Take-Down: 111 MRBS

27,21 Asymetrical bearings on the Model 111 MRBS.
More significantly is the curving direction and hence the correct orientation
when putting things back.

Being a bigger knife, it doesn't see as much carry time. Aka less chances of idly flipping and closing on the couch.


While it doesn't bother me too much that it does not drop as fast and smooth as my other Shiros, again it was curiosity that got the better of me like the last take down on the Banner F95.


Anyway after brunch today...






The 111 here has pretty tight tolerance on every movable part. The construction is also quite unlike most other Shiros I have taken apart so far.

Yup, little things like this "holder" to neatly line up the screws are important to me. Even while working on things, a clutter free environment is always a priority.

From the marks left behind on the blade side, it would seem one of the row is barely touching. Still with the remaining 14, it's pretty sufficient. Interestingly its the stepped-in profile on the lock face near the detent ball...

An internal stop-pin design but with a 1/2 and 1/2 channnel. the force of the stop pin located on the plate would still be mostly on metal to metal contact. Not smacking into carbon fiber. Strong as CF are but withstanding forces against their grain isn't their strong point.

... and the reason for the lock face shape. To interface with what's on the blade. Not really new for the 111s, just something I have not noticed till now.

Other than curiosity about the innards, I have always wanted to open this up and see if it can be tuned closer to the feel on my other 111.

The detent is a little stronger on this. Closer look reveal that size of detent ball and location are indeed different. When at lock up, it can be seen the detent is a little higher up as well. A little mental gymnastic of lever-load-pivot-fulcrum, it isn't hard to see why and how all these made a difference now.

Top: 111 MRBS, Bottom: 111 washer
Detent ball size not too apparent but the 111 mrbs one is larger with more exposed area. A smite higher which together with the position (higher up near the recessed area on blade) makes it a little stiffer but the multiple bearings no doubt aids in the centrifugal force when firing the blade open. The washer 111 on the other hand is a well tuned piece of finery that locks into position with an almost surreal sureness. It has to be felt in real, words are just insufficient. To this day, honestly i prefer this over the MRBS 111.

Couldn't help to hold up to check out the milling on the retainers. Compare to many caged retainer bearings on the market, well...

The tight tolerance on the non lock side bearing tells me a few things.. First there is a sandwich plate (I reckon its titanium) between the bearings and the carbon fiber face. The tightness made it not possible to remove the retainer and balls. At least not with the tools at hand now. Still trying to figure this one. So it was cleaning up as much before repacking between the crevices left between the ball and retainer grooves.

A big question in my mind has always been whether it is just the balls that rotate or its both that and the retainer revolving when a blade is fired. A question spurred during one of those blade gatherings by Koji-san. I've always maintained that it's the balls that moved, not the retainer. Any movement in the retainer would only be rather slight.

It is in this regard that I have always tried to re-pack lubes like I would in load bearing applications on other stuff. Trying to get the viscosity right with grease or mix that will "stay" and not be too easily forced out over time which happens to too viscous a lube.

Not a fan of oil lubing alone. That's only something reserved for race day preps on bikes where every microsec counts. Only to be repacked again afterwards. Oil makes everything fast but noisier and will wear things out faster

Anvil's F(x) 38 "Wasabi-Mayo" : 70/30 concoction of Shimano Durace Ace Bearing grease and Chris King Spline lube + a couple drops of ZX1 Micro Oil.

Alright my secret is out. There's a lot of other nice slick lubes out there. Ain't much of a rocket science. Just happen that this works for me on most ball load bearings for a fine balance of things normally associated with such applications.



Let's quit the ramblings and move on...

Getting the amount right and not making a mess is almost a Zen pursuit these days. Having to wipe down is so errm "un-perfect" :)

While putting things back together, it just struck me that if the next 111 outers come in a combination of titanium and carbon fiber with some hollowing out and or 3-D profiling (leaving part of the liner/ back spacer exposed etc?) that could make it pretty rad looking. Ok idea shelved for potential custom project.

Shirogorov Model 111 CUSTOM

S90V blade, duck foot screws and some 2 x 2 twill? CF on a Shirogorov Model 111. Well I guess this just isn't the usual run of the mill production. The first thing that came to mind though after seeing a pic was "What would the action be like?"


A good action washer flipper is not easy to come by but there is really is no way of telling from a pic. Yet it was a hunch this is one. Let's skip my usual long wall of text and yes the opening action is good. Ok, better than good. Enough for me to put down all my other bearing flippers. Serious.



There's enough comments floating around about good Shiro flippers on washers and how they are comparable to bearings or even better. I have handled a few. No, not all are better or equivalent but this one certainly shines. In all honesty I have no idea what makes it so except that since this one with its special configuration would likely mean it is hand tuned for sure to a higher degree of perfection.

Examining it from all sides, the finishing even at the most remote bits of the knife is well finished. No details were spared.

I had the good fortune of not just comparing with other knives but also another 111 belonging to a friend. A prototype. Thus the differences were not merely extrapolating on a subjective feel. A well tuned washer can indeed be superior in many ways. The prototype in itself was not too shabby and being a proto, there is a whole piece of history in itself... I see it as these 10 pieces eventually giving rise to all the other 111 including mine here... For those who are following Shirogorov knives will know that this year is where the 111 is boosted up with MRBS.... all from the humble beginning of these few prototype washer ones...

 Outwardly apart from materials, there are only very minor differences.

 What may not really stand out, yet significant in 111s is the shape and size of the flipper tab. Not exactly small but low profile and a shape that defies smooth opening. For such a big blade, with the contact point of the tab pulled backwards so much, normally it would work against the flipping action.

Yet...


Video speaks a thousand word....




Like many other knives, there are tons of information out there. Everyone needs to Google search at least once a day anyway. The 111 would not be an exception so let's just focus on some more pics...

I have a zero-CF policy on my bikes but ever since it came to knives-- I've been a sucker for CF. This one here really shines through all other CF in my collection so far.

Now for a little detailed milling

Any Shiro with such screws is of course a piece to covet but I am not relishing on the thought of needing to open it up. Finding the right tool would certainly prove to be quite an exercise in itself.

The default "from the left" and "from the right" shots...

Centering? Like any good knife made with pride... Spot on.

But why all the excitement over older washer action Shirogorovs when the rage in the folding knife world is surely about who has the best bearing systems these days. Even Shiros come with a whole array of SRBS, DRRBS and MRBS which must have some wicked whipping action too. While the latter two are some things I have not tried, quality action of MRBS is what I can attest to.

Yet as things started to take form in my collection I wanted a different context at least for a start. Within these beautiful Russian blades lies a subset of nothing but washers with different opening system. Each tells a story of how things evolved from early year as bearings catches on. Yet tucked within the craftmanship of each, the quality and action of these older knives will rival most things today. In fact exceed many newer and supposedly running on better systems.

Gotta say I'm pretty happy so far with my Shiro blades. All washers here.

Goodnight