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James Falor

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Just had to post a couple pics of my latest fighters from Master Shiva Ki. If you don't know this man's work you will very soon--that is if you subscribe to Tactical Knives or Blade Magazine. He actually came out of "retirement" recently, and one of his Spirit Blades just BLEW-AWAY all the competition for rope cutting. His blades are true killing machines, pure combat knives through and through.
The first pics is my Spirit Blade--11 inch blade of clay-tempered Samurai steel (Ki just started doing BOTH processes together, used to be one or the other) cocobolo handle wrapped in red rayskin then in raw, black Japanese silk. It's a beautiful beast of a blade. The second pic is of my 8.5 inch Mercinary, same steel treatment as above, with razor-sharp back clip and black, African water buffalo scales. Both these knives will cut you from across the room if you look at 'em wrong! Simply wicked. In fact, if you look at the March 03 issue of Tac Knives there's a pic of Shiva and an article called "Shiva Ki re-invents sharp." It's on his website too.
 
Both certainly look interesting. I like the sculpted horn handle, and the blade on the Spirit blade.
 
The Spirit Blade is a gorgeous design. I do think that it is not complimented by the guard though.
 
What's the website? This maker has been around for a long time, but I've always had some bad vibes about him - mostly because I find him so surrounded by hype that (insert here the name of the most hyped maker you know) sounds tame. The "samurai steel" is a good exemple of a term that raises red flags all over. I suspect it's just damascus.

There's one of his Spirit Blade available on Primo Knives. It's a pretty knife for sure.
 
Joss--I agree, his gaurds may not be works of art, but they protect your hand which is what they're supposed to do. As for hype, I just got an e-mail from him about 2 hours ago and the article on his knives out-cutting any other MS knives (at least in rope-cutting) is due out in the March 05 issue of Tactical Knives (maybe Blade) supposed to be on newstands in early Dec or so. His website is www.shivakicustomknives.com. I'm certainly not trying to put him out as the "best maker of all time" or some crap like that, all I can tell you is that I have owned knives by Fitch, Fowler, Terzuola, Winkler, Emmerson, Vallotton, Weiland, Patton, Kasper, Polkowksi, Brend, etc...and none of them came anywhere NEAR being as just plain SHARP as Ki's knives are. You really have to handle one to know what I mean. Ask Buddy S. on this sight, I sold him an old Mercinary I had of Ki's--just a plain-ole stainless blade-- and he about freaked-out. Buddy collects pretty much ONLY fighters too, so he's handled some killers. I just e-mailed Ki and asked him if he can tell me the difference between his Samurai steel and his clay-tempered so maybe he'll get back with me. When he does I'll post it up here. Jim USMC
 
A knife that deserves a second look instantly! Very handsome, indeed! :)
 
He's been updating his website and I can't get it to open at the moment (first time this has happened to me) but that IS the correct address. I'd just check back in a while.
 
James Falor said:
As for hype, I just got an e-mail from him about 2 hours ago and the article on his knives out-cutting any other MS knives (at least in rope-cutting) is due out in the March 05 issue of Tactical Knives (maybe Blade) supposed to be on newstands in early Dec or so.
Click to expand...
What do you mean by "all other MS"? Is he an ABS Mastersmith?
 
All right, I went on his site. Here's the only mention I found of Samurai steel:

Spirit blade cleanly severs a 3 inch Oak limb with a single stroke.
Created in the traditions of the Koto period (cold sword). Smooth flowing lines; lights, fast, with full distal taper. Koto samurai steel has a distinct visibil grain. Press out a bamboo pin and the handle and guard take-down.
The handle is mounted with stingray skin wrap with japanese raw silk; soft and warm in the hand.
Blade is 10 inches long.
$900 for clay tempered.
Click to expand...

Now, I happen to have researched Nihonto a little bit. I own a Koto Wakizashi, a 14th century short sword. This doesn't make me an expert on Jpz bladesmithing, but I will tell you this: the claim "created in the traditions of the Koto period" is absolut BS without further precision. It raises a whole new series of little red flag in my mind.

As to his knives blowing away the competition, I'll wait to see the article. The pictures on the site show cords that are bundled together with tape, so I have no reference point as it's different from what the ABS does typically (I think).
 
Unless he passed his MS test this year I don't think he is a MS. He is not included on the ABS Mastersmith list on their website.
 
I am very interested in his knives. They are very appealing in their simplicity, and of course, the cutting ability. If anyone has any past info about him, OTHER THAN "vibes" or whatnot, I'd be greatly appreciative if you'd relate it here. The internet has an institutional memory loss - stuff that happened prior to 1993 just ain't here in detail unless it was important. So I've been able to find zilch about him.
If you've been collecting since the 80s and recall him, I'd appreciate your input.
 
Your "vibes" not-withstanding, all I can tell you is that I have handled a LOT of weaponry, in The Corps and out, and what I think is "BS" is the value so many people put on the letters "MS." Just because say Mike Tyson is named "Champion of the World," are you both CERTAIN that means there is NO OTHER man on the face of the planet that just MAY be able to beat him like the proverbial "re-headed-step-child?" I don't think so. Did you read the articles on his website from the 03 Tac. Knives Magazine or the 86 Gung Ho mag? Shiva told me, and I'll take him at his word until proven otherwise, that at the New York show he's going to offer anybody MS, JS, BS, WHOEVER, a chance to out-cut one of his knives. Have either one of you ever handled a Ki knife? Have either one of you swung one at a 3" oak limb and watched it split like a wet noodle? I have. I think it's good to be skeptical, just don't be a slave to your "vibes." Jim Falor PS--I CAN tell you his Samurai steel starts off with L-6 as the main steel and that, usually, 1095 is the steel used in his clay-tempered knives. SEMEPER FI
 
I don't have any "vibes" about Master Ki at all. I just want to know what samurai steel is, because it costs a whole lot more than his regular steel. As far as the MS thing is concerned, you stated that he was an MS, Joss asked if he was indeed a MS and I filled in the information as I knew it. It doesn't bother me at all that he isn't a MS. Some of my favorite smiths are are not members of the ABS at all.
 
Keith, I apologize. While I didn't actually refer to Shiva as a MS, I certainly did give the impression he was by referencing him along with "all other MS knives." To my knowledge, he isn't a member of the ABS at all--at least he's never told me he was. His knives aren't stamped as such either--simply "Shiva Ki--Knifemaker," or just Shiva Ki. So, I stand corrected and I was referring to Joss' when I mentioned "vibes." The Samurai steel is very pretty--NOT Damascus, but, as it says on his website, it has a "grain" to it, with things that look like lightening-lines, etc....almost like a wood grain. Shiva will not divulge his "formula" for making it other than it starts life as whatever I said above (L-6 or 1095) and then he does some "things" to it that turn it into what he calls his "Samurai steel" Now Joss, I'm sure your spider-senses are tingling and there are bad-vibes and red-flags flashing everywhere for you and as I said before, I don't begrudge you those instincts at all. I think we'll just have to wait and watch the knife-rags over the next few months and see what happens. Maybe I'LL be proven to be the naive pigeon who fell for the hype but, I'm wagering not. Jim USMC
 
James Falor said:
I think we'll just have to wait and watch the knife-rags over the next few months and see what happens. Maybe I'LL be proven to be the naive pigeon who fell for the hype but, I'm wagering not. Jim USMC
Click to expand...

Unless the knife rags are conducting independent tests of one of his knives against a broad sampling of the knives of other makers, I'm not sure anything meaningful will be resolved. But more to the point, as long as YOU are happy with the way the knife looks, feels and performs, what does it really matter? I don't see why it is necessary for you to endorse any or all of the claims made by the maker (or made by others on his behalf) in order to enjoy your knife.

What would be interesting is to see whether this maker would enter one of the many ABS cutting competitions that take place throughout the calendar year. These competitions may not be a perfect scientific means of determining the "best" blade, but you can be sure that the winner has built a superior, durable blade capable of performing a number of varied tasks (not just one).

It's a real nice looking big knife James. Enjoy it.

Roger
 
Roger, you are abso-freakin-lutely right. I LOVE Shiva's knives and I guess I get a might bit defensive when I think someone is questioning whether or not I know a decent knife or not. I think Shiva is sending Dominique Beaucant (sp?) to the NY show and he's going to put-out the word to any and all that want to come back to his place--I guess he lives real close to the show--to come back to his place and have a video-taped cutting competition. I know Shiva especially wants to try and get people like Fitch (I had one of his bowies and it was a dandy) and others who have won a lot of these ABS-Show cutting competitions to come and let it all hang-out. I think I'm gonna end my part of this thread though because I seem to have started a big controversy that I never intended to start. I think Shiva makes some SUPER knives and I, personally, have NEVER had a SHARPER knife made by ANYONE. Period-end of sentence-end of story. Jim USMC Signing-off!
 
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