Shirogorov Neon ultra lite arrived and I'm a little annoyed...

It's a bit of a tongue-in-cheek rant.
I did buy a ZT 0450 carbon and I thought it was an absolutely excellent knife for the money. Absolutely A+ for the money.

I fully understand that to go up from that quality fit and finish is sliding way deep into the chasm of diminishing returns.
That being said, I prefer the Shiro neon to the 0450 by a decent margin.

My question is, I can't believe that it's really that hard for a production level knife to attain the fit and finish that this Shiro production neon has. That is the meat of my rant.
I don't really care where a knife is made, I just would like to see a locally-produced knife to be this quality and to have a production associated price to it. In this case I would gladly pay five six seven eight hundred dollars for this quality, but I would prefer if possible to have a local company making it so I could have it serviced quickly and easily without the hassles of Customs, delays, Etc.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mo2
I did try Chris Reeve knives. Both the small sebenza and the small inkosi. The tolerances, fit and finish are of course excellent. I frankly just didn't like the design when it was in my hand, obviously other people love it and more power to them.

To me an above $400 knife should feel good the moment you put it in your hand, not two weeks after maybe to get used to it.

I'm a bit of a artist / designer myself, and have made and sold small items that cost in the several thousand dollar range so I do understand that it is possible to get a lot closer to one person's idea of perfect than I am seeing available out there as to meet my narrowminded specific desires for design.

So to answer the obvious next challenge that will be coming yes I think I will look into designing something myself, and I will collaborate with somebody who has the experience and skill necessary to properly execute that design.
 
MSchott said:
As you will find, the knife industry is very inernational. Does it bother you that Chris Reeve was born in South Africa? Many American made ZT’s are designed by non-Americans including Russians. Frankly in 2018 who cares where a high end knife is made. I don’t get your rant.
Click to expand...
I get what he is saying.
In a real world these are my priorities :
  • Hey we all live on one planet so what does it matter.
  • Lots of businesses and crafts people making lots of cool stuff that is sold around the world; what's not to like.
In the screwed up / imbalanced world we find our selves in (mostly thanks to Walmart's greed and cut throat and thoughtless and unsustainable past practices driving jobs out of the US) these are my priorities :
  • Shop local
  • Buy USA made where possible to support what few manufacturing jobs that are left here in the USA
I buy nothing from Walmart.
 
Jumbi8 said:
I'm a bit annoyed that there appear to be no local knife makers who make a smaller flipper (3"ish) this simply well designed, well finished quality available USA made. I see a few that are larger nearer to the 4", but I'm looking specifically for the around 3" mark. Ideally a 2.9" blade so I could legally carry it just about everywhere in my nanny state of California.

Why must I have to pay $$$ and order from another country to get this quality?

ZT are you listening-you have the capability, just do it...

Vent over.

Man this (shirogorov fit and finish) is what I was looking for...



edit- I should add that I am very wet behind the ears in this hobby so clearly I don't know about that many higher end brands yet. Please enlighten me
Click to expand...
Except for a few loacations, like LA County, there are no blade length restrictions on folding knives.

https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/california/
 
San Franciso
Oakland
And Alameda all have less than 3" folding knife ordinances, otherwise this would not be so difficult.
 
Yes, true, but no such exceptions in alameda or oakland where I visit regularly.
 
Jumbi8 said:
I did try Chris Reeve knives. Both the small sebenza and the small inkosi. The tolerances, fit and finish are of course excellent. I frankly just didn't like the design when it was in my hand, obviously other people love it and more power to them.

To me an above $400 knife should feel good the moment you put it in your hand, not two weeks after maybe to get used to it.

I'm a bit of a artist / designer myself, and have made and sold small items that cost in the several thousand dollar range so I do understand that it is possible to get a lot closer to one person's idea of perfect than I am seeing available out there as to meet my narrowminded specific desires for design.

So to answer the obvious next challenge that will be coming yes I think I will look into designing something myself, and I will collaborate with somebody who has the experience and skill necessary to properly execute that design.
Click to expand...
My sebenza took about 2 days of playing with to get used to and to break in. So, two weeks is a mighty exaggeration.

I just highly doubt that a Sebenza is 300-400 dollars worse than a shirogorov. I get what you're saying, but there are tons of companies that make a very high quality knife in the U.S. And they dont require you to send the knife to effing Russia to get fixed.
 
Ferrum Forge Septer
If I were in the market for a high end 3" flipper, this would be it.
 
Last edited:
Yes, true, but who guards the guards?

Nothing to stop the "But your honor, he was waiting in a line, and is that not loitering?"

At 2.9", they can kiss my patootie
 
DrRollinstein said:
My sebenza took about 2 days of playing with to get used to and to break in. So, two weeks is a mighty exaggeration.

I just highly doubt that a Sebenza is 300-400 dollars worse than a shirogorov. I get what you're saying, but there are tons of companies that make a very high quality knife in the U.S. And they dont require you to send the knife to effing Russia to get fixed.
Click to expand...

The problem is you’re doing the same thing he is. The Sebenza is great to both you and me but not to him so $20 is too much.

DCAA37D2-24AB-4880-BAD5-3298587A45E5.jpeg

Here’s my Pirate Jack while it’s not quite up to CRK standards it’s and instantly more comfortable knife to use because of it’s organic shape and milled clip therefore it’s “worth” more money
 
GermanyChris said:
The problem is you’re doing the same thing he is. The Sebenza is great to both you and me but not to him so $20 is too much.

View attachment 889569

Here’s my Pirate Jack while it’s not quite up to CRK standards it’s and instantly more comfortable knife to use because of it’s organic shape and milled clip therefore it’s “worth” more money
Click to expand...
I never said the Shirogorov wasnt great, ive never held one. I'm saying i highly doubt a production knife exists that is 400 dollars better than a CRK. Could easily be better, sure. But by that amount? I just dont believe it.
 
DrRollinstein said:
I never said the Shirogorov wasnt great, ive never held one. I'm saying i highly doubt a production knife exists that is 400 dollars better than a CRK. Could easily be better, sure. But by that amount? I just dont believe it.
Click to expand...

While it could be confirmation bias pretty much everyone who owns one thinks they’re $400 better, who are you and I to argue
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mo2
GermanyChris said:
While it could be confirmation bias pretty much everyone who owns one thinks they’re $400 better, who are you and I to argue
Click to expand...
Im talking about build quality and extra stuff, like the warranty and convenience. I dont care about opinions in this situation, only objective things.

Its fine that he likes them more than other knives. But i believe the original claim was that there arent any U.S. companies making things of the same quality. Which is pretty wrong.
 
DrRollinstein said:
Im talking about build quality and extra stuff, like the warranty and convenience. I dont care about opinions in this situation, only objective things.

Its fine that he likes them more than other knives. But i believe the original claim was that there arent any U.S. companies making things of the same quality. Which is pretty wrong.
Click to expand...

They’re talking about build quality’s too. You reasons for not buying one are the same as mine not only am I uncomfortable with the fact that it has to go to Russia for work, the warranty seems unclearly worded.
 
Matt Bailey - a custom maker here on BF makes a very, very nice, rugged and smooth 3" flipper. I bet he would shorten the blade just a bit for you too. I just sold my Bailey 2.2 today (so I can buy a bigger Bailey flipper) but here is a look. Can be had brand new from the maker - comfortably - in the $ 300.00 range. This one is just black G-10 but they are custom. You can ask for other options.

Lots of 1st class knives available here on the exchange and many of the customs are less expensive and every bit as good - BETTER - than these high end production knives. AND often, their warranty and accessibility for service is superior too.

I also own and use a Shirogorov F3 as my EDC - which is a spectacular knife that I will likely never give up - so I'm not bashing, just adding some options.

Cheers, Ray
 
Last edited:
GermanyChris said:
They’re talking about build quality’s too. You reasons for not buying one are the same as mine not only am I uncomfortable with the fact that it has to go to Russia for work, the warranty seems unclearly worded.
Click to expand...
I have no issues with this brand, id just need someone to go depth with it before i'd believe the build quality is so far ahead of other, more easily accessible brands.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top