hello I plan on hitting the Pasadena knife show in couple of months. I'm pretty excited since I'll be graduating around that time! And hopefully score on a CRK Aviator or Shadow in 4". Can someone please te:foot:ll me the main diff in the Shadow and Aviator? Also what should I expect to pay for the particular CRK at the knife show?
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Knife show prices for CRK 4" Shadows, Aviators?
- Thread starter Glock26
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I just bought a NIB Aviator for $300, which I think is the going rate. They've been disco'd for three years now. There are still a few Shadows and Mountaineers in the new supply line, but prices vary and seem to be in the range of $275-300 for the 4" and up to $350 for the 5.5". You could certainly do better in the Marketplace.
The differences between the Shadow and the Aviator are primarily the spine (Aviator has a sawback spine) and the tip (Aviator is basically a clip point, Shadow is a spear point). The grind is about the same and both are dual-guard designs. The Mountaineer is a clip point with a very high grind line and a single guard.
The differences between the Shadow and the Aviator are primarily the spine (Aviator has a sawback spine) and the tip (Aviator is basically a clip point, Shadow is a spear point). The grind is about the same and both are dual-guard designs. The Mountaineer is a clip point with a very high grind line and a single guard.
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I use both of mine all the time.
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JNewell is spot on. They are both great knives, I own both. Very similar in that they have double guards, same blade length, and use a pancake sheath. The aviator has a sawtooth back, and bowie like tip, while the shadow III has a spear shaped blade and no teeth. Rare versions of the shadow III with a single guard and thumb grooves on the blade are out there.
Price - $300 or under for the Aviator and $250 or under for the shadow III seem pretty good to me.
Someone out there feel free to correct any of what I said above, if it is not right.
Price - $300 or under for the Aviator and $250 or under for the shadow III seem pretty good to me.
Someone out there feel free to correct any of what I said above, if it is not right.
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Sure, no problem - if you were to buy one, I would really use it, if you send it to me.
Seriously, CRK knives are meant to be used... 
Whether the sawback on the Aviator is a plus or a minus is personal opinion....I like the single guard and spine index on the Mountaineer best, but the strongest blade is the Shadow.
I bought a Mountaineer 1 last year for $200 or $220, but it was one of the last ones the knife company was selling. Now I've seen them for 260 to 280. All of these one piece knives are very nice. The coating is superb, and it comes razor sharp with a sheath, lanyard and in its own box. I was very impressed the first time I held it and when I continue to hold it.
Unfortunately, I haven't used the Mountaineer 1 for anything more than to cut paper or boxes. You can EDC it, but its more comfortable to carry in your backpack for that. I've only been on a one day camping trip where I carried it on my side. Didn't know it was there. I did find the button snap on the sheath to be a bit unsecure, but again, I don't wear it everyday.
If I had to do it all over again, I probably would have bought the longer 5.5 inch blade, which would have more space in the handle. I already have a 3.5 inch Busse SAR 3 for EDC. If you can still get one good luck. Its a great piece from Chris Reeves. Don't worry about abusing the CR knives, they are backed by a lifetime warranty and they will also refinish and resharpen your knife.
Unfortunately, I haven't used the Mountaineer 1 for anything more than to cut paper or boxes. You can EDC it, but its more comfortable to carry in your backpack for that. I've only been on a one day camping trip where I carried it on my side. Didn't know it was there. I did find the button snap on the sheath to be a bit unsecure, but again, I don't wear it everyday.
If I had to do it all over again, I probably would have bought the longer 5.5 inch blade, which would have more space in the handle. I already have a 3.5 inch Busse SAR 3 for EDC. If you can still get one good luck. Its a great piece from Chris Reeves. Don't worry about abusing the CR knives, they are backed by a lifetime warranty and they will also refinish and resharpen your knife.
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Pm me or email me where you've seen them for that price. I've been trying to get my hands on a CRK one piece knife forever, but keep missing out on them in the market.
Mistwalker
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My wife has an Aviator and loves the knife, she uses it quite a bit on our wetter outings for everything from fire starting to food prep to cleaning her nails. She does not care much for the factory sheath because with the shape of her hips it causes the handle to rub on her side and poke her in the ribs in some positions when we're hiking in the mountains here. I just had a kydex sheath made for it so I can make a drop sheath for her. If that doesn't work for her I will just trade her out of it, I have taken the knife on a few outings and I like it pretty well myself. Then again if they are going for $300.00 NIB now maybe I should hang on to it for a little longer and maybe I could trade it for a newer Sebbie that someone doesn't like for some reason....
RABII
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All orders for CR (one -piece) knives placed by dealers were received in the first quarter of 2010. There will be no more one-piece knives available once those in the current supply pipeline are sold. After that it's all about the secondary market.
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And dealer NOS. I just bought a brand new Classic with a DOB of 2007. The Aviators were disco'd in 2008, IIRC, so finding one on a dealer's shelf is pretty unlikely. The only OPRs I see in stock on the web are Mountaineers, fwiw.