Phil Hartsfield

Bladeandbarrel said:
Thanks for reading, Jose. As usual you are wrong, but hey, at least you are consistent.

Your friend,

APL
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Of course you are correct, maybe I should read more of your opinions so I'm wrong less often. Whatever the reason for the handle change it's your choice. Your posts in this thread did get me riled up but my response was not any better, blame it on a long hard day.

Consistently,
Jose
 
I collect knives for many reasons and I also collect makers. I may not always be able to afford exactly the knife I might like but over a 26 year period, have gotten knives by people with some history in the knife community and Phil Hartsfield is definitely one of them. It took me a long time but I did finally get at PH knife a couple months ago and it fits nicely among a number of other "oriental" object d'arte I own so I'm satisfied.

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MW,
Those are are interesting Hartsfields! What's that little PH in the pouch? Do you like Phill's folder? Are you going to add on? Nice photos-thanks.
Lycosa
 
Lycosa said:
MW,
Those are are interesting Hartsfields! What's that little PH in the pouch? Do you like Phill's folder? Are you going to add on? Nice photos-thanks.
Lycosa
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That is a collage of images of the same knife. Knife in sheath. Knife on sheath. Knife alone. Inset image of the area where the handle meets the blade.
 
Thanks for the exp. I must have been groggie this morning. At least I was'nt drunk.
Lycosa
 
I once worked for a knife company whose entire marketing strategy was based on the fact that they made the worlds sharpest knives. Sharp sells.

As 95% of "custom" or "handmade" knives never get used so you would rarely get to experience why a coarse belt finish on carbon steel or lack of a real guard on a utilty knife tends to be bad ideas or why loose shoelaces over twine make bad knife handles.
 
Bladeandbarrel said:
I once worked for a knife company whose entire marketing strategy was based on the fact that they made the worlds sharpest knives. Sharp sells.

As 95% of "custom" or "handmade" knives never get used so you would rarely get to experience why a coarse belt finish on carbon steel or lack of a real guard on a utilty knife tends to be bad ideas or why loose shoelaces over twine make bad knife handles.
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Phill's knives are USED and the shoelaces over twine are not loose. It appears like it has nothing over it, but is defiinitely covered in a layer or two of epoxy resin which keeps it from coming apart on you.
 
Bladeandbarrel said:
I once worked for a knife company whose entire marketing strategy was based on the fact that they made the worlds sharpest knives. Sharp sells.

As 95% of "custom" or "handmade" knives never get used so you would rarely get to experience why a coarse belt finish on carbon steel or lack of a real guard on a utilty knife tends to be bad ideas or why loose shoelaces over twine make bad knife handles.
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I've only handled a Hartsfield once, thanks to Talon. It was a machete, it was 1/8" and chisel zero ground. It sailed through bamboo like nothing. After many cuts on bamboo (it was green bamboo, not dried bamboo though), I tested the edge where the cuts were made (I looked for the stains). Still razor shaving sharp.

I'm convinced about Hartsfields....there's something about his geometry, sharpening and heat treat. A2 does not hold normally hold an edge like that. It just doesn't. I agree that a small guard would be safer (even aikuchi tantos had a flared handle to prevent slippage).

Sadly, I can't afford his prices, but if I had the means and disposable cash, I would certainly get a nice Hartsfield blade.
 
I've only handled a Hartsfield once, thanks to Talon. It was a machete, it was 1/8" and chisel zero ground. It sailed through bamboo like nothing. After many cuts on bamboo (it was green bamboo, not dried bamboo though), I tested the edge where the cuts were made (I looked for the stains). Still razor shaving sharp.
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I have a convex reprofiled Ontario machete and likewise sharpened Camillus Patrol Machete that will both sail through green bambo without edge damage. Green bamboo isn't really that tough to cut as long as its not too big in diameter.

There is no doubt that Hartsfield knives are sharp and have excellent edge geometry. So does a $12 Frosts puukko..
Phill's knives are USED and the shoelaces over twine are not loose. It appears like it has nothing over it, but is defiinitely covered in a layer or two of epoxy resin which keeps it from coming apart on you.
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I am aware of that. I have handled many, many Hartsfield knives over the years and what I have seen is a great difference in handle wrapping between knives. Some are rigid and tight, so not so. Must be the amount of Ki injected into the knife that determines that.
 
Bladeandbarrel said:
and what I have seen is a great difference in handle wrapping between knives. Some are rigid and tight, so not so. Must be the amount of Ki injected into the knife that determines that.
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And, perhaps the amount of Ki injected is based upon the selling price of the knife? ;) :D
 
I think what determines the look and how well the handle is wrapped, soaked in epoxy and how beautiful it looks to the typical Hartsfield fan is who wrapped the handle - Father or son. You can tell one persons work from the other. I have not been able to determine who is more precise as far as the wrap job. One engraves a PH KNIFE logo much cleaner than the other one as well. You can tell on that kozuka posted the PH KNIFE Logo was definitely engraved probably by the son's hands. Although all the knowledge comes from the father, there is definitely a difference between the father and son's work (these days). Back 10 years ago i'm sure their work looked identical.
 
Im not rich in any means but i will say one thing this is the best $425 iv'e ever spent on a knife. I have other knives of higher and lower values that look much cleaner as for pesentation but i cant afford to just buy knives and watch them sit away in my safe forever i use them and i give my feedback. i carry BM, Spyderco, CRKTs, But i also carry Onion, Hartsfield, Ernie,Hinderer, Elishewitz. All these knives have something special. To me Phils knives really stand up to that standard that im looking for not saying that all my other knives dont do a good job. Everyone of my knives have there own character. Thats why is so fun to collect knives.
 
Sell some of those folder bumpkins and get his folder. It's the only folder you'll carry. As for hand slippage- if one holds the blade in a palm-loaded grip, like they are supposed to be held, it will be very hard for your hand to slip forward. Some say there is hype with Busse's blades-not true either! Keep Knife'n.
Lycosa
 
I talked to Phil today i asked him if he could make me a Left Handed Folder and he said Left handed would be hard but he'll try to put D thumbstuds. He is one of the Nicest Knife Makers ive ever talked to. He doesn't live that far from me im thinking about going to his shop. I've been makeing knives for a little while and i would like to learn a few things. I told him about this thread, he was interested in what people had to say i told him that there where all different oppinons. "His knives are users" he said and thats what there made for. Cant wait to see if he can pull off some kind of Lefty for me.
 
I realize my previous posts in this thread were not well written but here's my point.

You may take some of the positive comments in this thread to be biased or coming from inexperienced collectors. Is that true? I don't know. Comments regarding loose shoelace wraps and comparisons to $12 knives seem just as biased at the other end of the spectrum, at least to me. Are complaints about loose handles common to his knives, off the table or from normal use? If I came across a Jerry Fisk knife with a scratched blade, without knowing if the damage occurred from cutting 1" branches or shearing corrugated aluminum, or even a user "touching it up" with sandpaper, I wouldn't say he makes scratched blades.

Also, would it benefit the community more to explain how and why his knives could be improved rather than be dismissive of the poster? We talk a lot about educating people new to custom knives, and some of the early posters did just that. Comments disparaging a maker's work and credibility should not be thrown about so lighty, IMO, but then maybe I'm not the only one being consistent.

BTW, I haven't owned or sold any of Phil's knives. The same with Jerry, I just used him as an example.
 
I find the knives to be poorly designed and poorly made, especially for the money. They are sharp and have a nice story behind them. Sound familiar?:(

I expect more from expensive handmade knives. Thats my last comment on this thread.
 
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