How long have you been chasing your grail?

chanvic

chanvic

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Hi BF!

So, I've come to realization that my grail knife may not be obtainable. I started collecting over the summer and since then have spent hours, upon hours reading posts, watching YT reviews and any other knife content that the internet has to offer. Though I am still new and learning, I've already identified my grail, the Rockstead Higo in Ironwood. Ok, one of my grails 🤭, but the one I want the most!

For those who may not know, it's a $1,200 knife! I'm not in a place where I can drop that kind of money on a knife. Maybe someday, but not today. But even if I was able to, the bigger question is availability. I've been on BF for a few months always looking at what members are WTT/WTS and only came across 2, maybe 3 posts for a Rockstead of any kind. None of which was in the same configuration as the one I want. And i believe, if not mistaken, it's also discontinued.

So that begs the question, for those who are still chasing, what is it and how long have you been chasing it?

ROCSTD-HIGO_X-IW-ZDP.3__95899.jpg
 
First, I’ll respond to your interest in the Higo X. I was in your shoes several months ago. I thought it would be the ultimate knife for me and would ease all my desires for other knives, and cause me to sell almost everything else in my collection. An arrival of sorts. Hence it being a “grail”. But, as others will tell you and told me at the time, at the end of the day it is just a knife. A pretty one. A laser sharp one. But just a knife. You might find, like I did that it doesn’t settle all your yearnings when it comes to a slicing tool. It’s well made, but not perfect. It’s expensive and has a flawless mirror finish, so you will not feel totally comfortable using it. It will slice for days, but will need to be maintained to the same extent as any other knife. But if you are set on it, it’s really not that hard to acquire. KC, and Rocksteadshop get them in stock regularly, and I can get them brand new and cheaper than the secondary at Rocksteadshop. Message me if you want more info on that.

Now to the question. I have kind of stopped chasing grails. The only knife I’ve considered picking up again after letting one go is an Oz Roosevelt. Otherwise, I spend more time and anxiety trying to decide what to sell and what to carry from my 10ish knives (not including fixed blades or slipjoints).
 
Is the holy grail knife the most expensive, or the last knife purchase ever?
 
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I’ve been after a custom Lucas Burnley Squid for several years now. I’m no longer actively hunting one down like I used to but I’ve always got my eyes peeled for one!
 
RousingRabbles said:
First, I’ll respond to your interest in the Higo X. I was in your shoes several months ago. I thought it would be the ultimate knife for me and would ease all my desires for other knives, and cause me to sell almost everything else in my collection. An arrival of sorts. Hence it being a “grail”. But, as others will tell you and told me at the time, at the end of the day it is just a knife. A pretty one. A laser sharp one. But just a knife. You might find, like I did that it doesn’t settle all your yearnings when it comes to a slicing tool. It’s well made, but not perfect. It’s expensive and has a flawless mirror finish, so you will not feel totally comfortable using it. It will slice for days, but will need to be maintained to the same extent as any other knife. But if you are set on it, it’s really not that hard to acquire. KC, and Rocksteadshop get them in stock regularly, and I can get them brand new and cheaper than the secondary at Rocksteadshop. Message me if you want more info on that.

Now to the question. I have kind of stopped chasing grails. The only knife I’ve considered picking up again after letting one go is an Oz Roosevelt. Otherwise, I spend more time and anxiety trying to decide what to sell and what to carry from my 10ish knives (not including fixed blades or slipjoints).
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Thanks! Appreciate the insights. It's great to have a place where people are open to sharing their experiences and offer guidance for newbies getting into the hobby.

I did check the Rocksteadshop and now have it bookmarked. Something tells me I'm going to regret that financially. Good thing they're out of stock. But I agree, at the end of the day it's just a knife. A knife that's part of this hobby that takes my mind off of the craziness this world has to offer. I wouldn't call myself a hard user, but more of a knife enthusiast/collector. I also don't believe in safe queens, but could see myself treating this as one. In the end, it's a distraction as mentioned. If and when I do get it, the "arrival of sorts" feeling will be temporary until the next knife that catches my eye. I can see the Oz being one of them and it definitely seems to be all the rage these days. Thanks again for sharing!
 
ShaiHulud said:
Is the holy grail knife the most expensive, or the last knife purchase ever?
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I would say however you define it. I'm early in my journey, so right now, it's the most expensive or the most I would pay for a knife.
 
A grail for me was because it was expensive, maybe I just eventually found a good bargain for it or maybe because I finally saved up enough where I could finally think About getting it, but I would say after ten years I finally obtained a grail in my eyes, an Idaho Knife works (Mike Mann) Hudson Bay knife.F9E7CFF1-F006-421E-951F-B4C280B56174.jpeg60731572-5E0F-4E6C-BB5F-851AD46E310E.jpeg39BB29FC-6B78-4878-BB09-781EC047380F.jpeg
 
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ShaiHulud said:
Is the holy grail knife the most expensive, or the last knife purchase ever?
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The grail search is more like an illness, like any knife search, there will be times of remission, but the symptoms can return. I like to look at it like a journey, it’s not necessarily the end of the journey where you want to be, but to enjoy the adventure along the way. Once I got this knife I was happy, but it did not end my curiosity and enjoyment of other knives.
 
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cbach8tw said:
The grail search is more like an illness, like any knife search, there will be times of remission, but the symptoms can return. I like to look at it like a journey, it’s not necessarily the end of the journey where you want to be, but to enjoy the adventure along the way. Once I got this knife I was happy, but it did not end my curiosity and enjoyment of other knives.
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Well said!
 
I find my interests as a collector and user ebb and flow. If you’re really into the hobby, you’re constantly learning and experiencing different things. I managed to get two of my grails in the past couple of months, and now it feels weird not having something I’m looking for (though I wouldn’t pass on a Zaan at the right price 😂)
 
I will spend whatever time is needed. Example, I tried for 20 years to get a decent to NIB "V" steel Sportsman 2. This was before ebay and even computers. I finally got one by networking with other dealers on the gun show circuit. I had to finally get one from a woman who was running the business her husband ran for over 20 years who died and she remembered seeing one at home amongst the things he left. She brought it to me 3 months later at the next local show.

I have currently been waiting for Spyderco to release a Cruwear Endura. It has got to be 10 years I've tried getting Sal to run off a batch but no luck so far. I'll keep reminding him as long as I'm alive until I finally get to buy one or two. :)
 
I wonder how many people pass by, what should be there grail, in the quest for the unobtainable.
I’ve had a number of my grails, turn out to be rather average. In a couple of cases, disappointing.
This is what makes me skeptical when it comes to….must have.
 
I'm not really sure what the "grail" designation means. I have been buying knives since the 70s, when I was in grade school. There have always been knives I wanted. Some I bought, some I was unable to buy. A few examples took years and years. But there was always the next one....sometimes months later...sometimes days later. My impression of "grail" means that it is your ultimate knife....the last one you will buy, because it is perfect. That concept doesn't exist for me. Is that what grail means? The final knife....if not, it's a really silly term.
 
I don't really have a grail. I suppose when I first got into knives my grail was a Sebenza. I got my first on in about 2010 and loved it. I don't have that particular one anymore, but I think it kind of still is the Sebenza, or rather Chris Reeve knives in general because that's how I measure knives. When I get a new knife I measure the differences in it's fit and finish to a Sebenza. Most are a ways off, some are very close, I haven't ever seen one that is better including customs. This is in the strictly fit and finish department though, because you don't need to spend Sebenza money to get an amazingly fantastic knife that will last you your entire life, but strictly in looking at every little chamfer and surface finish for how even everything is and if there are any tooling marks left. But when it's all said and done, it's all just kind of a silly luxury which, like you said, is a distraction from life.

I suppose maybe my grail, because I've been in love with them since like 2008 without ever changing my mind is a Night Sky Sebenza. However their always a bit too expensive for me to be comfortable with, and when getting a CRK I want to be able to comfortably use it.
 
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It took me a couple of years to figure out what I wanted and 3 or 4 more years until I came across one for sale at a time I was ready to buy. 8B81774D-85BC-4C49-A5F5-AE6FAC9B419F.jpeg

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I knew it at first sight, then I met the maker about a year later. Hopefully we can get together next year and get it made.
 
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