Rockstead Knowledge Thread

[The Aflac Duck]

I'm going to keep using it and see what happens. The cardboard I was cutting didn't feel like there were any loose particulates in it, like some really dirty cardboard that you see in bigger boxes. I'll try cutting other media and see how it holds up. I use a Spyderco UF stone on the very apex to straighten it out, it certainly helped.

Those ceramic stones work wonders on these blades

Keep us posted on how it keeps holding up:thumbup:

 

[Misanthropia]

More thoughts:

I got in a Maxace Corvus in from the passaround forum, which by all means has the formula for a high performance knife: 4" M390 blade, full flat grind to 0.015" behind the edge, professionally sharpened by Josh at Razor Edge Knives, and putting it head to head with my Higo makes me even more impressed with the Rockstead.

The Corvus was sharpened to somewhere around 600-1000 grit diamond stones on the WE at 20 DPS, and I'm beginning to wonder just how much of an effect edge refinement really makes on cutting performance. The Higo is zero convex ground, but it is not super thin at the apex from what I can tell. I wonder if the addition of a secondary bevel and not refining it as much really makes that much of a difference.

 

[rpn]

So I'm visiting my brother yesterday, who isn't into knives, and he tells me he has a couple of nice new knives. I ask what they are and he whips out 2 Rocksteads. I've been here for 8-9 years and don't even know what they are!

Man jumped in with both feet! He's been a tuna fisherman for years and loves all kinds of Japanese gear...that's how they got on his radar.

Interesting to read about them...

 

[The Aflac Duck]

I'm really disappointed to see that Boker ripped off the handle on the Higo-X with their new "Magnum B & B" model. I was never a Boker fan, but after seeing this blatant ripoff, I'll be sure to never give them my money!

Bad Boker:thumbdn::thumbdn::grumpy:

 

[Brusiedmeat]

I'm really disappointed to see that Boker ripped off the handle on the Higo-X with their new "Magnum B & B" model. I was never a Boker fan, but after seeing this blatant ripoff, I'll be sure to never give them my money!

Bad Boker:thumbdn::thumbdn::grumpy:

LOL. That is a low blow, considering they made it in their magnum line. LOL!

 

[Misanthropia]

Boker really needs to do something about their Magnum line, I don't think they have much involvement in the design process. Instead, they just have a random Chinese manufacturer make the knives and then they slap their name on it so the can have a "budget" line. This is like the third or fourth time that the Magnum series has had a blatant ripoff release.

 

[Glock Guy]

OK, now I've got the Rockstead bug!

My biggest thing is that I'm a smoothness snob. For those of you that have multiple models (I'm leaning towards either the Chi-DLC, the Hizen or the Higo), do you notice any of them being smoother than the other? I've heard that the Shin is extremely smooth, which makes me wonder if the Chi will be *similar* in smoothness.

I'm just wondering if these Rocky's have differences in feel based on design, kind of like a Sebenza 21 vs. a Sebenza 25 in action?

 

[Officer's Match]

My Shin is IMPOSSIBLY smooth, far far FAR smoother than my most broken in CRK (a small micarta 21). I bought it for the edge, but the smoothness is what blows me away.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

OK, now I've got the Rockstead bug!

My biggest thing is that I'm a smoothness snob. For those of you that have multiple models (I'm leaning towards either the Chi-DLC, the Hizen or the Higo), do you notice any of them being smoother than the other? I've heard that the Shin is extremely smooth, which makes me wonder if the Chi will be *similar* in smoothness.

I'm just wondering if these Rocky's have differences in feel based on design, kind of like a Sebenza 21 vs. a Sebenza 25 in action?

I'm not sure what you mean by smoothness, but if you're expecting the blade to fall shut freely then you'll be disappointed.

The action is like a CRK.

 

[Officer's Match]

I'm not sure what you mean by smoothness, but if you're expecting the blade to fall shut freely then you'll be disappointed.

The action is like a CRK.

BB, my Shin will almost fall shut, the tiniest bit of vibration and it will effortlessly fall shut. Even if I over-loosen the pivot on one of my Zaan's, the Shin still has a lighter, smoother pivot action (by a noticeable amount).

 

[The Aflac Duck]

BB, my Shin will almost fall shut, the tiniest bit of vibration and it will effortlessly fall shut. Even if I over-loosen the pivot on one of my Zaan's, the Shin still has a lighter, smoother pivot action (by a noticeable amount).

I'll try and make a video later to show how mine are

 

[Misanthropia]

My Higo falls shut pretty dramatically when the lockbar tension is released, it's probably the smoothest washer driven folder I've ever handled. Much smoother than any of my three Sebenza 21's. While it is smooth, it is not "loose" feeling like the smoother bearing knives are, as there is a reasonable amount of lockbar tension (which helps retain the blade extremely well while closed).

I'm also not sure if this runs across models, but the Higo has a pivot bushing a la the Sebenza 21 or PM2.

 

[Glock Guy]

I'm not sure what you mean by smoothness, but if you're expecting the blade to fall shut freely then you'll be disappointed.

The action is like a CRK.

Let me see if I can quantify this a bit better, but Officer's Match and Misanthropia answered my question.

With my Sebenza's (21 and 25) they felt smooth in a hydraulic kind of way. By that I mean (and I'm sure most here would know), that there was no "binding", or grittiness to the actual action itself, but it was not a fast open or close.

Contrast that with my new Hinderer XM-18, which is so much smoother that I can actually wiggle-close the blade once I get past the detent. The blade will basically fall shut as it feels like there is almost no lockbar tension on it. While a Sebenza will do this when you release the lockbar tension with your thumb, (allowing the blade to fall freely), I have never seen this happen on a knife with the lockbar tension applied like it is normally.

Also, while I know that a large part of what I'm feeling is probably due to a different in lockbar tension, it also seems like the teflon washers in the Hinderer might be helping this along as I don't hear the oh-so-faint "gritty" sound when opening and closing my XM-18 like I do when I open and close a Sebenza.

 

[Officer's Match]

My Higo falls shut pretty dramatically when the lockbar tension is released, it's probably the smoothest washer driven folder I've ever handled. Much smoother than any of my three Sebenza 21's. While it is smooth, it is not "loose" feeling like the smoother bearing knives are, as there is a reasonable amount of lockbar tension (which helps retain the blade extremely well while closed).

I'm also not sure if this runs across models, but the Higo has a pivot bushing a la the Sebenza 21 or PM2.

I know the PM2 has a bushing, but not a "tuned" bushing ala Sebenza or Rockstead - you can tighten a PM2 pivot to a point where the action becomes stiff.

Glock Guy, where are you located? PM me if you'd rather not post it.

 

[socom1970]

Deleted...

 

[Glock Guy]

I know the PM2 has a bushing, but not a "tuned" bushing ala Sebenza or Rockstead - you can tighten a PM2 pivot to a point where the action becomes stiff.

I'm not familiar with a PM2, but it sounds like it works the same as a Sebenza 25, where there is a "Sweet-Spot" in the pivot tension to make the action smooth WITHOUT inducing blade play. I think I get what you are saying about a "tuned" bushing, too. On the Sebenza 21, it doesn't seem to matter how tight (within reason) the pivot is, as the action feels the same. I know you are/were a big fan of a tuned XM, and your comment on the Shin is what blew my mind with how much smoother that is. In fact, I'm actually having trouble wrapping my head around it!

Glock Guy, where are you located? PM me if you'd rather not post it.

No worries man. I'm in Bismarck, ND.

 

[Officer's Match]

Sending you a pm GG.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

Deleted...

Why did you delete your question?

As for "large" Rocksteads, you'd be looking at the Tei, Shun, or fixed blades.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

Let's talk about smoothness

Officer's Match, is you Shin similar to the action on my Chi, or does it fall shut easier? Personally, I wouldn't want a blade this sharp swinging around like a pendulum Mine are perfect!

*Uploaded in HD, broadcasted in "can't see"...
[video=youtube_share;1rqi4bjeQoE]http://youtu.be/1rqi4bjeQoE[/video]

 

[Dddrees]

Let's talk about smoothness

Officer's Match, is you Shin similar to the action on my Chi, or does it fall shut easier? Personally, I wouldn't want a blade this sharp swinging around like a pendulum Mine are perfect!

Agreed!!!