[EN] Interview: Knowing Markus Reichart

We conducted a short interview with Markus Reichart, in preparation for the release of our newest collection of knives. Here are his answers.

Who is Markus Reichart?

Markus Reichart is a country bumpkin. I've never felt at home in a big city. Nature, preferably with water, is always very important to me. There's nothing more relaxing than a walk in the forest with my dog. I am an outdoor type.
When I was young, I had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with my grandfather. He was a blacksmith, and even back then it somehow always turned into a knife when I was active in the workshop with my grandfather. I learned a lot about steel and how to work it from him. Later, my preference for stainless steels came to the fore.
The knife thing took off when the first Rambo movie was released in 1982, so I bought my first “real” knives. They were the Jungle King 1 and 2 from the Spanish company Aitor. Then in 1986 with the movie Crocodile Dundee it was completely over. It was clear to me then, that knives meant more to me than to other people. I started drawing knives back then. 

Define your work in one sentence:

Precision in execution

Where does the inspiration for each design come from? What is the process of each new model?

The design language is an evolution. It all starts with an existing knife.
Sometimes one of my own knives, sometimes a factory knife from my collection.
Then I close my eyes and start to feel what I like and what I don't like about it. If I like a blade, I start with different handles.
Each model is refined bit by bit until finally a wooden model is produced. Only when this model meets my requirements is the knife made in steel. 

Do you follow trends or not?

No, I try not to follow trends.

What do you feel every time you create a new design?

I'm curious to see whether it meets my expectations or needs to be developed further. But in the end, it's satisfaction.

What do you want to convey to the user?

The feeling of having chosen the right tool.

Do you think about the end user when you start something?

To be completely honest, no.
People are too diverse for that. Small hands, big hands, gross motor skills or fine motor skills. It's impossible to reconcile all that. I try to create a visually appealing product that people simply like to hold in their hands.

Do you work on both design and materials?

Yes, definitely. Every tool has a specific task. So, it's important to put together the right materials.

What made you decide to work with Eickhorn?

That's a longer story. A mutual acquaintance once told Eickhorn that I make good Kydex sheaths. That's how we got in touch and I supplied the Kydex inlays for the SEK-M for Eickhorn for several years. That's how I got to know and appreciate the people there. Now the opportunity had arisen to work together on knives as well.

What do you think about our production?

It is a good and high-quality production. However, in order to keep costs down and improve quality even further, more CNC work would be necessary in the future. Even though I really appreciate manual work, the market is moving in this direction.

How do you see the future of the edged weapon in general?

I have never seen knives as a weapon, always as a helpful, specialized tool.
Objects don't hurt people, people hurt people. When it comes to hurting someone, even a stone is enough.
Knives in all their forms should be loyal companions that give pleasure, chop up my food and simply feel great. There will always be a need for knives, just like thousands of years ago.