Rough Rider knives

I just received this Rough Rider Elephants Toenail in Jigged Bone froom Knife Outlet:

"4" closed. Stainless spear and pen blades. Jigged bone handles with nickel silver bolsters and inlay shield."

I was buying some other stuff and they had this on special for $10. I figured why not? I have been eyeing a S&M Wildcat Driller - File & Wire, but didn't have an idea for if I would like the shape. I'm treating this Rough Rider as a cheap way to try out a really big, flat slipjoint to see if I like it.

My initial reaction was along the lines of "whoah, this this is ridiculously large and impractical" . . but the actual knife quality is just fine. Nice scales. Decent (but not perfect) fit. Nice thick blades that are actually sharp. I then slipped it into my pocket to see if I could live with it. Amazingly enough it just disappears in my pocket and is an easier carry than my Case CV stockman. The blade is labeled "440 razor sharp steel". In the last 4 hours I've come to the conclusion that this is a great knife and I'm going to enjoy carrying it. I also think I can buy that S&M Wildcat Driller now confident that I'll enjoy the shape.

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http://knifeoutlet.com/shop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=RR084
 
They do make good pattern trial knives, tried out the RR canoe before getting the Case version. The RR knives vary quite a bit in fit and finish. Don't buy one without looking it over personally first. I find that the RR versions are as good as, if not better than, the more expensive "branded" versions of the China made knives. But like Amos, I think that they have the form without the essence of a good knife.
 
I think that probably one of the great niches these knives fill is that it does give a person a chance to try out different patterns on the cheap. As the Chi-knives tend to be a tad heavier than the same knives by western cutlers, if you like the way the cheap one carries, you will love the way the American/Europeans carry. My first muskrat was a Rough Rider. I wasn't sure about it, but after getting that one and using it a little, I really like muskrats. I now have a 1995 made Camillus (which could use a crinking) and will probably add other muskrats from other US and German makers as I come across good buys on ones that really attract me.

While we worry about the Chinese knives hurting the western world knife companies, they also can introduce traditional knives to people who later will seek the finer things of the later. Forgive the pun, but it is a two-edged sword.

I think if buying Rough Riders and similar knives leads a good number of people into buying US/European knives in styles and handle materials they like, then it may help more than hurt. We can hope. I also hope the Chi-knives never start being made in 1095 and the western makers recognize that there is still a market for carbon steel knives out there that only they fill.

Nice toenail, I may have to try one of those now, just to see if it's something I would really want on hand.
 
Amos Iron Wolf said:
I wasn't sure about it, but after getting that one and using it a little, I really like muskrats. I now have a 1995 made Camillus (which could use a crinking) and will probably add other muskrats from other US and German makers as I come across good buys on ones that really attract me.
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Side topic...

Moore Maker, a Texas company that has custom made knives from Camillus (or maybe they buy Camillus parts and assemble them, someone told me once and I forgot), has a muskrat with a yellow handle. It's the same pattern as the Camillus model, but with 1095 steel instead of stainless, a Moore Maker Shield/tang, different yellow color, and smooth polished blades. I like this model (Moore Maker or Camillus) because the blades point straighter than most muskrats (no not-quite-open issue like Case and others have). I got mine on eBay for about $30, basically the same price as the Camillus version.

They regularly have various other handle materials available, so if you don't go for plastic it's still worth looking into.
 
Mine's a Rimfire Classicm 22LR-4 and I got in NIB for cheap on the bay. But, I've been looking at those Camillus Yello-Jaket series and like the look. I've just missed some of the congress and stockmans with the serrated sheepsfoot on there. They always went just a little higher than I was going to go.

Thanks for reminding me of them. I dont' really want to go crinking this one since I'm not really intending it as a carry knife. The blades rub the liner just a tiny bit when they close. I wish Case made one in their yellow handle CV line. I'm a bit partial to it. Sigh, more knives to add to the list.

Btw, do you have a link to the Moore Maker muskrat?
 
icemancometh said:
stag trapper is in hand! pretty nice stag and feels good in hand to!
worth the 16 bucks for sure!
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Does the stag look old, worn down or new with rough lines and free of cracks?
 
peter78 said:
Does the stag look old, worn down or new with rough lines and free of cracks?
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first one very nice just ordered a second as a gift for my son. its terrible !
pure white , no mottling or texture! looks like white bone. ashamed i must say I am going to burn the handle to give it color and buff it. at 16 bucks its not worth my time to return. so I guess its hit and miss! I shall stay with jigged bone rough riders afterall you really cant screwup died cowbone. the blades are sharp and scales fit well but are ugly as hell on the second trapper! buy the stag in person!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:grumpy:
 
I have a RR Redbone 4 1/4 Cattle King Stockman on the way, this is my first of that pattern from RR, curious to see how good they do on it.
 
icemancometh said:
first one very nice just ordered a second as a gift for my son. its terrible !
pure white , no mottling or texture! looks like white bone. ashamed i must say I am going to burn the handle to give it color and buff it. at 16 bucks its not worth my time to return. so I guess its hit and miss! I shall stay with jigged bone rough riders afterall you really cant screwup died cowbone. the blades are sharp and scales fit well but are ugly as hell on the second trapper! buy the stag in person!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:grumpy:
Click to expand...
That is what I was afraid of, I ordered 2 knives and no problem and when I got the third one the scales were dull and faded. I guess it truley is the luck of the draw if you order on-line. I decided not to order any more, but I was tempted to get one if your stag trappers were O.K. For me, I think it is best to save money for the good U.S. & German brands.
 
I have been quite surprised at the quality ~vs~ price on the rough riders. I have a Barlow, a trapper, razor tapper and a small sunfish. I have noticed that the action is tighter on the smaller knives and I have had uneven action (like someone else mentioned) but mostly on the larger knives.

I'm guessing there's not enough torque on the spring for the longer blades. I don't think I paid more than 10 bucks on each one. I like the look of that elephant. Might have to pick one up. I was holding off because of the size but is it fits your pocket okay I might just give it a go.
 
I couldn't help it. I have the RR abolonite muskrat (which shares the uneven action, strong on one blade, softer on the other). I like sodbusters and have a tiny, but growing collection. So when I came across a RR liner lock, abalonite, soddie on ebay at a nice, cheap price, I bought it. It is in the mail as I write this. At least it's supposed to be.

Maybe I should send it to Jackknife so he can loan it out to morons who freak at the sight of a non-locking soddie. ;)

I may have to try one of those elephant/sunfish ones myself, just to try out the pattern.
 
Yeah I hear you. I have bought most of mine on Ebay. If it weren't for S&H, I would have got them all for 5 bucks. Good luck on your purchase.
 
Since this thread came back up, I thought I'd report on the RR 4 1/4" Cattle King Stockman I was waiting to arrive back in post #31, it was just about perfect, the redbone scales are nice and the walk/talk really nice, the backsprings are VERY strong, a definite improvement over other RR's I have owned.

RR298-Redbone.jpg
 
That RR liner-lock Sodbuster came today. I was thinking for some reason it would be Jr sized and was s'prized when it turned out to be full soddie size. This time it not only said it was "Razor Sharp," it was. The Abalonite looks a little better on this one than on the muskrat I have. Not that the muskie is bad, this just looks a little better of an imitation. I'm not really that enamoured with the faux abalone look, but I'm not hiding it in my sock drawer either. This soddie would be nice in white bone. As someone else on here mentioned, the brass tab on the liner-lock sticking up acts kind of like a guard to keep the hand from sliding forward. However, if you are gripping hard it could be uncomfortable. If I was going to use it a lot I would probably file down the tab some, leaving just enough to do the job. Not bad for $10.94 shipped (slowly I might add).

I probably won't pick up many more RR unless I just see one that really catches me at a really low price. I may still try out a sunfish/toe in an RR. They do have my interest with their drop point fixed blade with the root wood handle. Maybe that one will find its way here, but no hurry.
 
Being kind of new to knife collecting, I wanted to get a basic feel for different styles before I went into a higher price/quality knife. RR afforded me that with nominal expense. But, they really aren't too bad in the quality department considering the small investment. Here are the ones I have collected.

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