Inexpensive knives and curiosity

Ed T

Ed T

Joined
Apr 23, 2002
Messages
3,818
After a couple of recent threads about chinese knives, I started to get curious. After that, I went to find a dictionary to learn how to spell curious.

As an experiment, I wanted to pick up a sample set of knives. And then use the total cost as a new bid point to see it was true that I could have saved that money and bought a better knife. We will see how much better in this experiment.

I went to ebay and bid on a selection of chinese produced knives.
I set the bid at $10 and won three. Two Rough Riders and A Boker-Magnum

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150189797747

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220177736663

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120186730758

Total cost was $19.80, $35.75 with shipping.

I will share a bit about them as they come in and be using that amount, $19.80 to try to win other knives that I would normally be inclined to pursue.


If you would like to sign up for a pass around, I will send these samples out to have a look. Just pass them along to the next guy on the list. They say you get what you pay for. Lets see what that is.


Please do not respond with challenges/ political/ whatever. If you want to offer a rebuke or negative remark, please just pm me. This is a thread for the curious.

If you want to see them and are willing to pay the postage to the next fellow on the list, just post and I will add you.
 
This one arrived and reinforces the old addage about getting what you paid for.

At first glance, it is sort of exciting, but the flaws begin too emerge quickly. The blades open like there is a pound of sand in the joint. I will flush them out later in hopes of improving the pull. They snap open nicely, but it is an ugly pull.

The bolsters are a duller color than the blade, creating an unpleasent effect.
The blades are pre scratched, so I would not have to worry about using or not ;)

Most dissappointing is that the backsprings are warped and open in places. Opening the blades, you can see daylight through the back of the knife.


I will say that the blades are reasonably sharp.

As soon as the others arrive, I will post my description and have them ready to pass on.
 
Also, keep in mind that "time will tell" is a factor as well. A few years ago before I began taking note of a knife's origins, I bought a new nice looking 4" trapper at a gun show for $8. It was nicely finished and OK fit with bone scales. It's a Rough Rider with no other markings of origin.

Today the scales are so warped they have pulled the pins upward and separated from the liners at all four ends by almost a 1/16". It's now a bone handled $8 gasket scraper in the tool box. Way cool! All of the other scrapers are just ugly putty knives so I got what I paid for:). Regards, ss.
 
straitshot said:
Also, keep in mind that "time will tell" is a factor as well. A few years ago before I began taking note of a knife's origins, I bought a new nice looking 4" trapper at a gun show for $8. It was nicely finished and OK fit with bone scales. It's a Rough Rider with no other markings of origin.

Today the scales are so warped they have pulled the pins upward and separated from the liners at all four ends by almost a 1/16". It's now a bone handled $8 gasket scraper in the tool box. Way cool! All of the other scrapers are just ugly putty knives so I got what I paid for:). Regards, ss.
Click to expand...

Been there done that w/the Chinese made stuff several years back.. And as straitshot explains, time will tell.. :thumbdn:
 
Of interest, this year I did a quick comparison review between a genuine Schrade Old Timer and an identical-looking Rigid Executive (made in China).

But since I'm locked out of the Search function, I have no idea what I wrote. :(
Or at least I ~think~ I posted that comparison here... Doesn't show up on Google, so maybe I didn't?
 
Interesting comparison, thanks for ferreting it out (takes an age now the search function for us non paying 'parasites' has been disabled-whine)

The whole thread is interesting as a practical test and it's good that abusive flame throwing is kept out of it. I have a suspicion that more recent Rough Riders are of significantly better quality than former ones, but only time will tell. The Gunstock series is certainly much better finished than the ordinary range, but they cost more too. I have a mini trapper and peanut in dark green bone and a copperhead in brown bone. All are good in finish, no gaps at all and good spring, sharp too. But will they LAST??? I'm nervous about the type of bone or dyes used on the bone frankly as some colour has come off! The US&EU appear to have less strict environmental controls on Chinese products than they do on each others' products so this COULD be a concern... But basically they are value for money and are not useless crap-yet...

I have a Chinese Schrade Old Timer lockback 3OT which in most ways I like a lot.It's small and yet useful. Was cheap and does show that in some areas: Has buffalo horn scales(wait for shrink back!)and the pins show some pre-cracking,slight grinding feel on opening but no gaps and the blade is very keen. I would like to get a mint original to compare the 2 but it's difficult. Prices for USA Schrades are high since the shutdown and i'm not sure they are worth it as these were an honest basic workingman's knifenot some top of the range knife! Also, I suspect that the last models might be of poor quality as the factory was closing and the workers felt understandably bitter. Main thing is, can't find a US dealer who will sell me one to the EU and that 70dollar price tag I've seen is not on! Would be nice to compare and to have the genuine article though.

More input about cheap knives appreciated!
 
I bought a RR Toothpick earlier this year , my impressions now are the same as then , for the money I got a good deal. F&F is good , blade takes a wicked little edge , walk and talk are all there.
I bought a Marbles Trapper as well , same thing only F&F was a little nicer , the bone stag looks lovely.
The Boker I bought ( Chinese made ) , while F&F are at the lowest of the three , the blades were nice and sharp , I was impressed by the profile of the edge on all three knives , none of them had that silly, thick edge that has to be honed down before it pop hair , which I find annoying on knives that cost a lot more.

Bottom line ? All three knives were a good deal. I do not expect them to last forever , I do not expect any knife to last forever , for that matter.


If anything , competition is a good thing I've always heard.
 
I have been buying and giving as gifts Steel Warriors and Rough Rider.
RR is better.


The Rough Rider stockman in sawcut bone is a quality product.
Turkish Clip, flutted bolsters, and well fitted scales.
It comes wicked sharp with a very even grind and sharpens well.
The F&F is good.
The workmanship is good.
New Graham sells this line.
All in all the knife is a very pleasing to the eye.
For $8.
Ask me in 5 to 10 years...

Then I have a $12 Camillus stockman, and I know with out it being pretty will last me the 10 years.
Then I have a $40 Queen stockman in D2 with red delrin...

But on the other hand...
I have 4 small stockmans (less than 3"), a Hen and Rooster which is superb, and close behind it is a Rough Rider in Sawcut bone.
then a case in delrin, and all the way at the bottom is a Bear.
I actually have gotten quite fond of the Bear because it is so funky, so hand made, there is not a straight or even anything in its F&F!
But I could have gotten three very well made RRs!

These Rough Rider knives are not imitations.
 
I have a couple of Chinese knives, some significantly better than others. My Marbles swaybelly looks pretty good, but the first time I got it slightly damp the dye started bleeding out all over everything; Thought I'd cut myself. The blades are really thin, don't hold an edge well, and feel like they'd shatter if you put any torque or sideways stress on them.

I handled a Chinese-made Benchmade knife ("Mini-Pika II", "red box" series) recently, and it actually seemed to be an OK knife. It was about three times the cost of these auction site Marbles/US Classics/etc level knives, though ($27).

-- Sam
 
I have mixed feelings on this. The one Rough Rider I own is a decent knife. I have a made in China Buck that's good quality too. So they can make good knives. Still, I have trust issues with them. Especially with all of the toxic toys they've been shipping. I probably wont be buying anymore, or if I do, it will just be to test out a pattern before buying from a US or EU company. Or an older one of ebay.

As to the dye leaking, don't lose hope. I had that happen on an AG Russell knife. It could be that they over loaded the bone with dye. Try rubbing it down with mineral oil until the dye stops bleeding.

Leo
 
I am not sure yet either. Just recently bought a Chinese made Meyerco tactical with G10 handles. Bought is as a "throw in the glove box" knife but the darn thing is actually pretty tight and the grinds were even. Feels solid and the liner lock is tight as well. It was $10 in a bargin bin at one of the local sporting goods stores. I thought it was good enough to go back and buy the other one they had. I figure if I destroy it no harm, no foul but so far I think I will have this one for awhile. Will be interesting to see......
 
This is an interesting thread, and I'm glad to see it's been kept non-political. So far, I own only one China-made knife, one Messermeister "picnic knife". Cost about $4. It looks and feels cheap, but it does what it's supposed to do, and has a good edge that it seems to hold pretty well.

Also, since I've heard the Chinese-made Buck slipjoints are good quality, I'd be curious how they hold up over time, esp. compared to Buck's U.S.-made slipjoints.

I actually hardly buy any knives anymore, so I've become extremely picky what I buy, regardless of origin. But I love to read about others' experiences with different knives, and would hope that the overall quality coming out of China would improve regarding knives, since so many manufacturers are producing there.

This may sound silly; but another reason I haven't tried any inexpensive China-made knives, even ones with a good reputation on these forums, is I have a slight concern of whether there are any toxic content so far unnoticed in some of their knives(?). Paranoid, I know.
Jim
 
Hi Gang,
The RR Congress Whittler arrived on Monday. While this knife is a better sample, it has some of the same problems. The scales have started to warp away from the linings. There is a gap in the backspring as well.

The blades do have a nice snap to them and arrived very sharp. There is a bit of a wobble in the smaller blades. They also are a little thinner and can be flexed almost like a fillet knife.

I am still looking for knives for the comparison knife. I think I will raise the price to the $30 mark to be inclusive of the shipping costs on the others.
 
I like Rough Rider knives. I now have several, my favorite being a tortoiseshell-oid handled linerlock sodbuster. All have been more than acceptable and a good value. Truth be told, most knife nuts would be tickled pink over the prospect of these traditional patterned knives being made, exactly the same, in the US, even at higher prices.
 
Interesting, but not my cup of tea. A Rough Rider knife may be a good example of functional cutlery, but I want something more. I want a piece of pocket jewelry--something that looks as good as it cuts. Its nothing against Rough Rider specifically. I just enjoy using a beautiful knife more. Sodbusters, like Rough Riders, are inexpensive. My Brown Mule is light, tough, and sharp. But every day when I get dressed I stick my stag Eye Brand stockman in my pocket. Using this fine knife gives me a small amount of pleasure, something no cheap knife has ever done. I can't explain it, but there is a pride of ownership that comes with using a good tool.
 
kamagong said:
A Rough Rider knife may be a good example of functional cutlery, but I want something more. I want a piece of pocket jewelry--something that looks as good as it cuts.
Click to expand...

I have sharpened this one with an extra fine.
I came of the box sharp, now it is super sharp.
Spent a couple of hours whittleing a piece of pine.
Still sharp.
This looks as well as it cuts.
http://www.newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=7069

If it said "Made in the USA"
How much would you be prepared to pay for it?
 
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