GEC Viper vs RR 2038

Norcaldude

Norcaldude

Joined
Dec 19, 2014
Messages
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I saw this Rough Ryder on some other site and thought it looked pretty good. I'm a fan of the GEC Viper and this RR was under twenty bucks.

I got the knife today. I've had a few RR in the past and if this 2038 is any indication, they are getting better at making knives.

Snap/walk/talk that I wish a couple of my GECs had. It was slightly mushy when I first opened it but I put some nano-oil in there, opened and closed it a half dozen times and now it's darn good.

Fit and finish also decent. No gaps in the liner. A little rough where the scales butt up against the bolster but I needed to assist my vision to really see it. The swedge seems to be done well and looks pretty even. There is a little scratch on the blade where the swedge ends.

The knife is pretty sharp but the grind is a bit uneven. Would be unhappy if this was a GEC but it's not and I pretty much always mess with the sharpening anyways.

The nail nick seems a bit off. Maybe just because it's smaller than I am used to from GECs.

The blade shape is also a bit different than the Viper in how it sort of swells up a bit more.

The scales are micarta but they seem very slick. The blade steel is 440A stainless. I don't know anything about that steel but most people aren't going to need some sort of super steel on their slipjoint.

In the end I still would pick the GEC Viper, but the Rough Ryder is dang nice and I could probably buy 10 for the price I'd have to pay for the Viper (If I could find one for sale).

If you are looking for a knife to give as a nice but fairly inexpensive gift, especially to somebody that might be 'slipjoint curious', this would be a good choice.





 
Nice write-up, I keep checking out these RR, I need to pickup one up before they're gone. GEC really needs to do another run on the vipers
 
kamagong said:
It's disgusting how close that knife is to the Viper. The knockoff is missing the shield, but the swedge, lanyard hole, and even the number of pins undoubtedly copy the GEC.
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That's an interesting perspective. I was under the impression that it was a pretty traditional pattern.
 
The pattern is traditional. But those exact details (along with the three-lined bolsters) in that exact combination, are very much GEC's take on the pattern. Until now apparently...

Look at the swedges. They're both cut swedges. How many wharncliffes with cut swedges have you seen? Not very many, the vast majority of them have drawn swedges. Until the Viper I don't think I had ever seen a wharncliffe swayback with a cut swedge. Now RR comes out with one? That's not a happy coincidence.
 
It's a visually appealing combination of features. RR wants to sell knives, it's not surprising they would make them look appealing.

They aren't trying to pass them off as GECs. Their quality isn't such that they would appeal to most GEC buyers.

I don't see it as a problem and think calling it 'disgusting' is a bit strong.
 
Norcaldude said:
That's an interesting perspective. I was under the impression that it was a pretty traditional pattern.
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You are right. There's nothing about that pattern that is GEC's intellectual property.

Plus GEC's Zulu is a riff off Case's Tribal Spear/Lock, so even if it was a copy, GEC obviously does the same. Copying is "traditional" throughout the history of cutlery.
 
brownshoe said:
You are right. There's nothing about that pattern that is GEC's intellectual property.

Plus GEC's Zulu is a riff off Case's Tribal Spear/Lock, so even if it was a copy, GEC obviously does the same. Copying is "traditional" throughout the history of cutlery.
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The Zulu you are referring to was a Northwoods knife.
 
brownshoe said:
AKA GEC
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Correct, but let’s be clear.

KSF (owner of Northwoods brand) contracted which GEC to produce knives according to specifications provided to them.
SMKW (owner of the Rough Rider brand) contacted with an unknown manufacturer to produce knives according to specifications provided to them.

You were accusing GEC of copying Case with the Zulu. I think there is a distinction between the knives GEC produces under their brand and contracted work the do for another brand.
 
Not an accusation, but a reatail fact. It's neither good or bad. Copy is as copy does. GEC made the knife and designed the actual physical product. IIRC Bose based his version on a vintage pattern, so Smokey is just following cutlery tradition.

I believe Northwoods is only a retail outfit since Dave Shirly sold it.
 
brownshoe said:
Not an accusation, but a reatail fact. It's neither good or bad. Copy is as copy does. GEC made the knife and designed the actual physical product. IIRC Bose based his version on a vintage pattern, so Smokey is just following cutlery tradition.

I believe Northwoods is only a retail outfit since Dave Shirly sold it.
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You are wrong, but that's okay.
 
Norcaldude said:
It's a visually appealing combination of features. RR wants to sell knives, it's not surprising they would make them look appealing.

They aren't trying to pass them off as GECs. Their quality isn't such that they would appeal to most GEC buyers.

I don't see it as a problem and think calling it 'disgusting' is a bit strong.
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I agree with this post. Hell, the 74 clip point is essentially a Lanny’s Clip. I believe they took some flak for it as well. They’re two entirely separate markets. And, honestly, as much as I love my GECs, their method of production makes it hard to own the models I want and still pay a reasonable price. What are Vipers running nowadays? 200+$ for a knife that was 70$ originally? Absurd.
 
The more I see photos of RR2038's the more apparent the inconsistency of manufacturing becomes. For example, NorCalDude points out the swell in the blade shape and the tiny nail nick. Neither of those qualities are on mine. However the cutting edge of mine is not as straight as his. Mine is a slight continuous belly. The threading on his bolster is executed way cleaner than mine. Also the fit between covers, liners, and back spring look much better as well. I may be poopoo'ing this pattern, but truthfully this is the most exciting thing RR has done in a long time. Flat grind on a normal blade shape, threaded bolsters that don't have that goofy "R", and the dabbling into micarta covers (albeit the least appealing variety of micarta possible).
 
I bought three of these when they came out. For sure they look exactly like a Viper but I am pretty sure that was intentional. These knives filled a HUGE gap between those that can...and those that cannot afford what a GEC Viper costs these days.
Of the three I bought, only one had a straight blade...but the others weren't horrible.
I am very appreciate of these actually because they have provided me a way to learn about modifying knives without breaking the bank in the process. I know a lot of others are appreciative because they are affordable. I have seen these provide a lot of smiles to folks lately so I can't really knock that.
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