Abalone Handle Defects?

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johnnywizzo

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I just received a beautiful abalone-handled trapper with several small chips along the edges and a tiny hole in the handle material. I'm tempted to send it back, but I'm wondering if I'm expecting too much in the way of perfection from this material. Is this to be expected from a knife of this material? It's a Rough Ryder made in China knife that costs under $30.
 
Buy cheap Chinese, get cheap Chinese. I wouldn't have bought it in the first place but if you're not happy with it, send it back. How anyone can buy anything from China these days that they don't have to is beyond my comprehension.
 
Danke42 said:
That's kind of what you'll see with natural materials. You can't expect a shell to grown itself flawlessly one day expecting to be made into a knife scale.

That would cover the pinhole. The chips though I'm not sure; that might be from rough handling somewhere along the way.

Can you post pictures?
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Thanks for your reply, but I can see that it was a mistake to post something about a cheap, Chinese knife...
 
I've got a few RR pearl handled knives, they are not perfect either... some rough / chipped edges , natural imperfections etc.
If you want near flawless abalone you'll have to spend $150 on a Case knife. But even those have some natural imperfections.
Here's a picture if you want to compare....

case_ab2.jpg
 
johnnywizzo said:
Thanks for your reply, but I can see that it was a mistake to post something about a cheap, Chinese knife...
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It wasn't a mistake, I have over a dozen Rough Rider knives and I'm I'll probably buy more.
They are very well made for the money, if you're not happy with what you got , ask for an exchange.
To elaborate what I posted before , the natural materials like stag or pearl on RR's are not the best examples , but are not bad either for the price.
 
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At the Rough Rider price point, I definitely wouldn't expect flawless abalone. There's lots of love for RR knives on the Porch here; great value for the money and tons of variety, as well as a good way to try out patterns without breaking the bank.

I've only owned one similar knife, a Schatt & Morgan Senator with black pearl covers, and they were flawless -- but that knife was ~$100.
 
johnnywizzo said:
I just received a beautiful abalone-handled trapper with several small chips along the edges and a tiny hole in the handle material. I'm tempted to send it back, but I'm wondering if I'm expecting too much in the way of perfection from this material. Is this to be expected from a knife of this material? It's a Rough Ryder made in China knife that costs under $30.
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Unless you think the handle is going to fall apart, just keep it and use it. You are not going to get top grade abalone for that price point.
 
Be careful what you say about that country where the virus came from. Only a few short months ago I was smacked down hard for saying negative things about a product and the country from which it originated. Since then, I've developed an even more condescending attitude toward that country, but I'm not going to talk about it here. Just a warning, yo.

But seriously, if I order good abalone at a restaurant, it's going to cost upwards of a crisp new Benjamin. If good abalone is so expensive, there's little chance you'll get a good chunk of shell--along with the rest of the knife--for thirty bucks.
 
Hi Johnnywizzo,

I've had a few Rough Rider knives pass through my hands. They are astonishingly good for the price and offer genuine materials.
Natural materials are far more prone to blems than synthetics; part of the beauty, IMO. Personally, I'd rather own a knife made with 'the real deal' that may have a few cosmetic blems than a flawless imitation alternative (ie. plastic.)

If you bought your knife from a reputable dealer, I'm sure you'd have no trouble sending it back for an exchange. They might even offer to cherry-pick a replacement. Doesn't hurt to ask. Careful though; they might send you back a knife you feel is 'too pretty to use'... :eek:

I'd also recommend picking up a pocket slip for knives with pearl/abalone covers.

Good luck, OP! :cool::thumbsup:

*Edit to add gratuitous knife porn pic...

serapis.jpg
Moki Serapis in black and gold lip pearl
 
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CSG said:
Buy cheap Chinese, get cheap Chinese. I wouldn't have bought it in the first place but if you're not happy with it, send it back. How anyone can buy anything from China these days that they don't have to is beyond my comprehension.
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Ummm ... Rough Rider/Rough Ryder is an AMERICAN company, located in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee.
BTI who owns Schrade, Imperial, and Old Timer is also an AMERICAN company.

If you "Won't buy anything made in China", may I ask how do you get online? Considering the fact that libraries are closed because of Covid-19, you can't be using their computers ... you obviously don't have a "smart phone" tablet, or a post 1990 computer, you drive a pre-1980 vehicle, don't have a TV or radio ... I hope you're not on any prescription or over the counter medications. From what I've learned, most of the ingredients, if not the finished medication across the board from Aspirin (also imported from Germany) to prescription narcotics, are made in China.
You can thank Mr. Billy Clinton and his "NAFTA" for the loss of US industrial, tech and electronics, development and manufacturing.
The computers that control your car (regardless of auto brand) was made in China ... at least 99% or more of the components of the computer were, the computers may have been assembled in Mexico. The wiring harnesses were made in either Mexico or Canada, again, it don't matter what brand your vehicle is. Leather upholstery? that came from Mexico and/or South America. Six or more speed automatic transmission? That's German. BTW, a lot of engines, again, regardless of brand, are manufactured offshore (to include Germany, England, Ireland, and Italy, as well as Asia), and imported.
To make it even more ... umm ... "interesting" ... Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, BMW, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Hyundai, Fiat, ... all have assembly plants right here in the USA, using as many US made components as Ford, GM, and Fiat/Chrysler.
It's less expensive for the offshore brands to assemble their cars here than it is to manufacture them "at home" then import them here.
(taxes, shipping, and import/export duties add up right quick)

As for knife components ... I don't know of any US maker who uses domestic bovine bone. It all comes from Central and South America (unless Camel bone, Warthog, or some other "exotic" bone, of course) and possibly Asia. Exotic woods come from overseas, as do most if not all other exotic handle materials such as Abalone, and pearls. Could some of the bovine bone that Case, for example, uses be sourced from Asia?
It is possible.
I won't say their bovine bone is, and I won't say it ain't, because I don't know for sure. However, I will say: "It would not surprise me if it is."
(I also don't care where Case or anyone else sources their handle materials. Lets face it, Ebony, for example, does not grow in North America. For some (if not most) exotic natural handle materials there is no domestic source.)
Is the brass and nickel silver components they use mined and smelted in the USA, Imported, or both? I dunno, and I don't care.
Since most of the world's Titanium reserves are in Russia, from what I've heard, it would not surprise me in the least that all the titanium used in knives comes from there.
 
RustyIron said:
Be careful what you say about that country where the virus came from. Only a few short months ago I was smacked down hard for saying negative things about a product and the country from which it originated. Since then, I've developed an even more condescending attitude toward that country, but I'm not going to talk about it here. Just a warning, yo.

But seriously, if I order good abalone at a restaurant, it's going to cost upwards of a crisp new Benjamin. If good abalone is so expensive, there's little chance you'll get a good chunk of shell--along with the rest of the knife--for thirty bucks.
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I know this is an old thread but China is now recognized as an enemy of the United States/and rest of world besides them. How can somebody "smack you down" when you aren't physically there? Stick & stones.....................Oh and if you are there...............Hit 'em back.
 
timberweasel said:
Hi Johnnywizzo,

I've had a few Rough Rider knives pass through my hands. They are astonishingly good for the price and offer genuine materials.
Natural materials are far more prone to blems than synthetics; part of the beauty, IMO. Personally, I'd rather own a knife made with 'the real deal' that may have a few cosmetic blems than a flawless imitation alternative (ie. plastic.)

If you bought your knife from a reputable dealer, I'm sure you'd have no trouble sending it back for an exchange. They might even offer to cherry-pick a replacement. Doesn't hurt to ask. Careful though; they might send you back a knife you feel is 'too pretty to use'... :eek:

I'd also recommend picking up a pocket slip for knives with pearl/abalone covers.

Good luck, OP! :cool::thumbsup:

*Edit to add gratuitous knife porn pic...

View attachment 1341089
Moki Serapis in black and gold lip pearl
Click to expand...
I agree with your statement about Rough Rider. I bought a bone handled Rough Rider, I can't remember what it's called but it's for sailing/ boating with a sheeps foot type blade (for cutting rope) and a marlin spike (for knots/splicing rope) and couldn't be happier with it. I put it in baggie with mineral oil for a couple of days then waxed it good and it's never let me down. No rust and wiggle free. I couldn't care less if the bone came from Argentina or Uraguay ( Good beef there by the way). The bone is dense and free of voids or other defects as far as I can see and has remained solid and crack free.
 
O Oldnretired

We frown upon necroposting...especially when nothing particularly noteworthy is being added to a long dormant conversation. Please bear that in mind in future.

Also, political discussion is not welcome in GKD.

We're done here.
 
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