[2] 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.

[3] In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he was a regular competitor in South Africa’s Grand Prix motorcycle racing circuit.

[citation needed] As a result, Reeve used the highly competitive race setting to hone his problem-solving skills, custom tuning his motorcycle with components often designed and fabricated in his own shop.

In order to pursue improved business opportunities, Chris and Anne moved to the United States in 1989, and settled in Boise, Idaho.

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.

Reeve had previously designed and made for himself a hidden tang knife with a wooden handle, inlaid with silver wire.

The idea of an all-steel knife, with both handle and blade made from a single solid bar, started to germinate.

Reeve uses exotic materials, frequently inlaying gold, pearl or unusual types of wood into titanium or wooden handles to create an interesting contrast of color and texture.