Reviews and Ratings for Rockstead UN-ZDP Japanese Fixed Knife 5.5" ZDP-189/VG10 Clad Mirror Finish Blade, Burgundy Azuki Silk Wrapped Handle - UN-ZDP-AZUKI

(2 reviews)

5 out of 5 stars

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Rockstead UN-ZDP Japanese Fixed Knife 5.5 inch ZDP-189/VG10 Clad Mirror Finish Blade, Burgundy Azuki Silk Wrapped Handle

Price: $3,980.00

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Bradford
San Ramon, Ca

Dec 14, 2018

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Perfectionist's knives

Rockstead quality is impressive. I feel comfortable saying aloud that Rockstead makes the finest quality production knives in the world. Beautiful design, epitome performance, and masterful execution. The Un is like a delicious little sword, where the mirror polish and blade grinds are displayed on a larger pallet (vs smaller models) and can be appreciated like the finest indulgence. So yeah, I recommend this knife. Tom in Customer Support has sold me on KnifeCenter.com as a quality vendor, as well.

Mark
Stephens City, Va

Jan 19, 2023

Pros: None

Cons: None

Beyond Expectations

There are a great many folks who will tell you that Rockstead are factory knives and at this price point one should only consider 'custom' knives. I must respectfully disagree. Don't be misled by the 'factory' label. Rockstead is a small shop of less than ten skilled artisans who have honed their craft to an unbelievably keen edge. The designs are elegant, the materials top-shelf and the workmanship as good as and in some cases better than many of the customs I have owned or handled. The UN-ZDP does not disappoint. I've examined this knife in great detail and the workmanship is flawless. The blade is a san-mai construction with a core of ZDP-189 and an outer layer of VG-10. The skillful honzukuri grind results in a frighteningly sharp edge. The polish on the blade is remarkable and the tsukamaki is beautiful. The removable tsuka (handle) facilitates simple changeover for repair or replacement in the event of wear. Removal of the handle reveals an ingenious offset-cam mechanism for perfectly secure bolster retention. This is obviously not a 'beater', there are many camp knives to be had at 'replacement' prices for the rough and tumble tasks. But for slicing and carving tasks that call for surgical sharpness, this tool will perform with ease and if properly cared for, the ZDP-189 will maintain it's edge for years. A simple strop properly applied will assist in edge retention. Well done, Rockstead - This one is definitely a keeper! A big thank you to Tom (and the rest of the staff) at Knife Center for your kind assistance! NOTE: If you choose to purchase a UN, you will want to reach out to Rockstead and order the specialized wrench for the handle screw. I do not recommend attempting to remove this screw without the tool supplied by Rockstead. The screw utilizes is a unique custom cut tri-tip pattern. Commonly available 'security' tri-tips DO NOT fit and are likely to destroy the screw. The custom driver from Rockstead only costs a few bucks and arrives from Japan in a couple weeks.