Rockstead knives
Rockstead makes folding knives and fixed-blade knives with precision-machined components and blades finished by hand. Its designs use steels such as ZDP189 and YXR7; the exact steel, handle material and lock vary by model.
The HIGO II and HIZEN are folding knife families, while CHOU and RITSU are fixed-blade options. Their sizes range from CHOU’s compact 45 mm blade to RITSU’s 95 mm blade, offering different blade lengths and carry formats.
Folding knives and their configurations
The HIGO II family includes several configurations rather than one fixed specification. HIGO II TI-ZDP pairs a ZDP189 blade with a titanium frame lock and DLC-coated handle. HIGO II TI-DLC uses YXR7 steel, with DLC coating on the blade and handle. Rockstead lists the ZDP189 blade at about 67 HRC and the YXR7 blade at about 65 HRC. HIZEN is smaller, with a 73 mm blade and a lightweight duralumin frame. Its listed versions include ZDP189 and YXR7 blades, with DLC coating on the YXR7 version. These differences let shoppers compare steel, coating and handle construction across the folding knives.
Fixed-blade sizes and materials
CHOU is a compact fixed-blade knife with a 45 mm YXR7 blade, DLC coating and Kydex sheath. Its variants include silk cord-wrapped or ironwood handles. RITSU is a larger sheath knife with a 95 mm blade made from ZDP189 clad in VG10, a full wood-micarta handle and a Kydex-and-leather belt sheath. The longer blade and full handle give RITSU a different size and grip format from CHOU. Comparing blade length, sheath style and handle material can help narrow the choice.
Steel and finishing
Rockstead describes using precision NC machining and hand work on blades after mirror polishing. Its listed blade steels include ZDP189 and YXR7; some models use ZDP189 clad in VG10, a layered blade construction. Materials and construction vary across the range, with handles that can include titanium, duralumin, carbon fiber, wood micarta, ironwood or ebonite. Rockstead notes that YXR7 has lower rust tolerance than its stainless ZDP189 and advises wiping YXR7 blades after use. Check the specific configuration for its steel, coating, handle and lock type.