Rough Ryder Reserve: New Premium Rough Ryder Line

Received mine today. Here are my first impressions. Both knives are shaving sharp with even grinds and relatively thin behind the edge. Shields are not pinned.
The Kayak. It is wide, could easily loose the middle liner. Weighs in at 3.4 OZ. They got the action right on these. The pull is consistent and smooth. Both springs are flush in the open and closed position but proud at half stop. I'm pretty happy with this one with the width being my only real complaint.
The Whittler. This thing is huge! Pictured next to a Queen Cattle King 4 1/4" for reference. 4.5 OZ. Everything about this knife is big. Proportions seem exaggerated in an almost cartoonish way. Otherwise it's put together well. Smooth pulls, with the action on the main being a but lazy from half stop to open. I think flushing the joint and working it a bit should resolve that. Springs on the main blade are flush in all 3 positions. The springs on the pen and coping blades are flush open and closed but proud at half stop.
1070454677_o.jpg

1070454679_o.jpg

1070454686_o.jpg

1070454697_o.jpg

1070454692_o.jpg
 
Thanks for the review glad to hear that the grinds are fairly thin

and the whittler looks Big, kind of folder that you might carry as your only knife maybe
How’s the blade play on the main blade with those washer spacers?

G2
 
davemonkey said:
Received mine today. Here are my first impressions. Both knives are shaving sharp with even grinds and relatively thin behind the edge. Shields are not pinned.
The Kayak. It is wide, could easily loose the middle liner. Weighs in at 3.4 OZ. They got the action right on these. The pull is consistent and smooth. Both springs are flush in the open and closed position but proud at half stop. I'm pretty happy with this one with the width being my only real complaint.
The Whittler. This thing is huge! Pictured next to a Queen Cattle King 4 1/4" for reference. 4.5 OZ. Everything about this knife is big. Proportions seem exaggerated in an almost cartoonish way. Otherwise it's put together well. Smooth pulls, with the action on the main being a but lazy from half stop to open. I think flushing the joint and working it a bit should resolve that. Springs on the main blade are flush in all 3 positions. The springs on the pen and coping blades are flush open and closed but proud at half stop.
1070454677_o.jpg

1070454679_o.jpg

1070454686_o.jpg

1070454697_o.jpg

1070454692_o.jpg
Click to expand...
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

On the Kayak, do you find anything bothersome about the match striker pulls when opening the blades?
 
Thanks, too bad that the shields are not pinned :(

as for match strike nail nicks I like the detail it brings to the blade vs a smooth one, just my take on that

G2
 
@Clownsinc were you able to order one? Do you have yours in hand yet? You seemed so excited about the drop- I'm surprised you haven't followed up.

I'm appreciating the reviews; I think these knives have been informing my own personal tastes.
 
EngrSorenson said:
I think you just dreamed up a better knife than they did, and you weren't even trying.
Click to expand...

- yesterday, when I posted my mini-review, was rushing around too much to give it some real time.

Today I've picked up the Kayak a few times. Again, just my personal opinion - it's just not quite right.

Sure, very good sturdy build........but every time I glance at it, it looks like a mock-up........plain unfinished.

My RR Sowbelly is better walk n talk and finish than this.

No, sadly, confess I'm erring on the side of disappointed - please dream up a better design or refine this one
 
davemonkey said:
Received mine today. Here are my first impressions. Both knives are shaving sharp with even grinds and relatively thin behind the edge. Shields are not pinned.
The Kayak. It is wide, could easily loose the middle liner. Weighs in at 3.4 OZ. They got the action right on these. The pull is consistent and smooth. Both springs are flush in the open and closed position but proud at half stop. I'm pretty happy with this one with the width being my only real complaint.
The Whittler. This thing is huge! Pictured next to a Queen Cattle King 4 1/4" for reference. 4.5 OZ. Everything about this knife is big. Proportions seem exaggerated in an almost cartoonish way. Otherwise it's put together well. Smooth pulls, with the action on the main being a but lazy from half stop to open. I think flushing the joint and working it a bit should resolve that. Springs on the main blade are flush in all 3 positions. The springs on the pen and coping blades are flush open and closed but proud at half stop.
1070454677_o.jpg

1070454679_o.jpg

1070454686_o.jpg

1070454697_o.jpg

1070454692_o.jpg
Click to expand...
Thanks for the helpful review and excellent pics! :cool::thumbsup::thumbsup::cool:

Chui said:
My RR Sowbelly is better walk n talk and finish than this.
Click to expand...
I have several RR sowbelly stockman knives that I think are excellent knives (but I'm a low-budget knife knut :rolleyes:).

- GT
 
Chui said:
Sure, very good sturdy build........but every time I glance at it, it looks like a mock-up........plain unfinished.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry it's not a better knife for you- at least perhaps you have a hard use knife that you can toss in your tool box and knock around a bit. Your pictures were very good- I think you captured what you're seeing well.

JohnDF said:
But these were supposed to be their “premium” line, hence the bigger price tag.
Click to expand...

Yeah- I think we're learning to appreciate what Case can do for a similar price range (granted I wish the QC of Case was better). Or perhaps Case has had enough time to work out the kinks, or better yet- they were among some of our historical examples, and they've carried many of those through to today. Perhaps there's no substitution for history and know-how. In time I'm sure RR could make a fine one, but they should get back to basics.

My Father had a comment about modern "art". He said something to the effect of, "first prove to me that you can paint something traditional. If you can demonstrate artistic skill, then I'm willing to accept your artistic choice". I think that applies here.

My "work knife", which is essentially their less expensive take on the GEC Viper, is actually a good knife. They didn't do anything weird with it, and instead copied a successful idea.

5K Qs said:
I have several RR sowbelly stockman knives that I think are excellent knives (but I'm a low-budget knife knut :rolleyes:).
Click to expand...

For that price, you can't beat some of the RR offerings. I wouldn't say they're sophisticated knives; for example my clip and pen blades on my barlow have the exact same stock thickness, which doesn't make for a super effective pen blade. However for $12 American I don't have much to critique!

I think at $50 we're going to start to see a little more sophistication. I'm not expecting a Ferrari, but I'm looking for better than a 1980 Ford Pinto.
 
EngrSorenson said:
My Father had a comment about modern "art". He said something to the effect of, "first prove to me that you can paint something traditional. If you can demonstrate artistic skill, then I'm willing to accept your artistic choice". I think that applies here.
Click to expand...
Your father and my father were cut from the same cloth, that is the sort of common sense approach my father would have had.:cool::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::)
 
EngrSorenson said:
I'm sorry it's not a better knife for you- at least perhaps you have a hard use knife that you can toss in your tool box and knock around a bit. Your pictures were very good- I think you captured what you're seeing well.
Click to expand...

- have never been attracted to any budget knives before. When I recently bought my first Rough Rider out of curiosity, can’t quite say I was swept off my feet, but I was SO impressed I bought many more.........at least I’ll have something to play with when I reach my dotage after selling all the others to pay for medical bills ;):D

When RR announced this premium range I was a, surprised they were consciously going through this process, and b, delighted there’d be something of a budget range but at even better quality than what I’d thus far received and been taken aback by.

The Whittler looks more ‘together’, the blades nest better in the chassis, and proportionally it looks a more considered and designed/finished package.

......just feel let down by the Kayak after the buzz and respect of the standard RR’s given their pricepoint.........just me..!
 
I've always found that when I have ordered two knives at the same time and they arrive, I usually will feel remorse over one than the other and I think that sways my outlook on the 'red headed stepchild' that arrived with the 'good child' :) just one of those things.
G2
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top