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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?
 
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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