Rough Rider versus Case

Okay, here goes nothing. But I'd suggest that you buy a Case chestnut bone CV sway back jack and a Case CV yellow synthetic small sodbuster. That should cover your needs if you are going to use them and you should be able to get both for $75. The Sway Back Jack represents the best value I ever got in a pocket knife, and the sodbuster is nearly as iconic as the peanut. If you're like me and buy some Rough Riders, you'll leave them in the desk drawer and carry the Case.

Other Case series to look at are the brown synthetic ones and the SparXX (white delrin). There are several Case models out there that are less than $37, so getting two Case knives for $75 should be relatively easy to accomplish. Another thing you should do is watch for those give aways in the Traditional knife forum; a Case or a GEC might not cost you anything....

Oh, and one other thing. Case's Tru-Sharp stainless, while not a world beater knife steel, is perfectly adequate for a EDC pocketknife. My most used pocketknife is a Case mini copperhead with Tru-Sharp blades. I have knives with better steels, but the mini CH is my EDC most days. Don't be afraid to buy one.

Ed J
 
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Case makes user knives and collector knives. The collector knives are soft stainless. The user knives are either carbon steel or a high tech stainless. If what you want is a user look for a carbon steel Case model that you like. I hate to say it but I think the RR would be a better carry knife than one of the collector series Case knives. I collect Case damascus blades and Eisenhowers. I wouldn't carry either one because of the steel.
 
Knife Outlet said:
Case makes user knives and collector knives. The collector knives are soft stainless. The user knives are either carbon steel or a high tech stainless. If what you want is a user look for a carbon steel Case model that you like. I hate to say it but I think the RR would be a better carry knife than one of the collector series Case knives. I collect Case damascus blades and Eisenhowers. I wouldn't carry either one because of the steel.
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dunno my "collector Case knives" with the true sharp stainless have held up okay, in particular my stainless 2001 sowbelly (i carry frequently), really my big gripe with the stainless is that it's not going to patina:D...
For regular edc stuff been my experience that the stainless does just fine.
regards
gene
 
Honestly if you just want a knife to carry and cut light everyday stuff, a rough rider would work just fine. They might not be as pretty as a Case knife but their fit and finish is pretty close IMO. If you don't have a preference over origin or steel, I would pick the RR.
 
Get a Rough Rider from SMKW and save your money. The biggest thing Case has going for it is it's name. But for a knife in your price range, the RR is at least an equal of Case, at a fraction of the price.
 
I am a Case fan.....even went to tour the Case factory, but havent had any chance to handle a rough rider. You can get a stockman for $40 here. If you are looking at that $75 case...you may want to get a different model.
 
Case or RR? of the two, Case.

But, I'd like to present a third and fourth alternative.

Both Buck and Utica have US made knives in the $30 range if bought online. I am quite satisfied with the quality of either. I seldom carry much else these days, even though I have Case, GEC, and Canal Street blades. Utica makes knives with 1095 blades. Buck's 420HC stainless will hold an edge better than either RR or Case.
 
I've got Case and I love the Case's I have. The quality of Case has gone up in recent years so that you now get razor sharp blades out of the box, and you get good walk/talk on most of them.

Only problem I've found is that you get the same things from a $9 Rough Rider! Since October 2011 I've been carrying either a Hammer Brand (China made knife) or a Rough Rider, and both have performed as well as my Case knives have. I never believed it when I read about how good the RR's, Steel Warriors, and the Hammer Brand knives were until I picked up one of each and tried them out.

Like others have said, with careful shopping you can get two Case knives. if you want some patterns that Case is not making, or you want a knife to use, you should easily be able to 5, maybe 6, of the three brands I mentioned above.

Knives from China are improving in quality as time goes by. The cost of the knives has not caught up with the quality of the knives yet, but that day will come.
 
As a general answer, I'll take a Case over a RR. There are other good makers out there too. Do you have a pattern or size in mind or are you looking to get a bunch of knives? If you're just looking to have a sharp knife in your pocket to cut things then the RR would be fine. Although if that was the case, I may just get a SAK.
 
2Dead said:
As a general answer, I'll take a Case over a RR. There are other good makers out there too. Do you have a pattern or size in mind or are you looking to get a bunch of knives? If you're just looking to have a sharp knife in your pocket to cut things then the RR would be fine. Although if that was the case, I may just get a SAK.
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Well said! :thumbup:
 
coop1957 said:
I have about 20 Case knives and 3 Rough Riders. I've been surprised by the quality of the RR. Overall Case makes higher quality. Get 1 Case. Quality over quantity.
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Agree. Quality over quantity. :thumbup:

RR does make some decent knives at an inexpensive price. I bought 3 different ones just to check them out. Kept 1 of them, sold the other 2 off for a few bucks. Still have all my Cases.
One nice thing about RR is its an inexpensive way to check out different patterns to see what you like.

That being said, it is a matter of personal taste and value. There are RR collectors who seem quite happy.

A possible compromise might be AG Russell. His China make traditionals are quite impressive and modestly priced.
 
Thanks for all the great input. My knife budget shrunk a little but I was able to purchase 3 rough riders in the painted desert series, a toothpick, lockback and a canoe. They are all great but the need to fuel my knife passion continues. My bext buy will be a muskrat.
 
When they came out I purchased 2 RR to check them out. Both of them developed sloppy blade play, shields fell out. One backspring broke. (I do not abuse knives, I carry them and use them to cut.) On the other hand I have Case knives that are more than a few decades old and usable.
 
ohenkowski said:
Thanks for all the great input. My knife budget shrunk a little but I was able to purchase 3 rough riders in the painted desert series, a toothpick, lockback and a canoe. They are all great but the need to fuel my knife passion continues. My bext buy will be a muskrat.
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I recently bought a Case Barehead Slimline Trapper , with synthetic scales for $29.00. It's a really nice pattern.
 
Actually,if you shop carefully you could get 6 or 7 Rough Riders to play with for 75 bucks shipped.Is Case generally a better knife?Of course.It just depends on what you want and why.
 
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