Rough Rider & Related Slipjoints

It's great to see so many people enjoying their RR knives. Like Roland, I have a great many of them and carry most of them during the year. My latest favs are the black pearl whittlers. I collect old pearl whittlers but since dropping my favourite old pearl and cracking both scales I now just carry the RR pearls. I have turned literally 100s of people onto RR and have never heard a bad word back from any of them. They are truly wonderful hard working knives that can be had for peanuts.

Best regards

Robin
 
Hi,

Wow, I need to buy more RR's. I only have 5 left. Reading through this thread, I glanced over at my shelf. Only to discover most of them are gone.:eek: It seems I have gifted most of them away in out of pocket situations. And their new owners are still happily carrying and using them.

Hard to believe, but the only one I have left out of the three I originally posted way back at the start of this thread is the green mini-trapper. Still one of my very favourites for EDC. The other two are with happy owners.

Out of all the current cutler's production, the only new made knife I have that I own two of is the RR1021 small San Mai lockback. It just appeals to me. And has about the workin'ist blade I maybe ever owned.

I really like that black-lip Congress Roland. I have a faux tortoise model. Can't say I like to actually carry it much, but I just really like looking at it. The Tortoise has good depth and color. And one like yours is just stunning for the price. Do you think the black-lip would hold up OK to pocket carry? There is a Muskrat that is kind of appealing to me and I don't think I've ever owned the pattern before.

dalee
 
I see no reason why the Blacklip Pearl could not be carried. I have quite a few of them and all are exceptionally beautiful. There is a medium sized LB with The Best B-L Pearl i have ever seen, but i'm away from my collection at present. I'll see if i can find it's RR # and if so i'll post back here.
roland
 
Hi,

Thanks Roland. I have a couple of knives that the scales weren't quite as rugged as I hoped for. And the black-lip is too pretty to not carry!

Dale
 
Here's the knife i referred to above. Found the pics in my online album. Still have to find it's #. My memory says 884, but it's not reliable.

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roland
 
Hi,

That is a nice one Roland. The simple plain bolsters really make the scales the focal point. And they are worth being the center of attention. I'm not a real big fan of lockbacks per se, but I'd carry that one to town just to be seen with it.:D:thumbup:

Dale
 
My wife took these pics for me, its in the US waiting for me and the fit and finish looks amazing!

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Rough Rider Long Rifle Series Large Stockman. 4 5/8" closed. 440 stainless clip, spey and sheepsfoot blades. Master blade features Long Rifle etch. Brown smooth bone handles with nickel silver bolsters and long rifle inlay shield.

Model RR556
 
Robert, i've got one of these Long Rifle Jumbo Stockman. It is truly impressive, just as good as an older Schlieper and a Schrade-Wostenholm i have of the same size. Great outdoor work knife.
roland
 
Roland, I definitely can't wait to use it when pheasant hunting season is open! I think it'll be great bird and fishing knife. Will be perfect once I get tools in the US setup and put some deep swedges and personalize it a little.
 
I picked up a RR red bone copperhead a few weeks ago and am still impressed with this inexpensive (not cheap) slipjoint it has found it's way into my traditional EDC rotation along with some more well known and expensive knives I'd recomend Rough Rider to anyone needing a nice inexpensive user slipjoint.
 
whetrock Can't agree more, I'm on a copperhead kick these days.
Just received a Boker Tree Brand cost aprox $40.00 and a Rough Rider cost aprox $12.00.

The Bokers back spring is as weak as a ball point pen,a disappointment for sure. The RR is a nice 6 on the pull scale. A little leery about even carrying the Boker.
 
Gee, thanks, guys. I saw the pictures of the Boker Plus Congress above. It looked nice. Then I saw it was in 440C. Then I saw the price. So, I ordered one. Heck...at that price, why shouldn't I? It just got to me. I've owned a few Rough Riders. Yes, they are very nice knives. I've just always found them a tad gaudy. This little Boker though is something else. No gaps, no blade scuffs, sharp blades out of the box, nice even pulls. To top it off, it isn't gaudy. Okay, there are a few finishing issues here and there (minor cleaning issues on the interior and the shield isn't pinned). But for the cost? WOW. I think I will be looking at a few more of these.

Gee, thanks, guys.
 
Wow, big thanks to all you guys in this thread for posting all the pics and details of these knives.

I am new to these traditional types of knives and didnt think I could afford one, but wow, its amazing they are around $10-20.

Im going to read this thread again then hopefully order one from Ebay.

So are the Colts a bit of a step up over Rough Rider, or are they both great in quality.

Thanks again.
 
I ordered the 2" tiny stockman with MOP scales, i'm kinda excited to get it! it looks really nice and smaller knives I find quite enjoyable.
 
I picked up the small San Mai lock back RR1021. I am a grudging admirer of Rough Riders, but I have to say this one is downright spectacular. I've had an unfulfilled hankering for a Moki Ares or Kronos and I can't see how this would be surpassed even at 6x the price.

One question though for those more familiar with the damascus type steels. Both the blade and the bolsters have what looks like a faint mold parting line running lengthwise down the spine (of the blade) and long edges of the bolsters. It's a little less prominent on the bolsters I suppose due to finishing. What is this? The central layer of harder steel?
 
"What is this? The central layer of harder steel?"
Would be nice if it is, but is this real Damascus or steel that has been acid etched to appear like Damascus ?
Price suggests the latter, but RR's so consistently provide so much more than can ever be expected for the price.
I think it is real Damascus so this could be the center piece of steel.
Damascus quality varies widely so it would be great if someone used their RR Damascus blade often enough to require re-sharpening, then use it more and report how it's holding up.
roland
 
Mtell1 said:
Wow, big thanks to all you guys in this thread for posting all the pics and details of these knives.

I am new to these traditional types of knives and didnt think I could afford one, but wow, its amazing they are around $10-20.

Im going to read this thread again then hopefully order one from Ebay.

So are the Colts a bit of a step up over Rough Rider, or are they both great in quality.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

The fit and finish of the Colts is maybe a little better, if only because they are a little beefier and feel more solid. The blade steel on the Colts is basically junk though. It's listed most places as 420J. To give you an idea of how soft it is - my Colt teardrop had an uneven grind near the tip. One very light swipe across a fine grit Crystolon set the bevel. One swipe! It was basically like sanding a piece of wood. My experience with Rough Rider's 440A has been similar. They are fine looking knives, but due to their use of mid to low quality materials - "excellent knives" they are not. For $10-20, you get a $10-20 knife.

ETA - I'm not trying to talk anyone out of buying the Colt knives. I have three different patterns, and don't plan on selling or getting rid of them. But, they are basically display knives, IMHO.

Adam
 
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Hi,

I've been pretty much been using my first one a RR1021 "hard", (I hate that description). It's been to the stones several times, and the core feels much like my Mora S1 laminated blade while sharpening. That core is hard and pretty tough to boot. I used it last fall to dress several dozen geese, ducks, pheasants, and grouse. I have used it to blend a step out of a large radius in a bunch of 6/6 Nylon, deburred aluminum, and even a couple of pieces of 304SS. The stainless was a bit much for it, it did put a tiny chip in the edge, but my toolbox with my Shaviv was clear across the shop! :D:D

From what I understand, it's a Japanese made laminated blade assembled by Rough Rider into these lovely small lockbacks. According to the advertisement on the dealer website, it's supposed to be laminated plain high carbon steel. But I find it odd that with all the exposure to blood last fall, not to mention all the other chemically funky things it's been exposed to, it did not patina like I thought it would. It still looks the same as when I got it. The pattern still plainly visible on the blade. The bolsters have faded a bit from the pocket wear, but are still visible also.

If you are wondering how I can abuse this pretty knife as I have, the first one I ordered isn't quite as nice as the ones everybody seems to be getting. The blade tip is warped to one side so it almost touches the the liner on one side, and the back spring has a small gap on one side also. Perhaps not pleasing to the eye, but mechanically solid to use. I love carrying and using it.:thumbup::thumbup: The second one I bought, is as good as anyone else's. And sits in it's box unused awaiting the day my favorite suffers loss.

If you haven't used your RR San Mai yet, you are missing out on a treat I think. I honestly hope Rough Rider issued a few more patterns with these blades. Could you imagine a Congress or Peanut with these San Mai blades and Blacklip Pearl? :eek::eek:

Dale
 
Thanks Dale. Great to hear of first hand experience and not hearsay. It's good steel. Now we know.
roland
 
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