Leu Custom Kozuka Neck Knife

[Leu Custom]

And this is why having a conversation with the written word can suck sometimes.
Trace, I didnt see anything in leu's post to warrant your remarks. Looks like you have taken what he was saying to you as personal or flippant.
Seems like the real reason you insulted him was because he is copying another makers work. Honestly i have a problem with that too and it's why I wont purchase one of his knives. Im not attacking you leu. You make a damn fine looking knife but branch out a little and expand on phill's work. Dont rip it off.
just my thoughts guys.

Fair enough. But apparently Trace rips on Phill too for making Phill's work. So what warrants that?

You are correct. I never insulted Trace at any point. I don't put smiley faces because i'm being sarcastic or something like that. But if someone wants to be RUDE, then that's their own choice.

 

[Lycosa]

How can Pohan rip-off Phill?? A Leu is a Leu and a Hartsfield is a Hartsfield. They can never be the same. This is Zen.

 

[Burchtree]

Thanks Joe. I appreciate that. I CAN'T say Phill feels the same way about me. But that's his right to dislike me because I make something that looks like his only because I think it's super cool looking in his style!

You're deliberately using another maker's designs and style? I had assumed you had apprenticed under PH or something when I saw your blades. I like to think of the knifemaking community as one that shares and gives, not one that takes.

 

[Lycosa]

What did the sword-makers of old Japan do, complain about copying each others work? NO. All the blades basically looked the same.The makers made blades to the best to their ability.
I have a small business and if someone copies a product of mine, go ahead, it's not MY product. There's enough for all of us.

 

[TJL]

Ok, to my way of thinking and this is just my opinion mind you..
Very DEEP scratches, and sharp edges on spines and anywhere the hand contacts has several negative effects to what I consider the performance of a knife. These can be but not limited to, premature corrosion and pitting in A2 particularly, stress points that can promote a blade failure when laterally stressed, hot spots on your hand from rubbing against sharp corners on the spine or anywhere its sharp, also gunk is much harder to get out of the valleys in heavy grinds which can have several negative effects, and just make a knife a PITA to keep clean.

I'm a HUGE advocate of a "user grade finish" but hell even I'll go up to 400 grit or so.. That finish worked very well on A2 which I pretty much made my rep with, and was a good compromise for performance and ease of finish, and RE-finish when a customer asked for a refurb..

Like I said... Just me.

You sound so ignorant. You just don't get it do you? A knife with polished off edges is not a reflection of the precision and masterful workmanship of the maker. Anyone can sand and buff or tumble a knife into oblivion for that smooth surface that hides all of the mistakes a bad craftsman makes when grinding. To truly show amazing grinding skills with the naked, untouched surface is much more impressive. As the "knife maker" you claim to be, I am astounded that you do not have a clue about the quality and precision of Pohan's work. He does not have to hide behind sanded polished surfaces. Besides, the simplicity and honesty of the blades he makes is everything to me and others with a discerning eye.

 

[TJL]

Uh yeah you "told" me that PH told you this.. How can anyone know for a "fact" ANYTHING about ALL the knives he has ever produced in his career, do you track them with GPS or something? I dont even care if its true, Im just pointing out how lame that sounds..
Also your opinion on what REALLY cuts means very little to me after seeing the cutting demo's on your site. I have seen Ginsu knives do better than that at swap meets. I didnt want to get shitty, in fact I was trying to compliment your work. I wont make that mistake again.
You keep right on doing what yer doing, making direct copies of another makers work, and trying to argue your way to success... It sure seems to be working well judging by the for sale area, and how your work is holding value.
I'll keep doing things my way as well, it IS working for me..

I dont want to argue with you any longer, I was bored today and should have just kept my mouth shut in the first place. Im sure you will want to turn this into another 18 page PH thread again, calling attention to yourself along the way though. Who knows it might work after a while. Good Luck!

BTW, I just re-read that post.. Thats awesome!! How come the BEST stories of the "single failure" always involve the knife being shot while being carried by a soldier..:thumbup:

Now I know you are ignorant. You simply do not know what you are talking about. Phill keeps that broken blade in a cigar box at the shop. You can see where the .50 caliber bullet hit the knife and caused it to crack in two. There is no fracture to the blade at the point of impact. The knife broke due to a stress riser he created in the tang where the wrap starts. He made a square shoulder there that allowed the handle to crack off the knife. He no longer grinds a square edge there. They are smooth transitions from the blade to the handle to avoid any area that would be a stress riser. Pohan is making a superb blade, and I can speak from personal experience and deliberate attempts to abuse them. I also own about 50 Hartsfields. Just because Pohan is self deprecating and VERY humble, do not take it that his blades are anything less than brilliant. He is a true artist and a perfectionist. He is not copying anyone. He pays tribute to Phill. He also pays tribute to 2000 years of Japanese blade design that countless blade makers have drawn upon since day one. I suspect once you open your mind, you will come to see the attraction of a pure blade.

 

[Trace Rinaldi]

You sound so ignorant. You just don't get it do you? A knife with polished off edges is not a reflection of the precision and masterful workmanship of the maker. Anyone can sand and buff or tumble a knife into oblivion for that smooth surface that hides all of the mistakes a bad craftsman makes when grinding. To truly show amazing grinding skills with the naked, untouched surface is much more impressive. As the "knife maker" you claim to be, I am astounded that you do not have a clue about the quality and precision of Pohan's work. He does not have to hide behind sanded polished surfaces. Besides, the simplicity and honesty of the blades he makes is everything to me and others with a discerning eye.

Yah, Im ignorant.... Look, a trained chimp can chisel grind a blade, I used to do it before I learned how to really grind a blade so I know.. In fact one of these days maybe I'll do a video in real time showing how long it actually takes to grind a blade EXACTLY like these. Hell I could train a guy off the streets to do it in probably a days time. Have you ever made a knife? How would you know what it takes or doesnt take to do make one?

I guess I do come off as "rude" but a maker does need to have a bit of thick skin if he wants to go around saying the things he says about "performance" and what not.. I suppose I could have added a few more smilies, but I still stand by everything I said, even if I shouldnt have said anything to begin with. I already apologized for that, and should have left well enough alone.

I'm sorry I hijacked this thread, like I said I was bored and got worked up over something that I really shouldnt have. I do have opinions, and when asked for them I have tendancy to be brutally honest about what I think.

Anyway, I dont mean to be a dick. I apologize if I offended anyone.

 

[TJL]

What did the sword-makers of old Japan do, complain about copying each others work? NO. All the blades basically looked the same.The makers made blades to the best to their ability.
I have a small business and if someone copies a product of mine, go ahead, it's not MY product. There's enough for all of us.

Actually, they used to make a blade, and then sign it with a master's signature. You must know the story of the blind master swordsmith who had a neighbor swordmaker and accused him of signing his poorly made sword with the master's name. The neighbor asked how he knew that he had signed the sword with the master's name since he could not see. The master replied that he could hear the number of hammer blows that it took to create the signature, and it corresponded to his name and not the neighbor's name. People have been scum since time immemorial.

 

[psycho78]

What's so bad about what Trace said? It's true. He's a knifemaker and you are nothing but a fanboy.

You're the one who's sounding ignorant. Most bladesmiths and mastersmiths hand sand or mirror polish their blades. Not because they're covering up some bad craftsmanship either.

If you spent as much time making, or using a knife as you do rubbing PH's belly...then you might understand something. Trace made very valid arguments.

 

[Trace Rinaldi]

Now I know you are ignorant. You simply do not know what you are talking about. Phill keeps that broken blade in a cigar box at the shop. You can see where the .50 caliber bullet hit the knife and caused it to crack in two. There is no fracture to the blade at the point of impact. The knife broke due to a stress riser he created in the tang where the wrap starts. He made a square shoulder there that allowed the handle to crack off the knife. He no longer grinds a square edge there. They are smooth transitions from the blade to the handle to avoid any area that would be a stress riser. Pohan is making a superb blade, and I can speak from personal experience and deliberate attempts to abuse them. I also own about 50 Hartsfields. Just because Pohan is self deprecating and VERY humble, do not take it that his blades are anything less than brilliant. He is a true artist and a perfectionist. He is not copying anyone. He pays tribute to Phill. He also pays tribute to 2000 years of Japanese blade design that countless blade makers have drawn upon since day one. I suspect once you open your mind, you will come to see the attraction of a pure blade.

TJL, I dont claim to be a knifemaker, I am a knifemaker... I dont talk about my work much here anymore. I dont think I have posted one of my own knives here in maybe 10 years.. If you want to question my abilities, I wont answer MYSELF I would ask that you ask people that own my knives..

Ask Jeff Randall, Ron Hood, Terrill Hoffman, all survival experts who own and use my knives. Ask Steven Dick, Roy Huntington, Jim Gardner all editors of magazines that own and use my knives. I could go on, but I am "humble" like Master Po.

OK I'm done, unless people wanna keep dragging me back in..

 

[Lycosa]

TJL---Thank you! You refreshed my memory.

 

[TJL]

Yah, Im ignorant.... Look, a trained chimp can chisel grind a blade, I used to do it before I learned how to really grind a blade so I know.. In fact one of these days maybe I'll do a video in real time showing how long it actually takes to grind a blade EXACTLY like these. Hell I could train a guy off the streets to do it in probably a days time. Have you ever made a knife? How would you know what it takes or doesnt take to do make one?

I guess I do come off as "rude" but a maker does need to have a bit of thick skin if he wants to go around saying the things he says about "performance" and what not.. I suppose I could have added a few more smilies, but I still stand by everything I said, even if I shouldnt have said anything to begin with. I already apologized for that, and should have left well enough alone.

I'm sorry I hijacked this thread, like I said I was bored and got worked up over something that I really shouldnt have. I do have opinions, and when asked for them I have tendancy to be brutally honest about what I think.

Anyway, I dont mean to be a dick. I apologize if I offended anyone.

No apology is necessary. This is a forum after all, and we are living in America, so your views are welcome. Anyone can bring good observations to the table. I only chime in when I see that someone is suffering from tunnel vision or making comments that appear to come from a lack of experience or maturity concerning function, design, and workmanship. Sounds like you have good experience, but I think you are dead wrong when you say that the demos on the Leu Custom website are not indicative of a superior knife. The thing that he can not show is the durability of his edge. I can speak from experience that they hold vastly longer than 999.999% of the blades out there. His blades will be a success. They have it all. Radical sharpness, perfect workmanship, superior wraps, great feel, extreme durability, and a wonderful person who stands behind his craft.

 

[TJL]

TJL, I dont claim to be a knifemaker, I am a knifemaker... I dont talk about my work much here anymore. I dont think I have posted one of my own knives here in maybe 10 years.. If you want to question my abilities, I wont answer MYSELF I would ask that you ask people that own my knives..

Ask Jeff Randall, Ron Hood, Terrill Hoffman, all survival experts who own and use my knives. Ask Steven Dick, Roy Huntington, Jim Gardner all editors of magazines that own and use my knives. I could go on, but I am "humble" like Master Po.

OK I'm done, unless people wanna keep dragging me back in..

I am familiar with your knives. I am also familiar with your years of experience. That is what does not make sense about your attitude. To attack a fellow maker who is making an outstanding blade belies your experience. I simply do not understand how someone who knows their craft could not recognize purity of form and function when he sees it. Frankly, to condemn it makes me doubt you are who you say you are.

 

[Lycosa]

Bad For Business!!

 

[TJL]

What's so bad about what Trace said? It's true. He's a knifemaker and you are nothing but a fanboy.

You're the one who's sounding ignorant. Most bladesmiths and mastersmiths hand sand or mirror polish their blades. Not because they're covering up some bad craftsmanship either.

If you spent as much time making, or using a knife as you do rubbing PH's belly...then you might understand something. Trace made very valid arguments.

Like I said, everyone can bring valid and useful ideas to the table on this forum, but you have no idea of who I am or what my experience is. Yes, I am a fan of performance and quality. When it can be had in its purest form at a price that is more than fair, I like to share with others. All I can say is that if you plan to use your blades, and want a knife you can trust your life to, you simply can not beat a Hartsfield or a Leu. If you want that performance for dirt cheap, there really is only one choice. Pohan's.

 

[Lycosa]

Dirt Cheap!!!
You mean, "reasonably priced."

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Well, this has deteriorated into an amazing performance ... I could never have imagined anyone ignorant enough to call Trace ignorant. The problem with fans is they overinterpret criticism. No criticism, no growth. Harsh criticism: harder to hear, perhaps, but no less valuable.

Trace doesn't participate here enough. I can't imagine why.

In all seriousness, say what you like about the knives, but let's not go around characterizing each other. That is a violation of the rules, and of profitable conversational procedure.

 

[TJL]

Yah, Im ignorant.... Look, a trained chimp can chisel grind a blade, I used to do it before I learned how to really grind a blade so I know.. In fact one of these days maybe I'll do a video in real time showing how long it actually takes to grind a blade EXACTLY like these. Hell I could train a guy off the streets to do it in probably a days time. Have you ever made a knife? How would you know what it takes or doesnt take to do make one?

My answer to this is anyone can buy preshaped 1/16" Damascus blade stock and grind an inferior edge on it. A monkey can basically pull that out of his ass. You can not deny the skill and effort it takes to do a zero grind on 3/8" stock. You should know better than most what a bitch that is. If you can not acknowledge this, it is clear you have never worked with anything thicker that 1/8' stock since you claim it is so easy to grind a blade. It is physically impossible for the edge of one of your stock knives to be as sharp as what Pohan Leu grinds. Like I have said before, just do the math. Don't even get me started on the poor edge holding qualities of Damascus that you use on a regular basis!

 

[TJL]

Well, this has deteriorated into an amazing performance ... I could never have imagined anyone ignorant enough to call Trace ignorant. The problem with fans is they overinterpret criticism. No criticism, no growth. Harsh criticism: harder to hear, perhaps, but no less valuable.

Trace doesn't participate here enough. I can't imagine why.

In all seriousness, say what you like about the knives, but let's not go around characterizing each other. That is a violation of the rules, and of profitable conversational procedure.

Sorry, but he was inaccurate in his attacks. I will always speak from experience, and nothing less. If I don't know, I won't log on.

 

[TJL]

Dirt Cheap!!!
You mean, "reasonably priced."

Yes, sorry, I have been paying through the nose for Phill's knives for years. They seem free compared to a Hartsfield.