The Chris Reeve Impinda is a very special pocket knife. It is the first slipjoint that was ever produced by Chris Reeve Knives. For this project, CRK joined forces with world-famous knifemaker Bill Harsey. Chris Reeve has worked with Bill Harsey several times and they have won several awards together, such as in 2018 with this beauty. The Impinda came as a big surprise and immediately won the “American Made Knife of the Year” award at Blade Show 2018.
The Impinda's blade is made from CPM S35VN steel. This is a powder metallurgical type of stainless steel that retains its sharpness for a long time and is also easy to sharpen. If necessary. The knife has a high hollow grind, making the blade very thin behind the edge. This makes cutting with the Impinda a real joy. The subtle stonewashed finish hides scratches well and looks decent. At first glance, the Impinda looks like a neat gentleman's knife, only made for light everyday tasks. But nothing could be further from the truth; the Impinda is a robust tool and was made to be used. In Zulu, Impinda means "fold, repeat". A highly appropriate name for a sturdy folding knife that is opened and used time and time again.
The Impinda has a few very special features. For instance, the coil spring is made of CPM S35VN steel, just like the blade. According to Tim Reeve, this is the first time that CPM S35VN steel has been used for the coil spring of a slipjoint. But that's not all. The coil spring has not one, but two points of contact with the blade. The first point of contact, which is further forward in the closed position, is weaker in strength. It provides an opening strength of 268 grams. Once in the open position, the other part of the coil spring, which is further back, touches the blade. Because this part of the coil spring is further back and slightly further down, the pressure exerted by the spring is greater. This gives the coil spring a strength of 453 grams at this point. The result: the Impinda is easier to open than to close.
Other great details are the clip, milled from one solid piece of titanium, the lavish pivot, and the sleek titanium handle. The blade has a very elegant nail nick for easy opening. In short, the Impinda is exactly what we have come to expect from Chris Reeve Knives - quality and innovative highlights take centre stage. And the Impinda is no exception.
