The Bears' Den--Shirogorov Showcase

[SACBALLZ]

I'm unfamiliar with that "custom heat treats" protocol, but my experience with Shiro is that they do an excellent job on every blade steel I have or have had including M390, Vanax 37, Elmax, S30V, Cromax, and 440C. No issues with with chipping or edge retention and good ease of sharpening for each variety.

there is a gentleman who works in an accredited lab that does steel testing and analysis as his profession, that is into knives, and has been rockwell hardness testing knives and created a database. very professional, and way over my head for alot of it. I understand the rockwell stuff, but for steel that can be destructively tested, he does some very complex testing and analysis. he is the one i saw talking about shiro doing custom heat treats by batch, so i believe that to be the case, but not sure if they also do it for their more affordable pieces. I imagine they do, because even the "affordable" options are still very expensive.

here is the database, it is growing every day.

Steel Hardness Lab | Rockwell Hardness Testing Database

Independent Rockwell hardness testing of knife steels. Professional-grade testing by certified metallurgical technicians using calibrated, ASTM E18-compliant equipment.

steelhardnesslab.com

here is the authors reddit profile which is good reading for steel information. he posts more context here almost daily

https://www.reddit.com/user/679696/

He is now in communication with Metal Complex(not my favorite content creator, but his reach is vast), and MC is trying to get him some contacts in the industry to hopefully get alot more samples for testing. currently, he offers paid testing if you want to send blades in for testing, they then get added to the database for the community.

As far as his Shiro testing goes, which has been limited thus far, one of their Magnacut samples tested 64.6hrc! One of their s90v samples testing 62.8! Fantastic results, both are at the tippy top end of the "desired" spectrum. By comparison, a Hinderer Magnacut sample has been tested all the way down at 60.8, which for transparency is a few years old and they have since improved their process and now arrive in the 62 range. Microtech has been all the way down in the 58s, absolutely embarrassing. Not many s90v samples have been tested but CJRB's sample tested in the 60s. When you take into consideration that single points can provide exponential performance increase/decrease, you begin to understand how impressive Shiro's results are. One of the few "production" companies that you can rely on their steel being treated properly, another is Spyderco. There are some stomach churning results in there for alot of people, so make a drink if you need to LOL

 

[slopoke7]

All ti Thursday! Love my stellar and it is one of my main daily drivers. I do have to tune this detent, seems to have lightened up over the past year(s).

 

[SpyderPhreak]

 

[Jsega51]

S SACBALLZ , don’t mess around on your first Shirogorov, get an F95 of some sort, either the F95 Zero (there’s slightly older models with 4mm blade stock and the newer generation with 3.5mm) or go for an F95NL (NL = inlay, there’s 4mm and 3.5mm blade variants) which will be slightly thicker and feel grippier than bare Ti. Either way it’s based on what you think you’ll like but that’s my take, go for the F95 models, they are the bread and butter of Shiro.

 

[SACBALLZ]

S SACBALLZ , don’t mess around on your first Shirogorov, get an F95 of some sort, either the F95 Zero (there’s slightly older models with 4mm blade stock and the newer generation with 3.5mm) or go for an F95NL (NL = inlay, there’s 4mm and 3.5mm blade variants) which will be slightly thicker and feel grippier than bare Ti. Either way it’s based on what you think you’ll like but that’s my take, go for the F95 models, they are the bread and butter of Shiro.

What do you think about a Stellar? i do really love the f95 but i feel like i'd be more inclined to carry the 3.5in blade of the stellar. I definitely want a step up from a ursus and the like, im pretty settled on a stellar or f95 of some type

 

[Jsega51]

What do you think about a Stellar? i do really love the f95 but i feel like i'd be more inclined to carry the 3.5in blade of the stellar

I love mine, they did a great thing by adding those machined grooves all the way around the frame, it makes the knife lock into your fingers when cutting things or even when manipulating the action of the knife. They aren’t a ton smaller but they have a more compact feel which is nice in the summer months when I seem to carry mine more due to wearing shorts.

Here’s the F95 Zero and the Stellar together:

 

[SACBALLZ]

I love mine, they did a great thing by adding those machined grooves all the way around the frame, it makes the knife lock into your fingers when cutting things or even when manipulating the action of the knife. They aren’t a ton smaller but they have a more compact feel which is nice in the summer months when I seem to carry mine more due to wearing shorts.

Here’s the F95 Zero and the Stellar together:
View attachment 3139975

I think i would be happy with either, just whatever deal comes up first. a stellar just sold on the exchange, lnib, for $750, within maybe 10 minutes of being listed. now i just need to be patient and get there in time lol

 

[SACBALLZ]

I think i would be happy with either, just whatever deal comes up first. a stellar just sold on the exchange, lnib, for $750, within maybe 10 minutes of being listed. now i just need to be patient and get there in time lol

A denim overkill just sold for $1350 on blade binge, ultra sick knife. I thought about sezzle-ing that and selling half my collection to pay for it LOL

 

[TacTiFrameLock]

S SACBALLZ , don’t mess around on your first Shirogorov, get an F95 of some sort, either the F95 Zero (there’s slightly older models with 4mm blade stock and the newer generation with 3.5mm) or go for an F95NL (NL = inlay, there’s 4mm and 3.5mm blade variants) which will be slightly thicker and feel grippier than bare Ti. Either way it’s based on what you think you’ll like but that’s my take, go for the F95 models, they are the bread and butter of Shiro.

I agree here. I would go F95 (if you want titanium scales & frame lock), F3 (if you want composite scales and liner lock) or the NeOn (smaller F95 with titanium scales & frame lock). These model lines feature Shirogorov's best/most famous handle shape (some F3's even comes with 3D scales) and often feature the premium hidden/integrated lanyard hole, which, for the longest time, was a major hallmark of an upgraded/more evolved knife within his collection.

 

[SACBALLZ]

Do f3's ever come with micarta scales? Or are they always some type of cf.

The 111 is really beautiful to me too but it's just too big for me to carry

For me, I'm really digging the f3, f95, and neon

 

[crow2025]

 

[Jsega51]

Do f3's ever come with micarta scales? Or are they always some type of cf.

There’s a bunch out there with micarta scales, just a few years ago they put out a bunch of F3’s with different colors. There’s some green micarta variants with orange backspacers that came out even earlier than those that seem to be common in the for sale section, it’s a great color combo that was popular.

I have an earlier F3 that has G10 so there’s those out there as well if you don’t like carbon fiber.

 

[CPP]

Do f3's ever come with micarta scales? Or are they always some type of cf.

The 111 is really beautiful to me too but it's just too big for me to carry

For me, I'm really digging the f3, f95, and neon

Here are F95 NLs, one with G10 inlays and the other with Micarta. I sold them years ago

 

[SACBALLZ]

Here are F95 NLs, one with G10 inlays and the other with Micarta. I sold them years agoView attachment 3141266

those look amazing. i actually have a Shiro that the seller was kind enough to hold for me until Saturday, which I'll pay him for first thing that morning. I won't share what it is yet, I still can't believe I'm actually doing it. But it sure isn't an Ursus I'll say that much. It's definitely going to be an incredible first experience with a Shiro, that much is certain. I've never even seen one in person, nevermind hold one. Really pumped and grateful to the seller, can't wait to have it in hand.

 

[slopoke7]

The family grows! Based on some excellent referrals from this thread, I decided to add the Astrum to the stable. I was super worried about blade size, but those worries quickly went away. The knife carries smaller than my F95 NL and Hati. Love the apron lock and the amazing milling detail. I can’t believe I waited this long to purchase it. Would definitely recommend!!!!

 

[BP Green]

The family grows! Based on some excellent referrals from this thread, I decided to add the Astrum to the stable. I was super worried about blade size, but those worries quickly went away. The knife carries smaller than my F95 NL and Hati. Love the apron lock and the amazing milling detail. I can’t believe I waited this long to purchase it. Would definitely recommend!!!!View attachment 3141784View attachment 3141785View attachment 3141786View attachment 3141787View attachment 3141788View attachment 3141789

 

[slopoke7]

View attachment 3141865

You sold me on it BP Green !!!!!

 

[SACBALLZ]

The family grows! Based on some excellent referrals from this thread, I decided to add the Astrum to the stable. I was super worried about blade size, but those worries quickly went away. The knife carries smaller than my F95 NL and Hati. Love the apron lock and the amazing milling detail. I can’t believe I waited this long to purchase it. Would definitely recommend!!!!View attachment 3141784View attachment 3141785View attachment 3141786View attachment 3141787View attachment 3141788View attachment 3141789

amazing collection, that's basically identical to my taste and goals for my collection. after i pick this shiro up this week, i think next on the hit list will be an arius. i really love those usamb exclusives with the dlc handle. either that, or a smaller shiro, ie neon or stellar

 

[RBB2]

The family grows! Based on some excellent referrals from this thread, I decided to add the Astrum to the stable. I was super worried about blade size, but those worries quickly went away. The knife carries smaller than my F95 NL and Hati. Love the apron lock and the amazing milling detail. I can’t believe I waited this long to purchase it. Would definitely recommend!!!!View attachment 3141784View attachment 3141785View attachment 3141786View attachment 3141787View attachment 3141788View attachment 3141789

The Astrum is my favorite regular production Shiro! They nailed the action even better than normal, to the extent that's even possible, on my first production model.

 

[slopoke7]

amazing collection, that's basically identical to my taste and goals for my collection. after i pick this shiro up this week, i think next on the hit list will be an arius. i really love those usamb exclusives with the dlc handle. either that, or a smaller shiro, ie neon or stellar

Thank you for the compliment. I have one more Shiro coming to fill up that top row. My OCD would not let me leave it open. My goal is to now move on to grabbing collabs and CDs. I also need an F3 to complete my production lineup.

I went through all the small batch makers like Brown Knives, eutsler, machinewise, hog house, Robjohnsons, and realized for me it’s Shiros, Koenig and CRKs. It’s like the Cold War in my knife box.