Not bad for less than $10!

Blues said:
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.
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And let's not forget in the factories "back in the good old days" here in the US what would happen to a worker who lost a hand in a press. If he was lucky they'd pass the hat and raised a couple of days pay as he was shown out the door. I see very little difference in a man and his possible skills who spends twenty doing a job in the US versus a man doing the same job elsewhere in the world. Both know their jobs and if they like doing it will put the same amount of passion into doing the job well.
 
CaptInsano said:
Can you describe the cosmetic flaws for us?
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The orange muskrat has a tiny crack in the scale from one of the pins to the bolster. Hard to see. The two white handled knives have some sort of powdered substance used as filler where the scales don't quite meet the liner. Very small area. And, of course, the work knife has terrible looking scales. They are there, and solid, but they don't look very nice. I never did find a flaw in the green stockman. The grind lines are fine, there is good snap to the blades,and they are overall very serviceable knives. One of the blades on each knife is marked "second", otherwise you could hardly tell them from first quality knives.

Overall, I'm impressed.
 
scattershot said:
The orange muskrat has a tiny crack in the scale from one of the pins to the bolster. Hard to see. The two white handled knives have some sort of powdered substance used as filler where the scales don't quite meet the liner. Very small area. And, of course, the work knife has terrible looking scales. They are there, and solid, but they don't look very nice. I never did find a flaw in the green stockman. The grind lines are fine, there is good snap to the blades,and they are overall very serviceable knives. One of the blades on each knife is marked "second", otherwise you could hardly tell them from first quality knives.

Overall, I'm impressed.
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My orange Copperhead had a very similar crack from pin to bolster. I'm thinking this guy sold me seconds. Could you describe the location of the "second" marking so I can look for signs of removal before sending it back to him? Thanks
 
CaptInsano said:
My orange Copperhead had a very similar crack from pin to bolster. I'm thinking this guy sold me seconds. Could you describe the location of the "second" marking so I can look for signs of removal before sending it back to him? Thanks
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I doubt it is a sterilized second. Check out the www.eknifeworks.com standard disclaimer that they put on all the Rough Rider bone handle knives:

"Bone is a natural handle material prone to cracking. Therefore, some knives may have cracks near the pins or bolsters."

I have bought three bone handled RRs from them so far with no cracks, but for them to be throwing out a blanket disclaimer like that there must be a problem with at least a few of them along.
 
The SECOND marking is in fairly large type on the blade. I tried steel wool with acetone to see if it would come off, but it didn't. I don't think the markings are easily removed, and would not be worth the effort on such an inexpensive knife.
 
The "China" markings come off with a dremel, felt polishing wheel, and semi-chrome. Will see if that works with the seconds mark when my seconds show up. (was very tempting to go for the 24 knife trader roll for 99.00...lol)

jackknife said:
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.
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Personally I would put these knives up against a department store Case any day as far as quality goes. The ones I have bought have a fit and finish at least as good as most US made production knives. Just because they are a bargain does not mean they are cheaply made. I understand than many people equate the cost to the quality...more expensive just has to be better mentality. These days with goods from the far east coming in country that just isn't true.
 
I got a jigged red bone canoe in the mail yesterday. Wow, night and day difference between this and the Copperhead. This knife is beautiful, unblemished, and friggin razor sharp out of the box. Not Bark River razor sharp, but it shaves and slices jesssst fine. I'll have some pics later.
 
scattershot said:
The SECOND marking is in fairly large type on the blade. I tried steel wool with acetone to see if it would come off, but it didn't. I don't think the markings are easily removed, and would not be worth the effort on such an inexpensive knife.
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I see what you mean, thanks.
 
scattershot said:
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?

IMGP2951.jpg
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I seem to have hit the jackpot with my seconds. I cannot find any cracks or obvious flaws in them. I have looked them over carefully and found these "problems". The insert shows what 10 seconds with a dremel and polishing wheel does to the "second" marking. I could go further but why bother? (please ignore my fingerprint on the blade...lol)

1. Large Copperhead you can see this one in the insert in the pic, it has an inclusion in the pearl. Pearl being a natural material is bound to have variations and an inclusion that I can not feel to me isn't really a flaw.

2. The Doctor's Knife has a tiny nick in one of the brass liners, it is small enough it took several minutes of looking to find it.

3. Orange Sunfish...damned if I know...

4. Trapper one spring sits in a hair deep, I am able to, barely, catch a fingernail on it.

5. 3 Blade Whittler looks as if whoever was grooving the bolster let the tool get away from them and left a minute chatter mark that took 30 seconds to clean up.

My seconds...
secondscopy.jpg
 
Considering that large copperhead was 4 bucks shipped...yep, there are good bargains to be found.
 
Well, after following this thread for a while I broke down and ordered a small tortoise Trapper and a bone Sowbelly tonight, I'll post when I get 'em.
 
scattershot said:
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?

IMGP2951.jpg
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Thanks for the response. I just got back from Spring break and got your pictures along with Absintheur's. Even though I can somtimes get one for under $7, I went ahead and ordered a grap bag. In both orders they filled them with tradional patterns. I noticed they tried to give you one big knife, one pearl knife and 3 smaller patterns.

I had just ordered last week, a few Buck's and one Remington from the front page. Since it is free shipping, ordering again is no big deal.

I try and get nice quality knives, but getting a decent knife for under $10 is always nice. I used to get decent knives from the US, once I got a nice grab bag of Remingtons, 3 for $21, one of them a bullet knife. But, that is past history. I still try to buy Buck and Case, when ever I can, but I am not opposed to getting a $4 knife.

Thanks for the pics.
 
It is fun when that package shows up...it's there on the doorstep and as you bring it in you wonder what did I get?, Are there any big knives? What handle materials? You shake the box like a kid at christmas, stop to ponder what knife to pull out to open it with. You carefully slice the packing tape open and look at the bundle in the bed of packing material. "I see some abalone and at least one of those knives is huge, looks like pearl, wow...that orange is bright!" Carefully you cut the tape holding the bundle together and unroll them, wondering just what that pattern is called...

Damn...I've got myself wanting another one!

Maybe we need to start a swap thread for these...everything a straight swap no money to boot...just offers for different knives
 
Absintheur said:
It is fun when that package shows up...it's there on the doorstep and as you bring it in you wonder what did I get?, Are there any big knives? What handle materials? You shake the box like a kid at christmas, stop to ponder what knife to pull out to open it with. You carefully slice the packing tape open and look at the bundle in the bed of packing material. "I see some abalone and at least one of those knives is huge, looks like pearl, wow...that orange is bright!" Carefully you cut the tape holding the bundle together and unroll them, wondering just what that pattern is called...

Damn...I've got myself wanting another one!

Maybe we need to start a swap thread for these...everything a straight swap no money to boot...just offers for different knives
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You are exactly right about grab bags. It is a little like Christmas. I have been mostly pleased with SMKW grab bags. I got a Bulldog, great knife, Buck Creek grab bag that was a Christmas stocking, Remington. but one from Frost Cuterly was an absolute bust. I am looking forward to my collection.

As far as starting a swap meet, the shipping might cost more than the knives. I just sent a overnight letter with UPS, they charged me a surcharge of $3.38 cent for gas..... :jerkit:
 
UPS does some price gouging, sending 1 knife priority mail through the USPO would run about 2 bucks in a padded envelope. I am always getting parts and such that I have a supply of padded envelopes I can cut down and reuse.

ps...I did order another grab bag as I have already given away 3 of the Rough Riders I have purchased so far. And with summer and cookout time approuching I am sure to "lose" a few more to nephews, nieces, brother, and friends.
 
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