Hartsfield?

I liked the flashy polished stuff with all of the fancy scales etc., but that is the true crap from a functional standpoint
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OK so we get that his knives work ( ok well some have questioned that ) , but so do other makers knives , plenty of other makers , and for the price point , the finish of the flats could be better , or heck be at least finished.

Funny thing is , to see people drool over knives of this level of fit and finish for $800+ and then bag on new makers who sell stuff with a better finish , and probably cut just as well for 1/4 the price. That to me is hilarious.

The price point should fit the overall total quality of the knife , else you are just buying a name , and hype. I don't buy hype , I buy quality.

I have seen cars at the track that were 100% balls out function , and fast , but were not finished extremely well , they will in no way shape or form sell for the same as a car that is equally fast AND is finely finished.

When you get to that price level , its in the details , and the details aren't there.

just my opinion , just trying to understand the allure , no hard feelings.
 
Sharp Phil said:
Perhaps you could post some photos of your extensive personal collection.
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OK, What do you like? Katanas, tantos, one offs, stuff with hamons, wrapped, unwrapped? Pohan photographed most of my collection recently, so in case you think I am not being honest, he can verify. I only mention this because in looking at your magazine that is for those who do not fight fair, you seem to have the mindset that believes people are inherently dishonest. Just another observation. I do not see an option here to add photos, but if I can figure it out, I will be happy to do so.
 
"Pipe down Lorien....you are sitting at the big boy table right now, and if you try any more of yer "special" whimsical stupid assed comments, I am going to revert to pre-Blade mode and be very nasty to you, make you sit in the corner.....and you will not like it....."
- Steven "Big Boy" Garsson

Ok, thanks dad!

I don't know how many threads I've read over the past couple of years arguing the merits or lack thereof of Hartsfield knives, and they always end up NOWHERE!

I was having a little fun. Sorry for bringing some levity to the 'discussion'.
Excuse me, I'm leaving the table.:yawn:
 
well, i made the first comment in this post and i will say basically the same thing again. there are some hartsfields on the nordic site for $3400-$3700. that seems way expensive. i'm no expert but i can look at them just like anyone else. is the price really based on how they cut? that seems unlikely.
 
John T Wylie Jr said:
OK so we get that his knives work ( ok well some have questioned that ) , but so do other makers knives , plenty of other makers , and for the price point , the finish of the flats could be better , or heck be at least finished.

Funny thing is , to see people drool over knives of this level of fit and finish for $800+ and then bag on new makers who sell stuff with a better finish , and probably cut just as well for 1/4 the price. That to me is hilarious.

The price point should fit the overall total quality of the knife , else you are just buying a name , and hype. I don't buy hype , I buy quality.

I have seen cars at the track that were 100% balls out function , and fast , but were not finished extremely well , they will in no way shape or form sell for the same as a car that is equally fast AND is finely finished.

When you get to that price level , its in the details , and the details aren't there.

just my opinion , just trying to understand the allure , no hard feelings.
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Believe me, I wish I could get Phill's knives for a reasonable price, but alas, he really does not want to make that many any longer, so he has priced them accordingly. I will be the first guy to tell you that they are way overpriced, but they look the way they do because to him and many others, the raw finish is a beautiful thing. Phill would still make the same knife whether it was a dollar or a million dollars. It is what speaks to him. It is an aesthetic you may or may not come to appreciate, but I can tell you for sure, that to me, it is a beautiful thing. That is why I love the way Pohan Leu's blades look. They may be the answer for someone who likes the commando look, but has only a couple of hundred to spend.
As far s the details go, the magic is the spirit of Phill's blades. It sounds all new age and mystical, but his blades really do have a personality and spirit. That is where he puts the detail work. In an edge that will scare the hell out of you when it is unsheathed. No hard feelings at all. This is a place for observations, insight, and honesty. We all can have ours eyes opened by what others have to share.
 
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T---That's exactly how I feel about the Hartsfield/Leu blades. Beauty is in the eye...
 
so why support some one that prices his knives through the stratosphere just because he is not wanting to make knives any longer? seems like he should just retire instead of continuing to try to rip people off.
 
martinr said:
well, i made the first comment in this post and i will say basically the same thing again. there are some hartsfields on the nordic site for $3400-$3700. that seems way expensive. i'm no expert but i can look at them just like anyone else. is the price really based on how they cut? that seems unlikely.
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No, just on what people are willing to pay. Those will be there for a while. The economy is just not able to support those numbers any longer. I will say, that you will get one hell of a knife for that $.
 
TJL said:
No, just on what people are willing to pay. Those will be there for a while. The economy is just not able to support those numbers any longer. I will say, that you will get one hell of a knife for that $.
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the HUGE problem is that you can get one hell of a knife for about $500.
 
severedthumbs said:
so why support some one that prices his knives through the stratosphere just because he is not wanting to make knives any longer? seems like he should just retire instead of continuing to try to rip people off.
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He is not ripping people off. Just making it so he does not have to grind the hard to make stuff any longer. He is not putting a gun to anyone's head, but it does cater to an elite buyer, and leaves the rest of us wanting. It also helps his collectors out since they see their blades going up in value. Unfortunately, I think this inflation was too steep too fast, and the blade values will self correct in the new lousy economy.
 
he is selling knives through smoke and mirrors, selling snake oil. knowing that eventually people that dont know better will buy it at the insane price. to me that is ripping off. sorry
 
severedthumbs said:
the HUGE problem is that you can get one hell of a knife for about $500.
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Agreed, but is it a Hartsfield? Only Phill can call his knife a Hartsfield, and if you gotta have one, you gotta pay.
On the subject of katanas, Phill's are very expensive, but most other blade makers now charge about the same for their katana. They are still cheap compared to something from a master smith from Japan. Still, who in this economy has the $ for any of this stuff?
 
severedthumbs said:
he is selling knives through smoke and mirrors, selling snake oil. knowing that eventually people that dont know better will buy it at the insane price. to me that is ripping off. sorry
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There may be some salesmanship involved there, but I honestly think you have to own one to understand. There really is something special about them.
 
TJL said:
Agreed, but is it a Hartsfield? Only Phill can call his knife a Hartsfield, and if you gotta have one, you gotta pay.
On the subject of katanas, Phill's are very expensive, but most other blade makers now charge about the same for their katana. They are still cheap compared to something from a master smith from Japan. Still, who in this economy has the $ for any of this stuff?
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Man I'm sorry but to me if I am going to buy a name Hartsfield isnt even on the list. You cant just charge a lot for the sake of charging a lot and think you are special.
 
severedthumbs said:
Man I'm sorry but to me if I am going to buy a name Hartsfield isnt even on the list. You cant just charge a lot for the sake of charging a lot and think you are special.
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You just have to do what I did and go out and spend thousands of dollars on all of the pretty knives, realize that they leave you unfulfilled, and then come to see the beauty in simplicity and pure function. It may surprise you some day.
 
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