Calf Ropers Knife.

R

redneck5198

Joined
Sep 13, 2004
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5
I went to a rodeo the other night and watch a calf roper, rope his calf got off his horse, and the calf ran back up the rope ran around his horse and was really in the makings of a bad wreck. Then the roper whipped out his ropers knife and cut the 3/8's rope like butter and horse and calf was freed from danger. What an awesome tool.
 
These are usually automatic (switchblade) knives made by a custom maker.
 
The one's I've seen have a pocket clip so it's quick and easy to retrieve. They're about 6" long unfolded. They have the meanest serrated blade you've ever seen. And with just a little practice, a flip of the wrist it's open and locked.
In the past I've seen some bad wrecks and the cowboy's are reaching in they're pocket trying to open their Old Timer and saw the rope while the hoofs of the spooked horse are flying over head.
They first started using them about 10 or 15 years ago.
 
Several years back, Spyderco was the official knife of the PRCA (Pro Rodeo Cowboys Assoc.) and had several engraved with the logo along with a PRCA "Q". Most of the cowboys around here just carry a buck or other slip joint outside of competition. Bareback/saddle bronc and bull riders carry as little as possible when they ride, because they don't want to land on anything hard. Ropers and pick-up men are usually the one's you see with clips on their pockets. Even then, all I have seen are cheap S&W "cuttin' horse" (plentiful at the vendors I've seen) and an occasional SS Spydie. The SS is a lot easier to find in the dirt than something black. ;) Walt, I have no doubt however that as always, things are bigger in Texas. :D :D
 
Actually the ones that I have seen are what I would call medium size automatics, and all were made by custom makers.
 
Oops, to clarify, I meant SS Spydies and cheap S&W's vs. custom autos, not nesessarily size. Are they shiny, pretty customs or more form-meets-function, Git-r-done kinda knives?
 
ROM831 said:
Several years back, Spyderco was the official knife of the PRCA (Pro Rodeo Cowboys Assoc.) and had several engraved with the logo along with a PRCA "Q". Most of the cowboys around here just carry a buck or other slip joint outside of competition. Bareback/saddle bronc and bull riders carry as little as possible when they ride, because they don't want to land on anything hard. Ropers and pick-up men are usually the one's you see with clips on their pockets. Even then, all I have seen are cheap S&W "cuttin' horse" (plentiful at the vendors I've seen) and an occasional SS Spydie. The SS is a lot easier to find in the dirt than something black. ;) Walt, I have no doubt however that as always, things are bigger in Texas. :D :D
Click to expand...
Of course they are...We grow EVERYTHING bigger down here!
 
They were more of the Get-er-done type knives. Excellent work, just not highly polished.
 
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