RIGID Knives What Happened To Them? Photos of my Rigid Knife

Well, that didn't work and I thought for sure I had posted a photo of the knife. I posted it on Photobucket and used that link and I guess I failed. Oh well, I have a Rigid blade that is cool and I like it. Good enough!

Rigid%20Knife_zps5zgalovm.jpg.html
Thomas Linton said:
I thought this may help since I haven't heard anything. Sorry if I have offended anyone or have not given enough information for someone to ID this blade. I do not think it is a Sidewinder but I could be wrong.

Hi, Ken.

How large is it, blade and OA?

The bottom one here? https://www.pinterest.com/pin/299207968975342640/

Tom

? "Razorback" Pretty large and no choil. http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144400 and https://www.google.com/search?q=rig...hUKEwjxkvvUt4jQAhWCSyYKHa68CIcQsAQIGw&dpr=1.5
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Hi Thomas,

The knife's OAL is at 10 5/8". The length of the blade is 5 9/16" from the center of the ricasso to the tip of the blade, measured in a straight line. The width of the blade from the crest (like a ocean swell's crest peaking 3/4" down the length of the blade from the top of the bolster) of the blade to the bottom of the ricasso is 1 5/8". I would post a photo of it, bit it seems that I need to post it to a website, then add a link to it. I wanted to c/p it to the this page, but it wouldn't allow it. Oh well, I am a sort of newb to the site and have been a lurker that gathered up tons of great information from experts like yourself. Great website to say the least!

Regards,
Ken

P.S. By the way, it is not a Razorback from what I see in the photos you linked. There is no "crest" close to the bolster on the Razorback and there is one of this blade. Thank you for the link though! I should get more familiar with the search so I needn't bother you folks.
 
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Hi Thomas,

According to this seller on eB*y, what I have is a Yukon, but without a choil. My knife looks exactly like the one shown at http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-RIG...430037?hash=item5d6a5cdfd5:g:wSEAAOSwal5YFQTM . The dimension are very close to what I have and from what points the measurements are taken from. The seller of my knife just called it a "skinner", but when you look at all the knives in the series, they all look like a "skinner" in design and form. Nevertheless, I think I will just call my "mystery" knife solved and my knife is a different version of the Yukon, be it earlier or later. Whichever the case may be. If there is anyone out there that says otherwise or can clarify this change of design in the Yukon, please feel free to let me know. I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you to Tom for taking the time to answer my question and for helping me out. Also, to the rest of the forum for being who you are and for sharing your knowledge in this vast field of knife design and engineering.

Sincere Regards,
Ken
 
Have three RG77 folders, one NIB. Unable to find any info on this model. Tang is stamped RG77, 440Astainless, USA on one side and RIGID in what appears to be old English on the other Scales appear to be imitation stag. Name on box is "Bear Tooth Lockback".
Think I bought 'em from Smokey Mountain Knife Works. Would appreciate at info on this model that anyone is willing to share. Thanks!
 
This is the second quality knife i bought in the '80's: a Rigid Sidewinder.
Rigid was started by two former Buck Knives employees, Bill Duff & Don Collum who were both supervisor on the Buck assembly line.
The first Rigid knives were made during their lunchbreaks.
My example is one of the first knives that was made in the Rigid workshop in California, later the company moved to Arkansas.

These knives were made entirely by hand and have semi-hollowground blades in 440C steel with a higher hardness than was usual in those days.
The steel can be sharpened to a very keen edge and it also holds that edge for a considerable amount of time.
Production numbers were never very high, but the knives had a good reputation among hunters and collectors alike.













Specs:

Overall length: 23,3 cm
Blade length: 11,0 cm
Blade thickness: 4,1 mm
Steel: 440C stainless
Hardness: +/- 60 HRC
Handle material: unknown hardwood
Bolsters: brass
Weight: 273 grams
Sheath: Leather
 
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Recently i acquired this Rigid Yukon fixed blade without a sheath, as the previous owner bought it from a forgotten RIGID display case.















Specs:

Overall length: 27,0 cm
Blade length: 14,0 cm
Blade thickness: 3,88 mm
Steel: 440C stainless
Hardness: ~ 60 HRC
Handle material: unknown hardwood
Bolsters: brass
Weight: 324 grams
 
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Rigid was THE maker of pipe wrenches, dies, etc. My Grandpa worked in the office of a machine shop and he always got a calendar from the Rigid salesman.

Each month featured a swimsuit model holding a Rigid tool. ( Now don’t be thinking what you’re thinking!)

Never saw a model with a a knife- just a 3ft long pipe threading wrench or the like.
 
This one was made by Canal Street Cutlery. Don't know when but I picked it up on the exchange here a few months ago.
NIB with the felt bag 4" closed 2 nice clip blades. Great example of a Muskrat.
DSCN0017.JPG DSCN0019.JPG
 
Did you know SMKW is making almost exact copies of the Rigid knives. I believe they have the rights to the name now. They are making all the knives under the RR brand. The difference is nickel bolsters and end caps, polished walnut colored pakka wood scales and of course 440a steel instead of the better 440c steel. They are for what they are very nice looking knives. They are not of course of the quality of the originals. They retained most to the original names like the Rogue, Razorback and Sidewinder. I have the sidewinder and small skinner. Have a look at the RR versions, not because I am advising anyone to buy one but to see how close at least in looks they are to the original Rigid knives.
 
kwackster said:
This is the second quality knife i bought in the '80's: a Rigid Sidewinder.
Rigid was started by two former Buck Knives employees, Bill Duff & Don Collum who were both supervisor on the Buck assembly line.
The first Rigid knives were made during their lunchbreaks.
My example is one of the first knives that was made in the Rigid workshop in California, later the company moved to Arkansas.





These knives were made entirely by hand and have semi-hollowground blades in 440C steel with a higher hardness than was usual in those days.
The steel can be sharpened to a very keen edge and it also holds that edge for a considerable amount of time.
Production numbers were never very high, but the knives had a good reputation among hunters and collectors alike.





Specs:

Overall length: 23,3 cm
Blade length: 11,0 cm
Blade thickness: 4,1 mm
Steel: 440C stainless
Hardness: +/- 60 HRC
Handle material: unknown hardwood
Bolsters: brass
Weight: 273 grams
Sheath: Leather[/QUOTE

When Rigid started making knives in Santee CA. in 1970, their knives had two pins through the slabs and high quality Brass bolsters and the sheaths were Black. Cost cutting, no pins and brass castings, started in the mid 70's when your knives were made. By the way Don Collum has passed away but Bill Duff is still making custom knives in Oklahoma.
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While it could very well be that these 2 knives were made a few years later than i originally thought, and they sure don't have the pins in the wooden handle panels, nothing points at any cost cutting with them.
Both are manufactured to a high standard & finish, and they also have well hardened blades that take & hold very sharp edges.

But i do know indeed that at some point in time quality standards were lowered, and i have a second R9 Apache folder in my collection to prove it.
 
TheFactor said:
So I was going through my knife collection and taking inventory and ran across a knife that was my Dads and passed down to me . Obviously very special to me and decided to clean it up and put a nice Edge Pro razor edge on it . Which I succeeded and also managed to cut the tip of my finger wide open after attempting to clean it when the Qtip slipped . Well it's been a few years since I cut myself on one of my knives . This much I do know I made up for loss time lol this sucker won't stop bleeding it's pretty deep.
Anyway back to knife it's been a user knife through it's life but wow what a edge on this baby . Push cuts threw paper and cuts fingers like butter lol . Oh and the lock up is solid no side to side or up and down very impressive.Here's some picture of the knife to share .





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keneke007 said:
Hi Thomas,

Thank you for the links and every little bit helps. I have found the names of most of the Rigid blades I have in my collection but there are a few left that I have no idea as to the knife's true name. The largest knife without the choil is the one I am not familiar with. So far I have as Yukon, Caribou, Sidewinder, Skinner, and the no name knife without the choil. Anyway, thank you once again for your help and for taking the time to look for those links.


Thank you. Now I know the model name of my knife, Featherweight. But have a look at the file work. Was this 'factory' done? I bought this knife at a show years ago and just had it sitting around. Tool steel? Brass pins and a wicked sharp blade.
Thanks,
Craig/Miami
Regards,
Ken
Click to expand...
 
Vintage Rigid R19 Razorback with original box.
The sheath is custom made, not original.












Specs:

Overall length: 10.98 inch (27,9 cm)
Blade length: 5.9 inch (15,0 cm)
Max blade thickness: 4.12 mm
Steel type: 440C stainless
Handle material: rosewood
Bolsters: solid brass
Sheath: custom sheath by a German sheathmaker
Weight of the knife: 321 grams
Weight of knife + sheath: 465.5 grams
 
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