Rockstead Knowledge Thread

Dddrees said:
It does make me wonder if they handle the mirrored 189 ZDP blade differently than the DLC version.
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From what I've read it's the same thing, but after they polish the raw YXR7, they add the DLC coating. Rockstead recommends resharpening in a manner similar to my own; 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper. I wouldn't be surprised if they use the same method.

Even though the bevel is ground down to the edge, when I sharpen on sandpaper only about 15-20% of the bevel lays flush against the surface. Reason being, is because you are tangent to what is essentially a spherical surface.

Basically what I'm saying, is if they use said method to sharpen, they wouldn't be "grinding" the entire bevel anyways; so it wouldn't get entirely polished. We will see:)
 
Hello, my name is Adam. I've enjoyed following these posts. I previously owned a Chou. I gifted it to my brother and I intend to purchase another. I've had MANY knives over the years, production, semi-custom, and hand-made. However, I've never owned/used a full convex zero ground blade. I'd like to experience a blade with that grind, along with a blade close to the hardness that Rockstead produces. Of the Rocksteads, I'd probably pursue a Higo w/YXR7 blade.

I'd like to get your opinions on if there is any knife that I could purchase that would allow me to experience anything that might be a remotely similar (?) blade configuration. One knife that I've considered is the Bark River Essential (convex/M4). I realize there is no true comparable knife (especially blade finish), but I'm interested in your opinions.
For what it is worth, I'll probably get a Rockstead regardless of whether I'm able to experience a hard, full convex zero grind blade prior to purchase. Thank you
 
alongoria said:
Hello, my name is Adam. I've enjoyed following these posts. I previously owned a Chou. I gifted it to my brother and I intend to purchase another. I've had MANY knives over the years, production, semi-custom, and hand-made. However, I've never owned/used a full convex zero ground blade. I'd like to experience a blade with that grind, along with a blade close to the hardness that Rockstead produces. Of the Rocksteads, I'd probably pursue a Higo w/YXR7 blade.

I'd like to get your opinions on if there is any knife that I could purchase that would allow me to experience anything that might be a remotely similar (?) blade configuration. One knife that I've considered is the Bark River Essential (convex/M4). I realize there is no true comparable knife (especially blade finish), but I'm interested in your opinions.
For what it is worth, I'll probably get a Rockstead regardless of whether I'm able to experience a hard, full convex zero grind blade prior to purchase. Thank you
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Your best bet would to commission a custom maker to to a mirror polished zero convex knife. All Bark River knives are full zero convex, but the important thing about Rockstead's is the refinement of the bevel, a.k.a the mirror polish.

M4 and YXR7 aren't too far apart in properties so that would be a good start. But the Rockstead will likely be thinner at the edge, along with the mirror polish so the analogy is only approximate at best.
 
Hello, thank you for your reply. I understand what you have explained about the Rockstead having a thinner edge and mirror polish. I'll probably just pursue the Rockstead and let that be my introduction to the hard, full convex blade grind. Only problem is (maybe not a problem), I'll probably like it so much I'll never consider any other knife with that blade grind :-)
 
alongoria said:
Hello, thank you for your reply. I understand what you have explained about the Rockstead having a thinner edge and mirror polish. I'll probably just pursue the Rockstead and let that be my introduction to the hard, full convex blade grind. Only problem is (maybe not a problem), I'll probably like it so much I'll never consider any other knife with that blade grind :-)
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From my experience in the last week, it's definitely not the end-all, be-all of knives. Prepping food, for example, does not seem to be the Higo's strong suit as it has a tendency to wedge due to the thickness of the convex grind at the shoulder. The ZDP-189 also deforms very easily due to its high hardness.

That said, the execution is just so incredibly strong and the allure of the super high sharpness means I've been struggling to carry anything else since I got it in. :)
 
Hello, for me it would be a light duty user as well as a novelty knife. I EDC a Tony Bose handmade slip joint ("Saddleback") in 154CM. Most people would think I'm an idiot for that as an EDC, but I'm 54 yrs old, so I'm going to carry and use what makes me smile. Anyway, I typically don't have any "hard use" knife work. When I do, I carry/use something better suited for it. For the most part, I enjoy fine cutlery because the good Lord blessed me with more money than good sense :-)
 
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 is not the black finish. It is zdp clad in ats-34. I would guess it is a similar process described by bluesbender. I will update when I get it back.
 
jpadia said:
It is not the black finish. It is zdp clad in ats-34. I would guess it is a similar process described by bluesbender. I will update when I get it back.
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As another owner of a zip blade I look forward to hearing what they actually do to your blade. Did they give you an idea as too how long your wait would be?
 
Good morning. Forgive me for the multiple posts. I have very few posts in the forums. I really enjoy reading and trying to learn from the information available here, as well as on the web.

I do have one more question (I suspect I know the answer, but I'll risk sounding stupid). For those that have/had Rocksteads in both ZDP-189 and YXR7, did you notice any difference in initial sharpness (as received)? Thank you.
 
alongoria said:
Good morning. Forgive me for the multiple posts. I have very few posts in the forums. I really enjoy reading and trying to learn from the information available here, as well as on the web.

I do have one more question (I suspect I know the answer, but I'll risk sounding stupid). For those that have/had Rocksteads in both ZDP-189 and YXR7, did you notice any difference in initial sharpness (as received)? Thank you.
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I don't have a ZDP blade, but since they use the same method I'd assume they would both be the same.

I will say, that my grind in Shinogizukuri was much sharper than my Honzukuri grind. However, Rocky's aren't the sharpest in the world. They're sharp for a factory knife, but so are many Scandi grind knives. If you're good at sharpening, you can easily surpass the sharpness of a Rockstead:)
 
To restate the difference between the two grinds, here is a pic to visualize it.

Notice how the left has two bevels and the other has one.

Left: Shinogizukuri
Right: Honzukuri

724C859A-80F0-4DC2-B113-BCB2DF309D87_zpsbmw2t5qz.jpg
 
Hello Blues Bender, thank you very much for your replies and the info. I find it very interesting your comments re. your Shinogizukuri was much sharper than your Honzukuri grind.

Regarding other knives, sharpening/sharpness, etc.. I've sharpened "free hand" almost all my life. I've been able to keep my knives shaving sharp. However, I don't consider myself particularly skilled and I haven't approached some of the levels of sharpness described by many on the web. I've had many knives... from hand-made by VERY skilled and known makers to maybe the least quality (when I was a kid... a long time ago). I'm not sure why, but at the moment my "sharpest" knife seems to be my Roselli "Carpenter" fixed-blade. I have some opinions as to why; however I've read it very many times that most reasonably well made knives can be sharpened to the same level of sharpness.

BTW, thank you for the great amount of info you share here. I plan on following these posts as long as they continue. I'm very interested in Rockstead knives.
 
Dddrees said:
As another owner of a zip blade I look forward to hearing what they actually do to your blade. Did they give you an idea as too how long your wait would be?
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No, they did not give me a estimate on time. To be fair, I didn't ask either.
 
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