Appalachian Trail knives

[Pax Jordana]

Went to my local Lowes last night to replace the Sodbuster Jr. I lost.

I have full faith I'll find the old soddie, but murphy's law dictates I won't until I bring another one home. (theory: murphy was a knife knut.)

Anyway, after looking through the entire store, I gave up and asked a sales associate, who managed to lead me to the right display in the time it took me to trot out one of my used-up One-Liners For Relating To Sales Associates. Got a nice new soddie jr, for $17, as recommended here. Thanks to whoever mentioned that btw, knives are kinda hard to come by around here and I wasn't gonna use the internet to buy another in the foreseeable future.

Right below the (two) case knives they had a bunch of store-brand stuff, and then some more by Appalachian trail. I bought a little one-bladed affair, about the size of a case peanut, on impulse. I figure if that size turns out to be handy but that particular knife stinks, I'll just go get a peanut.

Knifeforums is split about 60/40 in opining that A/T knives are total crap versus serviceable crap. Can anybody here speak for them?the knives, not the forum..

 

[hso]

Speak for them? Nope.

I'm one of the folks that thinks they're total garbage.

If you want a serviceable Chinese cheapie get one of the Rough Riders.

 

[Pax Jordana]

or against them

considering my nits sufficiently picked, does anybody sell rough riders retail (e.g. national chain wise?)

There's a joint in lancaster that specializes in cutlery, but it's a bit spendy.

 

[hso]

Retail chain that carries Rough Rider? None that I know of, but you can always get them from SMKW if you happen to come south to the Smokies leafing.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Mixed

I've picked up a couple of the Appalachian Trail knives.

One wasn't too bad (medium-to-large liner-lock folder) although its edge retention was kinda "meh" comparatively.

The other was just crap. Sticky pivot, crummy edge, icky handling.

Don't believe I'll be experimenting with any more of their product line.

 

[bikerdoc]

Pax,
60/40 is about right. almost certain it is 420 or 440A, and the heat treatment quality of some of the off shore stuff is spotty at best.
As for Rough Rider I have several, all pretty good. 440A , but very well made and hold up well under daily use.My favorite is the model 940. go to bladematrix and under knife brands - they carry a lot,- click on rough rider to view the whole line. good people to deal with

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

difficult for me to understand how the Chinese make the product they do for the price.
I bought a 'grab bag' of locking folders from SG last year for X-mas presents expecting junk for the price and the S/S blades were all good.
I won a Chinese made Schrade X-Timer for door prize Sat and surprised at the quality.

 

[hso]

The Chinese can turn out reasonably good quality knives. They have been making heat treated blades for European manufacturers for over a decade. These companies can then put their stamp on them and mark them as their nation of origin because their laws allow them to based on percentage of labor/materials.

So you can get good blades if the company they're being made for insists on proper heat treat and performs sufficient QC to guarantee the quality of the product.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

I'm with Arfin. I received a set for Christmas last year and they instantly went to my toolbox. And, this past year is when I became a blade snob, so I'm sure I'll be gravely offended if I get more of the same this year.

 

[22-rimfire]

I would suggest you just buy a Case or Queen folder and skip the specialty stuff.

 

[Pax Jordana]

I *did* buy a case, that's what got me into this holy mess :-D

Now Queen... queen looks awfully nice. Worth a spot on my list. Having a soddie, an AT tossup and a couple of schrades, I'm leaning back towards tackycool knives again, but it's worth a second look when the other shoe falls.

For want of a knife, my wallet was lost horrible, the things you fellows get me into!

 

[hso]

horrible, the things you fellows get me into

Misery loves company.

 

[22-rimfire]

There a lots of very good factory knives around. I stay away from brands that I have never heard of or anything with "Made in China" on the packaging or knife. The Chinese are improving on their blade steel however. It won't be too long when you won't be able to tell any difference. I do not limit my choices to Case and Queen however. The next brands that I will be buying will probably be something by RAT Cutlery and Bark River. But first, I want to get the SOG Access Card II. Something about that little knife appeals to me.

 

[Todd A]

The Chinese are improving on their blade steel however.

Yes it seems they have. I have been trying to kill a small Winchester gift tin fixed blade and so far I have failed .

It has been a loaner to a Cub Scout and his dad,and my son and I have used it to cut down small saplings,trim branches, make fuzz sticks etc..It is still ticking. :banghead:

As well I have been EDCing a CRKT Dogfish for quite awhile now and it has impressed me.


I still will not buy a Chinese Schrade.

Based solely on principle.