I don't focus on the price of a knife, if I like it. I paid $500 for my Shiva. I paid $200 for my Recondo, it was a factory second, and John gives me good prices.
Looking at the Shiva, I see beauty and balance, a classic lightweight single edge Bowie-ish style fighter, with a VG-10 laminated steel satin finished blade, a tasteful double guard, and brown micarta scales over a lovely tapered tang. The balance is phenomenal. Like Al Mar, I think it's the perfect gentleman's fighter, elegant, light, and a terror in the right hands.
The Recondo(Commander) is a stylized single edged Bowie, in S35VN, a modern powdered steel alloy, based on a classic covertly designed fighter, with modern materials, and modern features, black-out style finish, jimping on the thumb ramp, finger choil, skull crusher, and burlap micarta scales on a beefy full tang for reliability. No, it's not particularly elegant, when compared to the SOG S1, and even less so compared to the Shiva! It's a little heavier, a bit beefier, but it's also a little more versatile.
Two separate designs, and differing design philosophies, same mission, saving my bacon, and I'd trust my life to either. If someone were to ask which I'd prefer to carry, the Shiva wins, no question. However, if they asked which I'm more likely to carry, it would be the Recondo, simply for the versatility.
To be fair, and perfectly honest, 5" is a bit less blade than I like for most outdoor uses, or would prefer for defensive use. And 5" is generally a little more blade than I prefer for EDC utility needs. But, if I think the situation calls for a mid-sized personal fighter, I have a couple of decent options.
