The Bears' Den--Shirogorov Showcase

[ChazzyP]

I got mine today. I wasn’t expecting to be blown away, but, I really am. A superbly engineered and built knife with remarkable mechanics. So nice to have expectations soundly exceeded once in a while.

Thanks for posting those. Your pics are always excellent and seeing the details on your new Pero is a real treat. When I first saw pre-release photos over at USN I was really intrigued by the knife. The RDD has always been something of a grail for me and the Pero jumped right to the top of my like list along with that one. I'm glad to hear you're so pleased with your new knife and that it's so remarkable mechanically. Given the excellence of Shiros to begin with, that this knife has exceeded your expectations is quite a testament.

I fail to understand why a lot of guys will buy 100 Spydercos, ZTs and BMs, yet opine a Shiro isn’t worth the money. Quality over quantity wins me over every time. The fit alone on that Pero blows me away.

Exactly Sure you can get 3 or 4 ZTs for the price of most Shiros but what a ONE you will have. I'd rather one spectacular than 6 blahs.

Ray

Interesting thoughts, guys, along with the commentary by Casinostocks . I had already accumulated a lot of knives before picking up my first Shiro and still have a couple dozen each of Spydies and BMs, a half-dozen lionSTEELS, and a few ZTs. I've also got quite a few "mid-priced mid-techs" (is that a thing?)--numerous RHKs and CRKs along with a couple Cheburkovs, an Olamic, a TRM RJ Martin, a Les George, and a few others of similar caliber. Those mid-techs are valued here, are mostly used, and are mostly keepers.

I've done quite a bit of winnowing down since becoming a Den-izen, trying not to hang onto knives that don't get used, aren't of particular interest, or fall into Ray's "blah" category (like ZTs I've sold). This is an ongoing and not speedy process, but is definitely influenced by having a half-dozen Shiros. As serial production models they're still "spectacular" and are well worth a 6-to-1 swap any day.

As I wrote in the OP here some 1350 posts back, "Needless to say, I totally love these knives and there's lots to say about them, but all I'll mention for now is they share the seemingly contradictory qualities of being both over-priced and completely worth it."

Here's the two I carried yesterday.

 

[marchone]

ChazzyP ,

I understand completely. Since my folder awakening less than two years ago I bought exactly one flipper, a Realsteel S571, used it for a few months, then sprung straight for a Shiro with no steps in between. The Realsteel had great ergos but terrible production values. Soft screws, easily jammed pivot, etc.

Honestly, it was my previous long and tedious learning curve with firearms in the 90s that prompted me to short cut the journey.

 

[ChazzyP]

ChazzyP ,

I understand completely. Since my folder awakening less than two years ago I bought exactly one flipper, a Realsteel S571, used it for a few months, then sprung straight for a Shiro with no steps in between. The Realsteel had great ergos but terrible production values. Soft screws, easily jammed pivot, etc.

Honestly, it was my previous long and tedious learning curve with firearms in the 90s that prompted me to short cut the journey.

I don't regret the Spydies and BMs I still have, most of them remain as personal favorites and most of those are users. I've got some old-school BMs that I'm particularly fond of-- Elishewitz Blue- and Dark-stars as collectibles; AFCKs and a TSEK as users; 710s and 705s as personal favorites and oft-carried pieces. I've got others in regular rotation. Spydies include several Militaries--favorite users with at least a vague resemblance to certain Russian knives, though not as much as the aforementioned AFCKs--and collections of all the Sages and most variants of the Tenacious (my gateway knife into better modern folders that I just have a soft spot for). Most of my other Spydies are in rotation like my BMs.

Still, using the RayseM principle, if push came to shove I'd trade my Sage collection or most any 6 (or more) of the others above for the right Shiro. That goes for any or all of my lionSTEELs or remaining ZTs, but my other mid-techs would take more careful consideration as I'm quite fond of them.

 

[marchone]

I’m not knocking any of them as users though aesthetically I can’t stand the Spydie hole and am not fond of the BM lock button. I was once gifted a Delica. I never used it. Too attention getting in Manhattan. I gave it away.

My primary driver was the Shiro drop point blade shape. RealSteel does it with a few of their models as do Cherbukov and Spartan Harsey among a handful of others. When my One Bear F3 popped up I grabbed it first. I have no regrets.

It is great folder. But neither will I collect more. Despite how tempting they are. I’m just more of a user than a collector at this point in my life.

 

[Casinostocks]

It’s interesting that you mentioned your Spyderco Deluca atttacting too much (wrong) attention in your Manhattan locale. I also live in a major city, San Diego County and although not being as large an NYC and having less restrictive knife laws on the books here, I hazzard using my larger Shiros in public because of the way that the blade rockets out when flipped open and for that reason I carry a NeOn Lite when I intend to use my folder in and around the public. I guess that as always YMMV adage applies.

 

[marchone]

I EDC a Laconico Keen or EZC in town. Nevertheless, I got into the habit of flipping open a folder at my side. It’s less obtrusive that way.

 

[Stumpy72]

Relative newbie here. I started into mainstream folders (BM, ZT, Spyderco) around the middle of last year, moved into CRKs last fall and I’m now close to moving into Shiros. I’d like to move into Shiros where I’ll end up instead of starting out on the cheap and moving up the ladder. I live in an area infested with "weapon"-hating liberals and LEOs that cater to their every whim, so I hesitate to carry a 111 because of the size. I think I’d be best in the 95mm range and I prefer all-Ti flippers.

My question is this: What in the opinion of the Shiro crew would be “the” classical/archetypal Shiro for somebody in my situation? I’ve been looking at them for a while now and I’m leaning toward a 95T in M390, but I’d like to know what others think.

 

[21bangbang]

What amazing looking knives. I really want one, and I'm sure they're worth the money. Im just not sure i could bring myself to use such a expensive knife. I'd cry the first time I scratched it up. Very jealous of everyone's knives in this thread.

 

[aleforme]

Relative newbie here. I started into mainstream folders (BM, ZT, Spyderco) around the middle of last year, moved into CRKs last fall and I’m now close to moving into Shiros. I’d like to move into Shiros where I’ll end up instead of starting out on the cheap and moving up the ladder. I live in an area infested with "weapon"-hating liberals and LEOs that cater to their every whim, so I hesitate to carry a 111 because of the size. I think I’d be best in the 95mm range and I prefer all-Ti flippers.

My question is this: What in the opinion of the Shiro crew would be “the” classical/archetypal Shiro for somebody in my situation? I’ve been looking at them for a while now and I’m leaning toward a 95T in M390, but I’d like to know what others think.

I have basically followed the same path as you for the most part. I have multiple CRKs and have recently gone down the Shiro rabbit hole.

I got an older 95T (see my previous posts) and also a HatiOn Light. The 95T is a big knife. It "feels" quite a bit larger than a Large Sebenza and it's a bigger blade in overall acreage. I also really like the HaitOn size. It's basically the same size as the Neons. Much closer to the Small Sebenza.

If you're worried about getting approached by the police, you might consider the Neon Lite/Ultra Lite or HatiOn Lite. Much more "people friendly".

I live it Seattle which sounds similar to what you're describing and I've never has an issue with carrying larger folders. But, you're mileage may vary.

 

[marchone]

What amazing looking knives. I really want one, and I'm sure they're worth the money. Im just not sure i could bring myself to use such a expensive knife. I'd cry the first time I scratched it up. Very jealous of everyone's knives in this thread.

My choice of an F3 was partially guided by similar use concerns. Cost was another. You basically can't scratch it up. Except for the blade of course. It's a working knife through and through.

 

[Casinostocks]

Same situation as the two friends above me. I do have larger Shiros including a 111CF but that is not for use in public in So. Cal. Stumpy, If you are really concerned about the parameters as you have laid out, then listen to the above advice and go with the 3.25" NeOn or HatiOn Lite varieties if those are your primary concerns because both F3 and F95 will scare the bejesus outta the easily scared none-knife types. But if I were you and the fund$ were not prohibitive, I'd go for one of each, i.e, one pf the larger ones and one of the littler guys.

Those with a CRK may also want to consider keeping one because the CRKs are not flipper. As for me, I will be letting go of my last ever CRK because the concerns stated are not really that big of a deal for me but if I were to work in an office or something like that, those concerns would also register high enough for me.

 

[marchone]

Those with a CRK may also want to consider keeping one because the CRKs are not flipper. As for me, I will be letting go of my last ever CRK because the concerns stated are not really that big of a deal for me but if I were to work in an office or something like that, those concerns would also register high enough for me.

Agreed. I'm on the CRK wait list for an Impinda slipjoint. I should have one in hand by late spring/early summer. NYC knife laws are onerous. To those who think it's only guns under attack it's already happened in NY.

 

[ChazzyP]

Relative newbie here. I started into mainstream folders (BM, ZT, Spyderco) around the middle of last year, moved into CRKs last fall and I’m now close to moving into Shiros. I’d like to move into Shiros where I’ll end up instead of starting out on the cheap and moving up the ladder. I live in an area infested with "weapon"-hating liberals and LEOs that cater to their every whim, so I hesitate to carry a 111 because of the size. I think I’d be best in the 95mm range and I prefer all-Ti flippers.

My question is this: What in the opinion of the Shiro crew would be “the” classical/archetypal Shiro for somebody in my situation? I’ve been looking at them for a while now and I’m leaning toward a 95T in M390, but I’d like to know what others think.

What amazing looking knives. I really want one, and I'm sure they're worth the money. Im just not sure i could bring myself to use such a expensive knife. I'd cry the first time I scratched it up. Very jealous of everyone's knives in this thread.

For size and my uses the F95T is "'the' classical/archetypal Shiro", especially for someone who prefers all-Ti flippers, Stumpy. Of course the two areas in which I reside--Cape Cod and rural Vermont--do not give me pause carrying any sort of knife. I frequently pocket my NeOn UL, but often as not it's a second carry as I prefer more handle real estate on my knives given their more outdoor and construction-oriented use and my beat-up old carpenter's mitts. I find the long flat run starting at the 95's ricasso to be very useful. As far as ergos go, most of what makes Shiros so great in hand is the shape of their handles, but the milling on the Turtle makes something great even better. There are SRBS Turtles out there in M390 at rather attractive prices given the introduction of the R series 95s with MRBS and interior milling. My Turtle is pre-R in M390 and I have no desire to trade it in for a newer model. It's very smooth, flips aggressively, and I would have been very happy ending up there. It's still my most carried and oft-used Shiro. (In the interest of full disclosure, I did buy an F95R anyway, having been bitten by the Bear Bug bad.)

As for scratching up such an expensive knife, 21bb, aleforme had a good idea in purchasing an older Turtle. That keeps the price down, minimizing any loss should one decide to move on. As I recall, his knife is S30V--still a great steel in Shiro's iteration--but, as I mentioned above, there are SRBS F95s to be had in M390 at decent prices. I've also bought a number of CRKs and my Hati on the Exchange in user condition and this makes it easier to put a higher end knife right to work without worrying about that first scratch. They're still functionally great knives, built to last and perform despite a few cosmetic issues. You also need to figure out what you'd want your Shiro to be. Is it a drawer-queen to be taken out, fondled, and admired, fearing any devaluing marks, or is it one of the best knives you can buy to be put in your pocket, taken out to cut stuff, and to be enjoyed for its intended purpose?

 

[RayseM]

My F3 was my first Shiro and absolutely a perfect knife compared to all other customs and mid-techs I have ever owned in that near $ 1,000.00 price range. I sold it while it was still near perfect as a "practical " matter. In retrospect would have been best to remain impractical.

Just sold a HatiOnLite which was a wonderful little knife but underwhelming compared to the big brother. Now I'm back in the market for a full size Shiro. Though, admittedly might need to get ChazzyP to adopt me as a fellow New Englander/woodworker/Shiro admiring kin and let me use some from his collection now and again so that I can figure out exactly what Shiro suits me best. All in good time...

Ray

 

[mikomonday]

Group shot for now

 

[21bangbang]

For size and my uses the F95T is "'the' classical/archetypal Shiro", especially for someone who prefers all-Ti flippers, Stumpy. Of course the two areas in which I reside--Cape Cod and rural Vermont--do not give me pause carrying any sort of knife. I frequently pocket my NeOn UL, but often as not it's a second carry as I prefer more handle real estate on my knives given their more outdoor and construction-oriented use and my beat-up old carpenter's mitts. I find the long flat run starting at the 95's ricasso to be very useful. As far as ergos go, most of what makes Shiros so great in hand is the shape of their handles, but the milling on the Turtle makes something great even better. There are SRBS Turtles out there in M390 at rather attractive prices given the introduction of the R series 95s with MRBS and interior milling. My Turtle is pre-R in M390 and I have no desire to trade it in for a newer model. It's very smooth, flips aggressively, and I would have been very happy ending up there. It's still my most carried and oft-used Shiro. (In the interest of full disclosure, I did buy an F95R anyway, having been bitten by the Bear Bug bad.)

As for scratching up such an expensive knife, 21bb, aleforme had a good idea in purchasing an older Turtle. That keeps the price down, minimizing any loss should one decide to move on. As I recall, his knife is S30V--still a great steel in Shiro's iteration--but, as I mentioned above, there are SRBS F95s to be had in M390 at decent prices. I've also bought a number of CRKs and my Hati on the Exchange in user condition and this makes it easier to put a higher end knife right to work without worrying about that first scratch. They're still functionally great knives, built to last and perform despite a few cosmetic issues. You also need to figure out what you'd want your Shiro to be. Is it a drawer-queen to be taken out, fondled, and admired, fearing any devaluing marks, or is it one of the best knives you can buy to be put in your pocket, taken out to cut stuff, and to be enjoyed for its intended purpose?

Every knife I've ever owned has gone straight in the pocket and put to work. I work in a glass shop and have a hobby cabinet shop so they get what id consider heavy use, cosmetic damage is guaranteed. I've just never spent more than about $300. I'm not sure I'd feel the same at 1k+. I'm in no way a collector so that side just doesn't appeal to me. Think ill start keeping my eye out for a used one that might be better suited for my purpose. Someone must have dropped their shiro and scuffed/nicked it up and thus selling. That's probably the one for me. I sure do want to try one, from these pictures they look amazing.

 

[TRfromMT]

Relative newbie here. ....

My question is this: What in the opinion of the Shiro crew would be “the” classical/archetypal Shiro for somebody in my situation? I’ve been looking at them for a while now and I’m leaning toward a 95T in M390, but I’d like to know what others think.

I would say the Turtle is 'the' Shiro that most folks think of. It took me awhile to migrate into Shiro territory, and was considering them when I first saw a Turtle and was instantly hooked. What a knife! I think a lot of guys have a similar story when first encountering one.

(Of course the Pero posted recently has elicited the same reaction, and had I just now got to this point that knife may be my entry point, albeit a much more expensive one.)

 

[ChazzyP]

Speaking of Turtles, I touched up the edge on mine and pocketed it to go work over in the shop today. This knife and my large 21 CF Seb are my two most oft-carried work users and both have the scratches and marks to show the love. This Shiro is one tough knife and the M390 blade takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'.

 

[Casinostocks]

I am also another Den-izen because of the F95 Turtle. Just like Tony, I always loved and ogled over that pattern and when the time was right, I jumped into the Den by getting a 111CF as my first ever Shiro

Seriously though, if I ever had to sell ALL my knives (not too many as compared to some other nutters on these parts of the knife world), the Turtle would be the one which I would keep in a folder and a couple of my Carothers for my fixed blades. Actually I hope that day would never come because if it does, I would be devastated!

 

[Megalobyte]