Is it just me?

[JD Mandrell]

At the local Gun & Knife show this weekend, from what knives were in the majority on dealers tables, it seems that "traditional" are making a big comeback against more modern "tactical" knives.

I'm used to seeing a lot of Case collectors set up at shows, but now I'm seeing a lot of new stuff from China and Japan it old patterns and materials. Some of the imports stuff was good, some crap though. I picked through about 25-30 Rough Riders before I found a 2 blade Copphead that didn't have any flaws.

Does anyone know what steel they use?

One blade was really sharp, the other not so much but both took a good edge when I sharpened it.

$10.00 real bone..gonna carry it and see how it holds up, anyone else give one of these some EDC? How did it do?

 

[rev_jch]

I cant say that I have bought any, although I was tempted once, or twice. Its my fear that these "low end" knives will run the rest of american cutlery out of business, like Schrade. Although there are many of us that buy decent american made folders, it may not be enough to keep american cutlery in business. There is the wider market out there of casual buyers, who do not mind cheap folders. Im not in any way insulting you for buying any. Please do not take it this way. I wonder though, how far will the junk markets go?

When there is money involved probably as far as they can take it?

The steel of the rough riders? Maybe 400, or 420, anyone know?

 

[jayharley]

I can say that my personal interests are strongly heading away from both custom knives and new tactical and modern stuff. I am very quickly heading into collecting vintage folders. My current collection of tacticals (hi tech steel, great expensive switchblades, fancy folders) is broad enough now.

If I have $100 and the choice between buying a good old original Keen Kutter or a basic modern hi tech tactical knife, I will now choose the vintage every time.

However, I purposely stay away from all traditional styled slip joints etc, made in the orient. Even many of the newly manufactured ones from Europe can be pretty low quality. I too worry that these cheap traditional folders will hurt the few US makers that are left.

I think the market is getting really saturated with modern state of the art knives. More choices and more quality steel than I, as an average person really needs.

Please do not take this post wrong. I am merely describing a change in my own knife buying and collecting interests.

 

[JD Mandrell]

No insult taken, we all have different buying patterns. I have a avid interest in collecting Buck 110's and John Primple slipjoints, and a few Case. I bought a nice Benchmade modern at the show, so I had the urge to buy a slipjoint also, but only had 15.00 left. That left pretty much R.R. as the only thing I could get and I was interested in seeing how good they were. I think it says a lot about them that I had to sort through almost 30 to find a good one. I also admit that it gives me the ability to try other traditional patterns without spending much and I give gifts of knives to a lot of friends, not all of which will like a "tactical" style, and so I have been looking for good users that cost less.

I hate what happened to Schrade also, and the new Knives Ill. has a big article on the closing, and the many factors that were involved, only one of which was imports.

I honestly struggle with the "buy american", as much as I would like to, sometimes I can't afford them and I am not sure if it's even possible in the new "global" economy.

Sorry this was so long, I'm kinda "venting" what I have been thinking for awhile.

How do others on here feel about it? If a offshore company makes as good or nearly as good of a product at a much cheaper price what do you do?

 

[kapt kopter]

L.C..........I have bought anumber of RR slipjoints AND despite the made in China label....
I have found some patterns seem to be made better than others....Copperhead,Barlow and Whittler were among best made ones that I bought.....much poorer were the Canoe,Muskrat,CokeBottle and Sunfish.
I agree that using them to try different patterns is a great idea and won't break the bank.
It has helped me try some unusual patterns that I am glad that I didn't lay out big bucks for.
They seem to hold an edge alright for the money and can be resharpened easliy enough.

Kap

 

[JD Mandrell]

Thanks Kapt, I am partial to copperhead patterns, and so far I like this R.R. one. I hate to say this, but tonight I sat down with it and a new Case Stockman in Amber Bone, and side by side, the R.R. is just as nice as the Case as far as fit and finish.

I'm not sure if that says something good for R.R. or bad for Case....

 

[rev_jch]

well in all honesty, I think most of us would agree that case quality is not anything like it used to be.

I too struggle with "buy american".

I try to avoid wal-mart if I can these days. Its hard pressed to find many itrems made in USA! wal-mart was amuch different place when Sam Walton was alive. When those kids took over?...

Not gearing this towards wal-mart personally, I do not know these guys, whats in their hearts, so Im not referring to them, but "generally", its not money that is evil, but the love of it is "the root of all kinds of evil" (1 Tim. 6:10)

 

[JD Mandrell]

well in all honesty, I think most of us would agree that case quality is not anything like it used to be.

I too struggle with "buy american".

I try to avoid wal-mart if I can these days. Its hard pressed to find many itrems made in USA! wal-mart was amuch different place when Sam Walton was alive. When those kids took over?...

Yeah I agree, Sam Walton was as predatory a businessman that ever existed, but when the "kids" took over, the quality of the stores took a huge dive. As far as the steel in Rough Riders, I found their small website and they say 440, if so my guess would be 440A.

I took mine out and gave it a little test the other day, cutting open heavy animal feed bags, then took a 3 foot stick from my yard that was dried out, sliced all the side stems off, shaved the bark and then whittled a spear point on it, even turning the edge to the wood at 90 degrees and "planning" the wood, all told about 30+ minutes of blade edge digging in wood action, the R.R. Copperhead ate it up, and would still shave hair after. It's killing me, but for 10.00 this little slipjoint holds up pretty good.

One thing I tested was slicing the blade into the wood at an angle, then pulling back fast to see if teh backsprings would keep the blade from folding shut on my fingers and no problem.

 

[rev_jch]

wow, that's not bad!!! Im a bit surprised!!!