Not bad for less than $10!

[CaptInsano]

I just got an orange bone Copperhead off evilbay. It had a scratch on the main blade and a crack in one scale. :grumpy:

 

[Absintheur]

If it was listed as new and the damage wasn't mentioned in the description then send it back to the seller asking for a replacement or refund.

 

[KnifeHead]

I've handled some of these RR knives and they are made amazingly well for the price, I just can't bring myself to spend money on them. And for the love 'o pete, I am not even suggesting anyone else is stupid or wrong for buying these things....just giving my thoughts here so don't get yer dander up.

I don't mind buying Chinese stuff in general because let's face it, sometimes you can't avoid it or even conciously try, for instance...I love authentic Chinese food and soy sauce. In the case of RR though, the people that profit from selling them here in the USA could just as easily sell fortune cookies and fireworks. They probably don't care what they sell, they're just turning a profit. It's not really a knife business per se...it's just business. Where's the folksy in that...HUH? There's NO FOLKSY in that dammit!

When it comes to knives, I'd rather pay $100 for one USA made knife(that I know was made by USA workers in a USA owned company) than buy ten knives made anywhere else. In this, there is pride in ownership that comes with knowing that you supported several people that live and work here and made this thing with their hands and potentially a drop of sweat or two.

Now...there's the folksy. In the end, you'll have a big ole pile of knives and I'll have a few. I'm ok with that.

May da forkshee be riff you.

 

[Absintheur]

I buy both and have no regrets either way.

I know that everytime I buy a knife no matter where it is made or how much it cost I just helped someone put food on the table for their family. Workers worldwide, not just in the USA, need to feed their families and to me it doesn't matter if it is prime rib from the sale of a $100.00 dollar knife or a bowl of rice for a $10.00...there is a family somewhere in the world that is not going hungry because I made the purchase. That is "folksy" to me.

 

[Blues]

I buy both and have no regrets either way.

I know that everytime I buy a knife no matter where it is made or how much it cost I just helped someone put food on the table for their family. Workers worldwide, not just in the USA, need to feed their families and to me it doesn't matter if it is prime rib from the sale of a $100.00 dollar knife or a bowl of rice for a $10.00...there is a family somewhere in the world that is not going hungry because I made the purchase. That is "folksy" to me.

That is an enlightened attitude. :thumbup:

 

[CaptInsano]

If it was listed as new and the damage wasn't mentioned in the description then send it back to the seller asking for a replacement or refund.

That's my plan. I just hate the aggravation. I sent him an email about it to see what he offers. Especialy since he described it as brand new "collector grade."

 

[shecky]

When I buy a knife that is a good value, I'm willing to buy more, and tell others about it. There's no difference where that hard work was done, I'm rewarding somebody's decent workmanship. The drive to turn a profit isn't a bad thing! It creates incentive to make better products at more competitive prices. Even if the vendor doesn't have any passion for knives.

I just purchased two very good Chinese made knives. A Rough Rider tortoiseshell-oid hulk of a Deerslayer, and an Ontario branded executive-style lockback. Both offer very good workmanship and excellent value. Chinese factories may not care what they make. If so, they don't care in a way that many American manufacturers could learn from.

 

[Blues]

Thanks folks for keeping this conversation non-political. (At least in this sub-forum.)

Supporting the manufacture of good knives and the workers who produce them (and not necessarily regimes and governments) is (imho) a good thing.

Thanks again!

 

[stockman242]

[...]There's no difference where that hard work was done, I'm rewarding somebody's decent workmanship. [...] Even if the vendor doesn't have any passion for knives.
[...]

Agreed, but I think it takes some passion, to turn out truly good knives.
But I know, that you cant expect that from a 10$ knife.

peter

 

[KnifeHead]

I buy both and have no regrets either way.

I know that everytime I buy a knife no matter where it is made or how much it cost I just helped someone put food on the table for their family. Workers worldwide, not just in the USA, need to feed their families and to me it doesn't matter if it is prime rib from the sale of a $100.00 dollar knife or a bowl of rice for a $10.00...there is a family somewhere in the world that is not going hungry because I made the purchase. That is "folksy" to me.

HHmmm yessssss, I see your point, but I bet they'd rather have the steak .... (sorry...I just couldn't help myself.)

 

[stockman242]

Oh before I forget it, I did buy a RR once to see and feel the fit and finish.
I have to say, that I was surprised.
It was a stockman which I gave away to a 12 year old nephew of mine.

 

[Blues]

HHmmm yessssss, I see your point, but I bet they'd rather have the steak .... (sorry...I just couldn't help myself.)

Well, unless they were in India perhaps...

 

[shecky]

Agreed, but I think it takes some passion, to turn out truly good knives.
But I know, that you cant expect that from a 10$ knife.

peter

I'm not sure I'd even go that far. Most of the RR knives I have I would classify as great knives. The only thing that really holds back their value is the word "China" etched into the blades.

Furthermore, the idea that a company needs a heartfelt passion to make great knives might have been true 150 years ago when knife making was done by a select few craftsmen. Mass production has largely eliminated the need for such specialized craftsmen to produce quality knives. It's now possible to produce, at very low cost, large volumes of goods in any quality range desired. It's entirely possible that nobody at Victorinox, Buck or Rough Rider has any passion for knives. All that's needed to produce great knives is for each worker to do his/her job correctly as part of a well implemented system. Producing a good end product that sells well encourages each of those involved to continue doing their small part to satisfaction.

 

[stockman242]

I'm not sure I'd even go that far. Most of the RR knives I have I would classify as great knives. The only thing that really holds back their value is the word "China" etched into the blades.

Furthermore, the idea that a company needs a heartfelt passion to make great knives might have been true 150 years ago when knife making was done by a select few craftsmen. Mass production has largely eliminated the need for such specialized craftsmen to produce quality knives. It's now possible to produce, at very low cost, large volumes of goods in any quality range desired. It's entirely possible that nobody at Victorinox, Buck or Rough Rider has any passion for knives. All that's needed to produce great knives is for each worker to do his/her job correctly as part of a well implemented system. Producing a good end product that sells well encourages each of those involved to continue doing their small part to satisfaction.

True, but (I know I souldnt say this, but I will) I dont think nowadays RR, Victorinox, or even Case, except maybe for the Bose/Case line, make truly great knives. I know, That they make good, or even really good knifes, but there is just somethink missing, they (mostly) look like what they are, mass produced knives. Most of them are well made, sturdy, and will handle whatever task you throw at them.

It is hard to describe what I mean, but maybe some will understand.
In 'the old days', a craftsman was proud when he finished a good knife, then, and only then he shipped it to the customers. And this somehow went into the knife, made every single one special.
Today, you can find this only in custom knives.

I feel like this about a lot of things, even if I dont have first hand experience about "the good 'ol days" It starts with A like automobile and ends with Z like Zeitung (German for newspaper).

Peter

 

[F3X]

Passion is a big motivator in hand made items. Of course when we get a handmade item and it has a "flaw" or a "little personality" we complain. I think today's customers expect too much, we want it now we want it cheap and we want it perfect and we want it NOW. Do we reciprocate the same values to others, how many of us are passionate at our workplace, willing to supply the boss or customer with top service, immediate delivery and superior customer service and do it at the bottom line cost or a low wage?

Knives: The beautiful customs we see form these master makers. The trend is to have a flawless knife, almost machine made. The Chris Reeve knives have a great rep and value but to me they are cold. Too perfect or normal. I have a nice William Henery that is perfect: Beautifully light, clean and mechanically flawless. Still a bit cold though. There is beauty in perfection but not much soul!

Soul or passion is hardly available in todays market, we want it cheap, we want it now and we want it fast..................................Sometimes we get exactly what we ask for...........

 

[Blues]

Let us not forget that we tend to romanticize the way things were produced both pre and post industrial revolution. Without a doubt there were many craftsmen sitting in dingy, dirty, grimy shops under less than ideal conditions who, though they may have produced masterpieces, would've traded their lot in a heartbeat.

Romanticism is a human creation and not a bad thing because it gives us "ideals" to strive for, but sometimes the truth or reality gets lost in the process.

 

[scattershot]

As promised, here is a pic of the "Grab Bag" I purchased from SMKW. Aside from the obviously fugly handle on the work knife, there are a few microcopic cosmetic flaws here and there, but nothing really bad. I'm a happy camper. Less than 20 bucks, postpaid! How can you beat that?

 

[jackknife]

Let us not forget that we tend to romanticize the way things were produced both pre and post industrial revolution. Without a doubt there were many craftsmen sitting in dingy, dirty, grimy shops under less than ideal conditions who, though they may have produced masterpieces, would've traded their lot in a heartbeat.

Romanticism is a human creation and not a bad thing because it gives us "ideals" to strive for, but sometimes the truth or reality gets lost in the process.

So very, very true!

Cutlery factory craftmen in centurys past often died young, from numerous lung disorders from the dust and dirt of the working conditions, plus the dust of some of the material they worked with. Pearl and abolone were deadly, and the huge sandstone grinding wheels exploded once in a while, killing the blade grinder working on it.

Shop boys and apprentices were little better than slave labor.

Sometimes the legend is better than the reality.

 

[jackknife]

As promised, here is a pic of the "Grab Bag" I purchased from SMKW. Aside from the obviously fugly handle on the work knife, there are a few microcopic cosmetic flaws here and there, but I'm a happy camper. Less than 20 bucks, postpaid! How can you beat that?

I don't see how that can be beat. Servicable knives at a cheap price. I guess the bottom line is alot of hard working under paid people out there need a cutting tool, but don't have alot of money. If a RR gets it done for them, then thats okay. I'm sure any one of them will open a UPS box or cut a piece of cord.

 

[CaptInsano]

Can you describe the cosmetic flaws for us?