Rockstead Knives, worth the price tag?

[bendixenknives]

Recently I've been debating on getting either a rockstead Higo or a shin. But I've been curious as to whether they are worth the price tag or not. And should I get the dlc coated or is it not necessary?
Thanks!

 

[marcinek]

Only you can answer if they are "worth" it. People buy them for the price they ask for them...so they are worth it to them.

Not even remotely close to worth it for me. Insanely far away from worth it.

 

[nick21]

Depends on your income and threshold for diminishing returns.

My cap is $150, Rockstead knives are too rich for my blood.

 

[Sikael]

I've been debating the same thing. I have to agree with the first two posts, that without knowing your likes and dislikes regarding knives, what tasks you want to use them for, and how much that >800$ pricetag is going to hurt, it's hard for strangers to say 'this is the knife for you'.

If you're already into CRK or midtechs, and especially if you're into customs, Rockstead make some impressive knives -- possibly over-priced, but proven performers, in a way not too many companies would care to test. Lynn Thompson might challenge Rockstead to some ungodly orgy of porcine devastation, but not too many knives can cut rope like they do. If you enjoy a little recreational hemp-cutting, this really might be the knife for you .

The process of polishing the blade is very long and tedious, done by hand, and even the slightest flaw demands hours of labor to correct. From what I gather, the YXR-7 might be a bit tougher, the ZDP might be a bit sharper or have better retention, but all their blades have the same polish, DLC or no. Given how completely different the two steels are in composition, it seems apparent to me that the honzukuri grind, the very precisely controlled heat treatments, and the high-polished finish are likely responsible for most of the Rockstead levels of performance.

I'm kind of torn; the blades are beautiful but I find the handles a bit ugly; if I'm paying over 500$, I don't want to make aesthetic compromises. The collaboration between Rockstead and Dmitry Sinkevich being released later this year, the 'Shun', is one of the coolest knives I've seen... it's also somewhere near 2000$, though, so... that sucks.

 

[Sonnydaze]

A buddy of mine works at a college. When he got the Rockstead Shin, he delighted in push-cutting the phone-book in half. I suspect that a knife sharpness like that blade...is quite rare.
OTOH, he didn't keep it very long at all. Instead, he went to the Spartan Akribis, which he really enjoys.
I've had expensive folders, like XM-18's and the Gareth Bull, but they're in the past and I do NOT expect to buy a Rockstead. It is more of a "curio" to me.

SIKAEL... I like that photo. That high-hardness does have a gorgeous polish, but the pivot seems a bit much. Yeah, the handle design is not necessarily to my liking. OTOH, I have watched some of those YT Japanese rope-cutting videos where the blade just keeps on cutting and cutting and ....

 

[jpm2]

The polish on those blades are impressive.
I'm presently working on a zdp delica and will update my progress in a year or 2.

 

[bladeninja]

If you have museum quality art on your walls or precious metals and stones in your safe? Then Rockstead might be a good investment blade for you.

 

[marcus52AR]

I'm interested to read how this goes. Rockstead has piqued my interest since I have seen my first one.

 

[Scrim]

I splurged on a Higo. I had to own one. It really IS a work of art. I keep mine on a velvet pillow with lasers and spotlights illuminating it and dry ice fog wafting around it...with Pink Floyd's MONEY playing in the background on an endless loop. Would I cut rope with mine? Heck no. Would it be an amazing tool for cutting...anything? Heck yes. But that's not what I bought mine for. I just appreciate really nice toys...occasionally...when I can rationalize and justify the purchase...and when my wife says it's ok. Just kidding about the wife part. She never said it was ok...so don't tell Mrs. Scrim...ok?! If you love incredible knives, for whatever reason...Rocksteads are awesome...shhhh. Tell no one.

 

[asdf12345]

If you use your knives for cutting - a lot - then it could be a great investment. They have proven themselves to cut extremely well, possibly better than any other comparatively priced options.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

If you have museum quality art on your walls or precious metals and stones in your safe? Then Rockstead might be a good investment blade for you.

Ok, let's be realistic for a second... Just because you carry a $1,000 knife doesn't make you "rich". Some people just enjoy really high-end knives.

I recently bought a Rocky about a week or two ago and it's the best knife I've encountered. The fit & finish is perfection, the blade finish is unlike anything I've seen, and the performance is unlike anything I've used. I have many knives from production to custom and the Rockstead is the best out of all of them.

I bought the Higo-X in YXR7, and the blade geometry is amazing. The Honzukuri grind is something special, and to be appreciated. I don't baby my Rockstead, I've carried it everyday on a construction site since I received it and have been using it a whole lot.

The blade stays sharp for a while and can be easily resharpened on 2000 grit sandpaper (granted that you have the skills to do so). I dropped mine on a wrench and dulled the tip shortly after I got it, and it went from dull to scary-sharp in about 10 minutes.

I've honestly considered just collecting Rocksteads from this point on, they are that awesome. I feel that nobody is making anything similar on the market. YXR7 @ 65HRC is a real workhorse of a steel and can take a lot of abuse, trust me.

I understand that they are expensive, but now that I have one, I understand why. It's the expert heat treat, the mirror finish, the fit & finish, the Honzukuri grind, the simplicity yet complexity of it all... These knives are masterpieces when admiring and using them.

Don't buy a Rocky and never use it. Buy one and enjoy the qualities that were put into the blade; Mr. Hanada would be happy to know that you actually use it:thumbup:

 

[The Aflac Duck]

I splurged on a Higo. I had to own one. It really IS a work of art. I keep mine on a velvet pillow with lasers and spotlights illuminating it and dry ice fog wafting around it...with Pink Floyd's MONEY playing in the background on an endless loop.

This made me laugh! I totally got a visual of that

But please, use that thing!!! I feel sad for all the Rocky's that are just toys

 

[bladeninja]

I totally agree with you Blues Bender on the fact that if I or someone else looking at a Rocky actually held it, admired it and used it, there would be a change of opinion. At $1k +, it may be, "the one and only".

 

[Sikael]

Ok, let's be realistic for a second... Just because you carry a $1,000 knife doesn't make you "rich". Some people just enjoy really high-end knives.

I recently bought a Rocky about a week or two ago and it's the best knife I've encountered. The fit & finish is perfection, the blade finish is unlike anything I've seen, and the performance is unlike anything I've used. I have many knives from production to custom and the Rockstead is the best out of all of them.

I bought the Higo-X in YXR7, and the blade geometry is amazing. The Honzukuri grind is something special, and to be appreciated. I don't baby my Rockstead, I've carried it everyday on a construction site since I received it and have been using it a whole lot.

The blade stays sharp for a while and can be easily resharpened on 2000 grit sandpaper (granted that you have the skills to do so). I dropped mine on a wrench and dulled the tip shortly after I got it, and it went from dull to scary-sharp in about 10 minutes.

I've honestly considered just collecting Rocksteads from this point on, they are that awesome. I feel that nobody is making anything similar on the market. YXR7 @ 65HRC is a real workhorse of a steel and can take a lot of abuse, trust me.

I understand that they are expensive, but now that I have one, I understand why. It's the expert heat treat, the mirror finish, the fit & finish, the Honzukuri grind, the simplicity yet complexity of it all... These knives are masterpieces when admiring and using them.

Don't buy a Rocky and never use it. Buy one and enjoy the qualities that were put into the blade; Mr. Hanada would be happy to know that you actually use it:thumbup:

That's a whole lotta strong endorsement.

I might just have to go with a cardboard and crumpled newspaper display case, and forgo the 'velvet pillows, dry ice and lasers'... but I want that Shun more than ever. I'd also like to try the YXR-7 and the more affordable Higo, but... hmm. Time to buy some 'lucky' lottery numbers from my Family Psychic/Chiropractor.

 

[Haze]

I would say no, I have owned folders and fixed blades from them and IMO they are superb knives but just not worth the price. The blades are amazing in a number of ways but they are paired with handles that are IMO a disaster in both ergos, style and materials. I have also been negatively surprised at the finish on the wood handles. They were scored from heat to toe in machine marks, it wasn't delt with in any way after the machine shaping. That is not what you should expect to see at all on such highly touted knife for F&F. Then there is the hard anodized aluminium, no thanks, works fine on surefire flashlight bodies but not on a 4 figure $ knife handle. Why spend such effort on the blades but what seems like so little on the handles ?
I know a dealer for Rockstead so get to handle and see a lot of their knives. Rockstead do seem to be going in a better direction as far as handle materials and designs these days, but things will have to change a lot more before I buy another one of their knives.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

I would say no, I have owned folders and fixed blades from them and IMO they are superb knives but just not worth the price. The blades are amazing in a number of ways but they are paired with handles that are IMO a disaster in both ergos, style and materials. I have also been negatively surprised at the finish on the wood handles. They were scored from heat to toe in machine marks, it wasn't delt with in any way after the machine shaping. That is not what you should expect to see at all on such highly touted knife for F&F. Then there is the hard anodized aluminium, no thanks, works fine on surefire flashlight bodies but not on a 4 figure $ knife handle. Why spend such effort on the blades but what seems like so little on the handles ?
I know a dealer for Rockstead so get to handle and see a lot of their knives. Rockstead do seem to be going in a better direction as far as handle materials and designs these days, but things will have to change a lot more before I buy another one of their knives.

I can't disagree with your opinion and experience. I've actually seen the machining marks on the wood that you describe. However, I think Rockstead corrected this, as my Higo does not have these marks on it.

I also agree with the statement about the aluminum handles. I find it odd that they chose such a material rather than something like titanium. Many people say that the aluminum holds up great though.

Ergonomics are not my strong suit. I find a Sebenza to be very ergonomic, and compared to many other knives, the Sebenza is about as ergonomic as a potato. It works for me though

 

[bendixenknives]

Thanks to everyone that replied, and I guess I should have stated that I already have knives in the $600-750 price range, and I already have the money for either a Higo or a shin. Also the duralumin doesn't bother me as a handle material since it is not supposed to feel lightweight as regular aluminum does.

 

[Sikael]

A buddy of mine works at a college. When he got the Rockstead Shin, he delighted in push-cutting the phone-book in half. I suspect that a knife sharpness like that blade...is quite rare.
OTOH, he didn't keep it very long at all. Instead, he went to the Spartan Akribis, which he really enjoys.
I've had expensive folders, like XM-18's and the Gareth Bull, but they're in the past and I do NOT expect to buy a Rockstead. It is more of a "curio" to me.

SIKAEL... I like that photo. That high-hardness does have a gorgeous polish, but the pivot seems a bit much. Yeah, the handle design is not necessarily to my liking. OTOH, I have watched some of those YT Japanese rope-cutting videos where the blade just keeps on cutting and cutting and ....

It's definitely not to everyone's taste, and I can see that it doesn't really fit your style.

I, on the other hand, am a sucker for even the most eccentric Sinkevich designs, and this one looks like it came straight out of a painting by Giger or Beksinski... or stolen from the prop-master's table on the set of 'Blade Runner'.

It also has titanium handles, instead of aluminum, and is a Western style open-frame construction, complete with Ti-framelock and steel insert. The handles are definitely the weak point for Rockstead, but this one I like. Hopefully they'll stick with the Titanium framelocks -- without tacking an extra 1300$ to the pricetag. Then again, some of their fixed blades go for 3500$, which makes 2100$ seem downright affordable.

 

[Scrim]

Sikael wrote..."...and this one looks like it came straight out of a painting by Giger or Beksinski... or stolen from the prop-master's table on the set of 'Blade Runner'."




then Scrim wrote --> Remember this one?

 

[155440]

Ok, let's be realistic for a second... Just because you carry a $1,000 knife doesn't make you "rich". Some people just enjoy really high-end knives.

I recently bought a Rocky about a week or two ago and it's the best knife I've encountered. The fit & finish is perfection, the blade finish is unlike anything I've seen, and the performance is unlike anything I've used. I have many knives from production to custom and the Rockstead is the best out of all of them.

I bought the Higo-X in YXR7, and the blade geometry is amazing. The Honzukuri grind is something special, and to be appreciated. I don't baby my Rockstead, I've carried it everyday on a construction site since I received it and have been using it a whole lot.

The blade stays sharp for a while and can be easily resharpened on 2000 grit sandpaper (granted that you have the skills to do so). I dropped mine on a wrench and dulled the tip shortly after I got it, and it went from dull to scary-sharp in about 10 minutes.

I've honestly considered just collecting Rocksteads from this point on, they are that awesome. I feel that nobody is making anything similar on the market. YXR7 @ 65HRC is a real workhorse of a steel and can take a lot of abuse, trust me.

I understand that they are expensive, but now that I have one, I understand why. It's the expert heat treat, the mirror finish, the fit & finish, the Honzukuri grind, the simplicity yet complexity of it all... These knives are masterpieces when admiring and using them.

Don't buy a Rocky and never use it. Buy one and enjoy the qualities that were put into the blade; Mr. Hanada would be happy to know that you actually use it:thumbup:

And suddenly I'm considering dropping a grand on a rockstead despite having no previous interest...