Opinions on Shiva Ki blades?

[Keith Montgomery]

Bravo, there are a lot of makers who could provide a first rate forged knife to meet your needs. The only problem might be delivery time within three months - that will whittle the list down some.

A lot of makers will move someone shipping out to the sandbox right to the top of their list. Bravo 26, you should go to the Knife Maker's Forums and ask the folks there. A lot of them have made knives for those serving their country and I am sure they would be more than happy to help you out.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=741

 

[flava]

Speaking of Shiva Ki knives ...
Last week I went to visit my buddies at Armes Bastille (custom knife shop in Paris) to show them my brand new bowie from Don Hanson. They were pretty impressed and tried to convince me to use it to whack some cardboard (4-5 big flated boxes duct-taped together make a good material to test how far a blade will cut). I didn't want to because I like my brand new knives to stay brand new for a while
Anyway, to prove me what a big whimp I am :foot: , they got two of their knives and we worked on those boxes. One was a Shiva Ki knife, I'd say about 6" blade and smallish handle (4 finger grip). The other one was a Fikes bowie, about 8"-9". Both knives were really sharp to start with (hair poping sharp). I used them both. My cutting techniques suck , but I managed to get some nice deep cuts. The Fikes performes better for the task, the cuts are cleaner and deeper. The Shiva Ki performed well too, despite the short and thick blade. Both knives remained shaving sharp.
I don't have to explain you that a Fikes is a very well made knife, ergonomics, fit, finish, they are all great. :thumbup:
The Shiva Ki has a perfectible finish, from the pics I saw on the net I imagined it would be nicer.
This was not a scientific or extensive test, but I'm pretty sure the Fikes would have won in cutting rope or wood or whatever. I'm not going to buy a Shiva Ki so I can't make those kind of tests agains other forged knives. I would be curious to see if the mystic samurai spirit steel performs better than the 52100 on my Wirtz camp knife ... which costed so much less I'm ashamed to post the actual price.

 

[Doug C]

Congrats on your Don Hanson Bowie and on even seeing much less using a Fikes Bowie. :thumbup:

 

[OleyFermo]

Bravo,

I would recommend that you get in touch with Matt Lamey about getting a knife for your buddy. Matt was just up at my home for a visit last week and a we did a lot of knife testing. He is doing some excellent work... blades which are sharp, tough, reasonably priced... AND I think he will get your friend a knife finished in the right time frame. I know that Matt has a lot of orders pending and is planning on doing away with orders altogether when he finishes up the knives already on his list, but I think that he just might get something done for you. Men serving our country frequently get bumped to the top of the list by a number of makers.

I believe you'll find more than a few people on the forum have a lot of respect for Matt's work. Do a search and read up on the opinions expressed here about Matt and his work. I don't think you'll find a single word that's not positive.

And, Matt, if I'm speaking out of turn here... TOO BAD

Jimmy Fikes

 

[ralph.merlino]

Bravo,

Jimmy is right on. Matt Lamey would be an excellent choice. He makes a very fine knife at a fair price and he could get it to you in your time frame. You will not go wrong with one of Matt's knives.

 

[Walking Man]

Busse knives aren't really customs, but you can get one for that price, unlike Shiva Ki's. Also, his guarantee for these ultratough knives is second to none. I feel I could count my life on one of them. One of the best things about these is that they perform as well as the best carbon steels, and still has the corrosion resistance of a stainless.

 

[last chance]

I am a Sergeant in the Marine Corps with the Mobile Assault Platoon. I have been in contact with Shiva for more than a year now. He sent me a Ranger stealth kill for free, Loaned me his personal Spirit blade to take on deployment, and sent me books and care packages while I was deployed.
He has also sent me a firepot,assorted hammers, and 3 huge bags of coal to get me started with. Guess who payed for the shipping? $180 Thats right. He did.
So no matter what your opinion of him is. I suggest you call him and talk to him before you make any decisions. I must warn you though, Shiva is a tough old S.O.B and a little rough around the edges.But I personally don't care if he is waiting for the next comet trailing spacecraft. He has done more for this Marine than anyone else

 

[Doug C]

Sounds like the Shiva Ki I know and he's also done similar for others as well as myself. :thumbup:

No coal,though!

 

[RogerP]

...But I personally don't care if he is waiting for the next comet trailing spacecraft.....

In the abstract, I don't care either. It's only when he demands a premium of several grand for spaceknife that I just have to chuckle...

Roger

 

[Walking Man]

There are just so MANY choices, and a hell of a lot of great ones for WAY less than a SK knife. I personally recommend a CR Green Beret knife with a 7" blade, but barring that, GET A RANDALL!!!! They are out there. You could get a 7" Randall fighting knife from ebay or other dealer for 7-800 bucks right now. as in today. And you could even get two for the price of a SK, and they have a reputation that is WAY better than SKs. And yes, they are made out of Carbon Steel.
If you want the absolute toughest, get a Busse. Some will sell you some kind of fighter for under $1000, the true Busses fighters are a little pricy because they are rare, but a combat user can be had for less.
Another good choice would be a SOG knife. Yes I said SOG!
http://www.sogknives.com/recbow.htm
made with high carbon steel, and made nice and pointy for combat, and tough for utility.
Friend, there's a TON of high-carbon fighting knives out there, get on ebay, or other knife websites and have a look. THEY CAN BE HAD FOR REASONABLE PRICES!
If you're serious about getting a knife for combat, and want to call me, just send me an email, and I'll phone you and we'll find a great knife together. I'd love to be of more service if I can. REMEMBER, you don't need a custom to have a really tough knife.
Also, check out TOPS knives.

 

[Doug C]

Take Walking Man's advice. :thumbup:
Contacted Shiva earlier and there is limited availability.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

I am a Sergeant in the Marine Corps with the Mobile Assault Platoon. I have been in contact with Shiva for more than a year now. He sent me a Ranger stealth kill for free, Loaned me his personal Spirit blade to take on deployment, and sent me books and care packages while I was deployed.
He has also sent me a firepot,assorted hammers, and 3 huge bags of coal to get me started with. Guess who payed for the shipping? $180 Thats right. He did.

It is obvious that he did real well by you. Strange that someone willing to do so much for others would also be someone that would badmouth his fellow knifemakers. I guess he must have figured that it would in some way build him up. In my opinion it was a real bad decision.

Anyway, I guess people have to use their own criteria when deciding whether to purchase a knife from a maker. What turns me off may not mean very much to someone else.

 

[Doug C]

Keith,
With all due respect,guessing about Shiva's intent is just that,and forming an opinion based on your guess.Well.
Three specific knives made by Shiva are the cornerstone of my collection,I understand the animosity towards him by some here and that is all well and good.
The thing I don't understand is no one in this group has ever owned a Shiva Ki knife.
Shiva has taught defense tactics to LEO's for the last 20 odd years,free of charge,has appeared in a Tom Clancey novel and in my opinion makes some mighty fine knives.If you don't like him or his knives don't buy them,but others are not wrong because they do. And yes he is not forthcoming on his steelmaking or forging techniques,a price I'm willing to pay. Doug Castor

 

[Old Guy]

I have known Shiva since the early 80`s, and own several of his knives.I did lose touch with him for a long time, as I was laid off my job, and so I didn`t travel in his direction much more. As far as his views are concerned, they are his own. As far as earlier posts on this forum go, I am a little bit of a new comer. I do believe that before one is judged by his words alone, one should meet with him first and see what he is about. Other than that, take a look in the mirror first.:thumbup:

 

[Joss]

Nobody says that Ki's knives are "bad". In fact, I kinda like the Spirit blade myself, and if it were priced reasonably and if the maker wasn't such a schmuck, I wouldn't mind getting myself one.

With this said...

Three specific knives made by Shiva are the cornerstone of my collection, I understand the animosity towards him by some here and that is all well and good.
The thing I don't understand is no one in this group has ever owned a Shiva Ki knife.

Because we have seen them and we think that they are overpriced and have approximate - if that - fit and finish. We also think the "samurai steel" and other mystical BS is the mark of a cult leader rather than a no non-sense maker. Finally, even if his knives were the best value around, which they aren't, that would still not offset the fact that he behaves with the maturity & manners of a 5 yr old spoiled brat.

Shiva has taught defense tactics to LEO's for the last 20 odd years,free of charge, has appeared in a Tom Clancey novel ...

Completely irrelevant, if complete and accurate, which I doubt.

and in my opinion makes some mighty fine knives. If you don't like him or his knives don't buy them, but others are not wrong because they do.

If you buy something which I consider overpriced and shrouded in mystical BS, in my opinion you're wrong. Now, it's your right to like whatever, and there's no argument reg. this, but I'll keep saying that those knives are overpriced gimmicks and do my best to steer away new comers from them.

And yes he is not forthcoming on his steelmaking or forging techniques,a price I'm willing to pay.

Not only is he not forthcoming - Howard Clark isn't either regarding his HT technique for Champalloy - he also use and abuse the samurai mystique and others. He sets off all my BS red flags and I continue to think that he is a bad investment at best.

I have nothing but the greatest respect for Shiva Ki.

Wow, this sure make us think more highly of your opinion.

I do believe that before one is judged by his words alone, one should meet with him first and see what he is about.

Sorry, if you act like a schmuck here, you're going to quickly acquire the reputation that goes with it.

Other than that, take a look in the mirror first.

Nobody here claims to be perfect, but in terms of just everyday honest and respectful communication, we're head and shoulders above Mr. Ki (who calls himself "Master Ki"...)


OK, here are a reminder of the BS claims on Shiva Ki's site:
Spirit Blade:

Created in the traditions of the Koto period (cold sword).

Nobody - and I mean nobody, including the current top smiths in Japan - know how the koto swords (koto = old sword) were made. To claim this flags Shiva Ki right here and there as a master BSer.

Koto samurai steel has a distinct visibil grain

Yeah, whatever - all Jpz swords are made of forge folded steel and show a pattern. Nothing particularly ko about it.

The "Eagle Talon":

Worlds most deadly CQB knife

No comments necessary...

About Ki himself:

Ninja Technique of walking up a pole.

Testimonies:

Lt. Paul Chenevert
Night Stalker/Search and Destroy
Unit Classified- Location Classified
I hunt the night with a Ranger Stealth Kill strapped to my lower leg, and my battle blade, designed by me; Brought to life by the Master..
Dont fear the night; fear what stalks the night.

 

[BrB]

Off topic: is that machine gun real? Looks like a home made replica to me, but I am not familiar with those...

 

[gator68]

Is that picture really on his site??

EDIT -- went to look for myself. Yep.

But how could you miss the master forging shirtless?

 

[OleyFermo]

If I'm not mistaken, that's a 'Spirit' machine gun, model 14KI-6. It is so deadly that it will be banned at the next Geneva Convention. I own the only other known 14KI-6. I bought it for a few beans from a fellow who says he got it from someone who knew someone who worked at Area 51.

Old man Fikes

 

[gator68]

Off topic: is that machine gun real? Looks like a home made replica to me, but I am not familiar with those...

I'm no expert either, but it has two handles . . . looks like it is supposed to be mounted on a swivel, not handheld. WWII era?

 

[BrB]

Looks like a browning model, possibly a .30 ... but I mean the looks of it strikes me as odd...

The fact that it looks like he handling it so easy... it looks so light in his hands, but in fact it takes a Shwartzeneger kind of guy to handle one of those. In fact, he did use one on the last Terminator movie...

I am not getting into the Shive Ki discussion, but this picture looks to me like a kid on his brand new army surplus discount package, with some knives and a machinegun replica in his hands... but I might be wrong, so I better ask what you guys think.

This is a real man handling a real browning .30 machinegun.

This is how it sould look like. I notice that in the picture on Shiva´s website the handle is the M2 (browning´s .50) kind. I am not sure if there were .30 made with that kind of handle but I guess there were. The problem is that there should have lots of grooves and detais on that metal box, and the darn thing looks extremely light... it´s just wrong I think.