Hello all! Ive been reading BF for a couple years now and decided to finally create an account and post something. I decided I really wanted to start with the mysterious new Hen and Roosters, so, here we go...
We've all heard all the he said, she said about H&R over the last few years but I've actually got some experience with trying to collect the stag handled ones over a couple of years and my trial and error in doing so might shine a little light on them for us all. I had to just return one to a big time dealer we all know well, and they were very nice about it and completely understood. (They said this is happening more often) The issue was the knife I ordered was an actual Solingen Germany made knife with Solingen price, but ended up getting sent a knife of the same pattern but with a different shield, tang stamp, and overall obvious difference in quality. (This has happened to me twice now.) As of right now I still don't know where these cheaper ones are being made. Some say Spain on them and some don't say anything. I can only assume the ones that don't say anything might be China or Pakistan for obvious quality issues. Frost owns H&R and are having some made by Klaas in Solingen and the others made by WHO KNOWS?! (I follow Klaas on some social media and know that they make some of them.) Some of these lower end knives I am seeing are SERIOUSLY bad. Weird recurve grinds, bad steel, gaps in liners, gaps in handles, and stag that you would swear is plastic. But the actual Solingen made ones are as good as you would expect, and you do really get your moneys worth. I guess I just wish we could be openly told where all these are coming from under the same name of H&R, because it really is misleading. With all that said I am NOT trashing Frost. I just want to give my experiences.
>>Tips on lower end H&R - Comes in a LIGHTER GREEN box that does NOT say Solingen, Germany on the front. Does NOT say Solingen Germany on tang stamp. Has a shield that goes HORIZONTALLY with the knife.
>>Tips on higher end German H&R - Comes in a DARK GREEN box that DOES say Rostfrei - Solingen, Germany on the Front. It DOES say Solingen Germany on tang stamp. Has a shield that goes VERTICALLY with the knife.
(Remember that even if you order a true German one from the pictures you see, it still might not be the one you get sent from dealers. And as soon as you get it...you will know. So be observant.) In closing...I really would like to see a historical brand like Hen and Rooster turn around and be the hen and rooster we all want and love....I just hope its not too late with all of this trickery (it seems).
Whew...thanks for reading, and it feels good to officially have a chair on the porch!
We've all heard all the he said, she said about H&R over the last few years but I've actually got some experience with trying to collect the stag handled ones over a couple of years and my trial and error in doing so might shine a little light on them for us all. I had to just return one to a big time dealer we all know well, and they were very nice about it and completely understood. (They said this is happening more often) The issue was the knife I ordered was an actual Solingen Germany made knife with Solingen price, but ended up getting sent a knife of the same pattern but with a different shield, tang stamp, and overall obvious difference in quality. (This has happened to me twice now.) As of right now I still don't know where these cheaper ones are being made. Some say Spain on them and some don't say anything. I can only assume the ones that don't say anything might be China or Pakistan for obvious quality issues. Frost owns H&R and are having some made by Klaas in Solingen and the others made by WHO KNOWS?! (I follow Klaas on some social media and know that they make some of them.) Some of these lower end knives I am seeing are SERIOUSLY bad. Weird recurve grinds, bad steel, gaps in liners, gaps in handles, and stag that you would swear is plastic. But the actual Solingen made ones are as good as you would expect, and you do really get your moneys worth. I guess I just wish we could be openly told where all these are coming from under the same name of H&R, because it really is misleading. With all that said I am NOT trashing Frost. I just want to give my experiences.
>>Tips on lower end H&R - Comes in a LIGHTER GREEN box that does NOT say Solingen, Germany on the front. Does NOT say Solingen Germany on tang stamp. Has a shield that goes HORIZONTALLY with the knife.
>>Tips on higher end German H&R - Comes in a DARK GREEN box that DOES say Rostfrei - Solingen, Germany on the Front. It DOES say Solingen Germany on tang stamp. Has a shield that goes VERTICALLY with the knife.
(Remember that even if you order a true German one from the pictures you see, it still might not be the one you get sent from dealers. And as soon as you get it...you will know. So be observant.) In closing...I really would like to see a historical brand like Hen and Rooster turn around and be the hen and rooster we all want and love....I just hope its not too late with all of this trickery (it seems).
Whew...thanks for reading, and it feels good to officially have a chair on the porch!
