Rockstead Knowledge Thread

Githima said:
Hi out there
I´m almost through with this helpful thread and shot before getting my first Rocky...
Blues Bender: Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your videos. Concerning sharpening: Do you use the same technique for both grinds Shinozukuri and Honzukuri? I always had the impression, that the Shinozukuri is more like a flat grind; but might be wrong.

Best
Stephan
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Hi Stephan,

I'm glad you're enjoying this thread! Regarding the two grind types, Honzukuri is completely convex while Shinogizukuri is basically a flat grind with a flat ground secondary bevel. On my Honzukuri Higo, I try to maintain the convex shape with the sandpaper method I showed in the video, but for my Chi with Shinogizukuri I only use a ceramic stone to realign the apex.

I mistakenly thought that Shinogizukuri was convex for a long time, until one day when I was playing around with angles and geometry I realized that it is two flat grinds:) I keep my freehand angles acute as possible so that I don't ruin the mirror finish on the secondary bevel. Essentially I'm just adding a microbevel that almost matches the angle of the secondary. I've been able to keep the Chi very sharp this way.

What Rocky are you thinking about getting?
 
Hi Blues Bender
Good question:

I meanwhile narrowed down the decision to XR7 Dlc.

Model: either HIGO Micarta, HIGO X or HIZEN.
I will use the knife for hunting also and fear, that the HIGO X will collect grease and blood in the handle which will affect the blade...you posted pictures about the inner parts of the handle thankfully. The Micarta gives the option of thrid party scales which is a nice thing. The Hizen would be quite practical for the daily cutting chores.
Thats where I am at the moment.

Stephan
 
I never considered that the micarta Higo would accept custom scales, I kinda want one now so I can put carbon fiber on it:D Very nice, Stephan! Let us know what you decide on, and make sure you post some pics up when you get it!!!:thumbup:

No matter what you choose, you cannot go wrong.
 
:eek:Wow!:eek:

41786-HIGO-MH-DLC-Cuscadi-04-jpg


41787-HIGO-MH-DLC-Cuscadi-05-jpg
 
I would not take a folder for hunting. There was a video a while back about guys taking a Rockstead knife hunting (dont remember if they were folder or not). After a day the blades showed some pitting from blood.

For hunting, skinning game etc. why not take a fixed blade?
 
sshakari said:
I would not take a folder for hunting. There was a video a while back about guys taking a Rockstead knife hunting (dont remember if they were folder or not). After a day the blades showed some pitting from blood.

For hunting, skinning game etc. why not take a fixed blade?
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I agree with you that a Rockstead might not be best suited as a hunting knife, but the article you referenced also said that Rocky's are too thick because they don't baton well:rolleyes::D

IMO, The main concern would be getting blood into the pivot. The blade can be easily wiped and cleaned, but the pivot, not so much.
 
Thank you, guys!
The main interest would not be hunting (and sure, I have some decent fixed blades for that). Its just, that a sharp blade is always welcome in the fields. But the cleaning could be definitly a problem...
 
My question is for anyone but specifically for Blues Bender since he mentioned my concern specifically. There are two Rockstead models I am considering buying, the Hizen and the Kou. I saw the post in which you showed the aluminum handle of the knife you dropped. Was the mushrooming reversible or did filing it down simply make it possible to open the knife? I like the size and price of the two models I mentioned, but am beginning to shift my focus to their titanium handled models.
 
I'm not sure if it was quite "reversible", maybe if I sent it to Japan it would have come back with a new handle:D I filed it down with my Leatherman in a pinch because I needed the Chi for work. Also don't forget that I dropped it 10'+ straight onto a smooth concrete floor.

I've dropped the Chi a couple other times on concrete at ground level, and all I got was some scuffs. I wouldn't worry too much about it, the aluminum handles don't even cross my mind:):thumbup:
 
Thanks for the response, I think the Kou and Hizen may be back on the table
 
Dddrees said:
Unfortunately I'm still waiting, but hopefully it should be fairly soon.
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Me too.
My dealer was in Japan a few weeks ago at Rockstead and said the SHUs are in production NOW. They had some down time with their custom manufacturing machines (they make them in-house) and everything was put back by at least a couple of months.
The SHUs are due this month.

Greg
 
Greg said:
Me too.
My dealer was in Japan a few weeks ago at Rockstead and said the SHUs are in production NOW. They had some down time with their custom manufacturing machines (they make them in-house) and everything was put back by at least a couple of months.
The SHUs are due this month.

Greg[/QOUTE]

Ah, this would explain they delay. Thanks

Yes the last time I spoke with the retailer I purchased mine through passed on an email from Rockstead that said they were in production now and expected to be completed by Nov 20th. Initially I was told late July or early Aug when I ordered it in March. The semi custom gun I ordered in July won't be ready until at least January or February if not later and I was initially told it would be sometime this fall. But such is the world of customs or semi custom goods.
Click to expand...
 
You CHOU lovers have a lot to answer for.:)

Before I read so much about them here, I'd never considered one, even though I put on a neck knife every day. The love that these little things generated caused me to think about one to go with my SHU (still being made in Japan) and I asked my local dealer about getting one when the SHU was delivered. He said if I wanted the Ironwood scales he had only one in stock and it was likely to go soon. So I bit the bullet and ordered it.

WOW! What a knife! The chatoyance of the ironwood is amazing, the colour of the wood changes dramatically as the light strikes from different angles, going from mid brown with deep gold tints to dark brown and black tints. The handles appear to be about half-an-inch deep and the grain patterns change from longitudinal to cross wise with movement.

The shape of the handle is great. I like the way it swells into the blade and keeps the fingers from moving forward. The little projections on the butt make it easy to draw from the sheath, and when it clicks back in there is no movement or rattling at all.

The blade is amazing, mirror polished, perfectly formed, and the DLC coating is a beautiful charcoal gray. The bare edge is only about 20 thou. wide (maybe .5 mm) and the same width from tip to choil. It's the sharpest knife in my collection--and I'm really good at sharpening. It felt considerably sharper than my other 65 Rockwell blade. After cutting for a while I thought I'd try stropping as per the Rockstead recommendations. So I got out my usual sharpening kit, clamped the blade, and gave it a brief few swipes with some 100,000 grit diamond paste on a balsa wood strop. It got much sharper again and easily cut into the folded up edge of a phone book page at about the 3/4 inch height. The best I've been able to do previously is 1/2 inch.

So this knife is now the knife that goes on every morning and the rest of my neckers are in (at least) temporary retirement.

I'm finding it really hard to wait for the SHU now.

Greg
 
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Greg said:
You CHOU lovers have a lot to answer for.:)

Before I read so much about them here, I'd never considered one, even though I put on a neck knife every day. The love that these little things generated caused me to think about one to go with my SHU (still being made in Japan) and I asked my local dealer about getting one when the SHU was delivered. He said if I wanted the Ironwood scales he had only one in stock and it was likely to go soon. So I bit the bullet and ordered it.

WOW! What a knife! The chatoyance of the ironwood is amazing, the colour of the wood changes dramatically as the light strikes from different angles, going from mid brown with deep gold tints to dark brown and black tints. The handles appear to be about half-an-inch deep and the grain patterns change from longitudinal to cross wise with movement.

The shape of the handle is great. I like the way it swells into the blade and keeps the fingers from moving forward. The little projections on the butt make it easy to draw from the sheath, and when it clicks back in there is no movement or rattling at all.

The blade is amazing, mirror polished, perfectly formed, and the DLC coating is a beautiful charcoal gray. The bare edge is only about 20 thou. wide (maybe .5 mm) and the same width from tip to choil. It's the sharpest knife in my collection--and I'm really good at sharpening. It felt considerably sharper than my other 65 Rockwell blade. After cutting for a while I thought I'd try stropping as per the Rockstead recommendations. So I got out my usual sharpening kit, clamped the blade, and gave it a brief few swipes with some 100,000 grit diamond paste on a balsa wood strop. It got much sharper again and easily cut into the folded up edge of a phone book page at about the 3/4 inch height. The best I've been able to do previously is 1/2 inch.

So this knife is now the knife that goes on every morning and the rest of my neckers are in (at least) temporary retirement.

I'm finding it really hard to wait for the SHU now.

Greg
Click to expand...


Hopefully with regards to the Shu we're looking at it bing ready within under a month at this point.
 
Does anyone have any inside scoop as to whether or not Rockstead plans to use ti scales on their Higo model? I spoke with Rockstead rep at NYCKS. I asked him if they will ever transition to titanium on Higo he replied: "We are thinking about it." I know it is vague, but I am still hopeful.
 
ridnovir said:
Does anyone have any inside scoop as to whether or not Rockstead plans to use ti scales on their Higo model? I spoke with Rockstead rep at NYCKS. I asked him if they will ever transition to titanium on Higo he replied: "We are thinking about it." I know it is vague, but I am still hopeful.
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Rockstead doesn't have a rep here or on any other knife forum that I know of so talking to them at a show is probably the most inside information you're going to get. If it helps, I don't find the aluminum handles on my Higo to be a problem. The hard anodizing they do is quite durable.
 
Just received word that my latest is enroute via Rockstead. It's been quite the wait but I should finally have it within a few weeks now.
 
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