Rockstead Higo X Knife?

Grizz484

Grizz484

Joined
Jan 7, 2018
Messages
120
Please, searching for information & first hand experience with this knife. ZDP-189 blade is my first choice, unless any one knows why the other blade steel (X something Rockstead propriety) would be better. #1 concern is maintaining this ultra sharp, highly finished blade. They say strop it & return it to Japan every 2-3 years for refinishing & sharpening.

Thanking all in advance for any information on the above knife & blade.
 
A mirror finish scratches readily, even at this hardness. That would drive me nuts, personally. It's keeping me from buying one.
 
Good information, I wondered about that. I thought the 67 RC would stop the scratches. How about the DLC finish that comes on the other blade steel? Thank you.
 
It depends on what you're cutting, of course. Materials like cardboard are abrasive enough to show up in the mirror finish, from what I've heard. Probably the finish is unperturbed by food prep etc., but you don't need 67 RC for that. ;) Personally I think Rockstead should offer a stonewash, and you could even have that done yourself. There are several reputable people who could do it for you, and it would probably look amazing. I don't know how it would affect Rockstead's warranty/willingness to refinish in the future, but I'm sure you could just ask them, and they would tell you. Personally I'd feel best knowing that they would refinish it, especially if I had any intention of ever selling it.

I've never seen a high-gloss DLC like what Rockstead is showing. It looks more like TiCN or something. Anyway my experience with traditional matte DLC that it shows wear, but keeping it oiled preserves a lot of its good looks — however, when and if some wear appears on the DLC that you can't hide, there's no way to refinish it. I probably wouldn't buy a DLC-coated knife in this price range, for that reason. Then again, I honestly have no idea how their glossy DLC behaves.

It's nowhere in the same class of refinement, but if I had a hankering for some exotic supersteel and classy hardwood, I might consider a Spyderco sprint run and have some custom scales made for it.

All that said, maybe the answer is to buy the knife, scratch the hell out of it, and love every scratch like an old scar or a grey hair.

v4fgWGm.jpeg
 
I love your information & point of view! Great stuff. Hell, what I'm really in love with is that Desert Ironwood on those X Higo's. I missed the last CRK Mnandi run for Plaza Cutlery in Desert Ironwood; I'll never get that chance again! Your last option may be the best, one never knows what tomorrow may bring. Thank you.
 
Nice albeit expensive knives.

Some of the knives have alu(?) handles and they dont seem to age well IMO.
 
vanadium said:
It depends on what you're cutting, of course. Materials like cardboard are abrasive enough to show up in the mirror finish, from what I've heard. Probably the finish is unperturbed by food prep etc., but you don't need 67 RC for that. ;) Personally I think Rockstead should offer a stonewash, and you could even have that done yourself. There are several reputable people who could do it for you, and it would probably look amazing. I don't know how it would affect Rockstead's warranty/willingness to refinish in the future, but I'm sure you could just ask them, and they would tell you. Personally I'd feel best knowing that they would refinish it, especially if I had any intention of ever selling it.

I've never seen a high-gloss DLC like what Rockstead is showing. It looks more like TiCN or something. Anyway my experience with traditional matte DLC that it shows wear, but keeping it oiled preserves a lot of its good looks — however, when and if some wear appears on the DLC that you can't hide, there's no way to refinish it. I probably wouldn't buy a DLC-coated knife in this price range, for that reason. Then again, I honestly have no idea how their glossy DLC behaves.

It's nowhere in the same class of refinement, but if I had a hankering for some exotic supersteel and classy hardwood, I might consider a Spyderco sprint run and have some custom scales made for it.

All that said, maybe the answer is to buy the knife, scratch the hell out of it, and love every scratch like an old scar or a grey hair.

v4fgWGm.jpeg
Click to expand...
The dlc coatings I've used have been extremely durable and the wear I've seen on them is actually particles of whatever material was being cut. I used my zt 804cf to scrap and deburr aluminum in the past and aluminum was left on the dlc.
 
As an owner of ZDP-189 Higo, I will say that:

1. Yes it will scratch if you cut anything with abrasives in it, like cardboard. Mine has plenty of scratching on it, and it definitely doesn't polish out with regular Flitz or Simichrome. Rockstead does not refinish their knives, it's just a fact of life if you choose to use their knives. People have said that when you return the knife for sharpening, it comes back slightly more polished but it's not going to be restored to the factory fresh condition it originally came in.

2. I have experienced microchipping after cutting a lot of cardboard with the Higo. I would generally recommend the YXR7 over the ZDP-189 unless you know you will be cutting relatively soft material, in which the edge retention of the ZDP-189 will definitely be fantastic. Plus the the thin DLC looks very cool over the polished blade.

I recommend checking out the big Rockstead thread in the general forum, it's a pretty good brain dump from people who own Rockstead's.
 
Thanks for all the information folks, much appreciated. Officers Match, you have first hand experience with Rockstead's & their YXR7 with DLC? It would be your pick over ZDP-189? If so for what reasons?
 
Misanthropia, thank you, exactly the kind of information I'm looking for. If I get one it would be a cardboard knife, so your steer to YXR7 is great.

Thanks all.
 
Grizz484 said:
Misanthropia, thank you, exactly the kind of information I'm looking for. If I get one it would be a cardboard knife, so your steer to YXR7 is great.

Thanks all.
Click to expand...

They're marvelous knives, just don't build them up too much in your mind (unfortunately Rockstead's marketing lends to this quite a bit) or you might be disappointed when it arrives and it is indeed just a knife. The laws of physics will always apply :D
 
Good point. They are good looking knives though.

(Marketing: ...Gasp! Are you telling me Rocks are not the best knives in the entire world, that Busses aint able to chop through the engine of a Chevy or that you are not instantly transformed into a hard core tactical ninja operator when buying a Strider!! Say it aint so!!:cool::cool::D:p).
 
They’re black coating is gorgeous. It reminds me of a beautiful bluing on a high end rifle.
Pics do not do it justice.
Joe
 
Grizz484 said:
Thanks for all the information folks, much appreciated. Officers Match, you have first hand experience with Rockstead's & their YXR7 with DLC? It would be your pick over ZDP-189? If so for what reasons?
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Yes, I had a Shin, and it was the finest knife I've ever touched. Moved it on because I'm promiscuous that way with knives. I honestly wouldn't be at all interested in a Rockie that wasn't YXR7/DLC. That, and the appleseed blade grind, where and are the draw for me. The smokey mirror polish is impossible to imagine - it must be seen. If my budget ever allows, I'll have a Higo Ironwood in YXR7/DLC.
 
Grizz484 said:
They say strop it & return it to Japan every 2-3 years for refinishing & sharpening.
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If you're expecting this kind of performance, you're going to be unimpressed.

I've carried a Chi and Higo-X, both in YXR7 quite extensively. I've used them for stripping wires, cutting wood, plastic, zip ties, cardboard, and all kinds of stuff. My job is in the construction world, so lots of nasty stuff to cut.

I sharpen my own Rocky's on a ceramic stone, and yes, the mirror polish will show scratches from use. However, my luck with the DLC coated YXR7 has been great, the blades look great.

P.S.
Please don't take the above advice and stonewash a Rockstead. That's some of the worse advise I've heard on this forum...
 
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Is the dlc the mirrored surface? Or is the flat dlc? Maybe a stupid question but I honestly don't know.

Damn, Tyler that reflection and picture is beautiful. I showed it to my wife and she liked it very much.
 
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