Rough Rider Deluxe Congress MOP Review

Robert B, I quite agree. The only RR I have with swedges is this one, and they most definitely are overbuffed, as is the filework on the blade.
It's a pity, because as I mentioned in my review, the handle is just right as far as buffing goes, with nice crisp lines and edges.
I think this knife would have looked much classier if the blade had not been buffed so much.

Incidentally, I love the swedges you did and I actually already had those links bookmarked!
I have a couple of knives I'd like to swedge, but I no longer have the correct tools. The only thing I have that would do it is a Dremel, but it would be too easy to mess up...
I think I'm going to get another Lansky type sharpener just for cutting swedges, it's practically impossible to mess up.
 
Nice review, thanks. I think I know why they call it the Congress pattern, though. No spine, and can't figure out what what real purpose it serves.
 
scattershot said:
Nice review, thanks. I think I know why they call it the Congress pattern, though. No spine, and can't figure out what what real purpose it serves.
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Cute, but before we go any further, let's please leave the political commentary to the "Political" sub-forum lest we sidetrack this discussion.
 
jamesbeat said:
Robert B, I quite agree. The only RR I have with swedges is this one, and they most definitely are overbuffed, as is the filework on the blade.
It's a pity, because as I mentioned in my review, the handle is just right as far as buffing goes, with nice crisp lines and edges.
I think this knife would have looked much classier if the blade had not been buffed so much.

Incidentally, I love the swedges you did and I actually already had those links bookmarked!
I have a couple of knives I'd like to swedge, but I no longer have the correct tools. The only thing I have that would do it is a Dremel, but it would be too easy to mess up...
I think I'm going to get another Lansky type sharpener just for cutting swedges, it's practically impossible to mess up.
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It is a shame, I think if just part of the spring were filed and the swedges were crisp and better executed it'd be a classy folder.
 
...or if the blades and backsprings were carbon steel instead of stainless.
I think it would look a lot classier if the 'bling' was replaced by a nice patina.
 
James, mine came this afternoon. I sent away to the same place you bought yours, and in my case the shipping was very fast. As far as the knife goes, I was kind of shocked to see how substantial it is. Maybe that's due to me carrying around my new little pocket friendly GEC half congress all week. Anyway, back to the knife. It came really well displayed in a nice box. Mine was a match for yours in all respects I think except for the springs. The small blade springs on mine are stiff and the two small blades have to be opened using a dime, as there is no way miss noknox gelatin lady herself could open them otherwise. Maybe they'll loosen up in time if I decide to carry it, and remember to carry a dime or two (neither of which I will do because it looks cooler in the box). Considering what this knife cost, it was a super great deal. I have absolutely no complaints.....
 
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**self moderated, my post had some political stuff which belongs on a different part of the forums**
 
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The small blades on mine are definitely harder to open than the largr blades. I don't need to use a dime, but my thumbnails were a little tender the day after I received mine.

Glad you got yours so fast, mine took about two weeks, they didn't mail it for a week after I placed the order.
One of the three knives I ordered was out of stock, so maybe they waited for it to come in, and then gave up.
I've given them another chance after reading your post, so we'll see how that goes.
I have a smaller congress in green "gunstock" bone, a canoe in amber bone, and a barlow in amber bone on order.
I love the RR canoes, and I've never had a barlow before. I'm expecting to like the congress too, it should be easier to pocket than the one in the review!

Having said that, I've been carrying and using my MOP congress ever since I recieved it, and it's holding up just fine.
I haven't babied it either, I've used it to cut up thick cardboard cartons and nylon rope. The blades hold their edges very well and touch up easily too.
I'm very impressed with the heat treat, as it has vindicated the 440a steel that so many people turn their nose up at.
 
jamesbeat said:
**self moderated, my post had some political stuff which belongs on a different part of the forums**
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Ha!, well then my friend, this reply will make sense only to you. As long as I continue to help keep the folks over in Titusville, Bradford, and Utica employed I am guilt free and looking forward to yet another RR knife I ordered. Thanks again for turning me on to this company.
 
Absolutely. I don't feel guilty about buying Chinese stuff, I buy plenty of American stuff too.
All of my guns are American made :D
I used to have a decent collection of Case knives, but sold them along with almost everything I owned when I emigrated from the UK to the States, so I've already bought way more than my fair share of American knives (at vastly inflates UK prices)
I hope you continue to enjoy your knife and all of the subsequent ones you will inevitably buy...
 
Let's move on fellas and get back to the knives...You were right to drop this course of discussion the first time.
 
I have the amber jigged bone version and I think it's a bit too big, chunky and overdone for an every day carry. I do have a RR copperhead that I really like.
 
I agree. I was initially going to get the amber bone version, but then I decided to get a slightly smaller one for EDC.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think this knife is disproportionately chunky for its size, but it is a large knife.
I think a congress 3/4 the siE of this one but proportioned the same would be a good carry knife.
The congress I ordered for everyday use is a little skinnier in the handle and blades, and I don't like the proportions as much.

Having said that, I have been carrying this knife since I bought it. That will probably change when my others arrive, but I find it fits pretty good in the unusually long watch pockets of my jeans.
It's a little too big for regular carry, so I'm only really carrying it until the novelty wears off. It hasn't worn off yet, and despite its appearance, this knife is proving to be a real workhorse.
 
I agree Jay, the knife is way too big. A congress knife like this, particularly all dandied up like this, is supposed to be a "gentleman's knife" that can be carried as a "dress knife". No other reasoning for the flash. This one can't carried as a dress knife. . It would weigh a pair of dress pants down like a sash weight. People would be asking, "is that one of those pearl handled rough riders in your pocket or are you just glad..." well you know the rest. Yes , it is a workhorse I'll admit, but a workhorse full of redundancies.
 
Sorry to dredge up this old thread, but a few people commented that they wondered how long this knife would hold up.

The answer is: Remarkably well!

It has been in my EDC rotation, limited to when I wear jeans because of its size.
I haven't babied it whatsoever, and I have used it to cut thick cardboard many times.

The truly surprising thing is that the scales have stayed in place, despite the fact that they are glued in place rather than pinned.

I was going to take photos, but realised that there was no point; apart from the usual dulling-down of the bolsters caused by being carried in a pocket, the knife looks exactly the same.
 
That's good to here, as weird as it sounds, nearly as soon as I saw this thread I recalled commenting on it. Rough Rider has made a name for themselves, and increased a good bit in popularity even during the time that has lapsed since the last activity in this thread. Even though I've acquired some GEC, and Queen, and a ton of Case, I still buy and use Rough Rider. You don't really "outgrow" them.
 
jamesbeat said:
Sorry to dredge up this old thread, but a few people commented that they wondered how long this knife would hold up.

The answer is: Remarkably well!

It has been in my EDC rotation, limited to when I wear jeans because of its size.
I haven't babied it whatsoever, and I have used it to cut thick cardboard many times.
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Glad to see some follow up. I have two RR knives, but don't carry either one of them. Not sure why, but the are pretty knives that are extremely well made. The Barlow pattern I purchased is as nice as any specimen out on the market today. Fit and finish are exceptional. Still not sure why they don't see pocket time...

Along that ilk, I have had a Remington (not USA made) large stockman that I have been using for about 4 years now. The knife is still in excellent shape considering that I bought it so I wouldn't tear up my old CASE knives or my new Queen knives. So it gets every dirty job there is. It doesn't matter as it seems made for them.

I get caulk and tar on it and I clean it with charcoal lighter fluid. It rides in my jeans pocket and occasionally after sweating through my clothes for a few days, it will get a bit of rust flecking which comes off easily. I occasionally oil the pivots, and that is all the maintenance it gets besides sharpening. It holds and edge pretty dang well, and even responds well to stropping. In fact (pulling on my fire proof skivvies now...) it holds an edge much better than any of my CASE knives for my work. Not better than the Queen D2, though.

I am surprised at how well this knife has held up, and at this rate I will never wear it out. I liked this knife so much (it truly reminded me of buying an old CASE knife 40 years ago - that kind of quality) that when local sporting goods store quit carrying them (they were a Christmas promotion) I bought two more thinking that they would probably fall apart. Nope. They are doing great. No gaps, no weak springs, no signs of anything but normal wear. And while I paid $15 or so for the first one (it came with a matching peanut), the second and third were a whopping $8.99 each. Strangely, on one of the subsequent purchases, the sheepfoot blade had "World's Greatest Outdoor Dad" lightly etched on the blade.

I just can't find fault with these knives, and now that they have proven their utility value after a few years of real use, I don't have any problems carrying and using them. I always carry a traditional pattern in addition to a bigger knife, and this and the medium stockman are almost always the go to knives if I don't pick up the one of the Queens.

Robert
 
Nice to see it has held up for a few years, I hope I get the same kind of results from the Rough Rider Canoe I am waiting to get here.
 
I just read and enjoyed this thread. I've had the Black lip MOP congress for about 4 years and it's never let me down. Since that knife worked out so well I bought their 45 pattern Scout and a Half Hawk 17 pattern. I just can't bring myself to carry the CaseXX knives of the same patterns because of the cost. I carry the Scout as a key fob and use it to handle any job that comes up while my keys are in my hand. I carry the Half Hawk in one of the side pockets of my carpenter jeans that I work in. It has been a Bear on some hard use jobs. The only problem I've had is with the Scout. I dropped it once which loosened one of the scales. While RR has made a believer out of me as solid users they will always be like golf balls. Hit in the water and just pull out another one. Until an American made company comes up with a competively priced product I'll be using RR's and collecting American.
 
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