Rough Ryder Reserves…..my view after owning them

[zippo123]

Just in case anyone has an interest…..

I have the….
the one arm razor
canoe
barback
007 lockback
Rhino toe
stockman

do not have the…
Whittler
Hedgehog



So here is what I think, objectively, even though I am a Rough Ryder brand fan….
1. They are very nice knives, well built (possibly too well built, meaning heavy)
2. Some are bulky and widetrack, others are quite nice in hand…
3. They are NOT Gec quality, imho. However a good ’case’ can be made they are Case quality.
4. Some patterns quite nice and functional, others are ? whats the point?
5. Value, mmmm….if all these knives were $39 bucks like the first 001, they were be quite awesome! . But some of these are $60 bucks….and they are not 4 x better than your average $15 rough ryder quality. So you have to say “60 bucks for China made RRR or 60 - 80 bucks for USA Case knife…..

My personal list of the nicer, functional, “yea I may want carry this and actually use it“
Canoe
OO7 lockback
One arm razor
stockman

The others….Bulky, too heavy, limited real world practicality
Rhino Toe
Barback

My persoal favorite…
The OO7 lockback folder
the canoe a close second

 

[zippo123]

the oo7 and canoe fit nice in a rough ryder leather slip

But STILL the Champ, the BEST Rough Ryder to own, Best bang for buck, quality and looks the rr 2181
is the GEC Viper clone, in denium blue micarter…..and amazing knife for $18- 20 bucks.

 

[eveled]

RR made decent knives for a cheap price. If they aren’t cheap then there are better options out there.

 

[Rich S]

I wish they had made the 007 with black scales, still a nice looking knife.

 

[zippo123]

mmm, yea I could see that!! the OO7 is fairly thin and not heavy. The oo6 Rhino toe is like a door stop compared to this oo7 in comparison.
it opens nicely with one hand with some practice.Very attractive blade shape.
I wish it had a thumb stud, just my own preference. But overall, a very nice knife.

probably wont buy the RRR whittler, that thing is big and heavy, like 5 oz.

They need to reengineer these RRR to be lighter in future models. They all do not need to be engineered like German Tiger Tanks…Heavy metal mass does not always mean quality…
They should look at the idea of the benchmade bugout….and why its so popular
a high quality flyweight knife.

 

[afishhunter]

"Rhino Toe" with Wharncliffe main looks like it would be practical for carry. Although a large and tall knife, the sleeveboard and slighty larger equal end sunfish vanish in your pocket, even if/when wearing suit trousers. (carried loose in the bottom of the pocket, with no slip.)
I suspect they don't print in your pocket because they are so tall.

I only have the RR1455 "Zombie Nick" and RR139 smooth white bone sleeve boards, and RR887 Smooth Tobacco Bone equal end sunfish. The Rhino Toe is the same size as the RR1455 and RR139, so it should disappear in your pocket like the other sleeve boards do.

At Case prices, the Rough Ryder Reserves are out of my price range, altough I might try to save up for the Rhino Toe.

 

[JPD1998]

I got the RRR Canoe when they were first released. They're built completely different than the regular RR's.
Liner's and bolsters are stainless steel, the pivots have washers, blade steel is D2.

They're more of a hybrid traditional and very close to the construction of the AG Russell import line of traditional knives.
And if packaging matters to you, they're shipped in a metal tube with a cleaning cloth.

The other designs are a little weird for my taste , although I might pick up the whittler.
But the canoe I have is well built and finished perfectly.
No gaps , scales and seams are all flush, definitely worth $60.

 

[Henry Beige]

The 005 Hedgehog is the only RRR that has moved me to buy it. The combination of Wharncliffe and a clip work for me, not unlike the Improved Muskrat or Hawbaker. Still my favorite RRs are the 2038 work knife, the upswept bow trappers, the sow belly stockman in a number of finishes, and of course, the Improved Muskrat. If they ever bring that one back, it will certainly cost more than the $6.00 I paid for it.