All About Pocket Knives

By Phil Harsfield, the master. A2 steel and Tulip wood. Sharpness and toughness beyond reason.

Looks like it's rock solid. I'm not familiar with this maker.

Phil Hartsfield passed on a few years ago. I know the word "legendary" has been trivialized, but it is apt when applied to Mr. Hartsfield. His blades were mostly known by people who wanted the very best in a working blade. His katana type swords outperformed the best the Japanese could produce. In that country he was revered. Years ago Seal Team 6 carried his fixed blades. This is fact, not advertising fluff. ST 6 asked him to make a folding knife for them. He declined to do this but gave them the name of a rising star named Ernest Emerson whom he thought could provide the quality they desired. Soon Mr. Emerson came to Hartsfield and asked permission to use his then unique blade profile. Permission granted. This led to Emerson's CQC-6 (for Seal Team 6) which really got tactical folding knives to take off.

I had the opportunity to meet PH only once at a custom knife show. This is subjective I know, but he had an unusual degree of calm and peacefullness about him. His table which had an ample number of knives and swords costing buku dollars was all sold in the first 20 minutes of the show. Frankly, because of their price, I never thought I would own of his wonderful blades. Perhaps as a result of our sputtering economy, someone evidently needed some quick cash and offered the mint knife I now have at a "fire sale" price. PH wanted his knifes used and put his spirit into each blade he created. At the moment I don't know if I will be able to bring myself to sometime use what is now a treasured possession.

Thanks for enlightening me QS. Knowing all that helps me more fully appreciate what I'm looking at.

Does he stamp his name on them?

Does he stamp his name on them?

Mioller Bro's: Yes, here are photos of his "chop" mark. To me his initials look at first glance to be Chinese or Japanese script but are, I think, a stylized PH.

Thank You

I would have never guessed what those initials were