Suprised at what they are carrying

[Carolinabuck]

I suspect the majority of purchases nowadays is on line...

THIS!! I 100% agree!! Someone mentioned earlier in this thread academy sports. A friend of mine told me just the other day that the selection was way down and when he asked an associate their response was "check online". I noticed Target carried a good selection of SAKs, but lately they barely have any. I had to go to 3 different walmarts to find a buck 110. One had plenty in the blister packs with nylon sheaths, one had none at all, but the one closest to home had them in the box with the leather sheath. Fleabay has been a blessing and curse for edged enthusiast. SMKW the same. I fear in my lifetime I will see the end of going into a hardware store and getting a quality knife.

 

[22-rimfire]

I finally got a bear & son. I got the large trapper with the red stag bone handles and high polished carbon blades. Fit and finish is immaculate. Perfect walk & talk, hair popping sharp out of the box!! I'm definitely seeing the reason for the uproar over these! The bone scales on mine look more like "honey bone" instead of red stag bone to me but are absolutely gorgeous. I have read alot of negative reviews on bear & son quality but I have absolutely no complaints about this knife. I didn't pick through their selection because I wanted to just see what I would get. For just under $30, I would put this against any major brand trapper. I think I'll maybe get a few more. Made in the US, carbon blades, and bone handles? What more can you ask for? The case trapper in amber bone with CV blades was over double what I paid, and the blades seemed thinner. Also one pin was sticking up and had a edge to it that could possibly cut your palm if you have soft hands. Overall I'm genuinely excited about this knife!

I think you need to pick up a Rough Ryder slip joint trapper or a pattern of your preference. The tobacco bone handles are nice as are the "stag bone". Buy a couple and see what you think. I generally get mine at their store in Sevierville. If nothing else peaks my interest I'll walk out of there with a new Vic something and a Rough Ryder. I avoid going there as I spend at least $100 every time I visit. Certainly not the end of the world, but I've been trying to cut down the volume purchased.

I visited New Graham once and ended up spending about $500. That hurt a bit.

You can generally get a "good" knife at a hardware store but the prices tend to be a bit high. You don't see many "great" knives at hardware stores as they cater to the masses. My last hardware store knife was a white stag Case Peanut which was lovely, but a tad expensive.

 

[OldHercDude]

The online shopping thing is a mixed bag of nuts IMHO. On the one hand it can be easier to find better pricing, and can be easier. On the other, once you start having to deal with shipping problems or returns, it is usually easier to be dealing with a local brick and mortar store. Personally, I'd rather be able to get items in my hand and see how they feel and work with my hands and fingers than have to order online and send things back and forth until I find the "right" thing.

As for people buying cheaper/ less expensive rather than "buy once, cry once", it has spread across most consumer goods. Disposable society and all that jazz. I'd prefer a better quality item that can be repaired if it breaks, but that is generally considered an odd attitude these days.

Bear & Son is a brand I've run across this last year, and might get one to check them out if I find a model with blades and scales I like.

 

[brownshoe]

Cabelas and Bass usually have traditional knives.

 

[Carolinabuck]

I think you need to pick up a Rough Ryder slip joint trapper or a pattern of your preference. The tobacco bone handles are nice as are the "stag bone". Buy a couple and see what you think. I generally get mine at their store in Sevierville. If nothing else peaks my interest I'll walk out of there with a new Vic something and a Rough Ryder. I avoid going there as I spend at least $100 every time I visit. Certainly not the end of the world, but I've been trying to cut down the volume purchased.

I visited New Graham once and ended up spending about $500. That hurt a bit.

You can generally get a "good" knife at a hardware store but the prices tend to be a bit high. You don't see many "great" knives at hardware stores as they cater to the masses. My last hardware store knife was a white stag Case Peanut which was lovely, but a tad expensive.

I actually got a RR whittler not long ago and am absolutely blown away by the quality! The only problem I can find on it is I believe the nail nicks could be deeper. Besides that, the fit & finish is immaculate! Just coon lingering it I would not be able to tell it's made in China. My wife actually thought it was a case until she looked at it more closely.

I totally feel you on cutting back!! My last big purchase/trade involved $500, so that was way over my budget but I scored a awesome native American bear jaw knife and several camillus BSA knives and some native handmade jewelry. Usually I wont spend over $50 a month for a new knife and usually $15 for a used one. The rough rider whittler was $8 out the door. My new bear & son was under $30.

 

[Carolinabuck]

The online shopping thing is a mixed bag of nuts IMHO. On the one hand it can be easier to find better pricing, and can be easier. On the other, once you start having to deal with shipping problems or returns, it is usually easier to be dealing with a local brick and mortar store. Personally, I'd rather be able to get items in my hand and see how they feel and work with my hands and fingers than have to order online and send things back and forth until I find the "right" thing.

As for people buying cheaper/ less expensive rather than "buy once, cry once", it has spread across most consumer goods. Disposable society and all that jazz. I'd prefer a better quality item that can be repaired if it breaks, but that is generally considered an odd attitude these days.

Bear & Son is a brand I've run across this last year, and might get one to check them out if I find a model with blades and scales I like.

I'm so pleased with my bear & son! I got the full size trapper and its gorgeous! The fit & finish is as good as any case. I've read alot of negative reviews on B&S, but from several collectors and genuine workers around here, they are gaining quite a following. After getting mine I can see why! I plan on getting some more soon. I believe they have several different scale materials and offer carbon, stainless, and even damascus. I'd suggest giving them a look. Mine has the red stag bone handles, which someone told me they take extra steps with. The same person said to watch their regular bone stag line. But I'm seriously happy with mine.

 

[22-rimfire]

I actually got a RR whittler not long ago and am absolutely blown away by the quality! The only problem I can find on it is I believe the nail nicks could be deeper. Besides that, the fit & finish is immaculate! Just coon lingering it I would not be able to tell it's made in China. My wife actually thought it was a case until she looked at it more closely.

When visiting the knife store in Sevierville TN, I was visiting one of the older sales people that had been there a while. He mentioned two things about Rough Ryder... (1) they use US made 440A shipped to China, and (2) the Case rep bought about a dozen to take back to PA for them to go over. He could not believe the quality of the knives at retail prices when compared to Case. I do like Case slip joints, but I have learned to buy in person when possible so you can handle the knife you're buying.

I looked at many Rough Ryders one day there... they were slow and they were willing to show me many different knives even of the same model when they could. My general findings were that they are pretty much all consistently the same quality for the individual pattern. The pulls aren't heavy and I have always thought their nail nicks were just fine.

I want to take another look at Bear & Son stuff. I was not very impressed when I looked at them a number of years ago. They supposively have a better line above there standard product.

 

[Carolinabuck]

When visiting the knife store in Sevierville TN, I was visiting one of the older sales people that had been there a while. He mentioned two things about Rough Ryder... (1) they use US made 440A shipped to China, and (2) the Case rep bought about a dozen to take back to PA for them to go over. He could not believe the quality of the knives at retail prices when compared to Case. I do like Case slip joints, but I have learned to buy in person when possible so you can handle the knife you're buying.

I looked at many Rough Ryders one day there... they were slow and they were willing to show me many different knives even of the same model when they could. My general findings were that they are pretty much all consistently the same quality for the individual pattern. The pulls aren't heavy and I have always thought their nail nicks were just fine.

I want to take another look at Bear & Son stuff. I was not very impressed when I looked at them a number of years ago. They supposively have a better line above there standard product.

Funny you should mention the case rep, I also have heard case was blown away by the quality of foreign assembly of knives, and this actually caused a uptick in their QC!!

I actually received another bear & son trapper today from the bay, a 2017 model, and this is the total embodiment of perfection in a pocket knife! This one has a different clip blade, and good grief it's so sharp it shaved my eyelashes just looking at it! The fit and finish is absolutely perfect! The bone scales are....the best I can describe would be sunburst kind of like a guitar. Either way it's gorgeous and I can't wait to try it out on a fat crappie or bream. That is if my wife doesn't steal it!! Lol! Check out bear and sons Facebook page to see a dealer that will hand pick a perfect model.