Shadow III vs Shadow IV

B

Brian6244

Joined
Aug 25, 2004
Messages
537
Okay I have been the proud owner of a Shadow III for a while now and been very happy with it. My only complaint ever with it has been that I wished I could get just a little bit more stuff in the handle without having to pack it so tight that I would never be able to remove it in the feild. So I solved my problem like any good knife nut would, by purchasing a Shadow IV. :D I figured I could sell the Shadow III on ebay to offset some of the cost of the new Shadow IV. The problem is that I just can't bring myself to let go of my Shadow III. :D So now I am "stuck" with two great knives and am not willing to part with either one though I know I will never really use both... or will I?. I know I know... what a terrible situation I am in. ;) Anyone have views on the Shadow III vs the Shadow IV as a primary hiking/camping/survival knife? Or maybe you haven't actually owned both the Shadow III and the Shadow IV but could still comment on the 4" CRK one piece verses the 5.5" CRK one piece for these purposes? Thanks...
 
Though I don't own any from the Shadow line I do have the Mountaineer I & II. Same thing just in a clip point instead of the spear point and single gaurd. O.K. maybe not the same but you know what I mean, same blade length and handle. To me the 4" blade is a little small and not quite as strong. It is great for most camp chores but I prefer having the 5.5" with me when I am out. The 5.5" blade seems perfect for everything I need from food prep to gathering firewood. I have used mine to clean fish and to split wood using a baton. Mine has seen alot of use and I never leave home without it. Do I think you would be under-equipped with the 4"? No. Do I think you would be better equipped with the 5.5"? Yes. This is just my $.02 worth. Both are great knives.
 
I own a Sable III and the big brother, a Sable IV. Granted, they are NIB and I have not carried and used them, but - the 5.5" is signifcantly different than the 4" in weight and size. They really are different animals. The 4" feels more like a large pocket knife to me, and the sheath + knife can easily be thrown in a coat pocket. The 5.5" is all of a sheath knife.

My guess is that the best bet would be to carry both and see which you end up reaching for and using the most. I would agree with Booger that if I could carry only one, it would be the 5.5".
 
I have to agree: 4" fixed blades feel a bit like a pocket knife, and most of us carry one of those as well.

5.5" fixed blades, on the other hand, are big enough to do just about anything, and small enough to be easy to use.

I generally carry bigger knives (Shadow 7" or Project I), and don't find them difficult to use, because this is the size of knife I had before I had enough money to have multiple knives.

David
 
I've got them both and just grab for whatever I want that day. This week ,I've been using my Nkonka.
 
I have a Shadow III, and while it's a cool little knife, it doesn't quite make the grade for me. Oh, it's strong enough, but I find the narrowness of the blade to be rather limiting: I prefer a blade with more belly for outdoors tasks. I'd love a Shadow III with a wider blade.
 
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