Shadow patterns.

J

jackknife

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Oct 2, 2004
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Maybe about 25 some years ago, I noticed a change in the knives I tended to accumulate. I started to really appreciate shadows. I liked the clean no bolster look, not to mention a light weight knife in the pocket.

The late 80's was the hight of my sodbuster craze, and I had one from just about everyone who made one. Shadow Laguioles, a shadow toothpick, and a few other ones here and there.

I always thought a bolster helped with durrability, but some of the guys I worked with in the shop used the heck out of those little LST Gerbers, and the abuse those non-knife knut people gave those knives made me have nightmares. No knife should be treated like that! But they took it and kept on going. And some of those wonderful century and more old knives the smiling-knife posts are shadows from the late 1800's and early 1900's. Lord knows a soddie is a rugged knife.

Anyone else have a big soft spot fir the shadows?
 
jackknife said:
Anyone else have a big soft spot fir the shadows?
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Yes I have.
To start a little of topic, all my modern knifes is without bolsters. (I own 4) They are all stong knifes but light.

Now in topic. Much about the strength in a Slipjoint depends on how strong the material around the pivot pin is. In for instans a SAK (I consider SAKs = Shadows) the hidden peening makes it as strong as the construktion needs. The sodbuster is plenty strong with metall around the pivot pin and good quality plastic. The way the Sodbuster looks is what I consider a shadow in its purest form where the pins hold together the whole construktion.

I also owned a LST from the late 80-ties and that knife made me think a lot more about folders/usability/strength. Its now mostly retired, but man was that a strong construktion in a light and flat package. Made me realise that a folding knife is all I need most times.

For me a Shadow often have a harmony in lines and design that makes me pleased and the use of for instance the LST and now the sodbuster shows me that a well executed shadow has the strenght needed in construktion for dayly chores (And more).
If I ever was to by a custom knife I would shouse a shadow pattern like the knutbuster, shadow trapper or shadow backpocket.

Bosse
 
I can't say I especially prefer shadow patterns, but I do find them quite elegant. I've actually asked Alistair Philips, a custom maker (my first!), to make me a slipjoint similar to the one he posted here.

While one of my most noticeable and enjoyable experiences of using a traditional slipjoint was/is to feel its weight and heft in your hand (due to the bolsters and liners), linerless (or nested ones in this situation) are arguably more clean-looking.
 
NirreBosse said:
If I ever was to by a custom knife I would shouse a shadow pattern like the knutbuster, shadow trapper or shadow backpocket.

Bosse
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You said it, can't go wrong with a Khnutbuster.
khnutbuster2-1.jpg
 
ditto to nirrebosse
most of my sodbusters are shadows & they are some of strongest folders i've owned
elegance & grace exude from this pattern
besides the weight factor double bolsters crowd beautiful handles.
certainly tang bolsters do'nt detract as much from flow of folder lines but bottom bolsters are I.M.O. are dead weight & clutter.small folders are actually improved with double bolsters [appearance wise] .
 
I certainly like my bolsters, but I have a tendency to reach for whatever is going to be lightest in my pocket. I have only one shadow pattern, a Lowe's-bought Sodbuster Jr. It also happens to be one of my favorite knives, period. I love the blade shape, size, and thickness, the feel of the handle (both shape and material), and it's lighter than most of my other knives. I've been thinking of picking up one of Moore Maker's wood handled Soddies, because I like the material. That red one Jat Mat posted is mighty fine looking. Who makes that one?
 
Those Gerber LST's were issued to us (in various sizes) by the government back in the 80's and I agree they stood up to plenty of use and abuse. I still have one or two of them from back in the day. Classic knives.

Tony Bose was the first one I recall here on the forums explaining why/how "shadow" patterns were stronger/more durable than bolstered patterns.
(I don't know if that holds when a knife is built as an integral, however.)

Gotta love 'em...

Ken Erickson:

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Rick Menefee:

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Ray Cover:

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Ray Kirk:

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Keith Johnson:

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I have had a number of shadow patterns and they are unique for sure. I also like all the attributes of shadow slipjoint's as previously mentioned by jackknife. Here is my favorite though.

I've never seen another one like it. A 1920's Case Tested XX equal end Pen in old school mother of pearl with no pattern number..

20uy3kl.jpg


2uhoke1.jpg
 
sunnyd said:
I have had a number of shadow patterns and they are unique for sure. I also like all the attributes of shadow slipjoint's as previously mentioned by jackknife. Here is my favorite though.

I've never seen another one like it. A 1920's Case Tested XX equal end Pen in old school mother of pearl with no pattern number..

20uy3kl.jpg


2uhoke1.jpg
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Very nice old penknife sunnyd. This one looks like its Sheffield cousin.

26-05057.jpg
 
I think it all depends on the pattern. On something like a sodbuster, make it a shadow all day, every day. It wouldn't look right otherwise. But on a barlow I want bolsters, or it just wouldn't be a barlow.
 
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Blues, that Ray Kirk Scagal looking knife is flat out beautiful. Can it be opened by a pnch/pull with sides of thumb and index finger?
 
jackknife said:
Blues, that Ray Kirk Scagel looking knife is flat out beautiful. Can it be opened by a pinch/pull with sides of thumb and index finger?
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Thanks and yes it can, Carl. If you're interested, contact me offline and I can help put you in touch with Ray if you'd like. He's a terrific maker and a good friend. :thumbup::cool:
 
That Ray Kirk warms my heart too.

Shadow patterns can be incredible strong. When I look at my knives, most of my folders are shadow patterns. Todd Davidson once posted a picture of bending the blade on one of his linerless shadow micarta patterns to 90 degrees. The pin and the handle slabs didn't even move.
I suspect that people have a bias against shadow patterns because shadow patterns were traditionally used on smaller patterns with natural materials.
I agree with Tony B in that the shadow pattern may very well be stronger than bolster patterns. This is because, shadow pattern are essentially "one piece" designs. Bolsters patterns have three pieces that make up each side of the handle, bolster, scale and liner. These three pieces are held by pins and/or spot welds!! This connection should be much weaker than a solid piece of milled linen micarta.

God Bless
 
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Very interesting thread. I never gave a Shadow a 2nd thought & honestly was worried about strength of the pivot, until I researched it, of course.

Amazingly, I've never had nor have a Sod Buster, but did have a couple of those old Gerbers & currently enjoy a Menefee Back Pocket Shadow. What's so amazing about the knife, other than looking great because there're no bolsters to scratch up, is how sleek it is & so pocketable (If that's a word?).

Great pics, too.
 
kamagong said:
I think it all depends on the pattern. On something like a sodbuster, make it a shadow all day, every day. It wouldn't look right otherwise. But on a barlow I want bolsters, or it just wouldn't be a barlow.
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I could not agree more.:thumbup:
 
I had one of those Gerbers back in the eighties. I liked it.
Heres my contri for a shadow. Filmore cutlery from Austria. I believe it to be a Robeson import. Its a stout little knife. Zero blade play.

P1010045.jpg


Here's a shadow of sorts.

P1010010-2.jpg
 
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