Rough Rider knives

Well, I don't know the brand, so I can't give you info on the quality. However, what's the sense of 3 similar sized blades on one folder?
I'd stay away from it.

Markus
 
china. Ive heard the quality is not bad for what it is, but Ive looked at a few and they remind me of the frosts made in taiwan.
 
I own serveral Rough Riders and other brand names that are made under contract by the same company in China that makes Rough Riders, and for the money they can be a great knife, but the one in the Ebay add you linked to is overpriced IMHO.

These knives as I said can be good, but if it is at all possible, it is best if you can hand pick one instead of ordering blind. I have went though whole tables of them at knife shows and found that about 1 or 2 out of every 30 or 40 knives will be perfect while the rest will have various cosmetic faults. I have occasionally found Rough Riders that are the equal of some Case knives, but that's rare.

For what it's worth, in my experience Rough Riders that come with brown jigged bone scales, especially the Copperhead, Whittler and Barlow patterns have had the most consistent higher quality that any of their other knives. I have brown jigged bone knives from the same factory under other brand names that are as good also, making me suspect that that particular factory in China has it's act together better than some others.


Their steel is 440A, and they tend to come EXTREMELY sharp from the factory and mine have actually held their edge pretty good for 440A.
 
ml100 said:
Well, I don't know the brand, so I can't give you info on the quality. However, what's the sense of 3 similar sized blades on one folder?
I'd stay away from it.Markus
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It's a "Whittler" pattern, it's meant to give you similiar blades for wood working, so that you can keep carving with the same blade without having to stop to sharpen as much.
 
Thanks the last confederate. I think I'll give them a miss unless I see one. Sounds like they're similar to Richardsons for quality.
 
The Last Confederate said:
It's a "Whittler" pattern, it's meant to give you similiar blades for wood working, so that you can keep carving with the same blade without having to stop to sharpen as much.
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Thanks for the info.
 
I own several also and the barlows have been the most consistent quality. Backsprings are tight and blades are wobble free. The fit and finish was also very nice. I use them as EDC's at work since they are "pocket knives" and less apt to startle co-workers and I give them away as gifts that always seem to be appreciated.
 
The knife is not overpriced for genuine BMP handles......but I agree with the guy who said it's best to hand-pick at a shop or show.

The picture is probably not of the knife you will get and they choose the nicest looking handles for the pic, of course.

The Rough Riders I've seen recently have all been well-made.
 
Rough Rider Sunfish w/Brown Bone Jigged handles. Overall it's a pretty nice knife for a reasonable price (eBay). The fit and finish are good and the blades came very sharp.

I've taken to buying cheap slip-joints first to see how I like the pattern. So far the Sunfish is a very unsual unit, really pretty big but still "pocketable".

A neat knife that has me considering a proper Case Sunfish/Elepahant Toe/Rope knife.
 
I have handled many Rough Riders at flea markets and I can tell you that they are of the “cheap Chinese knockoff”. If I were in the market for this breed of knife I would look at M-Tech.
 
ml100 said:
Well, I don't know the brand, so I can't give you info on the quality. However, what's the sense of 3 similar sized blades on one folder?
I'd stay away from it.

Markus
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The largest blade on this type of knife is mich thicker for durability. One of the smaller blades should be a sheepsfoot, so this particular knife is a little sillt (being a clip point vs. a drop point adds little functional variety).
 
freezergeezer said:
I've just found this on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6552239783&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:UK:1

Anyone here used this brand? Are they worth buying :thumbup: , or should I steer clear? :thumbdn:

Cheers all. :)
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I don't know what availability is like in the UK, but eknifeworks.com has a bone handle version for $9 US. I wouldn't pay $20 for anything they make, but most of their models are a good deal at $10 or less. If you really just want a black pearl handle knife, I guess that's the best way to go, but check out their bone and fake abalone models too.

They are much nicer than many other $10 Chinese knives, although I hear the Frost "Steel Warrior" line is really good too.
 
not ashamed to say i have many 20.00 rough rider knives and they are undervallued for what you get. and on par with many case knives of recent production
 
Freezergeezer, I have a couple of the Rough Riders, a muskrat and a barlow. Both are pretty good and good looking knives. Both also have little quirks. On the muskrat, one blade has a softer backspring that the other. Both blades are quite sharp out of the box. On the barlow, the nail nick on the smaller blade sits just below the frame line so you have to sort of slip your fingernail down and into the nick to get the blade up. I have just under $10 per knife in mine and half that was shipping. Based on them though I am currently considering a Rough Rider Loveless hunter copy with rootwood handle. Just something to tide me over until I can get a better knife in the same pattern. I love the look of that pattern.

One thing I've found in Chinese mades in general is that they are a bit heavier that say a comparable Case or Boker. I find I am quicker to carry one of my yellow handled Cases or one of my stag handled Bokers (a whittler and a congress) instead, even though I have the Rough Rider muskrat and the Steel Warrior Cooperhead (mentioned in next para.) in my rotation.

Probably the best of the Chinese knives out there that I've come across are the Steel Warriors. I only have one small copperhead, but it is very well done in the fit and finish department, and came nice and sharp. On one hand it was good to get a well made knife for $10 or $12 that compares very well against a Case in terms of quality. On the other it is sad to me for it makes it that much harder for the western knife companies to compete in the marketplace and old, respected firms are endangered. Three things the western companies have going for them though are that 1.) They still make knives in carbon steel that carry lighter in the pocket. You can't get that with a Chi-knife. 2.) You can call most western companies and actually talk to a person and deal with customer service issues. 3.) There is a heritage that comes with a Case, Boker, Camillus, Kissing Crane, Schatt & Morgan, etc., that while being intangible for the most part, is something that is a strong affinity in traditional knife lovers.

So to answer your orignial question, thay aren't bad, but can be found much cheaper.
 
I bought three, two were fine and the last one was a dissapointment. I would have to agree with "The Last Confederate" in that you shouldn't buy blind. I like buying traditional patterns with bone scales. Smoky Mountian Knife works says they started making these and they called them Rough Riders with reference to Teddy Roosevelt. They currently have 316 models. By the way, they are made in China. My first Rough Rider was $4.99, now that model is $7.99, wow inflation. I noticed they have some stag models. The fat stag trapper looked interesting.

http://www.eknifeworks.com/webapp/e...xt=&list=10&range=191&order=Default&SKU=RR439


Here is the whole catolog of 316 models.
http://www.eknifeworks.com/webapp/e...re=&SearchText=&list=10&range=1&order=Default
 
thanks peter for the catalog. I also was disapointed by the barlow and the imitation tortise shell the material they use does not look like tortise shell. the large deer slayer clasp knives and the jigged bone elephant toenails and sunfish models i got are nice all around. there daily beaters for me and do well
 
icemancometh said:
ill let you know on the stag trapper ordered one off ebay still anticipating the mail man lol
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I would be interested what you think of that stag trapper. I hope yours is one of the good ones.
 
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