Coltelleria ed illuminazione

Under the brand name Rockstead, from Ishida Co. in Sakai, Japan, the best industrial knives currently in production are currently marketed: created by Katsumi Kitano, who has been making quality knives for over 30 years to the extent that he has been awarded the highest distinction among artisan knife makers in Japan, they prove to be exceptional both in cutting ability, penetration and edge-holding and in innovation in the materials used and construction techniques.

Intended Use: Collection/Sportsman

Type of production: Midtech
Country of manufacture: Sakai - Japan
Blade: rolled stainless steel ZDP189 at 66.4 HRC on the inside and VG10 at 61.3 HRC on the outer cheeks
Blade treatment: mirror polish
Handle: Aluminum A6063S with anodization to Hv400 hardness and genuine Breed leather inserts
Blade length: 82mm.
Blade thickness: 3.7mm.
Length closed: 111mm.
Total length: 189mm.
Thickness when closed: 16.2mm.
Weight: 133g.
Opening: via ambidextrous pin
Washers: steel
Closure: Sub FrameLock of 2mm. made of SUS402J2 stainless steel at 50HRC
Clip: deep pocket, 1mm. 420J2 stainless steel with PVD treatment
Packaging: Wooden box with Rockstead logos, certificate with serial number and steel hardness test
Notes: Shinogi Zukuri type blade sharpening

Intended use: EDC / Sports

Type of production: Industrial
Country of production: Taiwan
Blade: 440C steel
Blade treatment: black
Handle: steel
Blade length: 75mm.
Blade thickness: 4mm.
Total length: 173mm.
Weight: 78g.
Clip: monolithic, in steel, removable
Closure: FrameLock with removable stainless steel flap
Packaging: cardboard box with Boker Plus logos
Notes: opening by Carson Flipper system on ball bearings

Intended use: Collection

Type of production: Artisan by CIC Master Sergio Consoli
Production Lama: Italy
Blade: In spirograph damascus steel
Blade treatment: -
Handle: bronze bolsters, timascus with titanium spacers
Blade length: 95mm.
Blade thickness: 4mm.
Total length: 225mm.
Weight: 243g.
Closure: Liner Lock
Clip: titanium
Notes: Handmade by Master Sergio Consoli - knife number 454 made in 2018

Acknowledgments

Currently I make a limited number of knives a year and participate in some exhibitions, where among other things I have won my first prizes:

in 2005 at LAME SOTTO I PORTICI in Romano di Lombardia (BG) I was awarded as "best table on display"

always in the same year at the CULTER-EXPO in Novegro (MI) as "best folding knife"

I was also ranked second in the competition organized by the magazine LAME D'AUTORE as the best fixed hunting blade

then in 2007 at "Scarperia" I won the third prize for best folding

but above all again in 2007, to my great satisfaction, I reached the degree of MASTER OF THE ITALIAN KNIVING CORPORATION, a recognition received at the first exam.

Presentation of the craftsman

Creating a knife by hand is what I consider a real art form.
The satisfaction of seeing an object that comes from one's own hands, that takes shape and reaches mechanical, artistic and aesthetic perfection is what pays me back the most for all the hours of work and effort it takes to create a knife completely. by hand.

The passion for "cutting tools" has always been in me since I was a child and grew with me until the almost sudden decision to build my first knife myself, it was a "need", almost an inner necessity that I couldn't put off, my hands and my mind had to start creating, of course, what I had always been passionate about ... the knife!

I started at 40, in 2003, practically self-taught, I had no experience of manual work, but I had been a mechanical designer for many years and this allowed me to perfectly know the technique and all the various stages of mechanical processing.

Currently I am a member, with the rank of Master, which is the highest, of the Italian Knives Guild, an association recognized all over the world for the seriousness and above all quality of execution that all its members must maintain over time.

What I do now is what I consider my art form ..., to create "handcrafted, hunting and collectible knives".

They are knives made entirely by hand, only with an infinite series of files, a small drill for the holes and a sander for the concave grinding of the blades, nothing else!
I mainly make folding knives, which satisfy my desire to build perfect mechanical objects and perfection in the smallest details, even inside where they are not seen, is what distinguishes a knife created by hand, from one made industrially .

The mechanics then must be made in the best possible way, without counting the hours of work, only in this way the final result is guaranteed.

Of course, over the years I have refined my technique and currently I have improved the mechanics even more by inserting a system of ball bearings on the blade rotation, which guarantee an absolutely perfect seal and allow the blade to close and open without the slightest friction. and with an incredible sweetness.

With regard to the blades then, I am experimenting with new types of hardening, which give hardnesses of 62-63 HRC and allow an exceptional edge hold and cutting quality for all types of use.

I make practically all the knives on an initial design of mine, they are all unique pieces made completely by hand down to the smallest details, one at a time, only in this way, in my opinion, a knife can be considered "artisanal".

Regarding the materials I use, I can say that for the blades I prefer RWL34 steel which is sintered from powders and guarantees the total absence of internal defects, sometimes I also use damascus, both stainless steel and carbon, for the uniqueness 'that give the knife, since each damask is always different from another.

For the handles, one of the most beautiful materials is the mammoth tooth, which can be found in a variety of wonderful colors, I also use fossil mammoth ivory, various briars, titanium and carbon fiber.

Most of the knives, however, are made entirely of steel, in order to then be engraved, always and strictly by hand, to transform the knife even more into a real work of art ...

From KA-BAR regarding the special engraved logo: The engraved logo features the historical "The Union" logo from the early 1900s, a bear, and the years marking 120 years - 1898 and 2018.
The significance of the bear is in the KA-BAR name itself. An Alaskan hunter was attacked by a Kodiak bear, but successfully defended himself using his Union Cutlery knife. The hunter was so thankful that he sent a letter describing the ordeal with "K a Bar" (Kill a Bear) as well as sending in the bear fur. The officers of Union Cutlery decided to adopt KA-BAR as a trademark in 1924.

Intended use: Tactical / Military
Production: U.S.A.
Blade: 1095 56 / 58HRC carbon steel
Handle: leather rings
Blade length: 180mm.
Blade thickness: 4mm.
Length closed: -mm.
Total length: 305mm.
Balancing: set back - 1 cm. from the lower guard branch
Weight: 305g.
Closing: -
Clip: -
Sheath: in leather
Note: -

Intended use: Sports / Tactical

Type of production: Industrial
Country of production: U.S.A.
Blade: CPM-20CV stainless steel
Blade treatment: coated & machine satin finish
Handle: Black carbon fiber with aluminum spacers
Blade length: 95mm.
Blade thickness: 4mm.
Length closed: 126mm.
Total length: 221mm.
Thick when closed: -
Weight: 122g.
Closure: Sub Framelock in hardened steel
Clip: Removable, in titanium
Packaging: cardboard box with Zero Tolerance logos
Notes: Design by Sinkevich & Rexford

Intended use: Sports / Tactical

Type of production: Industrial
Country of production: USA
Blade: CPM-20CV stainless steel
Blade finish: Satin & Stonewashed
Handle: Stonewashed Titanium
Blade length: 90mm.
Blade thickness: 4mm.
Length closed: 113mm.
Total length: 206mm.
Closed thickness: 12mm.
Weight: 152g.
Closing system: Frame Lock
Clip: deep carry type, removable and reversible, in stainless steel with Black PVD treatment
Opening system: Carson Flipper type or through lost ambidextrous on the blade, on KVT ball bearings
Packaging: cardboard box with Zero Tolerance logos
Notes: Design by Rick Hinderer

Intended use: sports

Type of production: Industrial
Country of production: China
Blade: Stainless steel 7Cr17Mov
Blade treatment: Stonewashed
Handle: Stainless Steel and G10
Blade length: 97mm.
Blade thickness: 3.8mm.
Length closed: 119mm.
Total length: 216mm.
Weight: 142g.
Closure: Frame Lock
Clip: stainless steel, removable
Packaging: cardboard box with Gerber logos
Note: -

Intended use: sports

Type of production: Industrial
Country of production: China
Blade: Stainless steel 7Cr17Mov
Blade treatment: Stonewashed
Handle: Stainless Steel and Aluminum
Blade length: 97mm.
Blade thickness: 3.8mm.
Length closed: 119mm.
Total length: 216mm.
Weight: 150g.
Closure: Frame Lock
Clip: stainless steel, removable
Packaging: cardboard box with Gerber logos
Note: -

Important notice: due to the technical and packaging choices of Gerber (painted aluminum instead of anodized and knife fixed with a plastic band in the cardboard box that physically "scrapes" the paint of the handle), we point out that these articles, although factory new and from the manufacturer, they already present small imperfections and abrasions that undermine their aesthetic perfection. We therefore recommend the purchase only to concrete users and we advise against buying them instead from collectors.

Intended use: EDC / Sports

Type of production: Industrial
Country of production: Taiwan
Blade: in carbon steel D2
Blade treatment: satin finish
Handle: G10
Blade length: 90mm.
Blade thickness: 3.2mm.
Total length: 218mm.
Weight: 158g.
Clip: in steel
Closure: liner lock
Packaging: cardboard box with Boker Plus logos
Notes: Design by Lorien Arnold and Bruce Bingenheimer

Intended use: collection / sport

Type of production: artisan seeds
Country of production: South Africa
Blade: in D2 steel
Blade treatment: satin finish
Handle: steel with Jaracanda briar inserts
Blade length: 75mm.
Blade thickness: 4 mm.
Length closed: 100mm.
Total length: 175mm.
Thick when closed: 14mm.
Balance: 2 cm set back from the guard branch
Weight: 120 g.
Opening: Nail Nick
Closure: Slip Joint (without blade lock)
Clip: -
Packaging: cordura case with ADV tactical logos
Notes: Designed and manufactured by Andre De Villiers

Intended use: Tactical / Sports

Type of production: Industrial
Country of production: Taiwan
Blade: CTS-204P stainless steel
Blade treatment: Stone Washed
Handle: G-10 and Titanium
Blade length: 88mm.
Blade thickness: 4mm.
Length closed: 114mm.
Total length: 202mm.
Thick when closed: 13.4mm.
Weight: 116g.
Closure: Frame Lock R.I.L. (Reeve Integral Lock)
Clip: Removable, in stainless steel
Packaging: Cardboard box with Spyderco logos
Notes and curiosities: Design by Brad Southard - Ball Bearing Pivot System - First Spyderco with Carson Flipper type rapid opening - 2013 model now out of production and nowhere to be found