Rough Rider & Related Slipjoints

btmccutcheon said:
I've noticed a lot of newcomers asking about certain patterns lately and a lot of the more learned have suggested purchasing RR as they are very affordable and well built knives for the price. I agree that this is a good way of trying out and finding patterns you like without going broke in the process. I know there are some RR fans here, and I like the few I have. But I know there are some other affordables out there and I'm just not sure of their quality. My question since I'm still learning as well is, out of the very affordable brands such as RR, Schrade, Colt, etc., which would you recommend for traditionals?
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Somehow I posted before while this thread was merged.

So I'll be brief.
I had the exact same idea a few months ago.

Schrade Old Timer: Good working knives for EDC
RR: Pretty, nice F&F, good edge.
Colt: Meh, not sharp, lots of light between the springs.
Cattleman's Cutlery: Usable, not fancy.
Rite Edge: Run!
 
I just got a Colt jack , like the one Pipeman posted a few pages back. But it has white bone scales with a "buckshot" pattern.
These don't appear to made at the same factory as RR and I still think they are a step up in quality ( at a higher cost, they average $20)

The blades have nice swedges and the scales have a red lining underneath. It really is a great looking knife ( I'll try to post a picture over the weekend)
I bought it together, with a much more expensive knife ( non-traditional ), but I find myself more enamored with the Colt.
 
JPD1998 said:
I just got a Colt jack , like the one Pipeman posted a few pages back. But it has white bone scales with a "buckshot" pattern.
These don't appear to made at the same factory as RR and I still think they are a step up in quality ( at a higher cost, they average $20)

The blades have nice swedges and the scales have a red lining underneath. It really is a great looking knife ( I'll try to post a picture over the weekend)
I bought it together, with a much more expensive knife ( non-traditional ), but I find myself more enamored with the Colt.
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Probably something similar to this? I found it to be well made also.

 
Bloefield said:
Probably something similar to this? I found it to be well made also.
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Yes , my knife has the same scales. Even the packaging is more upscale than RR.

I have a Colt railsplitter with jigged amber bone scales, that is one of the best made traditional knives I own.
 
JPD1998 said:
Yes , my knife has the same scales. Even the packaging is more upscale than RR.

I have a Colt railsplitter with jigged amber bone scales, that is one of the best made traditional knives I own.
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I have this one from the Colt line:



The fit and finish are as good as it gets. The checkering on the scales is perfect and the color/dye match on both sides. It carries well, snaps very well and even holds and edge very well. This is a great rendition of an old pattern, and side by side with a domestic example currently made in limited runs, it blows all but a few of them away.

That being said, I think it is important to remember that not all knives from ANY manufacturer will be their best work. A lot of the knives we see here are well scrutinized and examined and then held up against knives costing 5,6, or 7 times as much.

My personal experience is that regardless of price, these knives are well built, their QC is on par with any commercially made (not custom... or semi custom... or small shop reworks... etc.) offerings out there. Certainly not perfect, but a quick read of the forums and you will find traditional patterned knives costing $100 to nearly $200 that have many of the same problems we notice in $12 knives.

The best thing about these knives is that they will actually work and perform in real life as designed. Personally, since I am not attached to them like I am my old Queens and Cases, I tend to use them a lot more and for everything. Now that I have been using them on site for a few years, I am truly impressed with these off shore offerings. Sure, I know there are enough bad examples of poorly made knives from any country to fill the Grand Canyon, but thanks to BF, I was steered in the right direction.

Out of about 125+ or so traditionally patterned knives I own, I think I have about 7 or 8 Pacific Rim knives and I am pleased with all of them, without price being a consideration.

Robert
 
From earlier in this thread, I understand that RR,Colt and Marble's knives are all made in the same factory and "controlled" (for lack of a better word) by the same individual. Colt is the higher end line from what I recall. I've some of all three and find all are quite good. No complaints about either of the three brands.
Rich
 
JPD1998 said:
I just got a Colt jack , like the one Pipeman posted a few pages back. But it has white bone scales with a "buckshot" pattern.
These don't appear to made at the same factory as RR and I still think they are a step up in quality ( at a higher cost, they average $20)

The blades have nice swedges and the scales have a red lining underneath. It really is a great looking knife ( I'll try to post a picture over the weekend)
I bought it together, with a much more expensive knife ( non-traditional ), but I find myself more enamored with the Colt.
Click to expand...

midnight flyer said:
I have this one from the Colt line:



The fit and finish are as good as it gets. The checkering on the scales is perfect and the color/dye match on both sides. It carries well, snaps very well and even holds and edge very well. This is a great rendition of an old pattern, and side by side with a domestic example currently made in limited runs, it blows all but a few of them away.
…
Robert
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I've been considering the Colt teardrop jack in either the buckshot bone or the checkered brown bone for quite awhile. It's good to hear that you're so pleased with yours, Robert. Does anyone know if Colt makes an EO version of this teardrop jack? Thanks.

- GT
 
Rich S said:
From earlier in this thread, I understand that RR,Colt and Marble's knives are all made in the same factory and "controlled" (for lack of a better word) by the same individual. Colt is the higher end line from what I recall. I've some of all three and find all are quite good. No complaints about either of the three brands.
Rich
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I have never seen proof of any source of manufacture for any of the Pacific Rim knives but Colt. They have had a long relationship with United Cutlery for years, and their knives are better fit and finished than their brethren for the most part. You can easily find the nature of the relationship between Colt knives and United Cutlery with a bit of Google-foo.

Hard to say about the others. I think they are probably jobbed out by model to different factories as needed, and based on the tooling available to make certain models at different plants. Just as Boker has knives made around the entire world now, I would bet that many of these Chinese knives are made in a factory to be badged as needed, and economics decide where each model is made. I would bet that certain factories handle the bulk of production for certain manufacturers, but doubt that all knives branded as RR, Marbles, Remington, Boker, etc. from China are made in the same plants. These are simply knives made to a contracted specs, just like AGRussel does.

I was surprised to see the same EXACT bone on my Chinese made AGR folder that I bought as the CRKT line. Same color, same jigging, and the same great fit and finish. Mr. Russel makes no bones about it; he and Phil design them, then contract them out to different suppliers that can meet their design and quality standards. He uses different contractors to make different knives based their ability to deliver.

So due to the lack of HARD, written proof that specifies exactly which factory makes each knife I doubt any of us know which specific factory makes them. After a few documentaries on Chinese manufacturing techniques, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if certain parts were made in certain factories, then all the parts collected in one spot, and specialized assemblers put them together.

Robert
 
I did an EO mod to my teardrop jack.
15601122041_e5bd8a0db9_b.jpg
 
The Colt teardrop jack is a killer of a knife, worth much more than the $20.00 delivered to Canada price tag.
The one thing they should have done imo is bit more blade in that big frame. The old Remington is down at least 30% I figure and
WAS the shape and size that Colt should have used. The old Rem just bit me for comparing it to the Colt :D

Best regards

Robin
 
Nice job on making the EO from the tear drop jack. Did you use a Dremel wheel or just file it down?

Got my "cannitler" and "gunstockman" yesterday. Both nice knives.

Does anyone know if there is a printed catalog of RR or Colt knives? I've just seen what is on various dealer sites; a lot of overlap, but many not shown on all of them. Just wondering. Thanks
Rich
 
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LastRodeo said:
I did an EO mod to my teardrop jack.
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That's an absolutely fantastic job, LastRodeo!! I NEED one of those, as soon as the budget cooperates! :p:eek::p

Pipeman said:
The Colt teardrop jack is a killer of a knife, worth much more than the $20.00 delivered to Canada price tag.
The one thing they should have done imo is bit more blade in that big frame. The old Remington is down at least 30% I figure and
WAS the shape and size that Colt should have used. The old Rem just bit me for comparing it to the Colt :D

Best regards

Robin
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Thanks for more confirmation of the quality of the Colt teardrop jack, Robin.

Rich S said:
Nice job on making the EO from the tear drop jack. Did you use a Dremel wheel or just file it down?

Got my "cannitler" and "gunstockman" yesterday. Both nice knives.

Does anyone know if there is a printed catalog of RR or Colt knives? I've just seen what is on various dealer sites; a lot of overlap, but many not shown on all of them. Just wondering. Thanks
Rich
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I'll join Rich in welcoming any details about how you did your EO mod, LastRodeo.
Rich, do you have any pics of your new RRs? Glad you like 'em! :thumbup::thumbup:
I don't know of any RR or Colt printed catalog, but I have a website that I often go to to look for models of those knives (I've never actually ordered from them, though). It seems to be quite comprehensive for RR, but I'm aware of some Colt models that don't show up there. I don't think it's legal for me to include a link here, so I'll send it to you in a Visitor's Message, Rich.

- GT
 
Oops, sorry, Rich. It looks like your profile page doesn't have the Visitor Message option turned on, so I can't send you the link.

Thanks for the EO info, LastRodeo. :)
- GT
 
5K: Thanks for trying on the links. I don't know how to do that stuff on this board :-(

All my RR's and Colt's are standard ones: RR Barlows (smooth bone, bark bone, saw cut bone); Stockman (smooth bone, bark bone, Colt stag), Congress (RR smooth bone; Colt stag); "Cannittler" , Colt tear drop jack and whittler. Like them all.

Rich

5K: Oh! I found how to add the visitor messaging under options! Thanks for the hint. Try sending that link again please. Thanks
 
Rich S said:
5K: Thanks for trying on the links. I don't know how to do that stuff on this board :-(

All my RR's and Colt's are standard ones: RR Barlows (smooth bone, bark bone, saw cut bone); Stockman (smooth bone, bark bone, Colt stag), Congress (RR smooth bone; Colt stag); "Cannittler" , Colt tear drop jack and whittler. Like them all.

Rich

5K: Oh! I found how to add the visitor messaging under options! Thanks for the hint. Try sending that link again please. Thanks
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Sorry, Rich, I still don't see the Visitor Message option when I go to your profile page. (I'm currently trying to figure out how to give myself an avatar; technology is grand, but I'm not always able to take full advantage of it. :confused::p)

- GT
 
I forgot to add to my list of RR's. I also have the RR electrician (the one with the pliers and flat screw driver). Nice knife, I thought it might be a substitute for my SAK Deluxe Tinker. The RR just can't replace my SAK. I guess SAKs are considered traditional and allowed to be discussed here? They have been around since the late 1800's. Have about 50 of them.

Rich
 
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