Question about the One-Piece Knives

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dl351

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May 5, 2006
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Hello all. I've got a question about the one-piece line of knives. I know they've been criticized because of a certain masked person doing things with one of them, but I don't want to hear anything about that or him. What I would like to know is how do these one-piece knives perform in edge retention? The knives that I have are a 440A SOG Seal 2000, some Scrap Yard knives made of their modified S7, and a couple Swamp Rat knives made of modified 52100. How would Chris Reeve's A2 compare to these? I don't hit my knives with hardened steel hammers or really even pry at all with them, so what do you that own them think? Thanks for your help guys. I'm trying to decide which one to purchase before they're gone.
 
i dont think normal humans should worry about the masked man or his tests, they are what they are, they may be useful or they may not.

unless you need literally insane levels of toughness it won't matter.

if you get a reeve knife you are getting something pretty good no matter how you look at it.

buy the one YOU like and be done with it, and enjoy it. :)

i can't see you being dissapointed.

what will you use it for?
 
Thanks, ipm. I'm more concerned about edge retention than sledgehammer resistance. It's just that these knives look a little softer on the RC scale than most knives I have. However, I do understand that higher hardness means more difficult sharpening.

Mostly, I'll use the knife for "every day" camping duties such as shaving kindling, cutting rope, maybe some food prep, and at the heavy use end, batoning. Given that I have "lesser" knives that haven't come close to breaking under these uses, I'm sure the toughness will be more than adequate. Thanks again for your input.

I'm leaning toward the Shadow IV, but something inside me keeps me looking at the Skinner. Any thoughts on both?
 
dl351 said:
Thanks, ipm. I'm more concerned about edge retention than sledgehammer resistance. It's just that these knives look a little softer on the RC scale than most knives I have. However, I do understand that higher hardness means more difficult sharpening.

Mostly, I'll use the knife for "every day" camping duties such as shaving kindling, cutting rope, maybe some food prep, and at the heavy use end, batoning. Given that I have "lesser" knives that haven't come close to breaking under these uses, I'm sure the toughness will be more than adequate. Thanks again for your input.

I'm leaning toward the Shadow IV, but something inside me keeps me looking at the Skinner. Any thoughts on both?
Click to expand...

Tough choice...I like the wider blade on the Ubejane but like the Shadow sheath better....:confused:
 
The edge retention is very good. I have a Sable III with a 4" blade that's seen a lot of use. Touches up nicely but A2 just holds a good edge.
 
Most advice seems to suggest that the edge retention is OK.

You would expect that in this section.

Besides that, this makes sense if you are willing to, or know how to touch them up properly.

If both the Shadow and Skinner hold an edge well, maybee its not the edge retention that is the question.

What about blade shape for your purpose?

Could you baton a Skinner vs.a Shadow?

Do you see that making a difference?

If you do not, and the edge retention is good on all of them, then is it purely up to looks and a personal choice, no? :)

It could be only that in the end, or at least only your perceptions at first.

Also, did you ask in the outdoors forum as well?

They may have experience in comparing the different knives head to head including these?
 
Thanks for the advice, everyone.

ipm, I think I mixed two questions together which may have caused confusion. The first question was about edge retention in general. The second was just a knife comparison question of the Shadow IV vs. the Skinner. I may go give the outdoor forum a try.
 
I have just bought a Shadow IV and its a perfect blade length for me, its a ripper ,as the saying goes.
 
i am just pointing out that edge retention will be described as 'good' on probalby all CRK knives including the ones you are interested in. that makes it difficult to judge.

this answer will probably be given by CRK fans when comared to all other knives no matter what they are made of or who makes them.

fans, like me, will tend to be positive about their CRK knives no matter what. :)

so, is the edge retention good? of course it is. :)

given that, the other aspects of the knives may be the way to compare them to each other and to the list you provided.

i would focus on the end use that you intend for them and ask people who spend lots of time doing outdoor stuff what they think.

some design aspects that look great, feel good, or are just plain nice or cool to have may not be what outdoor people would like to have on their knives at all.

for example, does hard batoning of a shadow III/IV damage the butt cap on the handle? is its tip 'thick enough' for camp use? these are design vs. use question only lots of experience can answer.

whatever the case may be, my guess is that in the end, it will simply be up to your likes and dislikes when you choose.

all the best. :)
 
BTW, by damage the butt cap i mean due to shock in general that could loosen it somehow. i see that it will not likely be hit direclty in batoning.

i picked that completely out of the air and it is not meant to suggest its a bad design in any way.

its only a point of conversation to get some ideas out.

PS I ordered a shadow III recently and I can't wait to get it. :)
 
You won't be disappointed. I use my larger Mountaineer everytime I go camping/hunting. Though it doesn't serve well as a skinner, it performs extremely well at other cutting tasks. Edge retention ? Very good. I would rate the hardness at 58 or 59 RC, which I prefer in my camping knives. why ? Because it's easier to sharpen even with minimal tool. I once was forced to sharpen it with a river rock when I lost my little Norton India. Although it was only a regular rock, it still created serviceable edge quite easily and the A2 steel held the edge well. I can't imagine sharpening a harder steel this way.

I forgot to mention one thing. For those who own a one-piece CRK, I can't urge you strongly enough to use it hard. A knife is only as good as the tasks it can perform. To fully appreciate the one-piece, you've gotta use it hard. Soon enough you'll realize why people like the one-piece.
 
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