Thanks guys.
Scott Dog, you're welcome. Like you said it isn't bad once you get the hang of it. A little practice is all it takes. It certainly isn't rocket science.
As for the idea that these are production knives and that somehow diminishes their desirability or value, I wouldn't get too hung up on that word "production".
In the recent thread by a certain flame-thrower, (whose rank shall remain undisclosed), there seemed to be a great deal of consternation and dismay that a "production" knife could cost so much. This being charged by someone who had, admittedly, never handled one.
The idea that someone would have the temerity to place such high value on a mere tool whose pedigree sprung from (gasp!) an assembly line was entirely unacceptable. This from a Welshman??? (Incidently, I liked your reply in the so-called "apology" thread. Well said.)....I digress...
Back to "PRODUCTION". First of all, when did that become a derogatory term? What is wrong with production?
Second, the argument could be made that ALL knives produced by makers who are in the business of making (read PRODUCING) knives could be labeled "production knives". After all, they are produced, one after the other, by a person who is in the business, either full, or part time, of making, or producing, a product.
What difference does it make whether the knife in question is made individually, from scratch, in a particular pattern or style that may be different than another,(Custom) or if it is made in a style that is repeated over and over, if the method of construction and fabrication are similar?
Is an Elishewitz Spectre or Emerson CQC7(handmade) any less of a production piece than a Sebenza simply because one takes close to a year to obtain and the other takes six years? (Six years!?!?!?!?!?) How many of them are our there? More than one, for sure.
I have a Spectre in one of my display cases in the store and it gets presented as a handmade custom but, isn't it really a (very expensive) production knife? Anyone can order one. same for the Terzuola Starfighter and the Ralph Apogee, etc., etc. One could go on and on.
Lets face it, the term production is more applicable in these cases than most people realize.
I noticed that the terms "production" and "factory made" seemed to be used interchangeably in "that other thread" and that, I believe, is where the problem lies.
In no way can the Chris Reeve Knives be characterized as "factory" products. The CRK shop is no more a factory than Devon Thomas' Damascus forge or Ed Fowler's workshop. There are machines there but they are run by operators skilled in the art of knifemaking.
These knives are entirely hand built and precision fitted by skilled craftsmen. That is why it takes so long to get one of them. They are not stamped out by machines and run off an assembly line like Spyderco, Benchmade and Buck Knives. (Which also have quite a bit of human handwork in their manufacture.)
Sure Sebenzas are "production" knives. So what? They all are. Don't let some annoying, uninformed, parasite get under your skin and spoil the moment. Enjoy! Be happy!
Let's hope production picks up so we don't have to wait so long for the next "production piece"
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Dennis Wright
Wright Knife & Sporting Goods
La Mesa, CA
1-800-400-1980
wrightknife@ixpres.com
("Have a knife day!")
