The Bears' Den--Shirogorov Showcase

Officer's Match said:
Thanks coiledwire and wtlj, that is just what I was afraid of - the perfect carry knife. Medium Sebenza size, but with an accent and a flipper. Time to retrieve some sacrifices from my collection...
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Haha, I just went through that to get the Neon
 
@ Nfd538, @ coiledwire, @wtlj--

Great comparison shots, guys. Very helpful. Well not so helpful for my wallet maybe. :p
 
It is definitely not a CD. This "1, 2, 3 bear thing" has just been introduced recently, right? Maybe this one was made before they started using these categories?
 
I've not seen that rear post with blue ano either, James. I have 4 Shiros and the 95T is not just my favorite among them, but probably my favorite overall.

Thanks for sharing both your knife and your awesome photography chops!
 
ChazzyP said:
I've not seen that rear post with blue ano either, James. I have 4 Shiros and the 95T is not just my favorite among them, but probably my favorite overall.

Thanks for sharing both your knife and your awesome photography chops!
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Looks like the standoff Shiro is using on the new F95R, which is a Three Bears.
 
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Curious about the standoff as well. I'm looking for my first Shirogorov trying to decide between the F95R and the F95T. Build date on the T with the blue standoff? Anyone with input on which would be a better daily carry user knife? I'm worried the new nudist will be slick vs the grippy T texture.
 
89stroker said:
Curious about the standoff as well. I'm looking for my first Shirogorov trying to decide between the F95R and the F95T. Build date on the T with the blue standoff? Anyone with input on which would be a better daily carry user knife? I'm worried the new nudist will be slick vs the grippy T texture.
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For my uses, I don't find the 95R slippery. The anodization is really well done. Also, I don't find the milling on the 95T to substantially increase the grip over the R. Both are beautiful models that you'll be proud to edc. I think it comes down to cost and ascetics to which would be best for you.

Or, you can just go with the usual BF answer; buy both.
 
My 3 bears, all in M390....
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rickpropas said:
Sweeeeet. What's coming??:rolleyes:
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ChazzyP said:
If there's a grail knife for me, it's the Dr Death. I don't know that I could ever make myself fork over that much for a knife, but if I did the next threshold for me would be putting it in my pocket and actually using it. Congrats to you on owning that beauty and for having the stones to carry it! 👌
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Just remembered this thread.... pics taken in the last 2 weeks

Thanks ChazzyP. Can never trust my pocket with things jangling in them. I pouch all my knives whenever they are carried except maybe my SAK.
Hate to say this but can't say I carry all my knives and use them. I was holding out on the ti RDD and anytime carrying a knife around without actual intent of using it just makes me feel dumb about myself :) The cf version would be easier now because of the more "work-friendly" stone wash finish. Still these have rather thin and pointy blades so whether ti or cf it won't exactly be put to those tasks I subject my beater F95 to on a daily basis.

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@ anvil_den, I do manage to carry some of my higher-end knives as users and, while I still don't want to scratch the crap out of them, they do show wear and marks. I have 2 CRKs in that category--large 21 KnifeArt CF and large 21 Insingo Micarta inlay--along with my Wilson Combat Eagle. I bought my F95T M390 new to use the same way and do carry it to work. All of those knives are always accompanied by a beater for doing the nasty stuff that I wouldn't subject even a mid-grade knife to.

It's much easier to put a knife to work after that first scratch or ding, though it's a bit of a heartbreak to get through that too. There's a very faint mark on my 111's blade--still not enough to make me use it hard at all. I did re-profile the blade to 15-per-side with a 20-per-side micro bevel, though. It was a lot of work to get through that M390, even on the EdgePro, but it will pretty much slice a hole through space-time now.

@ Nfd538--there's that Neon again. Looks damn nice with its new tail!

Edit: Fob, eh? I haven't seen our pal lurking over here. Sweet lanyard, dude! ;)
 
ChazzyP said:
@ anvil_den, I do manage to carry some of my higher-end knives as users and, while I still don't want to scratch the crap out of them, they do show wear and marks. I have 2 CRKs in that category--large 21 KnifeArt CF and large 21 Insingo Micarta inlay--along with my Wilson Combat Eagle. I bought my F95T M390 new to use the same way and do carry it to work. All of those knives are always accompanied by a beater for doing the nasty stuff that I wouldn't subject even a mid-grade knife to.

It's much easier to put a knife to work after that first scratch or ding, though it's a bit of a heartbreak to get through that too. There's a very faint mark on my 111's blade--still not enough to make me use it hard at all. I did re-profile the blade to 15-per-side with a 20-per-side micro bevel, though. It was a lot of work to get through that M390, even on the EdgePro, but it will pretty much slice a hole through space-time now.
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The whole higher end knives and collecting is rather new to me... up till 2 years ago, folder wise it was 2 beaters close at hand that were the "do-it-al" for more than 20 years... days when a knife was just a tool. Major pocket time was this nameless "I-don't-even'know-where-it-was-made" lockback.

Bought the F95 below at a time when there was hardly even a production Shirogorov on sale. Quite unlike today and of course I was excited... but when it came and I saw the condition...that made me wanted to return the knife immediately. But shipping halfway around the world back to where it came from always carry a risk. There was hardly any talk of using a Shiro then... most of the knives are just for pics and flipping open from what I can see on forums and youtube. My collecting had a focus by that time and it's pretty obvious which brand I was after :) so the question I asked myself was are these knives as good or simply just some hyped up ninja air cutters...

It was time to retire my good ol carry too... cost less than 5% for what I paid for the F95 but was thrice a life saver in it's 20 odd yrs of "service" plus other stories, so it really is more special in more ways personally even if it doesn't garner a second look by most folks.

Next was a struggle with the edge after opening it up to clean. ... Did what a lot of folks do.. hit it with a reprofiling at ~17dps. Bad idea.. edge waschippy and edge retention poor. Redo it again at 18.5 and was better but still wasn't optimal until adding a ~22 microbevel. Been stropping it quite a bit since. Over time the edge is kinda slight convex by now which is really the best thing that happen... Just a couple swipe on the strop each week to maintain.
(I found out much later that Shiro edges are typically between 20 - 22.5 dps).

Scratches? I can relate to that part. Though the decision to make it an actual edc was made early.. but my fumbling fingers adding a few scratches on the blade throughout during sharpening really hasten the transition process :)

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anvil_den said:
Next was a struggle with the edge after opening it up to clean. ... Did what a lot of folks do.. hit it with a reprofiling at ~17dps. Bad idea.. edge waschippy and edge retention poor. Redo it again at 18.5 and was better but still wasn't optimal until adding a ~22 microbevel. Been stropping it quite a bit since. Over time the edge is kinda slight convex by now which is really the best thing that happen... Just a couple swipe on the strop each week to maintain.
(I found out much later that Shiro edges are typically between 20 - 22.5 dps).

Scratches? I can relate to that part. Though the decision to make it an actual edc was made early.. but my fumbling fingers adding a few scratches on the blade throughout during sharpening really hasten the transition process :)
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Nice 95, a_d, and good post for sure. What vintage is that knife?

I discovered the same range variation regarding the factory angle on Shiro edges when I went to touch up my four on the SharpMaker. My F3 Python and F95T were dead-balls 20 p/side and just popped to amazing sharpness running quickly up through 3 grits from brown to extra-fine with a quick strop on green-loaded leather. The only Shiro I've picked up that was wicked sharp when I got it is my Tabargan and I just stropped that one some.

I tried my 111 last, discovered that to be in the 22-ish range you mentioned, and couldn't get to the apex on the SM. I was just digging into the shoulder of the primary. I love the thin-as-hell look of the edge bevels on Shiros and had been reluctant to re-profile one, but figured it was as good a time as any to give it a shot and out came the EdgePro. As I mentioned in the previous post, it took quite a lot of work, but I'm really pleased with the results. What surprised me--but really shouldn't have--when I was done was that the edge really doesn't look any broader. Just goes to show how wonderfully thin-behind-the-edge that knife is. Big :thumbup: for that full flat grind!

That 15 p/s with the 20 p/s micro is my preferred edge, with the 15 done and polished on the EP and the 20 done on the SM and stropped. Makes touch-ups easy on the SM and stropping yields that slightly convex edge you mentioned. Another big :thumbup: for that one too!

As to the chippiness you mentioned in your F95 at steeper angles, my only experience with S90V has been with a BM 940-1, a knife which I only liked for its handle-scales. The factory edge on that was toothy, but wicked sharp, and developed a couple tiny chips early on. I cleaned it up and sold that one. Have you found similar results with low-degree angles on Shiros in other steels?

And yeah, my light scratch on the 111 and another on my Python came from my usual ham-handedness when sharpening. Disappointing, yes, but like you said, it makes it way easier to stick the knife in your pocket and actually cut stuff with it as intended. :cool:

PS: It seems the sun hasn't shone here on the Cape for weeks, but it's finally forecast for partly today and mostly tomorrow. I'll see if I can get some good edge pics to post....
 
Got a F 95 T coming in today bought it on the exchange you guys and this thread are really pumping me up!! This will be my second as I got a Neon in S90V about 3 weeks ago. My 95 T is in S30V would have preferred M390 but beggars cant be choosy and I got a good deal on it. I wish Shiro made more knives in the 3.25" to 3.50" size range I guess my next one will be the Neon ultralight.
 
Here's the edge on my 111 that I mentioned above. Screamin' sharp for sure! :eek:

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