The Bears' Den--Shirogorov Showcase

Current state of collection, EXCEPT the astrum, and another f3ns in the mail!
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Pompous said:
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Astrum landed today. It is... definitely big. It is JUST on the border of being TOO big. But the amount of blade that is packed into a handle that fits perfectly into my hand is pretty outstanding. I'm curious how everyone is finding the flipping action? I think I have some technique adjustments along with some break-in time to do, but moreso than any flipper i've purchased over the last few years (Save the Kami....) this one is tearing my finger up. Going to give it plenty of time to check the break-in, oil the detent ball, try some different techniques on opening, etc. No need to rush it for the time being.

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Shiro always kills the clip game, but the Astrum is an incredible example. Perfect depth, great retention, 0 hotspots, fantastic details, perfect chamfers on every single angle/edge. So many makers/companies under-develop the clip - this might not be the full Mini Quantum active/rotational clip, but DAMN does it just.. work. Very well.
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Same issue here with the flipping action. It's eating my fingers up, I'm right handed but I can flip it easier left handed. I don't think it's a technique problem, the detent is too strong for the small flipper tab. I've flushed it with WD 40 and worked it open and shut manually several times, blown it out with compressed air and oiled the detent ball. Worked it open and closed many more times and it's still a B to flip. At this price point I feel like this issue should not exist. I love everything else about it, nice thin 4" blade that would make a great one to carry but not if it's painful to flip. If someone has an easy fix I'd love to hear it.
 
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rockman0 said:
Same issue here with the flipping action. It's eating my fingers up, I'm right handed but I can flip it easier left handed. I don't think it's a technique problem, the detent is too strong for the small flipper tab. I've flushed it with WD 40 and worked it open and shut manually several times, blown it out with compressed air and oiled the detent ball. Worked it open and closed many more times and it's still a B to flip. At this price point I feel like this issue should not exist. I love everything else about it, nice thin 4" blade that would make a great one to carry but not if it's painful to flip. If someone has an east fix I'd love to hear it.
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So, I dodged a bullet?
 
DocJekl said:
So, I dodged a bullet?
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You just keep telling yourself that. 😆

That’s what gets me through.

All kidding aside, that’s exactly the sort of thing that drove me nuts about the Kami. An amazing knife in all other respects, and truly gorgeous. But I just couldn’t tolerate that, and considered it a fatal flaw for my use. I had to sell it for that one reason.
 
rockman0 said:
I believe you did, I'm no knife mechanic, but I'm sure the detent can be made lighter, hopefully someone will chime in with a fix other than sell the knife. :(
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Adding too much detent to what I already feared was too much blade makes me happy that I didn't get one - I snagged a Brown Knives model instead (TBA)...
 
I have carried my Astrum for 2 days straight now and it has broken in very nicely. I don’t have any issues flipping it open, nor do I find the detent too strong. It now drops shut like my other Shiros after putting a drop of 10W NanoOil on the detent ball. To be painting this knife as a dud or somehow defective is way too strong of a judgment IMHO. It may not be for everyone given the small flipper tab, skinny handle and long blade, but I certainly like it and it will be a regular part of my carry. The handle is nearly identical to the Bio, pretty much exactly the same dimensions and the blade is just a bit longer than the Bio’s blade.
 
rockman0 said:
Same issue here with the flipping action. It's eating my fingers up, I'm right handed but I can flip it easier left handed. I don't think it's a technique problem, the detent is too strong for the small flipper tab. I've flushed it with WD 40 and worked it open and shut manually several times, blown it out with compressed air and oiled the detent ball. Worked it open and closed many more times and it's still a B to flip. At this price point I feel like this issue should not exist. I love everything else about it, nice thin 4" blade that would make a great one to carry but not if it's painful to flip. If someone has an easy fix I'd love to hear it.
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I'm going to continue to reserve judgement at this stage. It definitely feels rougher on my index finger than i'm used to from other flippers - but i also tend to be more of a thumbstud guy in terms of my collection so im willing to say that I probably have lost some of the index strength/toughness that comes with using a flipper.

I'm hoping that it's a situation where either I will get used to it, or it will break in.

I will say though, there was a point in time where I would not even consider a QC issue/that my knife might have too strong of a detent - unfortunately, enough recent issues with detents on the various RJM collabs and other models does mean that I cant help but wonder. I wish I had another buddy who lived close by to compare actions to see if my knife is different or if I'm the "issue" in the equation.
DNAIrradiator said:
I have carried my Astrum for 2 days straight now and it has broken in very nicely. I don’t have any issues flipping it open, nor do I find the detent too strong. It now drops shut like my other Shiros after putting a drop of 10W NanoOil on the detent ball. To be painting this knife as a dud or somehow defective is way too strong of a judgment IMHO. It may not be for everyone given the small flipper tab, skinny handle and long blade, but I certainly like it and it will be a regular part of my carry. The handle is nearly identical to the Bio, pretty much exactly the same dimensions and the blade is just a bit longer than the Bio’s blade.
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Def agree it's too early to write it off. There are so many variables that influence these things its impossible to proscribe a judgement. I will say, this is way more nebulous than my experience with the Kami - with the Kami, I knew within hours that the knife just would not work for me. For me, the Astrum does, its just not as smooth and seamless to deploy as I tend to expect from Shirogorov. But again, with so many variables, I dont know if the knife is the issue, or if I am. Both/either are very possible conclusions.
 
Pompous said:
I'm going to continue to reserve judgement at this stage. It definitely feels rougher on my index finger than i'm used to from other flippers - but i also tend to be more of a thumbstud guy in terms of my collection so im willing to say that I probably have lost some of the index strength/toughness that comes with using a flipper.

I'm hoping that it's a situation where either I will get used to it, or it will break in.
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I'm still waiting for the delivery, but as far as I remember, the Stellar FP gave me similar impressions at first. It was quick to break in, and furthermore, I suddenly discovered that it's much more convenient to push the flipper with the intermediate phalanx, not with the distal.

It may depend on your palm anthropometry, but for the last year I tried this method with all my flippers (85 ... 111mm) and it feels more natural and comfortable, than pushing with forefinger pad.

Anyway, since the declared weight / blade size ratio is nearly perfect for me, I bought more then one as anti-OCD precaution 🙃 -- I don't want to depend on pure luck, I'd rather consciously choose the one without issues / flaws to enjoy my first MagnaCut blade from Shiro.
 
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Hey all, if you are interested in the eknives quantum BE VERY CAREFUL, as they have made fakes of them now. An esoteric model to fake, but they have done it. I had a friend excitedly show me his "new shiro he got for a steal" and yep.. its 1000% fake. So, if ya see a deal too good to be true.. it might be.

Edit to add: it had FULL LOGOS, Which i didnt think the fakers did.
 
crk1984 said:
Hey all, if you are interested in the eknives quantum BE VERY CAREFUL, as they have made fakes of them now. An esoteric model to fake, but they have done it. I had a friend excitedly show me his "new shiro he got for a steal" and yep.. its 1000% fake. So, if ya see a deal too good to be true.. it might be.

Edit to add: it had FULL LOGOS, Which i didnt think the fakers did.
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Oh yeah tons of the fakes have full logos/markings...they just photoshop them out of the advertising pictures. What were the tells that it was counterfeit?
 
Ilikesharpstuff said:
Oh yeah tons of the fakes have full logos/markings...they just photoshop them out of the advertising pictures. What were the tells that it was counterfeit?
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I can take pics if needed, but its slightly larger in all dimensions than the real, if you look into the bearing area you see it has the cheap white plastic bearings, and the overall details are.. wrong. After i get off work were going out for drinks, ill look closer!
 
Bacchus said:
I'm still waiting for the delivery, but as far as I remember, the Stellar FP gave me similar impressions at first. It was quick to break in, and furthermore, I suddenly discovered that it's much more convenient to push the flipper with the intermediate phalanx, not with the distal.

It may depend on your palm anthropometry, but for the last year I tried this method with all my flippers (85 ... 111mm) and it feels more natural and comfortable, than pushing with forefinger pad.

Anyway, since the declared weight / blade size ratio is nearly perfect for me, I bought more then one as anti-OCD precaution 🙃 -- I don't want to depend on pure luck, I'd rather consciously choose the one without issues / flaws to enjoy my first MagnaCut blade from Shiro.
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Tried this for a bit today and definitely dont think it's for me - heh - glad it works for you though! Truly a good reminder that there are so many variables when it comes to things like this.

I am finding the opening action to be - or at least to feel - much better if I rotate the knife/my hand 90 degrees. So if I hold the knife with the blade spine facing me(rather than the show scale facing me) and open in that orientation, finding much less pain/noticeable wear on my index finger.

Hard to say if i'm simply getting used to the detent strength after being away from flippers for a while, or if the orientation truly matters/makes a difference.
 
Pompous said:
Tried this for a bit today and definitely dont think it's for me - heh - glad it works for you though! Truly a good reminder that there are so many variables when it comes to things like this.

I am finding the opening action to be - or at least to feel - much better if I rotate the knife/my hand 90 degrees. So if I hold the knife with the blade spine facing me(rather than the show scale facing me) and open in that orientation, finding much less pain/noticeable wear on my index finger.

Hard to say if i'm simply getting used to the detent strength after being away from flippers for a while, or if the orientation truly matters/makes a difference.
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Keep in mind that thin and narrow scales make it possible to put pressure on the tab-lock apron unintentionally, thus increasing the detent strength! Are you sure that middle finger does not touch the apron? 🙃

That's what happened to me more than once, while I was trying to flip my Astrum with index finger pad.

A rather uncommon pitfall for a liner-lock knife, since the lock-bar is supposed to be hidden in closed position. And I never had the issue with my Stellar, which has wide and relatively thick scales.
 
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