Vintage Rigid Knives

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bulletbillsr

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I new to the forum. Can any of you help me in finding out about some of the history of Rigid Knives. I've heard they started off in Santee, CA, and I have a brochure that I picked up in a knife store in Roswell, GA that showed a Lake Hamilton, AR, address. I also read, several years back where the owner died, and the remaining stock and the "Rigid Knives" name was purchased by United Cutlery. About all I get from "Google" is referrals to United Cutlery stuff and nothing on the original company. It would seem they weren't a large operation, although I bought mine in Roswell, GA. Not close to Santee, but closer to Lake Hamilton, AR.

I had some of the big sheath knives (r19 Razorback was a favorite of mine) and they were really awesome but I got tired of polishing the brass and sold them several of them to a Rigid collector in CA who said he grew up near the original plant. I've since lost his address. I still have some of the boot knives, folders and Frontier series and am interested on the background. Should have done it earlier, but that's water under the bridge.

Your help would be most appreciated,

Thank you

bulletbillsr/William
 
Rigid are not custom knives. You will probably have better luck in the Manufacturers or Bernard Levines forum.

Good Luck
Peter
 
Welcome to BF BulletBillsr.

Actually RIGID WAS a Custom Knife outfit (if you know your knife History).
They had great innovative designs and I would have loved to own one.

There is a great story that should answer all your questions in the Guns & Ammo GUIDEBOOK to KNIVES and Edged Weapons [Petersen] put out in 1974. I would watch both Ebay and Amazon for a copy of this book, not expensive and tons of great info.

Peter - I would recommend you pick up a copy too. ;)

PS - Bill - There is another even more in depth story I just located in The Gun Digest Book of KNIVES [B.R. Hughes and Jack Lewis] pub in 1973. I would search for this one first as it is easier to locate.
 
HillBill - thanks for the information. I do recall when Rigid Knives were readily available, and I had always thought they were production like Buck or Gerber which were popular then. I guess as assumptions go, that was an incorrect one.

I do have one but it is not like the large or stylish ones that were more typical.

Peter
 
Rigid custom knives should not be confused with the Rigid or Ridgid knives imported from the Solingen area of Germany back in the 60's. The German versions usually were some stag handled variety of bowie.
 
Bill Duff was one of the partners that started the original outfit when he was in Nevada. he is now located in Oklahoma.
 
First I've heard of Rigid being in Nevada, or Bill Duff. Do you have anything more on that? I don't recall who the head guy was that died in AR.

Thanks,

Bill
 
You have to go back to the very first "The Gun Digest Book OF Knives" 1973. Chapter 9 is the one. Shows a picture of Bill Duff,Dean Parks, and Don Collum looking at a brochure of the knives they made. The story I remember is that Bill and his partner were foreman at Buck and wanted to have some of their designs made. Buck refused so they went out on their own from their garage shops. Anyone else have anything else.
 
argel55 said:
You have to go back to the very first "The Gun Digest Book OF Knives" 1973. Chapter 9 is the one. Shows a picture of Bill Duff,Dean Parks, and Don Collum looking at a brochure of the knives they made. The story I remember is that Bill and his partner were foreman at Buck and wanted to have some of their designs made. Buck refused so they went out on their own from their garage shops. Anyone else have anything else.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I really appreciate the info. I ordered the book and received a confirmation email they have shipped it as of today. Maybe Chapter 9 will clear up some of history on the knives. I was really impressed with both the construction and the quality of these knives so I bought a bunch of them.:p

Bill
 
argel55 said:
You have to go back to the very first "The Gun Digest Book OF Knives" 1973. Chapter 9 is the one. Shows a picture of Bill Duff,Dean Parks, and Don Collum looking at a brochure of the knives they made. The story I remember is that Bill and his partner were foreman at Buck and wanted to have some of their designs made. Buck refused so they went out on their own from their garage shops. Anyone else have anything else.
Click to expand...

You are absolutely correct. I was working at Buck back in around 1972 or 1973 when these gentlemen left the company and they did start making these knives in Santee, California. I believe the story was that they were selling their Rigid knives through mail order while they were still working at Buck, till Buck found out about it. Strictly taboo as it was considered a conflict of interest. I still have I believe their C-9 folder that I have never used in my collection. I worked on the Buck 110 and 112 while I was there and this has many similarities in materials and workmanship. It's a heck of a lot bigger and has finger grooves which all of us were doing on the side at the time to customize our own folders.
 
I have 3-4 Rigid knifes. I'm also trying to get a feel for current values.

I purchased from them directly 25 years ago and have one of there limited boxed Bowie and AK toohpick.
They were really well made and BIG

As I recall it was a make to order limited quantity and very pricey for that time period.

Any input is welcome
 
I have 10 or so early Rigids in my collection. One apache folder and the rest fixed blade. Two of the three owners of the original Santee Rigid
company have passed away. Don Collum and Z. Dean Parks. Bill Duff is alive and well and making Beautiful knives in Oklahoma (I have one). The quality of the the early (pre 1974) knives is unsurpassed. You will pay a premium for the early pinned slab knifes.
Rigids manufacturing years were short numbered about 10 years in Santee CA. and another 10 in Lake Hamilton AR. So there prices are only going up.
Fernando A
 
I had a Bowie knife made by them to my design when I was in the Navy, about 1971 or '72. I can't remember what I paid for it at the time, but it didn't seem outlandishly high, somewhere between $100 and $150. I've heard from several sources that the early Rigids are fairly valuable, but I've never found anyone who could evaluate it for me. If anyone here knows of anyone, I'd appreciate the information.
 
white avenger said:
I had a Bowie knife made by them to my design when I was in the Navy, about 1971 or '72. I can't remember what I paid for it at the time, but it didn't seem outlandishly high, somewhere between $100 and $150. I've heard from several sources that the early Rigids are fairly valuable, but I've never found anyone who could evaluate it for me. If anyone here knows of anyone, I'd appreciate the information.
Click to expand...

Sorry but forum rules prohibit valuation for registered users.

From Bladeforums rules:

WHAT IS MY KNIFE / GADGET / SPATULA / TUNING FORK WORTH ?!?!?!?!

In order to curtail potential abuse of membership privileges associated with the forums, questions regarding valuation of knives and collections are limited to those with a membership level which permits selling on this site. Accordingly, registered and basic members may not start or post in threads with such requests whether with the intent to sell or for informational purposes only. This rule applies throughout the site.

In other words, without a paid Gold membership, you don't get to ask about sale values. Too many people abused this question to hint they had a knife for sale, which you need that membership for.
 
white avenger said:
I had a Bowie knife made by them to my design when I was in the Navy, about 1971 or '72. I can't remember what I paid for it at the time, but it didn't seem outlandishly high, somewhere between $100 and $150. I've heard from several sources that the early Rigids are fairly valuable, but I've never found anyone who could evaluate it for me. If anyone here knows of anyone, I'd appreciate the information.
Click to expand...

Sorry but forum rules prohibit valuation for registered users.

From Bladeforums rules:

WHAT IS MY KNIFE / GADGET / SPATULA / TUNING FORK WORTH ?!?!?!?!

In order to curtail potential abuse of membership privileges associated with the forums, questions regarding valuation of knives and collections are limited to those with a membership level which permits selling on this site. Accordingly, registered and basic members may not start or post in threads with such requests whether with the intent to sell or for informational purposes only. This rule applies throughout the site.

In other words, without a paid Gold membership, you don't get to ask about sale values. Too many people abused this question to hint they had a knife for sale, which you need that membership for.
 
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