Rockstead Knowledge Thread

I purchased a Shin that arrived today. Holy cow what a knife.

I was not able to see one in person so I went out on a limb based on comments from BF. I did a lot of research beforehand deciding on the model. Those who have said you have to get one in your hands to really appreciate a Rockstead are spot on. I am on the newer end of this hobby, owned a Sebenza and sold it, just wasn't for me . I own 9 Microtech folders that i love, but this knife is a different experience. Might just have to sell some of those MT and pick up a Tei or Hizen. Time will tell.

Id take a picture but my iphone camera does not focus.
 
Glockguy19 said:
I purchased a Shin that arrived today. Holy cow what a knife.

I was not able to see one in person so I went out on a limb based on comments from BF. I did a lot of research beforehand deciding on the model. Those who have said you have to get one in your hands to really appreciate a Rockstead are spot on. I am on the newer end of this hobby, owned a Sebenza and sold it, just wasn't for me . I own 9 Microtech folders that i love, but this knife is a different experience. Might just have to sell some of those MT and pick up a Tei or Hizen. Time will tell.

Id take a picture but my iphone camera does not focus.
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Excellent, Congrats!!!

Which blade? Make sure you post some pics when you get the chance.
 
I've probably sold over a 100 knives since 2007 on here, ebay and other places. Out of those, maybe a handful I truly regret selling. And at the top of that small list is my CHOU with ironwood scales. Quite possibly the finest knife I've ever owned and I've had several over $1,500. I plan to get another sometime this year. I sold my other on here and was about to withdraw it when someone grabbed it. So something to look forward to this year.

I live in Japan, so Rockstead is only about an hour or so by car from my place. However, they won't sell direct. So have to buy from one of their vendors. :(

Lev
 
Lev said:
I've probably sold over a 100 knives since 2007 on here, ebay and other places. Out of those, maybe a handful I truly regret selling. And at the top of that small list is my CHOU with ironwood scales. Quite possibly the finest knife I've ever owned and I've had several over $1,500. I plan to get another sometime this year. I sold my other on here and was about to withdraw it when someone grabbed it. So something to look forward to this year.

I live in Japan, so Rockstead is only about an hour or so by car from my place. However, they won't sell direct. So have to buy from one of their vendors. :(

Lev
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Do you know if Rockstead does "tours"? I'd love to see some pics of the inside of their factory and their manufacturing process. That would be awesome:D
 
Lev said:
I've probably sold over a 100 knives since 2007 on here, ebay and other places. Out of those, maybe a handful I truly regret selling. And at the top of that small list is my CHOU with ironwood scales. Quite possibly the finest knife I've ever owned and I've had several over $1,500. I plan to get another sometime this year. I sold my other on here and was about to withdraw it when someone grabbed it. So something to look forward to this year.

I live in Japan, so Rockstead is only about an hour or so by car from my place. However, they won't sell direct. So have to buy from one of their vendors. :(

Lev
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Where do you reside, if you don't mind me asking?
I used to live in Sakuranomiya. Have ridden my bike out to a mall in Sakai years ago... unfortunately never been able to afford a Rockstead, nor did I think to try to visit their facility, but would definitely be neat to see if it's open to public!
 
Does anyone have any experience sending their Rockstead back for "regrinding"? I'm curious as to whether they restore the finish to how it is when it leaves the factory. I feel pretty comfortable keeping the Higo sharp, but it would be nice to have it refinished since it's picking up scratches at an alarming pace.
 
Blues Bender said:
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:D Mine are perfect!

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

You and I are on the same page as far as what smoothness is. Just like in the last 10 seconds of the vid where you are moving the blade through it's arc. THAT to me is where I measure smoothness. With the Sebenzas I had, they felt pretty smooth through the arc, but I could still feel a *very* small amount of grittiness. I tried several lubes, and the best (IMO) was the CRK lube itself, but there was still the faintest hint of grittiness in there still.

The new Hinderer XM-18 I just picked up is significantly smoother through that same arc of motion, without the micro-grittiness, AND drops freely with the lockbar engaged as normal. That is something I've never felt in a folder before, bearings or not. It's not the fastest flipper by a long-shot, possibly in part due to the heavy blade, but this XM-18 is a whole new level of smooth for me.
 
Glock Guy said:
Blues Bender,

You and I are on the same page as far as what smoothness is. Just like in the last 10 seconds of the vid where you are moving the blade through it's arc. THAT to me is where I measure smoothness. With the Sebenzas I had, they felt pretty smooth through the arc, but I could still feel a *very* small amount of grittiness. I tried several lubes, and the best (IMO) was the CRK lube itself, but there was still the faintest hint of grittiness in there still.

The new Hinderer XM-18 I just picked up is significantly smoother through that same arc of motion, without the micro-grittiness, AND drops freely with the lockbar engaged as normal. That is something I've never felt in a folder before, bearings or not. It's not the fastest flipper by a long-shot, possibly in part due to the heavy blade, but this XM-18 is a whole new level of smooth for me.
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Well, since we're on the same page I'm pretty confident that you'll be happy with the smoothness. Often times, I hear people defining smoothness as how the blade falls shut and it can be a bit confusing.

That said, I don't think you can go wrong with any of Rocky's offerings. However, I will say that my Higo-X had quite a long break-in period before it felt right. The Higo is the only knife I've owned that actually had a break-in period; it's one hell-of-a knife!

Be sure to let us know if you decide to get a Rocky:)
 
Blues Bender said:
Well, since we're on the same page I'm pretty confident that you'll be happy with the smoothness. Often times, I hear people defining smoothness as how the blade falls shut and it can be a bit confusing.

That said, I don't think you can go wrong with any of Rocky's offerings. However, I will say that my Higo-X had quite a long break-in period before it felt right. The Higo is the only knife I've owned that actually had a break-in period; it's one hell-of-a knife!

Be sure to let us know if you decide to get a Rocky:)
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Will do and thanks for the info on the break-in with the Higo. That is one of the one's I'm considering, but the Tanto blade on that Chi is what I'm leaning towards most!
 
Blues Bender said:
Well, since we're on the same page I'm pretty confident that you'll be happy with the smoothness. Often times, I hear people defining smoothness as how the blade falls shut and it can be a bit confusing.
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I think my punctuation was a bit off. What I meant when I was talking about the XM is that: This thing is THE SMOOTHEST knife I have ever felt through the range of motion for both opening AND closing. Oh, and by the way, something I've never experienced before on any folder I've owned is the part where I can wiggle close the blade WITH the lockbar engaged as normal. I've never seen that before.
 
Glock Guy said:
I think my punctuation was a bit off. What I meant when I was talking about the XM is that: This thing is THE SMOOTHEST knife I have ever felt through the range of motion for both opening AND closing. Oh, and by the way, something I've never experienced before on any folder I've owned is the part where I can wiggle close the blade WITH the lockbar engaged as normal. I've never seen that before.
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You are most definitely about to see it again with the Shin I'm sending you to evaluate. :)
 
Misanthropia said:
Does anyone have any experience sending their Rockstead back for "regrinding"? I'm curious as to whether they restore the finish to how it is when it leaves the factory. I feel pretty comfortable keeping the Higo sharp, but it would be nice to have it refinished since it's picking up scratches at an alarming pace.
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I sent in my Nehan last week because I was curious about this and it really needed to be sharpened. I'll report back here when I get it in hand.

In my email conversation with them I asked about polishing the blade. The response was: "So, I can do resharpening of the blade. However, we can not do repolishing of the blade surface. This is not including our warranty."

I'm expecting to get a sharp knife back, but I also expect to have all the scratches it left with based on the email response. I would think some level of polishing has to be done to restore the edge though.
 
Blues Bender said:
Do you know if Rockstead does "tours"? I'd love to see some pics of the inside of their factory and their manufacturing process. That would be awesome:D
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I'm not really sure. I've thought about it before but haven't made any effort to check. I'll look into it and let you know.
 
I purchased the YXR7 blade with the DLC finish, its true that you have to see it in person to appreciate it. The only comparison i can make is to an old Smith revolver 19-2 i used to own where the blued finish was just perfect, color is very similar to the DLC finish.

View attachment 611870
 
Glockguy19 said:
I purchased the YXR7 blade with the DLC finish, its true that you have to see it in person to appreciate it. The only comparison i can make is to an old Smith revolver 19-2 i used to own where the blued finish was just perfect, color is very similar to the DLC finish.

View attachment 611870
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That's a pretty apt comparison, this 27-1 is indeed similar (and similarly hard to photograph).

 
jpadia said:
I sent in my Nehan last week because I was curious about this and it really needed to be sharpened. I'll report back here when I get it in hand.

In my email conversation with them I asked about polishing the blade. The response was: "So, I can do resharpening of the blade. However, we can not do repolishing of the blade surface. This is not including our warranty."

I'm expecting to get a sharp knife back, but I also expect to have all the scratches it left with based on the email response. I would think some level of polishing has to be done to restore the edge though.
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It would be hugely appreciated if you keep us updated. I'm also wondering how they sharpen it without polishing the blade at all. The honzukuri grind by definition requires refining the entire bevel in order to sharpen it.
 
jpadia said:
I sent in my Nehan last week because I was curious about this and it really needed to be sharpened. I'll report back here when I get it in hand.

In my email conversation with them I asked about polishing the blade. The response was: "So, I can do resharpening of the blade. However, we can not do repolishing of the blade surface. This is not including our warranty."

I'm expecting to get a sharp knife back, but I also expect to have all the scratches it left with based on the email response. I would think some level of polishing has to be done to restore the edge though.
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Is it the Black finish? If so, that would make sense. Sharpening/polishing would make the blade shiny, which is fine if you have the polished blade. I'm wondering if that means they don't refinish it in the Black DLC, as that is a separate process?

I guess it could also mean that they are not going to go through the entire process of making the ENTIRE blade mirror polished, as that is a lengthy process.

Either way, we'll find out soon enough!
 
Glock Guy said:
Is it the Black finish? If so, that would make sense. Sharpening/polishing would make the blade shiny, which is fine if you have the polished blade. I'm wondering if that means they don't refinish it in the Black DLC, as that is a separate process?

I guess it could also mean that they are not going to go through the entire process of making the ENTIRE blade mirror polished, as that is a lengthy process.

Either way, we'll find out soon enough!
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It does make me wonder if they handle the mirrored 189 ZDP blade differently than the DLC version.
 
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