First post and first CRK

M

machine26

Joined
Sep 3, 2009
Messages
1,383
This is my first chris reeve knife, picked it up last week and I am very impressed. I have used it for everything I can think of including skinning small game. Im disappointed to hear the one piece series is being discontinued, so Im scraping change together to get a mountaineer 1.

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Congratulations on your first post and Welcome to the CRK Family. I cant see your pic, what did you get ?? We are all bummed the One Piece line is going away, after amassing 17 of them, I was hoping for even more models. I dont have a mountaineer I as I prefer the spear point versions better, but all the One Piece knives are awsome and you cannot go wrong with any one you choose !!!
 
TY for the welcome. Its a Shadow IV. If I can find a shadow III with a single guard I would rather get it than the mountaineer 1, I prefer the spearpoints as well.
 
Cool, now I can see the pic. The shadow line is my favorite by far and I feel the Shadow IV is the most versitile of them all. Its a great all-around size. I think New Graham has the Shadow III single guard. They go for around $205 I think. The shadow III was my first CRK. I have used it quite a bit and even got another shadow III for a back-up. Check these out:

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I dont know if it shows, but I Really Like the One Piece Line !!!
 
D@&* thats alot of CRKs bud. Are the ones with octogonal butt caps made in SA? And does New Graham have a website?
 
Yes, the ones with the octogon handle were made in south africa. There are some usa made ones with hex handles as they had some left over when they came to the usa. But the two I have, the jereboam I and pachmayr are SA made.

New graham does have a site and here is the link to the single guard shadow III, they are $205 and they have 2 in stock:
http://newgraham.com/store/product/3352/Shadow-III-Single-Cross-Guard-CRKSHADOW3SCG/
 
Nice thanks,too bad it comes with the same sheath as the mountaineer 1. I like the looks of the high riding shadow III sheath alot better.

Wouldnt happen to have a source just to buy sheaths would ya?
 
Yeah, I know. I like the pancake sheath much better than the one that comes with the mountaineer I. http://www.gfellercasemakers.com/ makes sheaths for CRK, I contacted them before. I believe it was aprox $70 for a sheath, but that was for a pancake sheath for the shadow IV which I never got yet.

I think CRK will sell you a sheath alone, i just dont know how a single guard shadow III would fit in the bancake sheath. I have a aviator and the 2 shadow III's, but the aviator does not fit the shadow III sheath well, and vice versa.
 
hhmm, so now I just gotta decide which is more important. A high riding sheath or single guard. Too bad I dont have unlimited funds. :p

ETA" Ill most likely just stick with my original plan and get a MT 1. want something a little different than my shadow IV.
 
For me, I dont much care for the single guard. Thats why I am not a huge fan of the mountaineer II. I have one, but its my least favorite. And all the single guards have the same style of sheath. I carried my sable during hunting season last year and I liked it, but I EDC my shadow III all around the cabin during hunting season and I like the fact it rides very close and high. Gfeller made a pancake sheath for a shadow IV, I saw one and contacted them about making one. Just never got around to placing an order ( too busy buying more crk ). I dont have a mountaineer I, but it looks like it would be a good all around knife as well. I just prefer the spearpoint as I feel its got a tougher point, than the clip point. But thats just all personal preference.
 
The next one Im getting is going to be an EDC knife, as in literally everyday. I know the Shadow III's sheath would be superior for that, but Im still not sure about the guard. I notice on my shadow 4 its not too bad to put your thumb over the guard and onto the top of the blade for a bit more torque. The guards on the shadow III dont even protrude as much as the shadow 4 do they? I can be a bit too indecisive when it comes to blades at times. lol
 
If you want for EDC, I would Highly Recommend the shadow III. The guard is very small, so your not really going to notice it. I just got mine out to see and I measured the top guard. Its only 1/8 - 5/32 high, so thats not alot. I feel the benefits of the sheath alone would sway me to buy the shadow III over the single guard version or the mountaineer I. I just took some pics, I will upload them in a few.
 
here are some pics of my shadow III held in hand so you can better see the size and how little the top guard would effect use. I wear size large Glove, so that should give you an idea of hand size. Enjoy !

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Ok your pics definetly sway me torwards the shadow III's direction.

One other concern, and its a bit embarassing. Im not a slender guy, not a fatass either, but would the sheath put the knifes handle up into your side a lil bit too much?

TY for all the help. :D
 
Well, I am 6ft, 250 ( I could lose a few pounds, but my wife is a really good cook ), and it doesnt bother me at all. I find that since the sheath rides pretty tight to my side, there is less chance of it digging into it. I think a loose sheath that flops around would tend to get caught and maybe push into into your side, I am not 100% sure as I dont have a mountaineer I. I am just going by what I think and know of the shadow III. If you look on ebay, you can get a shadow III cheaper as well, there was several this past week that went for less that $205 if funds are tight.
 
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Ok thats good news, I shouldnt have a problem then. I can get CRKs from my local gunstore for a bit cheaper than on the net, so I reckon Ill just order from him. I dont trust most folks on ebay, afraid Id end up buying a counterfeit.
 
Sure thing bud, as long as no unexpected things pop up I should have it within 1.5 - 2 weeks.

I have another question for ya, do you store anything in the handles?
 
Honestly, I dont think I ever really did. I got my shadow IV pre-owned and it has a fire starter in the handle, but it rattles around so much, I will probably take it out if I carried it. It doesnt look like it would work anyways.....lol. I always thought about what would be the best survival items to carry in it though. I think a magnesium firestarter would be best as I have one of those fire striker fire starters and could not even light newspaper with it despite the impressive array of sparks. On second thought, I used to carry a $20 bill in my shadow III as I edc it through hunting season. If you come up with any good ideas for what to put inside, let me know ???
I do have a cool item I got with my shadow IV. It was made by TAD Gear and is a survival whistle that looks just like a end cap for the larger CRK one piece knives ( only its slightly longer ). And boy does it work. I will take pics and post more tomorrow.
 
I put the typical "mall ninja" stuff inside mine :p . Put a small fishing kit, snare wire and a few fire tinders to keep stuff from rattling. Not much, but it might come in handy in an emergency or if I suddenly decide to try trapping and fishing while Im hiking or camping lol.

I didnt like the sheath to begin with because there was nowhere to put a stone or other items, so....I duct taped a small arkansas stone on the back and a fire steel along the side. It doesnt look pretty, but it gets the job done, so its all good I suppose.
 
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