Crawford Shark short review

[redvenom]

Have been using the Shark on and off since I got it last month and decided to put it through something more serious than light cutting chores. Company just had a dozen computer monitors delivered and there were lots of large cardboard boxes to dispose off. I ended up cutting through the sides to flatten them to make them easier to stack and in the process, got to know my Shark real well as a user.

Handle: Micarta slabs with a nice textured finish. The design made for a nice ergonomic grip that seats the knife firmly in the palm. Hand was sweating before I finished but the grip was still secure and didn't slip. Not even when I tried some stabbing tests (slowly at first, then with force), trying to see if my hand would slide forward. The checkering on the top and butt of the handle helped.

Blade: 3.5" blade was razor sharp sharp when it arrived. The hollow grind makes it cut and slice delightfully. After I was done slaughtering the cardboard, it had lost a little of the edge. A few touches of my Sharpmaker soon brought the edge back.

Lock: When it arrived, the lock was rock solid with no apparent sidewise or up/down blade play. Tried to dislodge the lock by stabbing the boxes and twisting with some force, then tried some spine whacks. While I have heard some complaints about Crawford's locks, this knife held up well.

In close, I found the Shark is a serious using knife. If it wasn't that "tactical-looking", I'd be carrying it everyday (I work in a corporate environment with lots of sheeple around). The only thing I would change would be to smoothen the checkering on the blade spine which is a shade too aggressive and tends to catch on clothing and the sheath lip.

Red



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"Praise not the day until evening has come;a sword until it is tried; ice until it has been crossed; beer until it has been drunk" - Viking proverb

[This message has been edited by redvenom (edited 01-02-2001).]

 

[Nakano 2]

Red, have you actually white knuckled the folder during your thrust and extract drills? I mean, but a real death grip on its handles? I am interested to know if the hands/ fingers experience bite from the INSIDE edges of the folders Ti liners. Seems like many makers omit the important feature of breaking those edges.

L8r,
Nakano

 

[redvenom]

Experienced no discomfort with gripping the handle hard. The Shark has a recessed liner which doesn't contact the hand so its not a problem during hard cutting jobs (unlike some of my other folders).

One word of caution though - the liner itself has pretty sharp 'serrations' cut into it so unlocking is best done with care. I ripped my thumb nicely foolishly doing it at speed once. Personally, the nicest liners I have used are those on the newer Microtechs ('microbar') with horizontal slots cut into it.

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"Praise not the day until evening has come;a sword until it is tried; ice until it has been crossed; beer until it has been drunk" - Viking proverb


[This message has been edited by redvenom (edited 01-03-2001).]