Budget $1K - Rockstead Shin- UPDATE Post #32

[JTR357]

Scott Cook Lochsa in S90v?

5 year waiting list & most would pay up to 2K on the secondary market


I'd look into Yuna's stuff w/Damascus,but I think it's like a 9mo wait.

[video=youtube;AfyQXu5p2Jw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfyQXu5p2Jw[/video]

 

[Lycosa]

Mikkel Willumsen, Pohan Leu, Warren Thomas or Strider.

 

[motts]

Direware or Begg Bodega

Also, you could grab a Hinderer XM-18, maybe in Duratech20CV, which is awesome. You can always add a titanium scale later if you want.

Or get a Large Chris Reeve Unique Graphic or inalys Sebenza with Graphics.

If you watch, you can get some sweets DDC SnGs for under $1000 sometimes, but that's not ordering...that's watching dealer sites.

Personally, I'd get a Bodega.

 

[mkjellgren]

Always Ray Laconico. The man is a genius. And as silly as this may sound, a Spyderco Southard meets just about all of your requirements and costs a fraction of what you're prepared to spend. It bumped a Large Sebenza out of my pocket. (I still carry my Small Sebenzas, though.) For $1K, in fact, you could buy a Laconico and a Southard and have money left over.

With a $1000 price range I'd try to find a Brad Southard custom rather than the spyderco. Not that the spyderco isn't a great knife, it's just that if I could afford a Southard custom, I'd go with that over a production spyderco. Southard customs are costly though, and not exactly easy to come by.

 

[JDunn709]

A Calavera Cutlery El Patron might be worth a look as well. Nothing fancy as far as steel goes (CPM 3V)

He offers them in other steels as well, I have one in s90v.

Highly recommended, as is the Shirogorov 95 with carbon fiber inlays.

 

[C@llector]

BODEGA all the way

 

[HSC ///]

Rockstead Higo, has alum handles but it is well balanced and solid all around

 

[The Logical One]

The three best EDC knives I've ever had were:

> Small sebenza 21
> Strider SNG CC
> Hinderer xm18 3.5

I saw that the Bodega has been mentioned a couple of times... I can tell you that it's a very nice knife but it would make a horrible EDC. It's an art knife that is made to be collected/fondled/admired. The blade shape and size is not practical at all.

 

[Daniel Dorn]

Darryl Ralph, or some of his HTM productions. That's where I'd go if I had $1K burning a hole in my pocket.

 

[sqchram]

Zt 0888?

 

[Ridgeback08]

Shirogorov Mod. 95, ZT 0777, Mikkel Willumsen... So many awesome options, I envy you! Good luck with making a decision though!

 

[bravodelta]

Hi BF'er,

I am the OP on this thread. I have spent the last couple years searching for my ideal folder. I have owned plenty of nice folders (CRK's, Hinderer's, ZT and many others) but I have still found myself looking for "the one". My last update I purchased a Curtiss F3 4" that fit most of the criteria. Very nice knife, good value, good build but nothing extraordinary. So, I continued my search and it lead me to a weird place, looking at an obscure knife brand that I have looked at several times before.

This week I purchased a Rockstead Shin DLC in YXR7 steel. There are occasional threads on Rockstead's here on BF. Usually, the posts end up talking about the ridiculous price, poor website and poorly written website copy, odd youtube videos etc. After conducting all of the research that I could, I found a great dealer to work with and took the plunge (zero risk due to return policy. SHOUT out to Vince at Ft. Henry Knives for the great service!!

I pulled the trigger on a Rockstead Shin DLC which is hair larger than a large Sebenza with a 3.5" blade.

Handle Material: Aluminum
Blade Steel: YXR7 w/DLC Coating - Testing sheet included to show RC 64.8
Blade Length: 3 1/2″
OAL: Closed 4 1/4“
OAL: Open 8 1/4”
Sheath: Presentation Box
Guard: Integral

After all of the videos and reviews I have read, I have never read a single poor review from someone that has handled or owned a Rockstead. I have read many review from haters disparaging the cost, materials etc. I must say, without a doubt, this is the most solid, smooth and well put together folder than I have ever handled. Not to even mention, it is the sharpest out of the box knife I have ever seen and a solid contender for the sharpest knife I have EVER touched.

Everything about this knife screams attention to detail without compromise. I can find zero flaws in the fit, finish or construction. The ergo are amazing and for all intents and purposes it is an integral, even though the handle is two piece, you would be hard pressed to figure out that it is not a true integral ala Scott Cook Lochsa or Peter Rassenti Integral ( I have owned both).

Very few things in life have left me speechless, but this has. It is just that nice (to me). As for price, I gladly hand of my $1,100 (MSRP around $1350) for this level of quality.

It is worth 2.5 large Sebenza's, 3 ZT 0560 CBCF's, 1.5 XM-18's (I own them all) and the answer is YES, it is. But is has an aluminum handle, not titanium. Doesn't bother me a bit when it is executed this well.

There is not a ton of info on this brand from actual owners, production is low and the price is high enough to keep most away, especially without a solid reputation.


(Any flaws seen are my poor photography skills and my dusty house)

 

[plastid]

wow................

 

[Ridgeback08]

Thanks for the update! Looks like you ended up with a great piece there. You'll have to let us know how it performs as time goes on.

 

[HSC ///]

well done on your choice, I love my Rocksteads

 

[bravodelta]

Holy Cow HSC,

Very very nice HSC. I see a Higo in my near future!!

 

[jimmyd1982]

Well that is a gorgeous knife but I think it would have been awesome if you bought 80 Opinels instead

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

You owned a lochsa? Pics, pls.

 

[HSC ///]

Holy Cow HSC,

Very very nice HSC. I see a Higo in my near future!!

I like mine alot, I didn't love it when I first got it, but I do now.

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

There is a new one on Fort Henry with a ZDP-189 blade. Looks interesting.