Question about a Shirogorov Tagargon

[MaxandLuna]

I was at a big knife retailer yesterday (don't want to disclose the location just in case I still buy this knife it won't get away ) and saw a Shirogorov Tabargan (axis lock) with olive G10 scales. Knife was in a area of the store with they have odd collectable type knives. This knife was in great shape but when I looked at it, it had D2 steel. I didn't buy it because of that. Most of my research came up empty about the D2 steel other than chatGPT said the Shiro did use D2 in some early models and also looks like the Tabargan was a early model with the axis lock so that may fit. I thought I took a photo but I guess I didn't. I did see some Shiro fakes that have D2 but all the photos of them the D2 stamp had a different font that what's on this knife. Most of the clone photos the "2" is much smaller than the "D", on the knife they are the same size.

Just curious if anyone knows and history of Shiro and did they actually use D2 steel?

I plan to call the store tomorrow, problem is it's 200 miles away, so I can't just run over there.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[CPP]

ChazzyP should be able to answer this

 

[BluegrassBrian]

I miss my Tabargan.

 

[Hackenslash]

I have a Tabargan in 440C, which makes it one of the earliest. I’ve seen some in S35VN, M390 and I think S90V…can’t recall ever seeing one in D2.

 

[ChazzyP]

I miss my Tabargan.

I miss your Tabargan too, as I stupidly sold it some years after getting it from you.

 

[BluegrassBrian]

I miss your Tabargan too, as I stupidly sold it some years after getting it from you.

Man with those marbled CF scales done by Shep. It's out there somewhere..

 

[ChazzyP]

BluegrassBrian , I've tried to chase it down more than once. The young guy I sold it to sold it off himself. He had no record of and couldn't remember his buyer. He regretted it, bought another in CF and sent it to Shep for re-scaling. He got jerked around so bad that when he finally got the knife back he sold it just to get the bad taste out of his mouth.

In the meantime, he had bought another Tabargan--a 440C, G10 model, as Shiro had made both higher-end and more modest 100NS models--which he traded to me for a PJ Sebenza 25 and cash. I'm at least glad to have that one and it's become a regular work user.

M MaxandLuna , I've got a list from Tom somewhere of the steels that Shiro has used over the years. I think that D2 was one of them, but I'll look for it and let you know what I find. Also know that the earlier Tabargans did NOT have the iconic PacMan screws like the later model 100NS (New Series) knives.

 

[ChazzyP]

M MaxandLuna
I dug around through my files and posts plus a little web-crawling and can't find anything that indicates that Shiro ever used D2 steel. I found a post of mine over at the Bears' Den with a rather comprehensive list of steels they have used (from the Workshop's rep at the time posted) indicating composition, hardness, etc without any mention of D2. There are lots of "D2 Shiro's" listed by the usual suspects--AliExpress, DHgate, and at eBay--so I would recommend restraint without some irrefutable documentation.

 

[MaxandLuna]

M MaxandLuna
I dug around through my files and posts plus a little web-crawling and can't find anything that indicates that Shiro ever used D2 steel. I found a post of mine over at the Bears' Den with a rather comprehensive list of steels they have used (from the Workshop's rep at the time posted) indicating composition, hardness, etc without any mention of D2. There are lots of "D2 Shiro's" listed by the usual suspects--AliExpress, DHgate, and at eBay--so I would recommend restraint without some irrefutable documentation.

Thanks for all the effort. I’ve got a call into the store to see if I can get a couple of photos

 

[ChazzyP]

Thanks for all the effort. I’ve got a call into the store to see if I can get a couple of photos

See if they've got the box with pic of the end label and customs certificate (folded 8.5x11 often mistaken for a COA).

 

[Jdottinger]

Plenty of counterfeit Tabargan‘s were sold on the big river site that list D2 as the steel. I would avoid buying the knife.

Someone on r/knives posted this one the other day. Thankfully they only lost $60.

 

[MaxandLuna]

Thanks, you’re right, I think I’m gonna pass. They want $399. It’s at Smokey Mountain knife works if anyone is the area and wants to check it out.

 

[Jdottinger]

Thanks, you’re right, I think I’m gonna pass. They want $399. It’s at Smokey Mountain knife works if anyone is the area and wants to check it out.

I live 5 miles away from Smkw. I’ll try to run out there tomorrow. I wouldn’t expect them to sell fakes.

 

[MaxandLuna]

I live 5 miles away from Smkw. I’ll try to run out there tomorrow. I wouldn’t expect them to sell fakes.

I wouldn’t either, but maybe they just don’t know. When I looked at it guy said it was used and I don’t believe it had a box.

 

[Jdottinger]

I wouldn’t either, but maybe they just don’t know. When I looked at it guy said it was used and I don’t believe it had a box.

And just to be clear, we’re talking about Smoky mountain knifeworks in Sevierville, correct? Their is a “Smoky mountain blades” in Myrtle Beach that is known to sell fakes

 

[MaxandLuna]

And just to be clear, we’re talking about Smoky mountain knifeworks in Sevierville, correct? Their is a “Smoky mountain blades” in Myrtle Beach that is known to sell fakes

Yes, I went up to the fall festival this past weekend.

 

[MaxandLuna]

I live 5 miles away from Smkw. I’ll try to run out there tomorrow. I wouldn’t expect them to sell fakes.

Just curious if you went by there and looked at that knife (if it was still there)?

 

[Jdottinger]

Just curious if you went by there and looked at that knife (if it was still there)?

I haven’t yet.