Rough Rider Stag

[5K Qs]

A week or two ago, black mamba posted a picture of a Rough Rider stockman with stag covers. Apparently, Rough Rider offered some stag models a few years ago; those models are now discontinued. I'd appreciate seeing more examples of the stag Rough Riders; please post 'em if you have 'em. Thanks!

- GT

 

[Rich S]

GT -

I haven't seen the RR stags, but I suspect (?) they are similar to the current Colt stag stockman.
Rich

 

[R.c.s]

Hi GT
I don't have this one but its still on sale . its the Rough Rider stag whittler

 

[Jack Black]

Hi GT
I don't have this one but its still on sale . its the Rough Rider stag whittler

I picked that one up, but it isn't stag I'm afraid, rather 'stag bone' ie jigged bone. Still a nice little knife though

 

[R.c.s]

I picked that one up, but it isn't stag I'm afraid, rather 'stag bone' ie jigged bone. Still a nice little knife though

O right that's a con it says it's stag on the site

 

[supratentorial]

A while back, I bought 4-6 stock knives and found one with attractive stag in the lot. I recently sold everything I had from Rough Rider (about 12 knives) in one lot for cheap. I'll see if I can dig up a photo of the attractive one. I don't think I have photos of the others.

Most of the ones that I've seen tend to have a football shape to them. Stag always varies a lot, of course. I've seen some ugly ducklings and some nice ones.

I think there are some nice examples in the RR thread.

 

[supratentorial]

This is the one that I thought looked nice. It was fairly thick and football-shaped but had some nice character.



This one's not bad either.





The others in the lot weren't nearly as nice... I'd call them ugly... I gave the ugly ones away to people that just wanted something to cut stuff and wouldn't care about the appearance of the knife. I didn't photo them.

Here's the stock photo for this pattern with the stag handles.

 

[5K Qs]

Thanks for the input, folks! :thumbup::thumbup:

I think what Jack pointed out with R.c.s's example is also true of Rich's suggestion regarding the Colt "stag" stockman: often times you need to "read the fine print" to find out that the "stag" in the ad is really "stag bone" (or "bone stag"). I actually kind of like the bone carved to "imitate" stag, but I kind of don't like the ethics of some of the advertising. Rich, I recently bought a "black stag" Colt sowbelly stockman, and I'm VERY happy with it, but it's stag bone (and I was eventually able to find that out before I ordered).

Jake, thanks for the photos and opinions. I think your examples look very good (and it has nothing to do with the stag covers, but that model of Rough Rider stockman really appeals to me with its very slender profile and round bolsters). Thanks also for the suggestion to check the massive RR thread; I should be able to get the search function to find me some stag in that thread. (I don't know why I didn't think of that on my own. My mind is still like a steel trap, but it's getting quite rusty. )

- GT

 

[Jack Black]

O right that's a con it says it's stag on the site

Yes 'stag' in one place, 'stag bone' in another

I think what Jack pointed out with R.c.s's example is also true of Rich's suggestion regarding the Colt "stag" stockman: often times you need to "read the fine print" to find out that the "stag" in the ad is really "stag bone" (or "bone stag"). I actually kind of like the bone carved to "imitate" stag, but I kind of don't like the ethics of some of the advertising. Rich, I recently bought a "black stag" Colt sowbelly stockman, and I'm VERY happy with it, but it's stag bone (and I was eventually able to find that out before I ordered).

It's funny how, due to the ban on the Indian export ban on sambar stag affecting much of the world, many companies have rediscovered old terms like 'stag bone' and 'bone stag'! :thumbup:

 

[Rich S]

Yes 'stag' in one place, 'stag bone' in another

Yeap, I was wrong. My supplier lists it as stag. I looked at mine carefully with a magnifying glass and it is definitely jigged bone stag. I can see the marks on it and it has bone pores along the edges. It sure looks like stag to the naked eye. Won't be dealing with them again. Sorry for the confusion.
Rich

 

[supratentorial]

Here are a few nice ones from the RR thread. That congress is especially nice.

...A few in genuine burnt stag

I sprung for a handful of Rough Riders recently, all with stag handles, so here is a picture review. These came out a few years ago I believe

Three knives in the first set. A split spring whittler, a two bladed copperhead pattern, and a slim stockman. All are well build, no gaps, sharp, and quite decent snap for the most part. The stag is average, with the dye coloring in the middle of the handles not quite matching with the torched edges near the bolster pins. Still, not bad. The split spring whittler is a little tight to open on the master, but not bad. The copperhead is really a nice feeling knife, similar to a smaller version of a folding hunter. A slim stockman, looks like a Schrade pattern.

Whittler - 3 1/2" closed

Copperhead - 3 3/4" closed

Slim Stockman - 3 9/16" closed

The second set is a little more impressive to look at. So I'm showing both sides of the knives on these two.

The congress exhibits a nice popcorn look, and the peanut is simply a beauty.

Congress - 3 1/2" closed

Nice looking pile side too.

Peanut at 2 3/4" closed

Back side a bit lighter dyed compared to the front

 

[5K Qs]

Yes 'stag' in one place, 'stag bone' in another

Yeap, I was wrong. My supplier lists it as stag. I looked at mine carefully with a magnifying glass and it is definitely jigged bone stag. I can see the marks on it and it has bone pores along the edges. It sure looks like stag to the naked eye. Won't be dealing with them again. Sorry for the confusion.
Rich

Rich, no need to apologize. As you point out, the Colt bone stag is a very good imitation of stag, and as I mentioned earlier, I really like the way it looks. But I can see why you'd be unhappy with your "supplier" if you think he misled you.

Here are a few nice ones from the RR thread. That congress is especially nice.

Thanks for doing the "leg work" to track down those photos of RR stag folders, Jake. Of course, we can't see whether those knives have the "football" shape you complained about, but from what I can see, they look quite nice. I wonder how much extra Rough Rider charged for a stag-handled version back when they were available. All the knives whose photos you found have the "propeller" shield, while one of your earlier photos showed a stag knife with a circular shield and stag that looks quite different than the burnt stag. I wonder if RR had at least 2 different runs of knives with stag covers?

- GT

 

[black mamba]

Here's a better pic of the stag sowbelly that Jake showed above.

And here is the lovely slim medium stockman, with some really nice stag for a RR.

 

[Rich S]

WOW, Those real stags are really pretty. I'm keeping my Colt "stag" congress and stockman. While they are actually bone stag :-( I still like them and they are really well done.

While we're on the subject; when did RR and Colts start? I'm late to them (about 18months ago), but already have 23 even though I've been a collector, knife maker (fixed blades) and modder for about 60 years. Has anyone published a history of RR and/or a printed catalog? Thanks.

Rich

 

[5K Qs]

Here's a better pic of the stag sowbelly that Jake showed above.
...
And here is the lovely slim medium stockman, with some really nice stag for a RR.
...

Thanks for the "bonus" pics of your stockmen, Jeff. My goodness, I think those are attractive knives! :thumbup::thumbup:

WOW, Those real stags are really pretty. I'm keeping my Colt "stag" congress and stockman. While they are actually bone stag :-( I still like them and they are really well done.

...Rich

I agree with you, Rich, and think the Colt bone stag looks good and is worth keeping. Is yours the "black stag" Colt offers?

- GT