Rough Rider leg knives... labor cost aside... price unbelievable!

PocketKnifeJimmy

PocketKnifeJimmy

Joined
Aug 4, 2013
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While I do not want to add any chinese made pocket knives to my collection... I have to admit that the Rough Rider's lady leg knives have me wondering as to how? I mean the cheapest I have seen Gec's French Kate, has been for about 60 bucks. The RR versions I have seen for as low as 6 or so bucks. Labor aside... these knives use brass, steel, and bone or wood. They still need processing and shipment, then there has to be room for profit. I know that the labor part is the biggest factor, but with materials being somewhat similar, I just get mind boggled at the difference in price per item. I love my French Kate, and would not exchange mine for 100 chinese versions (for my own personal reasons).... but what a difference in price! Heck, just the price difference between one gec dealer and another gec dealer, could save one enough money on the same knife, to allow one ti purchase a handful of chinese made RR knives. I guess the more I look at these comparisons in pricing, the more I see how the US made marking is getting so so rare. The leg knife is very much more a novelty than anything else, and the average person going online and seeing a US made version going for $70, or a chinese version at $8... well, the novelty is usually a winner at the $8. I do wonder how well the gec leg knife did in overall sales... since it really went on sale for collectors mostly, the RR winning the battle on cheaper cost novelty.

Gec
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Rough Rider
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The large RR leg is much prettier IMO with a nice slim clip. I have turned a great many people onto the joys of slip joint use with RR knives, many of them now buy more expensive US made knives. One thing for sure, they come wicked sharp and hold a great edge for a respectable amount of use. Their patterns are close to the early patterns and some like the gunstock bone Drs knife is downright elegant IMO. RR are a great brand to use as a Lure. :D

Best regards

Robin
Here are three in the gunstock bone, whittler, muskrat and Drs knife.
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PocketKnifeJimmy,
I feel the same as you. All my knives are USA made except for that one RR I recently purchased. After seeing a few of my sons and him convincing me to try one I finally did. I purchased one of their small Barlow's with a chestnut color bone handles for about 12 bucks shipped. I have to say its razor sharp and the F&F is not bad either.
I won't give up buying my USA made knives but I will buy another RR if I find one I like.
 
I bet Gec likely sold all of their leg knives to their dealers.... but, these may be the type to linger in the dealer storage areas for a bit longer than the average, imo.
 
I hate that they're made in China, but just out of curiosity, I purchased one of their Granddaddy Barlows and traditional Barlows, and I must admit: for the price, I was impressed. Overall fit and finish was very good, especially for the price, edges were razor sharp, and blades opened smoothly.

I'd almost put fit and finish at or above what Case has been putting out as of late. Sad, but unfortunately true, IMO.

What I'd really like to see from them is a larger swell end jack and equal end jack design. Seems that hardly anybody wants to make those anymore.
 
That's just another thing I hear about how RR usually come with a decent edge... I mean whether one never uses it or does, they are a knife, and a knife should have some level of sharpness. So here again, they are offering this basic standard, but yet my favorite American traditional pocket knife maker... (which I will not name, but has a crown over their trademark) ;-) ...can't seem to get consistant on this issue... even at their 7 to 10 times higher price tags! This can't be good in the long run for the continuance of American made products. Just my opinion.... your mileage may all vary, of course.
 
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It will be interesting to see if their long awaited carbon steel line will live up to their reputation for making pretty decent knives.

Best regards

Robin
 
Please make certain to discuss the knives. Not where they are made.
 
Okay.. I may be crazy in this following wish of mine... All I want is, for a knife that I pay 7 to 10 times more for over their competition, to be at least twice as good in every aspect over that competition's product. I know, call me crazy! lol! ;-)
 
knife to a gunfight said:
What I'd really like to see from them is a larger swell end jack and equal end jack design. Seems that hardly anybody wants to make those anymore.
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This is my wish, and frustration too. :( Larger Swell End is rare, GEC of course has large Equal Ends in the 53/54 series,. Colt Knives China did a Teardrop Jack which while very well put together and keenly priced, did not move me due to its over-ornate rather kitsch presentation.

As I've stated before, a number of RR knives have really pleased me due to their undeniable quality, e.g. Small Sodbuster, Small Copperhead, Eureka Stockman, Whittler.

Regards, Will
 
Many of the older guys I know feel that they're emulating the Parker cutlery business model, even though it's less expensive, it comes with a serviceable factory edge, ready for use straight out of the box. I own several RR knives, and put together one of their kits, I haven't had any quarrels with them so far, pretty decent knives. Rough Rider is making a name for themselves around here, even my Granddad, who has carried Case, Buck, Eye brand, and Queen knives, for nearly his whole life, carries a red Rough Rider Stockman, and owns quite a few of them. Very good knives, regardless of the country of origin.
 
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willgoy said:
This is my wish, and frustration too. :( Larger Swell End is rare, GEC of course has large Equal Ends in the 53/54 series,. Colt Knives China did a Teardrop Jack which while very well put together and keenly priced, did not move me due to its over-ornate rather kitsch presentation.

As I've stated before, a number of RR knives have really pleased me due to their undeniable quality, e.g. Small Sodbuster, Small Copperhead, Eureka Stockman, Whittler.

Regards, Will
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willgoy said:
This is my wish, and frustration too. :( Larger Swell End is rare, GEC of course has large Equal Ends in the 53/54 series,. Colt Knives China did a Teardrop Jack which while very well put together and keenly priced, did not move me due to its over-ornate rather kitsch presentation.

As I've stated before, a number of RR knives have really pleased me due to their undeniable quality, e.g. Small Sodbuster, Small Copperhead, Eureka Stockman, Whittler.

Regards, Will
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If you don't like the bling, drop it in a bath of 50/50 ferric chloride and water to tone it down a bit.
No, doesn't hurt it a bit. Very solid knife.
Sorry, double pic post. I'm still trying to figure out how to navigate this forum.
 
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Their sawcut bone is fantastic, I've collected several patterns with these scales. All excellent.
My knives but sellers pic.
 
I got my first 2 RR this week. A regular Barlow and a peanut sized Barlow. Both are razor sharp. They are very well made for the price. I can see some fit and finish issues but hey they are cheap.
 
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