Not bad for less than $10!

I've been a fan of Rough Rider knives for a couple years now. Every one I've come across has been a great value. The best were a linerlock sodbuster, and a orange bone handled Deerslayer, both fairly large trditional-ish designs with full flat grind blades. The weakest so far has been a Razor jack, which had slightly softer springs than I care for, and poorly placed nail nick on the small blade. Cosmetically the thing was flawless, though. And the blade profiles on it were the best of any RR I've seen... full hollow grind to a thing, razor-like edge. The smaller RR knives I've handled were similar.

Which leads me to a small criticism I have, only affecting the larger RR knives I've handled so far. That is, they tend to have fairly thick edge bevels, which drops cutting efficiency a bit. Convexing the bevel for about a quarter inch down to zero turns them into incredible performers. The generic "440" steel they use is good stuff, at least for pocket knives.

My hat off to whoever designs and produces this line.
 
orca8589 said:
My only complaint with any of them (SW, RR, Marbles) has been the grit in the joints, which I wash out with dish soap & warm water, then blow out with canned air; a drop of oil usually smooths things out real nice. Other than that, for $10-$15., I think they're great deals.

thx - cpr
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FWIW I prefer to give a "dirty" new knife's innards a good soaking with Ballistol and then let the knife sit, springs down, on some paper towels. (It is difficult to believe how much "gunk" can flow around the springs onto the paper.) I then swab out the insides of the knife with pipe cleaners and wipe the excess oil from the blades and the scales. I have had only a couple of knives that were so "dirty" that they had to be done twice.

The result of this procedure is a very nicely cleaned, lubricated, and protected knife. The only problem that I have ever experienced is that some bone slabs are darkened and "faded" so some degree. This problem does not occur all the time and even the affected knives just end up looking more or less "pre-carried". On the other hand this procedure can do wonders for wood handles and even some plastic handles. For example, I have a Queen Birdseye Maple Canoe that was transformed from a pretty dull and greyish specimen into a knife that now has a handle that has a finish that looks like it belongs on a custom rifle stock.
 
John Schedel - thanks for the input, I'll try Ballistol today or tomorrow. I just got two knives today, a RR pearl-handled Canoe and an Remington green-bone Sowbwelly (also made by RR, I think). Both have the same issue, and the Canoe will take at least two soap treatments to get the grit out. I'm willing to try anything else that will make the job more thorough.

thx - cpr
 
nice pics, good review.

i guess i just may have to look for one of these.

nice bone on that one too, i like that orange.
 
I've been carrying it and my pioneer harvester for awhile now, still happy! And strangely, the one I got had no grit in the joints, a drop of mineral oil and nice and smooth. Even though I'm not generally fond of chinease products, I have to say I'm impressed with this knife. Almost the equal in terms in fit and finish as Case. And honesty better that some of the newer German knives that I've bought lately.
 
These RR knives are becoming more popular. I have a little saddlehorn that has been great. Can't beat them for the price. A decent working chinese knife. I have had others and hold no complaints on those either.
 
Just bought a imitation tortoise stocked medium stockman at a gunshow. Only the sheep shank blade was sharp enough to trim hair out of the box, main blade was a little weak but the two smaller blades are nice and tight. For $10 not bad at all.
 
The mini saddlehorn I talked about. great little box cutter, toothpick, gets under the fingernails real good.
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Why did I come over to this forum?
I can only support so many different kinds of knives. GEEBUS!

I have some SW's, now RR's, plus a decent Case collection.
Now I can't stop. Thanks alot. :rolleyes:

I really like the F&F on the SW's and RR's I have, very nice for $10-20.
Even nice if they were $40. :thumbup:

:D

mike
 
orca8589 said:
John Schedel - thanks for the input, I'll try Ballistol today or tomorrow. I just got two knives today, a RR pearl-handled Canoe and an Remington green-bone Sowbwelly (also made by RR, I think). Both have the same issue, and the Canoe will take at least two soap treatments to get the grit out. I'm willing to try anything else that will make the job more thorough.

thx - cpr
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Ballistol combines with water and still rust proofs. This characteristic should ease your mind about the possibilities of rust after a water wash and rinse.
 
Before I became Rough Rider Savy, some guy that came by a yard sale that I was having was selling knives and I bought a new RR mini trapper off of him for $24 :o , what a maroon! The thing that got me was that it looks well worth that due to the fit and finish being pretty darn good. For a cheap Chinese knife to throw in the pocket and clunk around with yer change, it aint a bad knife. I just can bring myself to spend "knife dollars" on them now that I know what I know.
 
sh00ter01 said:
Nice pictures:thumbup:

I picked up a couple of Steel Warriors (I believe they’re made by RR but I could be wrong) a little while back; like you, I was pleasantly surprised with the quality/fit and finish. Great bang for buck!

-sh00ter
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I think sw's are made by Frost;)
 
My urge to collect slippies was bad enough and then you start talking about a diamond for a dime. Well, I had to check it out for myself.
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I'd have to say it's a nice knife for $12, very comparable to my Boker.
 
Flashpoint said:
My urge to collect slippies was bad enough and then you start talking about a diamond for a dime. Well, I had to check it out for myself.
2334647188_863456e69a_o.jpg


I'd have to say it's a nice knife for $12, very comparable to my Boker.
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I have the smooth orange bone version of that sowbelly .I'm very pleased with it in general terms .The fit/finish are just about on a par with the two Case knives that I have which may surprise some of you .However it's not as good as my Queen,Bulldog(Queen),Boker,H&R or Remington .
I have another knife by Buck Creek which I never carry as it's too big at around 4.5 inches.I don't know where these are made but it's very good quality with fine W&T.It has Germany written all over it,well here and there at least but does this mean a lot ?
 
I broke down and bought a trio of the Rough Riders and I admit to being very pleasantly surprised by the quality. The fit and finish is very good and the handle materials are very well done. All three open smoothly and have great snap, all are shaving sharp. The congress with the pearl is a real beauty, the pearl is just about as good as I have seen on any hundred dollar knife. The sawed bone on the wildcat driller is nicely done, the bolster embellishment stands out, and the bone color is great, and the baby sunfish is just too cool with the faux tortoise scales. Total cost for the three was a whopping $36.50...how can you go wrong?

rrtrioyu5.jpg
 
After much reading about these rough rider knives I decided to purchase a few, Barlow on top, Sleeveboard Whittler, and a small Quill Knife, The Barlow is my favorite. I don't think that I have ever owned a Barlow:confused:. Fit and finish seem really good for such a cheap price. I will be rotating these in and out of my everyday carry. Thanks for looking.

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I ordered four more just to have them on hand for quick little just in case gifts. The pearls are very nice looking and most of the folks I would give these to aren't knife people to start with so the cost won't matter to them, just the looks.
 
I had RRs in Saw Bone
Had...
Most have been given as gifts
They are great introductions to slipjoints
 
Absintheur said:
I ordered four more just to have them on hand for quick little just in case gifts. The pearls are very nice looking and most of the folks I would give these to aren't knife people to start with so the cost won't matter to them, just the looks.
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Most of my friends aren't very sophisticated when it comes to knives either, and they love neat little things like this. I've always given the SAK keyring "Classic" as gifts, but I've started giving the SW & RR as well. The pearl scaled one are big hits.

And, they're made very well. I have to blast the grit out of each one I buy, but for $10-$15., I don't mind.

And, it's nice to try an old pattern to see if you like carrying it, without spending a small fortune on it. :thumbup:

thx - cpr
 
I was at a pawn shop the other day and decided to look at pocket knives. He had a "Royal Rider" elephant toe pattern that he said was "Ivory". He was selling it for 100 dollars. after looking at it I immediatley recognized it as a rough rider with smooth white bone scales. I have a catalog selling it for 12.99. He was either trying to scam, or got scammed himself!
 
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