Rockstead is the absolute pinnacle of production/semi-custom. The fit and finish, the heat treat, the edge… all on a higher level. I carried my Shin a lot. It took about 3 years before I needed to sharpen mine (I built a strop based on Rockstead’s directions) so when I sent mine to Japan, it took 2 months and about $60 to get it back. They carry very well (and once broken in, the action is like hydraulic magic), but the slickness of the Duralumin frame required me to use a lanyard.
I get that with the slipperiness. They are truly next level. Hmm wonder if I could get one and truly carry it solely for a few months?? I did that with a watch once. Got a new watch and went 101 days straight not wearing any other watches. I should do that with a knife and see where my head is at after that experiment. Thanks for chiming in man.
I am surprised we don’t hear more about Rockstead’s. I have a Chi and a Shin, no knife comes from the manufacturer with a better edge. I have had the Chi almost 3 years and the edge still feels the same as when I received it. I don’t carry it every day but at least once a week. I was sort of afraid to carry it at first because the aluminum scales make it a little slippery to hold and it being as sharp as it is just didn’t go well together. The Shin has a little bit more grip to it but it’s noticeably heavier.
I currently have a Shin in my pocket. It carrys beautifully. I work in a office setting so my knives are not “hard use” but I love carrying the Rockstead as a everyday knife.
Great video. The Shin is an amazing knife. I got mine a couple of years ago, and I've only carried it maybe 15 times. It's so sharp it makes me a bit uneasy, one good slip and you could be missing a finger. I did spine press it through the corner of a phonebook and it went all the way through cleanly. World class cutting edge. You won't regret getting one. On the care and instuctions paper it warns against using on fine china because the knife will ruin the porcelain finish.
I have a small Rockstead Hizen DLC that I have carried for over 2 years as a 5th pocket,backup/package slicer when I don’t want to scare the wet lettuces. All the black has worn off the clip, no scratches yet on the shiny DLC finish even though I have hit many staples,(end of every week I rub the goo off with lighter fluid) and it would still cut you to the bone!
@@DirkWerning They are worth every penny! Even after all this time when I use it I can feel the quality. Its like when you park a nice car and when your walking away you look back and think fcuk yeah! 😂
I have the same Shin (ZDP-189) and I love carrying it. Although, it's a little over due for a trip back to Japan since it's the only knife in my collection that I don't sharpen (I usually free hand sharpen with oil stones).
I have found that until I get a knife in hand my intention towards using it can change. I always buying with the intention of using but some scream use me more than others. And some are just look at me knives. I would only buy one of those with the intention of using it but🤷♂️
I have exactly the same knife and yes, it's really 'something amazing', you're perfectly right. It's not that it's better than all the rest, you know, out there it's plenty of folders made of blades in MagnaCut, M390, 3V, Cru-Wear, with carbon fiber, titanium and other fine materials that technically can compete with a Rockstead (I'm from Rome, in my collection of Italian folders I have Lionsteel, Viper, Extrema Ratio, Fox, Maserin, plus a couple of artisanal Sardinian Pattada, I have American knives too: Benchmade Adamas, a Zero Tolerance 0456, so I know how a quality knife looks like): these Japanese knives are more than special, they are UNIQUE in the world. Steel, design, materials, the whole building concept is totally different, that's why they're sought after so much. And that's why they cost so much. (Oh... and don't let me start talking about those sublime 'Samekawa' inserts on the Duralluminio handle: when you touch it, you can feel a sort of tactical, mystical experience... really LOL).
67hrc is harder than glass so unless you are cutting something contaminated with something that hard it should not really scratch. The san mai things with inner 67's and outer 62's though, they will scratch up very easily. I'd rather have this version that doesn't scratch easy.
I carried my Shin for about 4 years auntil I sold it, Loved it, might get nother one agian in the future, but what pissed me off is that, to my slippery fingers it sliped all the time !! and the "hard anodized aluminum" kept getting chipped, and chipping a knife that beutiful hurt. I think that if you are going to buyt something, no matter what it is, car, watch, knife etc. and you are not going to use it, well that is a wasteful luxury and I dont have a place in my life for such a thing. I might get one of the Rockstead that are on Ti scales down the road, but the Shin is and always will be to me one of the most beautiful knives ever.
I hear ya. That’s awesome to hear you carried one for 4yrs. I’m interested in maybe pulling the trigger and committing to some period of time to carry just that one knife 🤔🤔
Wow! That's pretty damn sexy! I love the design & how the aluminum looks. I bet it feels really nice. The touch of rey skin sets it off with a unique design focus. I would still baby it, but yes I'd carry it! Come on Buddy! You wear your Rolex! I can't believe you would think about safe queening it! Thanks for sharing! 🙏🏻
@@DirkWerning then treat everything the same! Although the custom shoes I could see being very careful with. I have 2 pairs of shoes I wear out of the house (I'm definitely not the typical woman) my 8 hole greased Doc Martens now 4+ years old & a 6 year old $10 pair of generic low cut chucks! LoL they're still in great shape too! 😸😹
Some of the fixed bladed that are zyx steel stay sharp much longer but are much more expensive and more amazing, I've not Owened any of them. because that's beyond my price range, but I've handled different models and that was enough to get my attention. I originally brought up this topic multiple years ago, I'm glad we're gett9 see multiple models and dirk should check out the fixed blades also. Some of the fixed models are closer to 3K
