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The Bears' Den--Shirogorov Showcase
- Thread starter ChazzyP
- Start date
ChazzyP
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The F3NS is very tempting considering that my F3 predates the R series. Of course that one is my Python which will never leave my possession given that it was both my first Shiro and the best example I've seen of that scale material on any knife. Given that I'm quite pleased with all my Bears, be they "outdated" or more current models, any new purchase likely would constitute an additional knife anyway and not a replacement. Is too many Shiros a bad thing? The wallet cries out in terror
while the knife drawer beckons 
.
Landshark99
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CPP
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Would you mind doing a quick comparison between the F3 NS and what appears to be an F3R underneath it?
Landshark99
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I am really liking the NS it is lighter the blade shape is different so that is a subjective choice I like both, for me the thing that makes the NS better is the clip, the F3 is way to tight and hard to use. The NS liners are thinner and hollowed, the carbon fiber feels maybe thicker in hand, ther is jimping in the CF scales, the lanyard hole is more accessible. The NS CF scales expose a little more of the titanium liners in artistic way. My F3R has single row ball bearings as opposed to the Multi of the NS, honestly them feel pretty similar
ChazzyP
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Thanks for the F3 comparison,
Landshark99
, but I think your older knife is not an R series. R series knives are all MRBS with steels like M390 (not Elmax). As with other R series knives, I believe the F3R's also have the "5/6th's" grind and interior weight-lightening milling along with the other usual R upgrades.
Like the 111 series, Shiro has offered less costly, parallel versions of the F3 with more modest features alongside their R series models. Those "lesser" knives I recall seeing have the pivot collars and I don't recall if they've been offered without those, so I'm unsure as to whether your earlier knife is the newer, more modest F3 or an older model.
Regardless, that F3NS is really sweet. Congrats on picking that one up and expanding your sleuth!
Landshark99
, but I think your older knife is not an R series. R series knives are all MRBS with steels like M390 (not Elmax). As with other R series knives, I believe the F3R's also have the "5/6th's" grind and interior weight-lightening milling along with the other usual R upgrades.Like the 111 series, Shiro has offered less costly, parallel versions of the F3 with more modest features alongside their R series models. Those "lesser" knives I recall seeing have the pivot collars and I don't recall if they've been offered without those, so I'm unsure as to whether your earlier knife is the newer, more modest F3 or an older model.
Regardless, that F3NS is really sweet. Congrats on picking that one up and expanding your sleuth!
Landshark99
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Thanks for the F3 comparison,
Like the 111 series, Shiro has offered less costly, parallel versions of the F3 with more modest features alongside their R series models. Those "lesser" knives I recall seeing have the pivot collars and I don't recall if they've been offered without those, so I'm unsure as to whether your earlier knife is the newer, more modest F3 or an older model.
Regardless, that F3NS is really sweet. Congrats on picking that one up and expanding your sleuth!
You are probably right about it not being a F3R, the card just says F3 and i just followed the lead of the previous poster. It is just an older F3, I bought it a long time ago but I also do not remember seeing F3s back then with weight-lightening milling. The Hati I bought back then with weight-lightening milling, M390 came with washers, there seem to be more types of pivot systems offered back then. The Custom Division 95T also bought that year is on multi roller bearingsThanks for the F3 comparison,
Like the 111 series, Shiro has offered less costly, parallel versions of the F3 with more modest features alongside their R series models. Those "lesser" knives I recall seeing have the pivot collars and I don't recall if they've been offered without those, so I'm unsure as to whether your earlier knife is the newer, more modest F3 or an older model.
Regardless, that F3NS is really sweet. Congrats on picking that one up and expanding your sleuth!
ChazzyP
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You're absolutely right re older F3's having no interior milling and I didn't mean to indicate that they did. I also have one of those older Hati's you mention on washers which is considerably lighter than its F95, full Ti brethren due to the interior milling combined with its G10-only show side. Shiro pivot systems are always evolving and newer configurations are introduced as some of the older disappear. I do like their PB washer knives in addition to those on ball or roller bearings as the former have that CRKish hydraulic feel. My Tabargan is on washers and is like a BMK on steroids.
Anyway, this F3 chatter has gotten mine out of the drawer and into my pocket for the day. Perhaps it will convince my wallet in the opposite pocket to stay closed as its owner fights the temptation to spring for an F3NS like your new beauty. Our friend
CPP
had asked for your thoughts on the NS as his F3R is his favorite Shiro EDC and he's fighting the same urge. This Shiro thing is a lot like resisting the Borg....
CPP
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I'm not quite sure how reliable my ranking system is, but earlier in this thread I called my F3R my go-to knife and below is my old favorite. This was the Shiro that first caught my eye and, after buying the Ultra-Lite first, my second purchase of a Shiro. I prefer the backspacer of the Lite over the standoff of the Ultra-Lite.
SVTFreak
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Speaking of older shiro’s, I finally located an older hati on washers. It’s s30v, full flag grind but does have the jimping and milling on it and a cf scale. Should be here Saturday from another generous member.
I saw someone above mention pivot bushing, I think in relation to another washers knife. Did they ever use pivot bushings? I didn’t think so but am no expert. Sure would be nice if they did ala sebenza for the washers knives! Do they even make a washers pivot any longer?
I saw someone above mention pivot bushing, I think in relation to another washers knife. Did they ever use pivot bushings? I didn’t think so but am no expert. Sure would be nice if they did ala sebenza for the washers knives! Do they even make a washers pivot any longer?
ChazzyP
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I don't think they still make knives on washers anymore,
SVTFreak
. I really like my Tabargan and Hati on PB washers and was very pleasantly surprised to find a pivot bushing in the latter upon disassembling shortly after I received it.
The action was poor when I got the knife as there had been several previous owners and the knife had not been well cared for. I tuned it up in the same manner as I do my CRK 21's, taking the washers down a couple hundredths of a mm each, polishing them on an old loaded strop, then lubing with NanoOil. The action is very nice now, though quite different than the BB knives. While the turtle has often been compared thusly, the Hati on washers is truly the Sebenza of flippers.
SVTFreak
. I really like my Tabargan and Hati on PB washers and was very pleasantly surprised to find a pivot bushing in the latter upon disassembling shortly after I received it.The action was poor when I got the knife as there had been several previous owners and the knife had not been well cared for. I tuned it up in the same manner as I do my CRK 21's, taking the washers down a couple hundredths of a mm each, polishing them on an old loaded strop, then lubing with NanoOil. The action is very nice now, though quite different than the BB knives. While the turtle has often been compared thusly, the Hati on washers is truly the Sebenza of flippers.
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mikomonday
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The Hati is the model made in any substantial number with a pivot bushing system (like the Sebenza 21). The F95, 111, and F3 are also available in washer models however those are standard non-pivot bushing phosphor bronze washer setups.
Coincidentally, the only way you will get a new washer knife these days is if you acquire a new custom from Sergey with the pivot bushing system, which he admits still has its merits. It's upgraded a bit though and the pivot is integrated into one of the washers to minimize tolerance stacking
SVTFreak
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That’s awesome. I kinda can’t wait now to see if it has the pivot bushing or not.
chazzy, I had a Tabargan once also. It was the single smoothest knife I’ve ever felt. I kinda miss it. This one I know is still tight. It’s brand new. My last one was right till I broke it in a bit. So I think that’s all it’s gonna take. But I might take it apart just to see what pivot it has. Being a later style older hati, in kinda hoping it does.
chazzy, I had a Tabargan once also. It was the single smoothest knife I’ve ever felt. I kinda miss it. This one I know is still tight. It’s brand new. My last one was right till I broke it in a bit. So I think that’s all it’s gonna take. But I might take it apart just to see what pivot it has. Being a later style older hati, in kinda hoping it does.
mikomonday
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I'm pretty sure on this but the Hati was only every available with the pivot bushing before being upgraded to MRBS on the HatiR, there wasn't ever a non-bearings Hati that wasn't pivot bushing.
On another note, really like the new marble carbon fiber that Carbonplate is doing, it even resembles carboquartz a bit at first glance
On another note, really like the new marble carbon fiber that Carbonplate is doing, it even resembles carboquartz a bit at first glance
SVTFreak
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I'm pretty sure on this but the Hati was only every available with the pivot bushing before being upgraded to MRBS on the HatiR, there wasn't ever a non-bearings Hati that wasn't pivot bushing.
On another note, really like the new marble carbon fiber that Carbonplate is doing, it even resembles carboquartz a bit at first glance
I didn’t know that! Thanks. Is it a pivot bushing like the sebenza that eliminates the needs for tuning the pivot, other than 3000g polishing of the washers?
ChazzyP
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It's been a while since I had the knife apart, but my recollection is that the pivot bushing in the washered Hati was like the one in my Sebenza 21's. You might just be getting me to disassemble the knife to see....
