The knives are GREAT, I admire them and desire one. Probably a 3.5" folder or a fixed blade, not so much the neck knife. I wanted to buy maybe one of the cheaper $900 versions used but I've come to the conclusion that at this point in my life I'm just not the type to buy a Rockstead or any knife that is so expensive. Especially after getting such an a great value in my CKF Gratch at $350, which to me was an expensive purchase! Even later in my life when I potentially will have a much larger income I just don't see myself getting a knife like that at that price.
I recently looked into my interest in wrist watches and quickly realized that it is similar to knife enthusiasm and collecting, but much more popular and prolific with many more and defined tiers of pricing. $50-100, $100-200, $200-500, $500-1,000, $1,000-4,000,$4,000-10,000, $10,000-20,000, $20,000-50,000, $50,000-$100,000, $100,000-$200,000, $200,000-$500,000, $500,000-1,000,000, $1,000,000-$2,000,000, etc. etc. The pricing is crazy, but such is consumerism! Capitalism, supply and demand, marketing, luxury, materialism, superficiality, pride of ownership, snobbery, aquiring, accumulating, and hoarding. A sub $100 Japanese Seiko/Casio/whatever is often truly as or more accurate, comfortable, reliable, durable, functional, practical, good looking, cool, and high quality as a very simple entry level yet $4000-$10,000 Rolex. And these $10k watches are really in the realm of production and mid-tech knives in terms of production which is interesting.
In reality a percentage of the super wealthy who can afford to collect these luxury watches, cars, etc. wear really cheap watches assuming they don't just use their cell phone. Many of these people with a truly crazy net worth still don't spend money in such a frivolous consumerist way as I may have thought like buying very expensive luxury cars, clothes, jewelry, etc. even if they have a profound appreciation for fine watches! They may be collecting wonderful Kershaws and Cold Steels while you collect Chris Reeve and have less than 1% of their net worth. Just as some truly poor people wear a nice $4000 Rolex. Because generally such spending is not a good idea regardless of having an enormous income. Look at me personally buying $2.50+$1 tip espressos, a $350 pocket knife and wrist watch, $100 shoes, $200 suits, etc., etc. and barely making $50k a year in today's economy with less than $10k in savings and a pretty poor net worth lol.
All in all I have to say no, they're not really worth it as an investment or practical knife in my personal opinion, but gosh Rocksteads are awesome. You could do a hell of a lot worse in this custom knife/gun collecting community for your $1000! And it's cooler than a $1000 Swiss watch IMO. I will personally never fault or criticize anyone for buying what they like whether it's a Rockstead and a Rolex to carry home to their shack, because everyone is different and it's your life, you're free, so I say do you! Be happy and be yourself. Just avoid being a prideful and snobby about your sweet gear, and remember that just because you make over a million dollars every year doesn't mean you shouldn't drive a Toyota and carry a beautiful benchmade.
