ChazzyP
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2014
- Messages
- 8,090
I've had my Scout since mid-January and have plastered pics of it in several forums around here. Along the way I've been asked more than once for my take on Cheburkov knives, particularly in comparison to Shirogorovs. Inasmuch as I have six Shiros and but this one Cheburkov, I can only speak for the Scout. On the other hand, the Scout is very similar to the Shiro F95T, most familiarly known as the Turtle, so I'll offer some comparisons between the two simply to give a better picture of the Scout as many more here are familiar with the Turtle. I will say right of the bat that this won't be a Scout vs Turtle thread as I like each knife a lot and won't build one up at the expense of the other.
First, a couple pics of the two together--
A lot the same here--almost exactly the same size, with 3.8" M390 blades of similar proportions, though the Scout has both a taste more drop and a fair amount more belly, similar to the blade shape of the Shiro NeOn. Both knives have milled titanium handles in interesting patterns. Neither of my two have internal milling, though that option is available on other versions of each knife. Of course, both are ti framelock flippers with steel lockbar inserts. Both inserts feature tabs that engage the handle slabs as over-travel stops and both inserts are also short of the ti lockbar to act as inward over-travel stops as well.
Both knives also have milled/sculpted pocket clips. While both clips are handsome enough and complement the look of each knife, this sort of clip is not my favorite, as insertion can be a little tough in jeans or heavy pants. The Turtle clip goes in much easier than the Scout, but the former has been in and out of my pocket a lot in the last year-and-a-half. Both knives are also on ball bearings. I haven't had either apart, though I'm sure my Turtle's SRBS features the typical loose bearings I've found in my other Shiros. Really no idea about the bearings in the Scout. Both knives flip great! The Shiro is maybe a taste quicker and freer with a lighter detent. The Scout comes out impressively too, though it's a bit more muted. Both free-drop on release and pretty much close under their own weight with just a slight bit of upward wrist. Both knives also feature single, housed stop pins.
Blade stock is of similar proportions--Scout at .154", Turtle at .145". Both are flat ground, though the Scout has a slight partial flat at the spine. Both are sharpened at about 20 dps and are approx .021" behind the edge. Excellent slicers and cutters with good edge retention.
For differences, the Scout weighs in at 5.4 oz compared to 4.5 for the Turtle. The Cheburkov's handle is 1/2" thick while the Shirogorov is a slimmer 7/16". The Turtle is fully open construction with a single big-ass standoff at the rear while the Scout has a half-length ti backspacer with integral lanyard opening. The Turtle has its lanyard hole in the show side slab. The Scout is Torx construction while the Turtle features Shiro's iconic PacMan screws.
That's it for comparisons, save for the one thing that's always asked--how does the overall build quality and F&F compare. Honestly, as much as I love me Shiros, I have to say that the Cheburkov Scout doesn't take a backseat to its Russian cousin Shirogorov Turtle. As far as price goes, I got a really good deal on my Turtle, brand-new from Vladimir_K at $850 net. The Scout came from the only authorized outside-of-Russia dealer, a German firm not registered here, and was $560 all in. Does that make the Cheburkov a better value? I don't really look at things that way. I like both knives, am glad to have both, and what they cost is, well, what they cost. I've got knives that I like a lot that cost a mere fraction of each that cut probably every bit as well as these two. You could probably sharpen up a Jarbenza and it would cut fine too. Like beauty, value is in the eye of the beholder, but these two are real beauties for sure.
Damn, that was a lot of text. As this is about the Cheburkov Scout, how about some more pics.
Wicked smooth dark bronze ano'd handle slabs with brass/bronze ano'd hardware.
Really love the milling pattern both sides and the smallish, flipper tab with build-year stamp.
The handle edges aren't as chamfered as the Shiro Turtle, but they're nicely eased and very comfortable in hand.
Not-too-aggressive, but useful jimping and dead-balls centering.
Pocket clip came with a little rub-off on each edge due to the way the maker boxes the knife. OK with me as I intend to give this baby some wear anyway. One complaint is that the lanyard opening is too tight, but being located at the handle spine it keeps the cord out of the way.
Hard to get it to show well in a pic, but the way the flat grind transitions into the small flat at the spine is just a thing of beauty. That small flat in turn narrows and transitions into the nicely rounded edges of the blade spine heading toward the point.
Last one. This was the sharpest knife out of the box that I'd ever received (my REK re-grind notwithstanding). I also hate blades that are billboards. Shirogorov and Cheburkov get it right with just a small maker's mark on one side and the steel type on the other.
OK, I lied, but I love this knife.
First, a couple pics of the two together--
A lot the same here--almost exactly the same size, with 3.8" M390 blades of similar proportions, though the Scout has both a taste more drop and a fair amount more belly, similar to the blade shape of the Shiro NeOn. Both knives have milled titanium handles in interesting patterns. Neither of my two have internal milling, though that option is available on other versions of each knife. Of course, both are ti framelock flippers with steel lockbar inserts. Both inserts feature tabs that engage the handle slabs as over-travel stops and both inserts are also short of the ti lockbar to act as inward over-travel stops as well.
Both knives also have milled/sculpted pocket clips. While both clips are handsome enough and complement the look of each knife, this sort of clip is not my favorite, as insertion can be a little tough in jeans or heavy pants. The Turtle clip goes in much easier than the Scout, but the former has been in and out of my pocket a lot in the last year-and-a-half. Both knives are also on ball bearings. I haven't had either apart, though I'm sure my Turtle's SRBS features the typical loose bearings I've found in my other Shiros. Really no idea about the bearings in the Scout. Both knives flip great! The Shiro is maybe a taste quicker and freer with a lighter detent. The Scout comes out impressively too, though it's a bit more muted. Both free-drop on release and pretty much close under their own weight with just a slight bit of upward wrist. Both knives also feature single, housed stop pins.
Blade stock is of similar proportions--Scout at .154", Turtle at .145". Both are flat ground, though the Scout has a slight partial flat at the spine. Both are sharpened at about 20 dps and are approx .021" behind the edge. Excellent slicers and cutters with good edge retention.
For differences, the Scout weighs in at 5.4 oz compared to 4.5 for the Turtle. The Cheburkov's handle is 1/2" thick while the Shirogorov is a slimmer 7/16". The Turtle is fully open construction with a single big-ass standoff at the rear while the Scout has a half-length ti backspacer with integral lanyard opening. The Turtle has its lanyard hole in the show side slab. The Scout is Torx construction while the Turtle features Shiro's iconic PacMan screws.
That's it for comparisons, save for the one thing that's always asked--how does the overall build quality and F&F compare. Honestly, as much as I love me Shiros, I have to say that the Cheburkov Scout doesn't take a backseat to its Russian cousin Shirogorov Turtle. As far as price goes, I got a really good deal on my Turtle, brand-new from Vladimir_K at $850 net. The Scout came from the only authorized outside-of-Russia dealer, a German firm not registered here, and was $560 all in. Does that make the Cheburkov a better value? I don't really look at things that way. I like both knives, am glad to have both, and what they cost is, well, what they cost. I've got knives that I like a lot that cost a mere fraction of each that cut probably every bit as well as these two. You could probably sharpen up a Jarbenza and it would cut fine too. Like beauty, value is in the eye of the beholder, but these two are real beauties for sure.
Damn, that was a lot of text. As this is about the Cheburkov Scout, how about some more pics.
Wicked smooth dark bronze ano'd handle slabs with brass/bronze ano'd hardware.
Really love the milling pattern both sides and the smallish, flipper tab with build-year stamp.
The handle edges aren't as chamfered as the Shiro Turtle, but they're nicely eased and very comfortable in hand.
Not-too-aggressive, but useful jimping and dead-balls centering.
Pocket clip came with a little rub-off on each edge due to the way the maker boxes the knife. OK with me as I intend to give this baby some wear anyway. One complaint is that the lanyard opening is too tight, but being located at the handle spine it keeps the cord out of the way.
Hard to get it to show well in a pic, but the way the flat grind transitions into the small flat at the spine is just a thing of beauty. That small flat in turn narrows and transitions into the nicely rounded edges of the blade spine heading toward the point.
Last one. This was the sharpest knife out of the box that I'd ever received (my REK re-grind notwithstanding). I also hate blades that are billboards. Shirogorov and Cheburkov get it right with just a small maker's mark on one side and the steel type on the other.
OK, I lied, but I love this knife.
I only realized after writing the dealer about the Strisch I mentioned above that the knife comes in both large and small versions. 
He got me! I ordered the small CF Strisch in Vanadis 8 which is stupidly light at under 75 grams or less than 3 oz. From what I've read, Vanadis 8 is similar to D2 with less chipping at higher hardness and able to take and keep a keener edge. Less corrosion resistant, but even though I live on the coast I take care of my stuff well enough that corrosion hasn't been a problem for me with tool steels. I like trying out different steels and like a lot of different steels too.
