- Joined
- Jul 10, 2013
- Messages
- 1,123
Bear with me folks, this is my first review. I thought I'd take a look at a knife that I picked up this past weekend in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Being from Arkansas, I like to look for things made here, and I've seen McCoy knives for several years here in the state. I've often been curious about them, but not enough to really pay attention and look. They can usually be found in shops that tourists frequent, but I've seen them elsewhere as well. This weekend I found myself in a shop in Eureka Springs that attempts to pass it off as a knife shop, but is more of a dress shop with a long display counter of knives. They did have a noted tacticool brand from China, but the rest was a bit on the ridiculous side. Then I saw the McCoy display. A rosewood trapper stood out to me because simply I liked the look of the wood, and I realized I didn't have a trapper pattern. I looked it over saw some of the faults, and decided to contribute to local business.
After I got it home I put a diamond stone to it to fix the poor edge it came with. This took a while as it had poor uneven edge with a few flat spots in it. You should be able to see a couple of examples on both edges here.
The springs aren't flush in any position and there are gaps visible.
The "440 high carbon, rust resistant steel" blades seem a little thick to me, but there is no blade play and both have half stops. Pull is about a 6 or 7, and they still feel a little gritty opening. Nice snaps though. The clip is almost centered but the spey definitely isn't.
It came with a plastic tube along with a little insert of information about the McCoy Knife Company and care and sharpening instructions.
Fit and finish could use some work. The covers don't flow into the bolsters as well as I would like, and the bolsters could use a finer polish. Over all I wouldn't say it's a bad knife. It seems solid and functional, but I don't think it is worth twice what a Rough Rider costs, nor does it stack up on fit and finish. Still, it's a knife made near where I grew up, with pretty rosewood scales. I've seen worse, but I've also seen way better for the price.
So if you find yourself in Arkansas, and stumble on a McCoy knife, don't expect a lot other than a functional knife when you finally get an edge on it.
Please forgive the pictures folks. A photographer I'm not.
After I got it home I put a diamond stone to it to fix the poor edge it came with. This took a while as it had poor uneven edge with a few flat spots in it. You should be able to see a couple of examples on both edges here.
The springs aren't flush in any position and there are gaps visible.
The "440 high carbon, rust resistant steel" blades seem a little thick to me, but there is no blade play and both have half stops. Pull is about a 6 or 7, and they still feel a little gritty opening. Nice snaps though. The clip is almost centered but the spey definitely isn't.
It came with a plastic tube along with a little insert of information about the McCoy Knife Company and care and sharpening instructions.
Fit and finish could use some work. The covers don't flow into the bolsters as well as I would like, and the bolsters could use a finer polish. Over all I wouldn't say it's a bad knife. It seems solid and functional, but I don't think it is worth twice what a Rough Rider costs, nor does it stack up on fit and finish. Still, it's a knife made near where I grew up, with pretty rosewood scales. I've seen worse, but I've also seen way better for the price.
So if you find yourself in Arkansas, and stumble on a McCoy knife, don't expect a lot other than a functional knife when you finally get an edge on it.
Please forgive the pictures folks. A photographer I'm not.
