I've got to agree with Robert B. 1095 can cut like crazy. With that being said it's more for aesthetic reasons in my case. Still I'd buy a ton of them for users and testing out different forced patinas. I really think RR is on the right track with this one and seems to pay a great deal of attention to its customer base, unlike a lot of companies in this day and age.
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Rough Rider & Related Slipjoints
- Thread starter dalee100
- Start date
Recently received an RR amber bone Stockman with a 2 1/2 inch locking main blade for just under $9 on sale. It's a new model of very good quality, fit and finish and stay and play. Blades snap shut louder than when opening. It's not perfect as the spring is a bit crooked where it meets the blade, but the lockup is solid. Closed it's 4 inches long which is longer than the non-locking version.
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2008
- Messages
- 2,142
My canoe
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2007
- Messages
- 2,655
Wow,cool! I'll have to pick one of those up.I wonder what the Al Mar goes for these days? $300.00?
I've always liked Al Mar's designs and I got the RR1023 a while back on a whim. Now I know why I was drawn to it...
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2009
- Messages
- 861
Would you be able to do a little write up on it? Preferably with in hand photos. I`m interested in one as well, I really like the upsweep blade.
I'd be happy too. However, from the moderators comment above, I'm not sure I should. I wouldn't have thought discussing a Rough Rider lockback with bone covers and brass bolsters and a handle that's shaped like a gunstock wouldn't be considered 'traditional', but I don't want to veer off-topic...
That said, I'll probably do it - unless I'm told not to (why would be nice, though).
My canoe
That's a really great picture of that Canoe. It's my favorite RR pattern, and the checkering looks great on that handle. Now I've got to get one!
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2004
- Messages
- 18,298
The thumb stud always pushes it over the line. We know there is a fine line sometimes, but there needs to be a line.
The general forum would be a more appropriate place for your review of this particular knife. Nice looking knife. I'll look for that review myself.
Thanks for understanding.
Gary, you need to revise your thumb stud statement. Bernard Levine has pointed out that these go back a long way, certainly pre 1900. The examples he showed may have been as early as 1830, i've forgotten the exact date, but much earlier than commonly recognized.
There is no definition of "Traditional". To say Traditional means patterns that were designed and made say pre 1920 would exclude knives like the Lanny's Clip, designed by Tony Bose. But if an L.C. is not a "traditional" what is it ?
I understand that the Mods cannot allow the forum to 'drift' but to define "Traditional" too strictly harms this forum as well.
Please allow some latitude so that we can post here feeling the uncritical 'ease' of more traditional times.
roland
There is no definition of "Traditional". To say Traditional means patterns that were designed and made say pre 1920 would exclude knives like the Lanny's Clip, designed by Tony Bose. But if an L.C. is not a "traditional" what is it ?
I understand that the Mods cannot allow the forum to 'drift' but to define "Traditional" too strictly harms this forum as well.
Please allow some latitude so that we can post here feeling the uncritical 'ease' of more traditional times.
roland
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2008
- Messages
- 2,142
Thanks! New camera testing. The Canoe is easy to carry for sure.
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2009
- Messages
- 3,198
Nicely said, Roland. I wouldn't have Gary's job, as there are entirely too many judgement calls. That being said, I think he does a great job and makes this subforum the place to be on BF. I have noticed though, that he seems to be a bit more tightly wound over the last couple of months....
You could as well make the case for the Scagel line of knives, wondering about not only their historical accuracy but as to their use as a "traditional" knife. Scagel was a modern day nut job that lived in a barn, off grid, and was scared to death of the government. At best, the man produced a few hundred knives, most hunting fixed blades and few folders. His folders are hardly traditional working man's knives and were produced in such tiny numbers they wouldn't be of any consequence if others hadn't registered the name (KSF) to start making their own line. The reintroduced knives are sexy and are of unique design, but are not historically accurate to the Scagel knife designs (unless in some cases a feature or two found on Scagel knives is included) or even traditional knives except in their choice of construction materials.
Some learned folks had this discussion on Scagel authenticity and its place here on the traditional forum here before:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/766016-New-Scagel-knife
Yet, the Scagel fruitport with its hole in the blade is widely accepted as a traditional knife. To me, it just isn't.
Personally, I like a bit more room to discuss as I find it wearying (look how slow this subforum can be!) to simply discuss/guess the newest offering from GEC and talk about how much one likes carbon steel. This whole RR thread has been quite popular and has shown some real legs in the time it has been up on the traditional side. RR has done a better job than anyone of bringing back all kinds of designs, materials, and patterns from years gone by, and the folks here are obviously responding to it.
I am not being critical, just voicing my opinion. You are doing a great job Gary. and have a pretty even hand. If you give us a little room to discuss, I promise we won't abuse it! :thumbup:
Robert
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2004
- Messages
- 18,298
Roland, Thanks for your considerate and measured post. I'm always open to reasonable and positive criticism. I learned something from your post and will keep it tucked away for the future.
My apologizes to 69murray. Please post your review here if you'd like.
Thanks for your input also, Robert. I recall the discussion of the new "Scagel" brand. I won't mention the dealer as he is not a BF member dealer. Whatever William Scagel's personal idiosyncrasies were, he was and is a major influence on todays knifemakers. His slipjoint and fixed blade knives, and the reproductions and spin offs seem to fit the definition of traditional knives.
I won't comment on the "more tightly wound" reference, as I'm as unwound as I've been in my lifetime.
Thanks for the input! Please carry on!
Will Power
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2007
- Messages
- 33,363
I appreciate the moderators' open-minded approach, thank you. This thread is very interesting as it allows us to assess a low cost but serious knife maker RR and its ilk. Some of their output is a little odd but then so is GEC's at times.....
Regards, Will
Regards, Will
Quote willgoy: "I appreciate the moderators' open-minded approach"
ME TOO !
Gary is doing a GREAT job as our moderator, a position that requires enough maturity to not react defensively to the opinions of others.
Gary certainly has got this self confidence(self knowledge really) which is part of why we enjoy this 'homey' forum so much.
rolqand
ME TOO !
Gary is doing a GREAT job as our moderator, a position that requires enough maturity to not react defensively to the opinions of others.
Gary certainly has got this self confidence(self knowledge really) which is part of why we enjoy this 'homey' forum so much.
rolqand
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2010
- Messages
- 149
Well said Will, and thankyou Gary, you do a great job :thumbup:
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2005
- Messages
- 69,891
Spot on! :thumbup:
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2009
- Messages
- 3,198
Put me in with everyone else that thinks Gary is doing a great job. It can't be easy, but that makes me appreciate his efforts all the more.
And really appreciate the open minded, patient approach.
Good on 'ya, Gary.
Robert
Gosh! I really didn't mean to stir anything up earlier, but it sounds like we may all be getting a better understanding of the topic at hand.
With that said, here's what I can tell you about the Rough Rider Gunstock Lockback: As I said, it was just a knife that looked sort of interesting, so I got it. That's one of the things I love about RR's - if you're even slightly interested you can just buy it and find out!
First off, the knife is pretty big - at least by my standards: 4 5/8" closed. And, the relative narrowness of the blade makes it look even longer open. Art, I believe you asked for an in-hand photo so here it is:
2012-11-13_16-54-17_853 by 69murray, on Flickr
I'd put my hand size on the small side of medium, if that helps
In use that blade really does a great job of slicing. It'll press right through a Subway Italian on wheat, let me tell you.
As far as fit and finish, it's up to the usual Rough Rider standards with some minor gabs between the spring an liners, but nothing you'd notice without really trying. The spring is about right for a lockback - not quite as stiff as a normal slipjoint, and the lockup gives a nice positive snap with no blade play up, down or sideways. Blade centering was also spot-on.
Untitled by 69murray, on Flickr
Oh, and about that thumbstud
It's pretty big, too, but it does make it pretty easy to open one-handed. If my hands were slightly bigger, I could probably do it in one smooth motion, but I find myself adjusting my grip slightly about halfway through in order to open it the rest of the way. I find I can also 'flick' it open fairly easily, with a little wrist motion.
If you don't like the thumbstud, it removes with a screw from the opposite side, and the blade is easily 'pinched' open.
You've probably noticed there's a pocket clip on it as well. Yep, but it's also removable. I carried it clipped to my pocket and that worked fine. I would say this is a good alternative if you want the convenience of a one-hand opening, pocket-clipped knife, but your work or social environment might not be too friendly to those scary 'tactical' knives. I would say that, but for the fact that that blade just looks so long and the shape so 'sword-like', once it's open...well, just keep that part in mind.
Here are a couple more shots, showing the relative size next to some of my other favorite Rough Riders:
2012-11-13_16-53-36_523 by 69murray, on Flickr
I said it was pretty big, but it's not the biggest. That Coal Miner Work Knife (sodbuster), is a little bigger (and much wider and heavier). But, as you can see, both are bigger than a fully opened Canoe:
2012-11-13_17-36-10_32 by 69murray, on Flickr
With that said, here's what I can tell you about the Rough Rider Gunstock Lockback: As I said, it was just a knife that looked sort of interesting, so I got it. That's one of the things I love about RR's - if you're even slightly interested you can just buy it and find out!
First off, the knife is pretty big - at least by my standards: 4 5/8" closed. And, the relative narrowness of the blade makes it look even longer open. Art, I believe you asked for an in-hand photo so here it is:
2012-11-13_16-54-17_853 by 69murray, on Flickr
I'd put my hand size on the small side of medium, if that helps
In use that blade really does a great job of slicing. It'll press right through a Subway Italian on wheat, let me tell you.
As far as fit and finish, it's up to the usual Rough Rider standards with some minor gabs between the spring an liners, but nothing you'd notice without really trying. The spring is about right for a lockback - not quite as stiff as a normal slipjoint, and the lockup gives a nice positive snap with no blade play up, down or sideways. Blade centering was also spot-on.
Untitled by 69murray, on Flickr
Oh, and about that thumbstud
It's pretty big, too, but it does make it pretty easy to open one-handed. If my hands were slightly bigger, I could probably do it in one smooth motion, but I find myself adjusting my grip slightly about halfway through in order to open it the rest of the way. I find I can also 'flick' it open fairly easily, with a little wrist motion.If you don't like the thumbstud, it removes with a screw from the opposite side, and the blade is easily 'pinched' open.
You've probably noticed there's a pocket clip on it as well. Yep, but it's also removable. I carried it clipped to my pocket and that worked fine. I would say this is a good alternative if you want the convenience of a one-hand opening, pocket-clipped knife, but your work or social environment might not be too friendly to those scary 'tactical' knives. I would say that, but for the fact that that blade just looks so long and the shape so 'sword-like', once it's open...well, just keep that part in mind.
Here are a couple more shots, showing the relative size next to some of my other favorite Rough Riders:
2012-11-13_16-53-36_523 by 69murray, on Flickr
I said it was pretty big, but it's not the biggest. That Coal Miner Work Knife (sodbuster), is a little bigger (and much wider and heavier). But, as you can see, both are bigger than a fully opened Canoe:
2012-11-13_17-36-10_32 by 69murray, on Flickr