Shiva Ki

IF it is getting ugly, that is because you and James are carrying on an unabashed lovefest for Shiva Ki in the WRONG DANG FORUM!!

It should either be in the Custom Knives forum or PM'd.

That is my take on it anyway, but if the Moderaters wanna keep it here and unlocked, than I have a feeling that it will take a turn for the uglier, rather than the gooder.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
"Misguided soul"? He shoots. He misses.

Leatherbird, your hero, Shiva, gets judged by his conduct on this forum as well as by your rave reviews. He posted extensively here in a thread until banned. He has claimed he is several times more skillful than any other maker on Earth. He repeatedly blatently peddled his wares although politely warned by the moderators that such action was against the rules. Then there are his claims for supernatural powers.

You want to support this guy, feel free. He makes pretty knives that some like and sells them for impressively high prices.

If criticism of his conduct offends you, I can only echo Bro Buddy S.
 
Thank you,Mr.Linton,your post was scrambled but I did get "pretty" and "impressive"leatherbird out.
 
Normally we talk about knives on other forums, but I've been thinking we might as well leave this discussion here because if we split the thread and moved the talk about knives to another forum it would probably turn ugly and end up getting moved back here. Looks like I was right.... :cool:
 
This is the first time I have posted in this thread. I read through the ENTIRE original locked thread to see what all the fuss was about. Several things came through from reading it.

1) The knifemaker is evidently an unusual character, eccentric if you will, and he describes his knives in superlative terms which offended some of the people who take everything literally. In my opinion if he has developed a technique to create a layered steel with grain pattern, he should be entitled to call it "samurai steel" if he wants to. Anybody with half a brain would know that is a modern day marketing term and that his blades are not samurai swords. The guy is passionate about knives, it shows in the way he talks as well as in the blades he makes. So if some of the language he uses seems too far out, just take it with a grain of salt. No need to be outraged over it.

2) It is clear that Shiva Ki makes very sharp knives that appear to out-cut anyone else's when it comes to rope cutting. The knife shown in the photos is the "Spirit Blade," one of his standard knives and not one especially made for rope cutting. Perhaps the number is not "three times as much," since it was stated that someone's knife cut 9 ropes, so 16 isn't 3x9. However, 16 is still a lot more ropes than 9. Some posters stated they needed more proof. Besides photos and videos, the only other proof they could have would be to witness it in person. That is an illogical argument to say that just because you haven't seen it yourself, that it can't be true. That is the same tactic of people who say the astronauts never landed on the moon or the holocaust never happened.

3) In his posts he seemed to put down the work of other knifemakers, got involved in arguments with other forumites, made threatening remarks and got himself banned. He stated that he apologized to Big John. Obviously he got ticked off and said things he shouldn't have. However I also noticed that there were some real immature a**holes leaving posts which were obviously designed with the sole purpose of causing more ugliness. In my opinion those people also should have been banned.

4) Shiva Ki stated that he had knives available AFTER HE WAS ASKED by other posters how to order. As for his repeated posts with the same message, it looks to me like he was expecting to get a reply indicating that they got it. To me it looks like someone new to computers, expecting forum posts to work the way email does. At any rate, he probably is better off without all the hassles he received here.

5) No, I am not Shiva Ki, nor his son, nor his neighbor. It should be clear to everyone from my exemplary typing skill, manner of speech, and level of rationality that I am not. However, I do think he was treated pretty badly by the forumites.

6) There seems to be some people who actually enjoy arguing over stuff. This topic seems to have attracted a whole bunch of them. Now that I've stated my opinion, I don't intend to post any more in this thread. I have no intention of wasting my time arguing with some jerk over the computer.
 
Just to clarify a couple of points: What's this about "a technique to create a layered steel with grain pattern"? As far as I know it's just ordinary 1095.

"Besides photos and videos, the only other proof they could have would be to witness it in person." Not at all. All we want is a report from reliable witnesses (and there wouldn't be any problem finding some, at any knife show).

As far as who got banned and why, you only read one of the threads....
 
Actually Mr. Linton, if you had READ this thread you might see that I also praise the work of Ed Caffrey and I also own knives by Fowler, Fitch, Crowell, Mick Strider, Rob Patton, Reese Weiland, Vallotton, and on and on. You might have also noticed the TITLE of this thread is SHIVA KI!! I might have even agreed with you that Shiva acted "Jerky" in his short time on BF however, I am CERTAIN that free speech DOES entitle me to sit and praise the work of ONE maker ALL DAMN DAY if I so choose and it also allows me to say I'd rather sit and praise a "jerky" knifemaker than sit and listen to a blowhard like you tell me I'm naughty to do it! Not a real student of the constitution are you Mr. flag-waver? Some of us have fought for that flag and ALL it stands for--maybe you have too. If you have, I'd review the statement "I may disagree with what you say, but I'll defend with my LIFE your right to say it!" I'm sure Stalin and other famous dick-taters (did I mis-spell that?) would have had a seat for you around their table of "thought-police!" Plus, like Leatherbird says, do you KNOW Shiva? Have you handled any of his knives?? I (probably like you) thought some of the stuff he said was downright HILARIOUS--5th degree warrior spirit and stuff like that--however I DO know the man can make a knife. I also know he's a former Army Ranger, a multi-degree black belt in some martial art, and that he did indeed win a state toughman contest at age 60. Is he eccentric? Yup. Maybe even REALLY eccentric. Does he make what I consider to be great fighters--yup. Is all of this too much for you Mr. Linton?? If you tell me that I shouldn't talk about his knives (I mean ADVERTISE his knives) anymore, then I promise I won't. What exactly makes you feel so THREATENED by this discourse Mr. Linton? Perhaps THAT's the REAL puzzle here!!! If you don't like this thread--TURN THE CHANNEL!! :eek: Liking what I want---Jim SEMPER FI
 
Whoa! Gentlebeings, you are at liberty to talk about Shiva Ki and his knives, and that includes praising them. You are not at liberty to make personal attacks against those who disagree with you.
 
Cougar, I promised I'd be good and I will. Please retract that last diatribe and just leave oldpappy's in. Well said. I however DO understand why he was banned--I read a BUNCH of his threads. My problem is that I don't like to be TOLD whose knives I can and can't like or can and can't talk about. I laughed my BUTT off reading some of the "mystical musings" of the Master, but I didn't know that once someone was banned we were no longer to utter the name. Anyway, I'll go now. I think I'll slice through some 8" steel I-beams in one pass with my Spirit blade! :D Jim
 
Kudo's to you James Falor.Got sick of slicing I-beams with my Shiva and have quit sticking it in the sidewalk out front.It's too hard to pull out and I'm afraid I may scratch the blade. Two friends are ordering SK's this week. I think I'm through with this thread and feel I have learned something. leatherbird out.
 
It is a matter of HOW they are talked about.

I have a few points of my own.

1. There are some terms that are taboo to certain people. If I make a knife, of a proprietary steel, and decide to term it "Satanic Virgin's Blood" steel, someone is going to get seriously offended really quick. There are those of us that take umbrage to the term "Samurai Steel" for whatever reason. We all have our reasons, and they seem valid to us. Arguing about it probably won't change the choice of name that the maker chooses to use, but it can still be unctious, regardless.

2. The best rope cutting knife has yet to be determined. There are some serious players getting better every day, and the playing field changes. There is ABS rope cutting, and there are other organized groups as well. The OKCA, for a while, had a seriously excellent rope cutting competition( I played, but never placed), but that has gone the way of the dodo bird. Ed Schempp and Bill Burke are two competitors that many have never heard of, but can cut with the best of them. Neither one are tooting their horns about it, but using it to learn about what they do with their chosen steel, and how to get better.

3. Any time that you refer to YOURSELF as a Master is when you are finished learning. This applies to Martial Arts as well as Bladesmithing, as well as just about anything. Both my Sensei, and his Sensei are humble, stating that they are simply learning, and growing all the time. Miura Sensei was recently promoted to 10th Dan in Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu, and sits closest to the Imperial Family of Japan in formal events, but still makes it a habit of bowing to ANYONE before they can bow to him, it is a sign of humility and respect that we can ALL only hope to emulate.

4. I have e-mailed some of the people involved in this thread in the past, and found them to have good hearts and open minds, but like anyone, have passionate beliefs in their chosen makers. This is understandable, when digging deep in one's wallet, they would like to have a quality product. I do find that some of the principles involved have resulted in ignoring the status quo, and forging forward. This is also to be expected, even encouraged. But the important part to remember is that even though you don't have an opinion that matches everyone else's, it does not mean that they are wrong. It just means that you like what you like, and will not change your mind about it. I like Shiva Ki's blades enough, but I think his handle treatment is uglier than a fat man in pink spandex. That is MY opinion, it might work great, but it looks awful.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
It took my 15 years following the mystical path of Dis'is'Bulsheet to reach this level. You may now return to your State approved mind control. Thank you for your time. :D
 
Hi,leatherbird here and first off,in no way is any disrespect meant but who told you SK uses1095,I think that's a secret he keeps close to the vest.I know I said I thought I was done with this thread but interesting posts require attention.
 
leatherbird said:
. . .who told you SK uses1095,I think that's a secret. . .
Click to expand...

It's published in a number of articles, on-line and in print, that SK uses 1095 for his forged / clay tempered blades. ;)


As far as his "Samurai Steel". . .*shrugs shoulders*. . . but I would venture to say that it isn't as "mystical" as claimed.

The blade material(s) that is used by the masters in Japan is published. The secret isn't in the material, but the manipulation of the material.
 
Thomas Linton said:
You want to support this guy, feel free. He makes pretty knives that some like and sells them for impressively high prices.

If criticism of his conduct offends you, I can only echo Bro Buddy S.
Click to expand...


:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
Hey guys,K999 were you refering to the handles on the Spirit blades,I presume you are?I love mlne in cocobola,especially the flaring on the butt/pommel.G1,sorry,I was posting about the SAMURAI STEEL,and agree it's about the manipulation of the material.
 
I think you're pretty-much dead-on Kohai. I studied several forms of martial arts too--never came close to reaching any serious level of competence--but ALL the men I trained with were VERY humble and gracious. That's why I can't help but laugh at many of the things SK said in some of the past threads. That being said, I do think there comes a time when "political correctness" goes TOO far. I don't think anyone here has said anything threatening (unlike SK) and as far as watching "the way" you talk about someone--or in this case, their work--I think that crosses a line as being too cautious. If using the word "Samurai" offends some people I think "those people" have a problem. I know about the Samurai history and tradition and granted, I doubt they'd approve of SK's "one man band." Still, maybe I'm offended by the word "silly." I still think I'd be silly to expect others to tap-dance around the word just to avoid offending 1 person out of millions. At least SK only signs his knives with his name (no Master) and the word "knifemaker." I notice most Master Smiths are quick to put an MS somewhere on the blades of their work--and I think they certainly have EARNED that right. Anyway, I blather-on. I agree with what you say ALMOST entirely. Best wishes--Jim USMC
 
My new SK is only stamped SHIVA,with his distinctive H.Perhaps this would be a way to date SK's.
 
Ordered first 'merc blade from SK today,Impala bone scales.Pix scene slowly coming together.Will post pix as soon as I can.
 
I hate to drag this up again......but. I sent several older blades back to Shiva Ki a couple months ago. All three knives just made their way home. All are disturbingly sharp (if you don't own a Shiva knife, don't comment). The key is he did an extensive amount of clean up, put a new handle on one because I hated the original, and stayed in constant contact with me via e-mail. This was especially important when I was notified about his shoulder injury and why he would be delayed in working on the knives. The work on the knives was great and at no charge. He also provided some history and background on one of the rare pieces I sent him.

Shiva is different....deal with it. The guy was a very well established maker when he popped on this board in the banning incident. According to Shiva he was a total novice to computer use and it was the first time he was ever on a forum. He was welcomed by a moderator calling him a clown......thats great. Like many in knife world, the guy steps to the beat of his own drum. Personally, I have loved talking to the guy on the phone and exchanging e-mails. He flat says what he thinks with no remorse. He also puts up when it comes to knives. They are very sharp, and feel like air in your hand. I own a ton of customs, but my Shiva's are really special to me.

So in a nutshell, my dealings with Shiva Ki have been excellent and without any problems.
 
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