) compromising on your quality, and B) eventually having to lay people off. Both are extremely undesirable. Some folks are going to be unhappy with the lack of availability, but that's just how things are at the moment--the scalability for high-quality products that necessitate highly-skilled labor is not something of immediacy.
I love your company's knives and don't have any issues with the recent price increases. One thing that I do take issue with is that I ordered an Umnumzaan when the projected lead time was summer of 2023 and just received an email from the company stating that my knife is now projected to be finished 2-3 years from now. Why were the projected lead times so far off? That adds another year or two to the wait time.
Been wanting an Inkosi insingo for a few years now. Have multiple dealer email alerts setup. Not a whiff of one in stock. Now your site says a 6.5 year wait to order one? Wow. No doubt they are good knives but that’s ridiculous. Don’t see one of these in my future unless one falls in my lap. Sad.
I’ve run two pallet machines before and a five pallet machine is mind boggling. Wish my family was closer or I would be knocking on your doors asking to play with some of your toys!
“Just hire more people”
- people who don’t understand how difficult scaling even low skill production is.
I know you guys are doing all you can to keep quality and service at the level that has made CRK what it is today.
Worth the wait for sure.
Is there demand for employees? Asking for a friend..
One day I will get a CRK
yea 1 day.....4 years from now
Im most surprised that the top 2 items are the smalls… those are almost always available at online dealers. I would have bet Umnumzaan and Mnandi are the most ordered because least available
Insane wait times but I am more than happy to wait for my 2 orders
just nabbed a small sebenza and I immediately want a large one lol
Ill work for you haha I love the brand I'm a machinist with experience I've been trying to get a zaan for a while but oh well ill wait my turn
I don’t know why I decided to get into knives at the worst possible time in history. Earlier this year I really, really got into knives, and I can barely get one single one that I want
Really glad your demand has grown but it sure screws me. Can’t find a sebenza anywhere. I just went on a hunting trip and believe mine got pushed out of my pocket as I was putting on a climbing harness. I was crushed to lose that knife and even more crushed I can’t replace it anytime soon
You should join the various Facebook groups. There are all varieties available daily.
What caused the spike? One word, Magnacut
Honestly, about time. CRK are known in the knife community as having soft metal blades. I am excited for their magnacut rollout
Tim, the increased demand that you and other companies are experiencing right now might simply be the Forrester effect (aka bullwhip effect). Take care!
I know you have the 4 year wait … but do you ever think of designing a flipper version of your knifes? I know that’s outside your wheelhouse, but just wondering if you think of new models like that?
With their lock bar tension, the detent would be terrible. Blade would barely flip open.
An Arno Bernard iMamba is probably as close as you'll get, I don't see CRK making a flipper any time soon.
Large surface contact area washers with ridiculously awesome tolerances do not make for a fast flippity dippity flipper. Your kind of missing the point of the whole design and function. If CRK knives were just another fast action ball bearing knife they’d just not be what makes them so awesome for the people that enjoy them as they are. I have, appreciate, use all kinds of knives. Fast, slow, in between... but nothing else is a Chris Reeve Knife. Not even close.
Public Affairs, Budgets, Supply Chains, Staffing, Capital, Growth Risk (current economy),etc... understandable. Six (6) year wait for the Zaan - ordered yesterday.
Six year wait now for a Mnundi. And I can’t find an international stockist anywhere in the world that will ship to the UK. Plus you only have one stockist in the whole of the UK. That’s a long wait…
Man that's crazy! When I saw that a umnumzaan's wait is 6 years I wanted to throw up! That's my grail knife and can't find one Anywhere!!! Sad but happy for you guys!
I Saw one and handled it a few months back and didn’t know enough about what I was holding. Really regret not getting it now!
I see dozens for sale daily on Facebook.
Y’all are doing the right things
I love that I can still buy a sebenza
I had a spyderco slysz bowie and I shoulda kept it
I want another one but I can’t just buy one
You can say x y z is better but where can you get them still? Hyped up aftermarket only. I can find something similar but I don’t want similar to a slysz bowie
I want that
I also wanted a sebenza
Bought one last week
This guy gets quality manufacturing.
Reppin T.Rex. Lucas has an armory with some of the best guns and gear on earth and probably carries a $30 Gerber.
🤙👊💪🇺🇲
If you have a 4 year lead time, and you knives are basically all sold out with you dealers. Tim, it's time to expand production. Bottom line. If you don't know how, hire a consultant. Fear is holding you back here.
Hello! Thanks for the feedback. In short, we are expanding. Hiring in a market where there are more jobs than people; bringing in machining centers that are backordered 6-9 months minimum; waiting for more square footage to open up, planning for inflation and shortages: these are all things that are not impossible; they just take time. We also know that the market could change over night. Demand could diminish. For now, we're growing as logically as possible and we're so thankful for the many people who continue to support our brand. As for growth: so far this year, we've acquired 7800 more square feet. We've added to our mill shop and have more machines on the way. We're investing in a remarkable staff. We're growing steadily. Thanks for your support!
@@chrisreeveknives7828 Thank you for taking time to answer. I own 4 CRKs currently and have had multiple others over time. I'm also left handed, and appreciate that your company didn't cop out, just ignore us, and leave us out of your production line because we're not cookie cutter. Rather you chose to produce hand tools (knives) for your entire potential customer base's hands.
Bottom line, I've been and will remain a customer.
Can't wait for the future line of LH Sebenza 31 Insingos.
Tim, it’s pretty useless to order online-4 years is ridiculous; bought all my CRKs in the current catalog from retailers; 4 years wait is wrong.
These people have chosen not to honor existing orders and the price agreed to in those orders by upping their prices AFTER a lower price had already been accepted. They are hiding behind inflation as an excuse, but if the previous prices were unsustainable then they shouldn't have been offered and agreed upon during order placement. There are countless knife makers that don't participate in this type of disgusting behavior. Don't reward this behavior by giving them your business.
Really wish there was a store for buying used knives so we outside the Us could buy some knives. I've bought knives from all over the world,but americans just refuse to ship outside the Us...too much reading & writing involved i guess.
Offer to pay for shipping, explain how it works, and be ok eating the loss if it's confiscated at customs, and it's all yours! Lol
The “other foot” is going to drop, ha? 😂
I think you guys are simply manufacturing demand by crimping supply. Congrats on taking a page out of Rolex’s book.
hi i got my inkosi in magnacut yesterday. insane perfect;) 🎉nice
Don’t worry about what people say to you guys your knives speak for them selves and no matter what!!!! People support and love you Ps I know this is a year ago but I thought it was worth saying
7 years it'll be shut down. Y'all have forgotten where you came from and what truly matters. And all I hear from your ass is "can't, won't, don't, never, refuse to,and so on!...so keep this mindset up and see what I said come to life. Already your employee turnover rate is unacceptable.