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Rockstead Knowledge Thread
- Thread starter bladeninja
- Start date
So I take it the serial number on the knife is the total number of knifes they have made for that model and not just a total for that given year? I imagine their production numbers are fairly low, but their numbers seem so low based on what I've seen so far I just had to ask.
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I'm curious about this as well, if the serial numbers do not reset each year, than they really make even less knives per year than I had initially thought.
If they do then you really wouldn't have a serial number, or at least not a unique one anyway. Unless they have some other identifier that I am unaware of. You would think they would want unique serial numbers. Hard to say at this point as I have yet to receive my knife yet.
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I'm pretty sure the serial numbers do not reset. My Hizen is #238, and when I registered it I just told them it was Hizen ZDP 238. If the serial numbers reset, that wouldn't be a unique identification.
I'm curious if serialization is for both steel types though. I suspect they are, because I think I've seen Rockstead refer to knives just with a model (Hizen, Higo, etc) and a serial number.
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Does anyone have a timeline of model releases? The Higo in ZDP I have coming is #49, which seems awfully low. I think the certificate said it was from September 2012.
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Regarding serial numbers, I'm not sure how they correlate with how many that have been produced.
My Higo-X has the serial # F-HXID 452 and was born on 5/1/15. My Chi is serial # F-CTD 214 and was born on 8/6/15. If they don't reset each year, I don't think there would be letters with the serial number. For example, I would imagine it would just be "452" rather than "F-HXID 452".
Rockstead also seems to have a pretty big customer base in Russia, given that they have an entire website translated in Russian. Their production numbers are probably larger than we think, however I don't know that for sure. They have dealers across the world from Germany, Russia, France, US, and probably more.
The only way to know for sure, is to ask Rockstead. Which I might do
Congrats!
The Shu is a beautiful knife. Be sure to let us know your impressions when they come!
Buy from a reputable dealer. That's all there really is to it.
My Higo-X has the serial # F-HXID 452 and was born on 5/1/15. My Chi is serial # F-CTD 214 and was born on 8/6/15. If they don't reset each year, I don't think there would be letters with the serial number. For example, I would imagine it would just be "452" rather than "F-HXID 452".
Rockstead also seems to have a pretty big customer base in Russia, given that they have an entire website translated in Russian. Their production numbers are probably larger than we think, however I don't know that for sure. They have dealers across the world from Germany, Russia, France, US, and probably more.
The only way to know for sure, is to ask Rockstead. Which I might do
Congrats!
The Shu is a beautiful knife. Be sure to let us know your impressions when they come!
Buy from a reputable dealer. That's all there really is to it.
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- Feb 27, 2014
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- 17,936
Look on the paper work sent with your knife. The serial number on the blade isn't the same as what's on your papers.
There is a chance you may have registered incorrectly, but I'm not sure.
Regarding serial numbers, I'm not sure how they correlate with how many that have been produced.
My Higo-X has the serial # F-HXID 452 and was born on 5/1/15. My Chi is serial # F-CTD 214 and was born on 8/6/15. If they don't reset each year, I don't think there would be letters with the serial number. For example, I would imagine it would just be "452" rather than "F-HXID 452".
Rockstead also seems to have a pretty big customer base in Russia, given that they have an entire website translated in Russian. Their production numbers are probably larger than we think, however I don't know that for sure. They have dealers across the world from Germany, Russia, France, US, and probably more.
The only way to know for sure, is to ask Rockstead. Which I might do
Congrats!
The Shu is a beautiful knife. Be sure to let us know your impressions when they come!
Buy from a reputable dealer. That's all there really is to it.
I was just curious because it certainly appeared that all the numbers I had seen to this point were rather low. But it appears the additional letters on yours may very well have something to do with it. Ah well we will probably never know for sure what the count is, but I will be interested to see what the birth date and serial number of my Chi is when I get it next week.
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My paperwork says F-HNZ 238, but I'm pretty sure that just indicates that it's HizeN Zdp #238. Maybe the F indicates that it was made in 2015, but Rockstead accepted my registration without that prefix. Can someone with a non-2015 blade comment on what their full serial number is?
Also, Rockstead's website has a post about fugitive knives that identifies then only with a model name and a number (chart below). This indicates that it is possible to uniquely identify a knife only knowing its model and the number on the blade. If you couldn't do that, you could have knives that are indistinguishable from each other, which sort of defeats the purpose of serialization.
Hi guys, does any one own or have some experience with the rockstead UN-DLC fixed blade? The owner need to sell it in a hurry so I have very little time to decide.
How good is the blade? Significantly better than their folders?
There is some staining mark from the photos he send me, something to be concerned?
The the price is great but still high enough for me to want to gather as much opinions from all you rockstead experts here before I make the plunch
How good is the blade? Significantly better than their folders?
There is some staining mark from the photos he send me, something to be concerned?
The the price is great but still high enough for me to want to gather as much opinions from all you rockstead experts here before I make the plunch
Hi guys, does any one own or have some experience with the rockstead UN-DLC fixed blade? The owner need to sell it in a hurry so I have very little time to decide.
How good is the blade? Significantly better than their folders?
There is some staining mark from the photos he send me, something to be concerned?
The the price is great but still high enough for me to want to gather as much opinions from all you rockstead experts here before I make the plunch
For me there would be a number of reasons I would probably never buy a Rockstead used or it would certainly have to be for the right price. When it comes to real sharpening work I would only want Rockstead to do this consider the blade and the sharpening technique and how it looks is probably the biggest reason one would buy a Rockstead. The warranty doesn't transfer to the next owner. The warranty will cover free sharpening and all you have to do is pay the shipping costs. Granted from the States shipping might cost you about $60, but if you don't have a warranty your going to have to pay an additional $60 or more to have them sharpen the knife. The exact fee is somewhere located in this thread. Since your talking about every couple of years this sharpening fee could be fairly significant over the course of this knifes life.
The other consideration is the actual amount your paying for something used vs something new and if nothing else the actual condition of the used knife your buying. Heck if the knife already has Patina, do you want their Patina or do you want the chance to make or not make those kind of mistakes. Of course in this case because its ZDP 189 maybe they could refinish the blade. I really don't know, but then again your going to have to pay for it. So by the time you pay for a refinish if possible and the sharpening you may have negated any potential savings if not spent more than what you normally would have for a new knife. When buying used condition is king.
I have no inside info on the ZDP 189 vs DLC blade other than what is covered in this thread since I have yet to pickup my knife. But I did choose the ZDP 189 blade.
Good luck with your decision.
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Thanks Dddrees . Patina! That's the word i was looking for
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Agreed with you 100%, condition is everything when spending this kind of money. I'm more concern with the condition of the cutting edge, is there a simply test one can do to show it still has the factory edge?
Cutting wave shape strips through news paper? Jim skelton did it on his rockstead shin review video.
I can't mention the price offered to me by the seller (as per forum rules), but it's a significant saving over the normal retail price. It's what they said an offer you can't refuse 😂
By the way the steel is YXR 7+DLC, 2014 model year, serial number 034
😅
Agreed with you 100%, condition is everything when spending this kind of money. I'm more concern with the condition of the cutting edge, is there a simply test one can do to show it still has the factory edge?
Cutting wave shape strips through news paper? Jim skelton did it on his rockstead shin review video.
I can't mention the price offered to me by the seller (as per forum rules), but it's a significant saving over the normal retail price. It's what they said an offer you can't refuse 😂
By the way the steel is YXR 7+DLC, 2014 model year, serial number 034
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I'd say, go for it and follow the sharpening techniques that have been shared here and on Rockstead's site. See Blues Benders videos. He seems to have a pretty good handle on this.
Received additional hi red pictures from the seller, the knife requires extensive works to bring it back to factory condition.
Scratch marks, some in a dark red hue. Chipped edge visible on the photo, the seller was not very forth coming on how he managed to chip the blade.
I'm based in South Africa, it's not advisable to send a knife via mail, and there is the possibility of it been confiscated on the way back. Plus the additional sharpening costs, just can't be bothered.
Too bad we actually worked out a pretty good trade deal, my Canon L lens plus cash for the knife.
You guys think I should still get it? If I offer him lens and no cash?
PS Had a chat with the seller, and it seems he is not really a knife guy, he just love collecting oriental stuffs, that explain the lack of maintenence on the knife.
Scratch marks, some in a dark red hue. Chipped edge visible on the photo, the seller was not very forth coming on how he managed to chip the blade.
I'm based in South Africa, it's not advisable to send a knife via mail, and there is the possibility of it been confiscated on the way back. Plus the additional sharpening costs, just can't be bothered.
Too bad we actually worked out a pretty good trade deal, my Canon L lens plus cash for the knife.
You guys think I should still get it? If I offer him lens and no cash?
PS Had a chat with the seller, and it seems he is not really a knife guy, he just love collecting oriental stuffs, that explain the lack of maintenence on the knife.
