- Joined
- Oct 5, 2006
- Messages
- 3,124
Rough Rider Large Coke Bottle Review
I have been hearing for years that the Rough Rider knives are a good value. They are made in China from mid-level materials and said to be a cut above the average no-name gas station folder from China. When one came available on the exchange forum, I decided to see for myself.
The large “Coke Bottle” design comes in a variety of scale materials; mine came in smooth natural bone. The bone was cut well and fit between the steel bolsters and brass liners as it should. The surface of the bone, however, seemed unfinished. Other bone handled knives I’ve owned seem to have few more layers of urethane (or whatever is used as a finishing medium.) After light use and carry, the creamy white bone started to take on some pleasing color. When I got the knife, there were cracks in the bone around the brass pins holding them on, making it a factory second. First quality Coke Bottle models sell for about $15 to $20.
The first thing one would notice about the Rough Rider large Coke Bottle is that it is huge. It is the largest slipjoint knife I’ve handled and about the same size as a Spyderco Military. The extra long 4 1/8” blade puts a good bit of leverage on the back spring, making it a pretty easy to open. It’s also easy to close, which could be a safety concern.
Despite its length, the Coke Bottle is relatively slim, which makes it easier to carry. In keeping with its traditional design, there is no pocket clip. The clip point blade is almost Bowie shaped with a large “match striker” nail nick for easy opening. The blade is labelled “440,” presumably 440a, the lesser of its siblings 440b, and 440c. The edge grind, while sharp and very functional, came very coarse and toothy. You can almost see tiny serrations. The blade came centered. The large steel bolsters scratch fairly easily.
In conclusion, my impression of this Rough Rider has turned out to be about what I've heard from others. It is a step up from much of the flimsy, no-name Chinese stuff out there, but a step down from the Buck, Case XX, Canal Street, GEC, and Queen Cutlery’s of the world. You can see where Rough Rider cut corners with things like the bone finish and the edge grind, but they still put together a workable knife.
I have been hearing for years that the Rough Rider knives are a good value. They are made in China from mid-level materials and said to be a cut above the average no-name gas station folder from China. When one came available on the exchange forum, I decided to see for myself.
The large “Coke Bottle” design comes in a variety of scale materials; mine came in smooth natural bone. The bone was cut well and fit between the steel bolsters and brass liners as it should. The surface of the bone, however, seemed unfinished. Other bone handled knives I’ve owned seem to have few more layers of urethane (or whatever is used as a finishing medium.) After light use and carry, the creamy white bone started to take on some pleasing color. When I got the knife, there were cracks in the bone around the brass pins holding them on, making it a factory second. First quality Coke Bottle models sell for about $15 to $20.
The first thing one would notice about the Rough Rider large Coke Bottle is that it is huge. It is the largest slipjoint knife I’ve handled and about the same size as a Spyderco Military. The extra long 4 1/8” blade puts a good bit of leverage on the back spring, making it a pretty easy to open. It’s also easy to close, which could be a safety concern.
Despite its length, the Coke Bottle is relatively slim, which makes it easier to carry. In keeping with its traditional design, there is no pocket clip. The clip point blade is almost Bowie shaped with a large “match striker” nail nick for easy opening. The blade is labelled “440,” presumably 440a, the lesser of its siblings 440b, and 440c. The edge grind, while sharp and very functional, came very coarse and toothy. You can almost see tiny serrations. The blade came centered. The large steel bolsters scratch fairly easily.
In conclusion, my impression of this Rough Rider has turned out to be about what I've heard from others. It is a step up from much of the flimsy, no-name Chinese stuff out there, but a step down from the Buck, Case XX, Canal Street, GEC, and Queen Cutlery’s of the world. You can see where Rough Rider cut corners with things like the bone finish and the edge grind, but they still put together a workable knife.
Last edited:
