Rough Rider

BJE

BJE

Joined
Apr 12, 2006
Messages
3,079
Has anyone bought or handled a Rough Rider knife from SMKW? Just curious about the quality.
 
I bought a rough rider elephant toenail from Knifeoutlet.com and was pleasantly surprised. Worth the $10 I paid, for sure. Claims to be "440" steel and seems to hold a good edge. Fit and finish is not bad . . not perfect, but not bad. I actually carry it from time to time. I have $100 knives that don't get carried as much.
 
I currently have two, a large linerlock sodbuster with fake tortoise shell scales, and a orange bone handled Deerslayer model, kinda like a old Case Bulldog model. Both were under $10, take a good edge, and really a pretty good value. The Deerslayer is huge, but still easily pocketable. Really quite pretty.

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I decided to abuse the Deerslayer a bit in the yard. After some digging and machete chopping duty on some 2x4s, the backspring went from stout to soft. It's still usable, but doesn't have the stiffness and snap it had before. The backspring itself is no longer flush along the spine and the brass pins seem to have become a bit misshapen, but the whole thing is still intact. the blade held a pretty good edge all along.
 
I use them when I want to have a blade handy without attracting oohs and ahhs. Some models seem to have better fit like the barlows and copperheads. For less than 10 bucks it's a good deal especially if you can finger one first.

I have a jigged bone canoe on my desk right now.

Good way to try many styles without spending a fortune. Then you can move on to the Queens and S&M's.

hatchet-
 
Im curious about the small damascus folder they offer in SMKW for $10...would be nice on a keychain...
 
I currently have a Rough Rider 3 1/4" stockman in rootwood in my pocket as I type this, and I own a handful of others in peanut, stockman, and congress patterns. The steel that they use is really soft and is easy to put a shaving edge on. The bolsters, scales, pins, and blades are actually pretty consistent in the fit-and-finish department, which is good because the fit-and-finish is pretty damn good for their price.

The blades generally have a good "working" edge on them out of the box; they will barely shave hair, but will readily open mail/packages, food prep, whatever. Sometimes one blade will be noticeably duller than the others in the same knife, which I find odd. The backsprings are generally strong enough to give an authoritative 'snap' when opening and closing, but I've noticed in my stockman's that the one-knife backspring is strong and will give a good 'snap,' but the other backspring that supports the sheepsfoot and spey blades is a lot weaker (very weak on one of my stockman's). Most of mine have also been very gritty, which is easily remedied by a quick soak in lighter fluid, rinse well, and another soak in mineral oil.

I think they're a great value and never hesitate to use one as an EDC knife! They're usually about $8-$10 shipped to your door on eBay. Also, for those who are interested in particular traditional patterns but don't want to throw down the money for a Queen, Hen & Rooster, Case, etc., these Rough Rider knives are a great way to test-drive a certain pattern before plunking money down on a more expensive brand. I'd say go for it (or a couple)! :thumbup:
 
buyign a few different ones in SMKW or another retailer is a good idea since you only pay a 1 low shipping price...This way you don't give all your money away on shipping, instead spend it on the knives...
 
I have a number of RR's when I went thru the pattern phase.......bought Trappers,Barlows,Canoes,Copperheads,Congress's,Coke Bottles,Elephan toes.Med Stockman.....hadem all about ayear do far.
Worst:Coke Bottles....bad back springs
Canoes....bad back springs
Best: Barlows,Copperheads
O.K. Med stockman....blade wobble after regular use
Congress...blade wobble after regular use.
Elephant Toenails.....rough grinding when opening and closing blades,med to weak back springs.
Trappers two identical models, one quite decent the other just ok.....back springs getting weaker after light use.

All models bought on the net.....no chance to inspect first.

Good company to try out different patterns before commiting to a good version of a particular model........experiment over.....back to my U.S. MADE slip joints for me......Case,Schrade,Queen,S&M,Camillus.....and a long hunt for the series of Remingtons called the Musket series,I have a large Grand Daddy Barlow......love it..bone handles....bought it at a good deal,one of the bolsters had a scratch on so its become a user......hella of a knive!
I have also become found of two Hen and Rooster's med stockman and large stockman stag handles carbon steel,strong back springs......lovem
I have one Boker carbon steel Manifest Destiny a pig to sharpen and its kinda ugly too.

Kap
 
haven't bought one but handled a few at a gun show and i was very impressed by the fit and finish. look really good for the money, just can't get past the country of origin. later,ahgar
 
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