Shirogorov Brothers Workshop

The most famous folding knives in Russia

Decorated with a formidable bear’s head, masculine EDC-knives have won the recognition of knife fans all over the world. Shirogorov Brothers Workshop is the most famous Russian knife brand nowadays. Collectors dream of getting a delightful custom, outdoor activities lovers consider Shirogorov Brothers’ knives as sturdy and reliable tools. The company celebrated its 10th anniversary with a new reward – in 2019 at the most prestigious knife forum Blade Show in Atlanta, flipper Quantum SR became “The best tactical knife of the year”.

SBW’s motherland is Yaroslavl. The city was famous for its artisans, including armorers from time immemorial. It fell to Sergey and Igor Shirogorov to glorify Yaroslavl in the new millennium. Brothers founded their workshop in 2009, but the history of making folding SBW knives is much older. Sergey, the older brother, was the first to fall in love with knifemaking. Although barely the boy knew this fancy word, he just desperately wanted to have his own knife. A small fixed knife made out of a hacksaw was Sergey’s debut. The knife was tiny but managed to get one of the student’s jobs done well – pencil sharpening. From a young age, Sergey was interested in experimenting with forms and sizes. Inspired by thrillers, which arrived with a fall of the Iron Curtain, the boy was producing shivs that bulky so they could embarrass Rambo’s bowie. In that period Shirogorov received his first knifemaking equipment (a friend of his helped to get emery).

Passion for fixed knives passed away after Victorinox was brought to Yaroslavl. The price for swiss multitools was unaffordable but the provincial boy found a solution. He got an old soviet rusty knife and started its restoration. He worked long and painstakingly. In two years all the details were replaced and the mechanism was renewed. The novice master realized that folders were his vocation. 

At first, Sergey Shirogorov was making knives in his spare time. With time he registered himself as an individual entrepreneur and started participating in exhibitions. It is most likely Sergey would have remained an author of excellent folding customs if it wasn’t for Igor who in 2005 offered to develop the business together. Many believe that charming and optimistic Igor was only in charge of managing business processes and promotion. That’s not the case. In the beginning, Igor was taking over the bulk of manual work, including assembly and turning. Later on, as a qualified CNC operator, he increased the machine park.

At first, the brothers have been working in an apartment, later on, rented a place in an industrial district, and hired helpers. The number of orders was increasing, Shirogorov Brothers Workshop spread into a full company, specialized in producing high quality serial tactical knives and limited 7-customs batches (Custom Division category).

Every detail of the Workshop’s knives is made at their manufacture. Manual assembling and tuning take place here too. If you’re ever offered an SBW folder that was made in China, be sure it’s a fake. Just one foreign trace might be found in these knives. It may be only in blades that are made from the best American and European steel grades. But titanium for the handles is purchased in Russia.

Authorship of the most famous SBW models is owned by Sergey Shirogorov. The knifemaker created the design of such hits as “Flipper-95”, “Hati”. “111”, “F3”. There are examples of successful collaboration with other masters among the assortment. Shiroholics (that’s what the fans call themselves) particularly like flippers that were designed by the famous Belorussian knifemaker Dmitry Sinkevich (aka SiDiS). Folders “Tetra”, “Coordinal”, “Poluchotkiy” and “Dark V” are the dream of many collectors. Flipper Dr. Death (a result of collaboration with classic American knifemaker Tom Mayo) achieved deserved success. 

In the international arena, Shirogorov Brothers Workshop stands in the same line with such industry benchmarks as Microtech or Spyderco. Russian knives won the hearts of collectors from Europe, the USA, Australia, and Africa. The name of the company became a synonym of a high-quality EDC knife all over the world.

Maria Stalina Knives shop owes a wide collection of the SBW folders. We are ready to share with you the famous serial models and exclusive 7-customs items both. It is easy to purchase a knife manufactured in Russia. Contact us and our manager will help you choose an artwork from Shirogorov Brothers Workshop taking your preferences into account.