Is this knife the cream of the crop?

Sami P said:
Thanks everyone for your input and the treasure of information and suggestions you have provided. Your time is much appreciated.

Cheers.
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I think you were just looking at the entire thing in reverse. Rather than buying a knife because of the high price, you should be looking for a knife that satisfies your specific needs, and the price is just an unnecessary detail.

I tried a similar thing in the past when I bought my Hinderer XM-18 3.5" flipper and paid the secondary market price for it, which was about $660 brand new because I thought a $600+ price tag made it magical. It's been sitting in my safe for nearly a year because I had little use for a knife that doesn't flip open nearly as well as my $35 Kershaw Red Skyline, and more or less cuts like a sharpened brick due to the really thick blade. That's not to say the knife is bad by any means. Just that it didn't fit my personal needs for a knife.
 
Noctis3880 said:
I think you were just looking at the entire thing in reverse. Rather than buying a knife because of the high price, you should be looking for a knife that satisfies your specific needs, and the price is just an unnecessary detail.
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This thread was a joy to read and it provided me with a lot of food for thought and an insight into other ways of thinking, but at the end it made me realise that I am definitely going to buy the Rockstead. My reasons would sound impractical and won't make sense to most, but it's the same reason someone buys a Patek when a Timex keeps better time or a Rolls Royce when a Toyota will get you to your destination as efficiently.

Custom? Don't think so. When we venture into the outer limits of a market value for money takes a back seat to other aspects. I like to spend my money on production items (knives or other stuff) because when tens of millions are spent on machinery to create factory and a brand, that brand is more likely to still exist in 70 years so that whomever inherits my item would still find it relevant and has a pedigree and a name perception. An artists working in an atelier would not have that. How much would you pay for a Symes & Wright double gun? I bet you never even heard of them. They turned out guns that were of a higher quality than Holland and Holland, but now they are gone their guns are sinking into irrelevancy and the H&H name still fetches pride of ownership and a premium at auctions. I can mention a few more examples of individual artists from the worlds of watch making and fine writing instruments, but you probably got my point.

I know that 99% of you would disagree, but I totally respect that and appreciate that people are different. Just wanted to share my own way of thinking particularly after many of you were kind enough to make long and thoughtful posts.

Thanks again :)
 
For that kind of money a custom would be the better choice.

You could get a knife made exactly the way you want in every way with the materials you want from a top Custom Maker and have a lot of money left over.

I am not saying it's a bad knife, what I am saying is they are extremely expensive for what you are getting, don't expect that knife to be a miracle magical knife or you will be very disappointed.

Each to their own though.
 
Sami P said:
This thread was a joy to read and it provided me with a lot of food for thought and an insight into other ways of thinking, but at the end it made me realise that I am definitely going to buy the Rockstead. My reasons would sound impractical and won't make sense to most, but it's the same reason someone buys a Patek when a Timex keeps better time or a Rolls Royce when a Toyota will get you to your destination as efficiently.
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The problem with this analogy is that you can't get a custom car or a custom watch for less than the price of a Rolls or a Patek. If people could get a car or a watch with their exact specs for less than the price of a production, you can bet that they'll do it. Fortunately, in the knife world they can and they do.

But as has been mentioned, each to his own.
 
If your sights are set on getting it, then do what makes you happy. Make sure you get back here with a review and lots of pictures!
 
I'm sure it's a swell knife and all but , it does nothing aesthetically for me.

An item is worth exactly what one is willing to pay for it and not a penny more.


Tostig
 
Haze said:
I have handled and played with many a Rocksted knife as well as owned a couple. IMO they make splendid blades and I like the style as well as steels they use. BUT, I dislike their handles with great intensity, the shape, detailing and materials all nip me on the wrong side. They do make one knife that interests me though and that is the "cold weather" folder with the micarta handle. I'm hoping to be able see and handle that knife at the Taipei blade show in December.
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How did you find resharpening them?
I have handled several and they look top notch. However the edge geometry and steel hardness lead me to believe that the average Joe with average sharpening skills will have a serious problem replacing the edge. What was your experience?
 
Alfaholic said:
How did you find resharpening them?
I have handled several and they look top notch. However the edge geometry and steel hardness lead me to believe that the average Joe with average sharpening skills will have a serious problem replacing the edge. What was your experience?
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The ave Joe won't beable to replace that edge, they are half Convex and half Straight bevel (A-Symmetrical) and highly Polished.
 
Ankerson said:
The ave Joe won't beable to replace that edge, they are half Convex and half Straight bevel (A-Symmetrical) and highly Polished.
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Then again, the average Joe -- or even the average knife nut -- isn't going to be dropping $1750 on a production knife in the first place. :p
 
singularity35 said:
The problem with this analogy is that you can't get a custom car or a custom watch for less than the price of a Rolls or a Patek.
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Sure you can, but those brands are established and priced way higher, so there's no status advantage to a custom. The Rockstead is a really expensive folder, but its still just around one paycheck for the average Joe in the US. It would be crazy for average Joe to waste 80 hours of labor for one knife, but it's still more plausible than trying to save up for a 3 million dollar Patek or a much 'cheaper' hundred thousand dollar custom watch.
 
Sami, when all is done and said, the most valuable opinion of your potential purchase is your own. Now, keep in mind that I am quite content with the Buck 110 on my belt and the Opinel Carbon in my pocket, so to me, the concept of spending that much money on a folder is quite alien. However, there is no question that the Rockstead is a beautiful and well made folder that embodies the spirit of Japanese craftsmanship and it is for the latter reason that I can see such an expenditure should I have the ways and means. Enjoy your purchase.
 
you can get in on Farid's next folder project, save $1K+, and nobody would argue with you whether you had the best folder or not.
 
For that kind of dough, I'd be more interested in a knife by Gustavo T. Checchini. His knives are out of this world.
 
hardheart said:
Sure you can, but those brands are established and priced way higher, so there's no status advantage to a custom. The Rockstead is a really expensive folder, but its still just around one paycheck for the average Joe in the US. It would be crazy for average Joe to waste 80 hours of labor for one knife, but it's still more plausible than trying to save up for a 3 million dollar Patek or a much 'cheaper' hundred thousand dollar custom watch.
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If you say so. :D
 
It looks like a good knife, but as others have said, probably overpriced. It is, however, your money, and I'd love to see a great review of it. Let us know! I have to commend you for not blindly splurging, but soliciting opinions. Smart move!
 
Sami P said:
This thread was a joy to read and it provided me with a lot of food for thought and an insight into other ways of thinking, but at the end it made me realise that I am definitely going to buy the Rockstead. My reasons would sound impractical and won't make sense to most, but it's the same reason someone buys a Patek when a Timex keeps better time or a Rolls Royce when a Toyota will get you to your destination as efficiently.

Custom? Don't think so. When we venture into the outer limits of a market value for money takes a back seat to other aspects. I like to spend my money on production items (knives or other stuff) because when tens of millions are spent on machinery to create factory and a brand, that brand is more likely to still exist in 70 years so that whomever inherits my item would still find it relevant and has a pedigree and a name perception. An artists working in an atelier would not have that. How much would you pay for a Symes & Wright double gun? I bet you never even heard of them. They turned out guns that were of a higher quality than Holland and Holland, but now they are gone their guns are sinking into irrelevancy and the H&H name still fetches pride of ownership and a premium at auctions. I can mention a few more examples of individual artists from the worlds of watch making and fine writing instruments, but you probably got my point.

I know that 99% of you would disagree, but I totally respect that and appreciate that people are different. Just wanted to share my own way of thinking particularly after many of you were kind enough to make long and thoughtful posts.

Thanks again :)
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Again, William Henry would be better for the money if you're just collecting a knife and not as concerned about the use of it.

In a similar price range you could get one like this:
L-wh-b5-mwh-5.jpg


Damascus steel, mokume frame, fossil walrus ivory, diamond in the thumb stud and button. From a material standpoint, I would say you get a lot more for your dollar as opposed to pure ZDP-189(WH offers laminated and wave damascus variants of ZDP) and anodized aluminum.

I'd also like to think that Spyderco, Benchmade, and Kershaw would be more well known as a brand name on account of the fact that they sell a lot more knives.

Another thing to consider is resale value. Not many people are willing to spend that kind of money on a Rockstead, even among knife nuts. If this is expected to be inherited and I assume passed down to your kids, it would be unlikely that they would know the true value of the knife even if the company is still around. Either they would sell it for $50 or they'll use it(probably a bad idea for people not accustomed to knives) and break it, or they won't be able to find anyone willing to pay the full price for it. At least a William Henry looks the part of an expensive knife so that neither would happen.
 
This thread kinda bothers me. It almost seems as if the OP is trying to buy...the "Perfect knife." and perfect is so perfectly elastic that he should already know that asking someone elses opinion shouldnt be part of the decision process. That being said, my grail knife is a airkat tripwire 2 with Damasteel blade wharncliffe style and intensely flamed Ti frame, lightning strike CF overlays, and tree stump leather belt sheath to keep the massive thing out of my pocket with lizard inlay.
 
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