Any HARTSFIELD users?

They cut like ummmmmm imagine a chainsaw going through a VERY large branch. (well not literally)...but they cut like you wouldn't believe! I have watched a video of his knives cutting through a paint can completely in half and all the way around and still being able to shave hair afterwards. They are strong enough to slice the edge off of another maker's knife. (so long as the blade Phill's blade is cutting also has a razor edge) Phill's knife will not be damaged. They cut through hemp in excess of 500+ times before ever needing to be sharpened. Imagine one of his katanas with 1 stroke, going through a 2 x 4 (done by Toshishiro Obata). Imagine Kiyoshi Yamazaki accidently missing the tatami mat and hitting an iron pole instead and it made a tiny itty bitty chip in the blade. Any other blade would have most likely shattered. They are expensive, but you are paying for something that will last the rest of your life under regular use and with a little light stropping, will be every bit as sharp. 1 year waiting period. Well worth the wait. The finish is definitely not presentation by any means, but he does make museum quality stuff, but most of the blades he makes are USERS and they will cut like a laser! lol...his blades are rather dangerous to someone who forgets that he's holding a blade in his hands and they will cut to the bone without a second thought. Incredible blades, made by a very incredible maker.:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: There's the numbers you want to call if you got the $$$. You won't be sorry.

MAIN: (949) 722-9792
SHOP: (714) 636-7633
 
The custom knife grandaddy who made famous the Japanese chisel-ground blade along with it's characteristic tool-like unpolished surface finish is the yardstick from which a younger generation of custom tactical blademakers tried to emulate. Only know that a Hartsfield blade always cut's well because he's the perfect master. And remember that price should never be an objection when seeking perfection...
 
GIRLYmann said:
The custom knife grandaddy who made famous the Japanese chisel-ground blade along with it's characteristic tool-like unpolished surface finish is the yardstick from which a younger generation of custom tactical blademakers tried to emulate. Only know that a Hartsfield blade always cut's well because he's the perfect master. And remember that price should never be an objection when seeking perfection...
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1. R.J. Martin makes a knife that cuts as well...polished, too.

2. Hope that Kool Aid is refreshing in this heat?:rolleyes:

3. A lot of people like Hartsfield....it is all about what you want, but "perfect master"?:confused:

Lycosa, I hope you have some experience with custom knives? It is only then that you can make an educated choice.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
RJ Martin! Those knives are badass and users and pretty too! Very nice sheaths and handle wraps as well! You can't go wrong with either when it comes to a cutter. Good luck.
 
Leu Custom said:
They cut like ummmmmm imagine a chainsaw going through a VERY large branch. (well not literally)...but they cut like you wouldn't believe! I have watched a video of his knives cutting through a paint can completely in half and all the way around and still being able to shave hair afterwards. They are strong enough to slice the edge off of another maker's knife. (so long as the blade Phill's blade is cutting also has a razor edge) Phill's knife will not be damaged. They cut through hemp in excess of 500+ times before ever needing to be sharpened. Imagine one of his katanas with 1 stroke, going through a 2 x 4 (done by Toshishiro Obata). Imagine Kiyoshi Yamazaki accidently missing the tatami mat and hitting an iron pole instead and it made a tiny itty bitty chip in the blade. Any other blade would have most likely shattered. They are expensive, but you are paying for something that will last the rest of your life under regular use and with a little light stropping, will be every bit as sharp. 1 year waiting period. Well worth the wait. The finish is definitely not presentation by any means, but he does make museum quality stuff, but most of the blades he makes are USERS and they will cut like a laser! lol...his blades are rather dangerous to someone who forgets that he's holding a blade in his hands and they will cut to the bone without a second thought. Incredible blades, made by a very incredible maker.:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: There's the numbers you want to call if you got the $$$. You won't be sorry.

MAIN: (949) 722-9792
SHOP: (714) 636-7633
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What steel does he use?
 
There is definitely a difference in the way Phill Hartsfield heat treats his A2 vs. RJ Martin. I hate to say it, but there is. Phill has found a way to heat treat it beyond what the pros say it's heat treat about to. Hence that is why you're gonna pay pretty much double for one of Phill's drug behind car finished blades than you are going to pay for a very good looking and beautiful martin. Mr. Hartsfield in my opinion isn't all that concerned about finish as to the edge holding abilities of his blades. Now you can pay more for sure from Mr. Hartsfield for a museum quality piece. The difference between RJ Martin's A2 and Phill's Hartsfield A2 is that Phill's is edge hardened and that creates flex in a blade especially for a katana which I believe Mr. Martin does not make.

Most people think that just because they see a Hartsfield blade with no HAMON that it's not there. It is! But again, you're going to be paying some extra $$$ to have it polished out by Phill because of the time it involves to do so. Many japanese blade smiths will charge about $100.00 an inch to polish out a hamon. Mr. Hartsfield is about the same if you didn't buy the blade from him. The katana's and longer swords cost $7000.00+ because if that blade ever need sharpening, he has to repolish out the hamon again and that's why his blades cost as much as they do. You basically get a lifetime sharpening + hamon polishing out job for the price you pay. Since there is no seconarday bevel on Mr. Hartsfield's blades, the entire bevel must be worked to be resharpened and then once again, the hamon must be polished out again.

People complain about Mr. Hartsfield's prices vs. Mr. Martin's prices. If you are looking for a beautiful blades that cuts, get the Martin. If you are looking for a SERIOUS User blade that can do some crazy sh*t, buy a Hartsfield and if you have too much money on your hands, buy both!
 
I have a theory! But I haven't tried it yet! It's not in the hardening. It's in the tempering and how to draw only part of the blade down. As in the entire blade is whatever hardness, say RC 60 and only the part above the hamon is drawn down. Man i'm lazy!
 
Leu Custom said:
I have a theory! But I haven't tried it yet! It's not in the hardening. It's in the tempering and how to draw only part of the blade down. As in the entire blade is whatever hardness, say RC 60 and only the part above the hamon is drawn down. Man i'm lazy!
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You can draw tempers back with heated copper blocks, the Japanese have been doing it for 100's of years, to change the sori in Nihonto.

Let us make this very clear.....Single bevel blades in Nihonto almost NEVER show up, classical blade shape dictates both sides ground in Wakizashi and Katana length blades, they have habaki and are traditionally mounted. What Phill produces is an American hybridization.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999: You are correct sir (as always!). Phill's Katanas and tantos and waks are his own interpretation of the japanese blades. His hamons look nothing like a traditional heat treat would do. But hey! Still kinda neat he knows how to do that to A2. I have heard others that know how also, but don't know any names off the top of my head.
 
Does the hamon he does come out with an etch or polish procedure, or a combination of both?
 
Leu Custom said:
Kohai999: You are correct sir (as always!). Phill's Katanas and tantos and waks are his own interpretation of the japanese blades. His hamons look nothing like a traditional heat treat would do. But hey! Still kinda neat he knows how to do that to A2. I have heard others that know how also, but don't know any names off the top of my head.
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Mr. Leu...I am hardly "always" correct.:D

Have been studying(seriously) Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaiheiho under Masayuki Shimabukuro, Hanshi for over 8 years. Have a tendency to get a little scrappy when broad analogies or comparisons are made between Japanese and American styles.

I would probably back down a lot more, if there were less people out there that thought it was ok to try to cut through a gun barrel, or similar, with a potentially priceless blade. I hope you understand.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
The hamon is polished out by freaking hand! That's why it costs SOOO DAMN much to have it polished out. They lay dormant in all his blades. A Kozuka is like 600 bucks with no hamon polished out. But lets say you want the hamon polished out, that same kozuka will probably run upwards of $4000.00+ bucks.

He told me along time ago, that it's polished out with pumice. Now whether it's a solid block or a powder, no idea. But a 12 inch tanto double ground he said takes a good whole day to polish out.

If you acquired a 12" inch tanto on the 2nd hand market that was made by him and wanted it repolished, it would run you roughly $1200.00 to have him do so.

The hamon is REAL and not etched by any means as using acid in Phill's mind would compromise the strength of the blade. Try grinding something to razor sharp and the dip it in ferric chloride for only a minute and the edge will definitely no longer be razor sharp.
 
Mr. Garsson: I understand what you mean, but the reality is that some people wanna buy knives that you can do some seriously stupid things to/with and still have an edge. Apparently Phill has succeeded in heat treating a blade in which you can pretty much do dumb things with and not have it be hurt much.

I know your views on his blades as I have read posts with your opinions and thoughts about Phill's blades in them. I respect what you think as you have a right to like or dislike anything you want.

Heck, I think if he lowered his prices a bit, sure he wouldn't make as much money per blade, but he'd have a hell of a lot more new customers that would come back for more. But alas the prices just keep going up to the point where eventually only a few will have the funds to buy.
 
unfortunately, I like the performance of the Hartsfield blades but lack the funds to actually purchase one. His zero ground edges are for me, what sharp blades should be about.
 
His knives are cool. But I can't see paying twice as much for something that can't out perform a Busse. There is a Busse knife somewhere that has been slicing 1" manila rope for the last 10 years straight and it's still shaving sharp. :D
 
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