Steve-
I have only had one Hartsfield Kwaiken, but I have some opinions. The reason I got rid of mine was because I did not buy it directly from him and he would not warrant it. As a matter of fact, he would not do anything with it! I tried to send it to him to sharpen and he would take no amount of money to do that. He said after it leaves the original owner "I don't touch it".
The guy I bought it from was the original owner and he said the edge was sharp, but it was no where near the edge on my Martin. I did not use it long, but his knives are supposed to be excellent in regards to edge holding and toughness. He uses zero ground,differentially tempered A2, which at the moment is may favorite configuration (at least until I get some 3V).
The wait is 2 years and he does deliver in 24 months, by all accounts. Unlike some makers where when you order it's two years and ends up being 4+ (see below).
I still think about ordering one from him for some strange reason. He was the originator in the US of the Japanese style tactical pieces that are popular now (my favorite knives), so that counts for something.
I do think that there are better makers out there, but there should be some reason hwe has this cult like following - and it's not his fine asthetics
Seriously though, he makes his knives to be users, but I feel the are going the way of the Loveless in that collectors are mosly buying them now. You can get at least as good a knife from Martin, I feel. There are other great makers, too: JSP(4 year wait), Hayes(check him out and see my past review
www.hayesknives.com ), Don Fogg, etc.
Hope all this helps a little.
-Bart
