Shirogorov Tabargan owners help me out...

knifehoarder · Nov 17, 2014

I just picked up a Tabargan (arrived today) and the AXIS lock sticks, requiring a decent amount of force when I go to close the knife. Is this a design feature to prevent accidental closure, or did I maybe get a turd?

I'm a pretty big fan of the AXIS lock on my Benchmades, but the lock is nice and smooth when I close them.

Here's a pic, just for fun. Love the looks/ergonomics/feel. Just wish it closed smoother.

View attachment 489721

goldie · Nov 17, 2014

I have one,but its not that hard to close,maybe it needs to be worked a bit since its new.mine seems to close similar to benchmades, some pressure but not very heavy...

knifehoarder · Nov 17, 2014

goldie said:
I have one,but its not that hard to close,maybe it needs to be worked a bit since its new.mine seems to close similar to benchmades, some pressure but not very heavy...

Thanks for your input. For the price I paid (over triple the actual price in Russia), I'm a little peeved that someone wasted my time with this because it came from Russia and now has to go back one way or another. I think I'm just going to try to send it back for a refund, and buy another one. I don't want to take a chance of it not breaking in, and then having to go through the headache of having it serviced and wait for it to be returned.

goldie · Nov 17, 2014

The only other thing you can do is get a pair of omega springs from benchmade or off a used bm knife and change them and see if its easier to unlock..

knifehoarder · Nov 17, 2014

goldie said:
The only other thing you can do is get a pair of omega springs from benchmade or off a used bm knife and change them and see if its easier to unlock..

I've been playing around with it, and it's definitely not spring tension - the bar is actually sticking where it seats against the blade when open. In short, I think I just got a knife that wasn't tuned properly. If I deploy the blade by releasing the axis lock and flicking, it opens smoothly and it doesn't stick at all. It sticks every single time, though, when I use the thumb stud to open it. Basically, the Axis lock is engaging unevenly, but only when uneven pressure is applied (i.e. using thumb stud on one side of the knife, rather than pulling back on axis with on both sides).

If someone is going to price gouge, the least they could do is not send you a screwed up knife that's going to have to go back around the world to get right.

RevDevil · Nov 17, 2014

knifehoarder said:
Thanks for your input. For the price I paid (over triple the actual price in Russia), I'm a little peeved that someone wasted my time with this because it came from Russia and now has to go back one way or another. I think I'm just going to try to send it back for a refund, and buy another one. I don't want to take a chance of it not breaking in, and then having to go through the headache of having it serviced and wait for it to be returned.

I remember the knives when they first started popping up here the various models were all around what this one costs now. Can't bring myself to give up that much money on something that I would knowingly get deeply gouged on. Looks awesome, but there are other things I'd rather buy for that much money. Is that a licenses Axis lock or is it different somehow?

knifehoarder · Nov 17, 2014

RevDevil said:
I remember the knives when they first started popping up here the various models were all around what this one costs now. Can't bring myself to give up that much money on something that I would knowingly get deeply gouged on. Looks awesome, but there are other things I'd rather buy for that much money. Is that a licenses Axis lock or is it different somehow?

I agree. One thing I will say, in all fairness - the apparent build quality is far beyond what you'd get from a US manufacturer for $150. To be honest - it feels like just as much knife as my Sebenzas (which I love). Another part of the reason I went ahead and just bought it was because I love the look/ergonomics, already an Axis fan, and I know I'll have it a long time - or at least that's what I thought.

I believe they do have a licensing agreement with Benchmade (read it on the forums, but don't quote me on it because I didn't confirm).

If I knew for a fact it would break in like my DPx HEST folders did, I wouldn't worry about it. I just don't know because it's my first Axis from Shirogorov.

goldie · Nov 17, 2014

RevDevil said:
I remember the knives when they first started popping up here the various models were all around what this one costs now. Can't bring myself to give up that much money on something that I would knowingly get deeply gouged on. Looks awesome, but there are other things I'd rather buy for that much money. Is that a licenses Axis lock or is it different somehow?

That's what kills me about these knives. I bought a model 95 2 years ago for 400.00,and today its 900-1200 and theres no way this is a 1200 dollar knife. I cannot understand why people are putting down this much money on these knives.they are no better than a sebenza.and no one ever asked if a shirogorov was worth the price,but theres been more threads on that when the sebenza is concerned than I can count.& then theres the custom division which is 2-5k which is absolutely insane !I got my tabargan kind of cheap,too and I still don't think it was really worth it,and those are going for 1k new,too.There is so much more out there for less,and its not like they are that hard to get anymore.

NorthernSouthpaw · Nov 17, 2014

goldie said:
That's what kills me about these knives. I bought a model 95 2 years ago for 400.00,and today its 900-1200 and theres no way this is a 1200 dollar knife. I cannot understand why people are putting down this much money on these knives.they are no better than a sebenza.and no one ever asked if a shirogorov was worth the price,but theres been more threads on that when the sebenza is concerned than I can count.& then theres the custom division which is 2-5k which is absolutely insane !I got my tabargan kind of cheap,too and I still don't think it was really worth it,and those are going for 1k new,too.There is so much more out there for less,and its not like they are that hard to get anymore.

I got into the knife knut world within the last year and could not find a single thing about the Shiro that should justify it's price. Other than the fact that there is really only one place you can place in the States where you can pick one up new, and those prices are already inflated. However, If people are willing to pay those prices, which they are. Then.........

goldie · Nov 18, 2014

Theres a dealer on the exchange and one or two on ebay who sell them,too,at an average of 1000.00 to 1200.00;for a little bit more id rather be patient and find a Q36 or an Overkill.

knifehoarder · Nov 21, 2014

Just a quick update - this is basically like a case of lock-stick, but it seems to maybe have gotten a little better. Still not thrilled with that part, but aside from that it is one beautiful and well-built knife.

My HEST/F folders were both terribly sticky at first, but at some point during the break-in, the lock-stick just went away completely and has never returned. I would've never believed those two knives would be so sweet when I got them...sticky locks and stiff pivots to start, but now they're smooth as silk, and still rock solid.

rookie4real · Nov 21, 2014

I am on a same boat with those who can't justify the price for Shirogorovs. Several years back they were selling for 400-500, I was actually thinking of getting one. Then suddenly, almost overnight the prices have doubled and tripled. I couldn't believe my eyes, when the first batch with those prices got sold out at TNK in no time. I actually suspected somebody purposefully trying to inflate the price, you know, offering a product at a higher price, then buying it himself, to create a visible demand.
Needless to say, will not be owning one anytime soon, especially after hearing complains about ridiculous failures like with the knife in this thread. There is a video on YouTube where a new frame lock lost a detent ball out of frame and nested it inside the blade.

knifehoarder · Nov 21, 2014

rookie4real said:
I am on a same boat with those who can't justify the price for Shirogorovs. Several years back they were selling for 400-500, I was actually thinking of getting one. Then suddenly, almost overnight the prices have doubled and tripled. I couldn't believe my eyes, when the first batch with those prices got sold out at TNK in no time. I actually suspected somebody purposefully trying to inflate the price, you know, offering a product at a higher price, then buying it himself, to create a visible demand.
Needless to say, will not be owning one anytime soon, especially after hearing complains about ridiculous failures like with the knife in this thread. There is a video on YouTube where a new frame lock lost a detent ball out of frame and nested it inside the blade.

Every manufacturer is going to have failures, although I wouldn't say mine failed - it just needs to be properly broken in (not that I like it). I've spoken with several dealers since getting this one and they all told me they're pretty stiff out of the box.

As for the inflated market pricing - yeah, I hate that too. But, sometimes you want one knife more than 2-3 others in your collection, and it becomes worth it to that individual. In my case, I am a Shiro fan and an Axis lock fan - I couldn't not own one.

By the way - this one ended up costing me $400, which is still a little nuts, but not 5 figures like some of the higher end models.

RevDevil · Nov 21, 2014

goldie said:
That's what kills me about these knives. I bought a model 95 2 years ago for 400.00,and today its 900-1200 and theres no way this is a 1200 dollar knife. I cannot understand why people are putting down this much money on these knives.they are no better than a sebenza.and no one ever asked if a shirogorov was worth the price,but theres been more threads on that when the sebenza is concerned than I can count.& then theres the custom division which is 2-5k which is absolutely insane !I got my tabargan kind of cheap,too and I still don't think it was really worth it,and those are going for 1k new,too.There is so much more out there for less,and its not like they are that hard to get anymore.

I cannot disagree with anything you write there. I was close to buying the 95 in S90V, then the price was multiplied by 2.5 times. No thanks, I'd rather buy a new Sig, or even an AR for that much and still have enough for quality ammo and a nice folder. There is such a thing as a point of diminishing returns and some folks do have more money than sense it seems.

goldie · Nov 22, 2014

(almost overnight the prices have doubled and tripled) that's what shocked me,too. I went on tnk on a whim just looking around and they were 800+, then they started going for 900,1100,now 1200.the custom division is really out of hand, seems much like the same knife with a satin blade,purple anodized,or purple g10 for 2000k, and ive seen a few for 3700 to almost 5k !It just boggles my mind. Why ? the materials and workmanship is no better than a Curtiss, Robertson,Reeve.After seeing a crk shop tour video , his knives are such an incredible value compared to shirogorov.I got my tabargan for 550,which is cheap by todays prices.I still don't really think its worth even that.,but I like it.cronidur 30 blade,black/blue g10 scales. I see them new for up to 1000k so I guess I got a "bargain".

knifehoarder · Nov 22, 2014

RevDevil said:
I cannot disagree with anything you write there. I was close to buying the 95 in S90V, then the price was multiplied by 2.5 times. No thanks, I'd rather buy a new Sig, or even an AR for that much and still have enough for quality ammo and a nice folder. There is such a thing as a point of diminishing returns and some folks do have more money than sense it seems.

I'm a Sig and AR guy, so you make good points I can relate to. I have over half a dozen AR's and 3 Sigs (all the handguns I own). I thought about that too, but the thing is - I use a knife infinitely more than I use a handgun. My Shirogorov 95 is always in my pocket and my Sigs are always tucked away in a drawer, glovebox, etc. I have property I can shoot on, so the AR's are another story.

More money than sense, though? I never agreed with that saying because it's all relative in proportion to how much disposable income you have. The more money you make, the higher percentage of your income is disposable. If a guy makes $200k a year, then $1,000 for a knife is actually less of a drain on the finances than it would be for a guy who makes $50k spending $250 for a knife. It's hardly believable that rich people got their money by being stupid (trust fund babies aside).