Benchmark backpacker or Rough Rider Stockman?

S

ShawDAMAN

Joined
Jun 9, 2011
Messages
112
Hello guys and gals,

I am looking at a couple of very different low priced knives to add to my collection.

The benchmark backpacker-

41Xv-tF-eTL._SL500_AA300_.jpg


or a Rough Rider green stockman...

413TX5Of6mL._SL500_AA300_.jpg


I love traditional folding/slipjoint knives...
But I also like small fixed blades and the outdoors...

Help me make up my mind. Both knives are under $20 shipped and are positively reviewed all things considered. If someone said 'here's 2 knives, whichever one you like better you can have' which would you get? :P
 
Neither, get a Becker Necker and a Case medium stockman
Click to expand...

Not helpful mate. :rolleyes:

I have a Case stockman. I like it fine. I have bought 4 case knives, they are very nice but in my opinion they are overpriced and I want to try another brand. I know where you are coming from but that's not what I want right now. A becker necker is a fine knife too but is about 20 dollars more and not as comfortable.

Please people, pick between the 2 :mad: :p
 
I have no experience with Benchmark but I own or have owned a whole slew of Rough Riders.

I would choose the Rough Rider hands down.
 
ShawDAMAN said:
Could you explain why? You may well be right but I have heard very positive reviews of this particular knife (price considered.)
Click to expand...

Benchmark is of poor quality, and doesn't take a keen edge. One of my neighbor's has a Benchmark folder. He knows I like knives, so he has let me hold it. Feels like junk, but that is my opinion. ALSO...... The backpacker looks like a rip-off of the Izula. If you compare the two....you will see the similarities. I'd rather spend more money and get a real, high quality product, then a cheap alternative.

But, that is just me.
 
Vanguard41xx said:
Benchmark is of poor quality, and doesn't take a keen edge. One of my neighbor's has a Benchmark folder. He knows I like knives, so he has let me hold it. Feels like junk, but that is my opinion. ALSO...... The backpacker looks like a rip-off of the Izula. If you compare the two....you will see the similarities. I'd rather spend more money and get a real, high quality product, then a cheap alternative.

But, that is just me.
Click to expand...

Generally I agree. I have no experience with Benchmark but after seeing a couple of generally positive reviews online I thought I'd maybe give it a whirl. But maybe now I won't ;) While I agree that spending more can be a good idea, a tiny part of me feels that the majority of knives are overpriced.
 
ShawDAMAN said:
Not helpful mate. :rolleyes:

I have a Case stockman. I like it fine. I have bought 4 case knives, they are very nice but in my opinion they are overpriced and I want to try another brand. I know where you are coming from but that's not what I want right now. A becker necker is a fine knife too but is about 20 dollars more and not as comfortable.

Please people, pick between the 2 :mad: :p
Click to expand...

As already stated, Benchmark. Knives are not good qua.ity, but that is my opinion. A friend had one and was really disappointed in the edge holding and the overall feel of the knife. Comfort and performance are worlds apart mate. If you want something that performs, skip the Benchmark. Your money, your call but you did ask for opinions.
 
Blade Junky said:
I'd just keep the $20
Click to expand...


lol. not necessarily a bad idea but maybe you feel these are low quality knives. i can vouch for the quality of rough riders traditional knives at least. Cheap doesn't mean low quality. Nor does made in china- see Mora, Buck, Boker Magnum, Cold Steels lower priced knives etc.
 
ShawDAMAN said:
lol. not necessarily a bad idea but maybe you feel these are low quality knives. i can vouch for the quality of rough riders traditional knives at least. Cheap doesn't mean low quality. Nor does made in china- see Mora, Buck, Boker Magnum, Cold Steels lower priced knives etc.
Click to expand...

Mora knives are made in Sweden.
 
If you have ever owned a Rough Rider then you already know that they are excellent quality knives, especially for the price. If you have never owned one, you might be surprised at the level of fit & finish and overall quality.

I am a big fan of Case knives and in my opinion, the Rough Riders that I have owned are very close in quality to a good Case knife. I have found that the quality of Rough Riders is more consistant than the quality of Case knives. I take no pride in saying that because I love Case knives and the rich heritage behind them. It is however, the truth, in my opinion.
 
cramsey3006 said:
Mora knives are made in Sweden.
Click to expand...

No kidding. I have had a Mora classic no. 2 for a long time now. I included Mora under the 'cheap doesn't mean low quality' part of my paragraph, not the 'made in china' part, though I see now my comments were poorly constructed.
 
I don't own either of those knives so can't comment on them specifically, but in general I prefer a fixed blade for outdoors.

AG Russell, Cold Steel, Buck, Mora, Martiini, and about a dozen other companies all make lightweight, low price, fixed blade knives, any of which would be sufficient for hiking and backpacking outdoors.

Good Luck deciding. :thumbup:
 
Railsplitter said:
If you have ever owned a Rough Rider then you already know that they are excellent quality knives, especially for the price. If you have never owned one, you might be surprised at the level of fit & finish and overall quality.

I am a big fan of Case knives and in my opinion, the Rough Riders that I have owned are very close in quality to a good Case knife. I have found that the quality of Rough Riders is more consistant than the quality of Case knives. I take no pride in saying that because I love Case knives and the rich heritage behind them. It is however, the truth, in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Precisely what I have heard. As I have said I have had 4 case knives (still have 2) and they are very nice, and I do prefer buying american made when possible. But if a company offers knives of comparable quality for half or a third the price..? I'm sorry but Case needs to do something or they are going to go the way of American auto companies and it hurts me to say that too actually. Some say the quality has declined some since the zippo acquisition. Of the 4 case knives I've had one was a stockman, a gift from my mother many years ago. It's very nice and I still have it but the out of box edges were barely sharper than a butter knife. I also bought a case finn hunter for my boss on the occasion of my leaving a construction crew a few months back- fit and finish were mostly irreproachable, but again, very dull edge. Also bought a low priced Case mini blackhorn- fine, nice light EDC but again dull edge. Oddly enough a small Case caliber lockback I also tried came with a very sharp edge! But 3 out of 4 fails is a bit much for such a reputable company. Not that its THAT big a deal but when chinese companies and Mora of sweden and others come with shaving sharp edges it's disappointing. Honestly I don't see any big quality advantage with my case knive(s) over the much cheaper Boker magnum and chinese made buck knives ive seen/bought. sad but true. I'll still buy case i'm sure but my enthusiasm has waned.
 
As already stated, Benchmark. Knives are not good qua.ity, but that is my opinion. A friend had one and was really disappointed in the edge holding and the overall feel of the knife. Comfort and performance are worlds apart mate. If you want something that performs, skip the Benchmark. Your money, your call but you did ask for opinions.
Click to expand...

I do appreciate your opinion, sorry. ;) I just didn't want people to start straying and recommending completely other knives than the 2 I was considering- not helpful. No big deal though. I understand well the difference between comfort and performance. I wanted to try Benchmark after seeing some favorable reviews and I like trying companies I am not familiar with but I am leaning towards the RR stockman now.
 
Bob W said:
I don't own either of those knives so can't comment on them specifically, but in general I prefer a fixed blade for outdoors.

AG Russell, Cold Steel, Buck, Mora, Martiini, and about a dozen other companies all make lightweight, low price, fixed blade knives, any of which would be sufficient for hiking and backpacking outdoors.

Good Luck deciding. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Thanks! I prefer a fixed blade for outdoors too but the knife I buy doesn't have to be for outdoors necessarily.
 
Get the Rough Rider. Better a good cheap knife than a bad one. A good cheap knife is a nice thing. A bad cheap knife is just junk. Rough riders and known for being made of decent steel, taking and holding a decent edge, and holding together nearly as well as much more expensive knives. Rough Rider is sort of the Mora of China.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top