Rough Rider Knives

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Piedmont Plinker

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Well, once I make up the money I spent at the state fair this weekend I'm gonna place a knife order from SMKW- the primary item will be a Buck Mayo Hilo, for a new EDC. But there will be some other, cheap knives. I looked at the RR series, and I like the various knives they had, including their SAK classic knockoff, their keychain knives, the Sunfish, their large lockback, razor lockback, cross knives (ward off and kill vampires at the same time!), sowbelly lockback, razor lockback. But I like all their knives.
How do these knives compare with their higher-priced competitiors? What kinda of outta the box edge do they come with? Do they hold the edge well? Do they cut weel? Are they worth my money?
 
Most of what you listed is Chinese garbage. Every time you buy a knock-off, with indifferent QC and mystery steels, you help to kill a legitimate knife making concern somewhere in the free world.

Sleep well.
 
I just ordered a Queen Mt Man in D2 steel , for $60 it should provide years of service. I do have a Buck/Hilo I picked up years ago when I traveled alot , just to throw in my shaving kit , not a bad little knife , nice companion to the Buck Mayo Kaala.

As to the RR series , I would rather have one Case or Queen than a drawer full of RR.
 
Inexpensive, still quality for what paid for - SAK.

It took me awhile to accept this, I always used a Case, Camillus, GI Demo, for a "Army" or "Camp" .knife.
I mean I knew SAK was fine...just not wanting to give up the old.

I grew up with Case, Camillus, Queen, Hen & Rooster, Boker...etc, of Yesteryear.
I still prefer a Case with CV blades.

I have one Winchester , wood handled Pen Knife, these kids got me.
They know I like Winchester shotguns and rifles, and blue and wood - and with their own money got me this.
Neat gesture. It is not the knife of the old old Win knife times, still a neat gesture.
Kids since have learned about this.

SAK classics, Old Hickory for inexpensive still quality knives.

These kids get a Case Peanut in CV , or some other Case CV, and ...hard to explain, they just really get humbled, awed and know it is a nice knife, very special.
They take car of these.

Besides Harbor Freight Screwdrivers work great for mumbley-peg. :p
 
oh, and I won't be getting the Hilo after all, because I bought a Benchmade Vex today!
I totally agree about case and SAKs, but I have a thing for cheap knives.
 
I am a big fan of Case knives.
Made in U.S.A. and still reasonably priced.
The "Sod Buster" series for example make excellent daily carry and the smaller model can be had for around $20.00.
Zeke
 
Sod Buster just flat works!

I like the Jr., darn thing is just too handy!
Fix a heater hose, spread peanut butter, cut rope, clean fish, game, make fuzz sticks, make a sling shot, break down boxes,...

Tractor, Truck, Car, Office, Home...fits anywhere, does everything.
 
I like the 048 single bladed Trapper myself, but I'm tired of the Case stainless that goes dull pretty quick. This thing seems to need sharpening all the time! I just made a deal for a custom (Alsdorf) 048 and a Moore Maker user as well and I think the better steel on the custom will really be nice.
 
I like how Boats just laid a guilt trip on you... I am surprised he didn't come out and call you a pinko while he was at it:neener:
 
Never buy crap. Never buy knockoffs.

As to Rough Rider, surprisingly the reviews on their "traditional" pattern knives have been very good:eek:. They don't have the fit or finish of a Case or Queen, but they're infinitely better than the crap from unidentified Chinese and Pakistani factories. Still, a little looking will show you that you're better off getting a Case or Queen Cutlery product (unless you like being taunted for buying second rate knives;)).
 
I have purchased a number of "Old Timer", "John Primble", "Rough rider", "S&W" knives from SMKW.

People are correct that these knives are now made in China. I will not call them garbage. The workmanship on these knives is quite good. There are no gaps, the grinds are even, the blades “walk and talk” as they should. The more expensive of these knives show really outstanding fit and finish. And you only pay a couple bucks more. “The “Rough Rider” and “John Primble” are better grade Chinese knives and you get nicer handle materials and a brighter polish. The steels are somewhat softer than what the US “Old Timer” used, but then, those steels were at best 420 anyway.

Chinese 440 steels are much softer than American 440 steels, either the heat treat is poor, of there is an actual difference in composition.

I believe you are getting good value for $10.00 or $15.00. And as I have lost a couple of small stockmans, I am not out much money.

People bring up Case as an example of an American knife, but Case does not make all their knives in house. There were boxes of finished Case knives at the Camillus inventory auction. Looked at the web auction and there they were. Case knives have been good knives for decades, but they are facing price competition from these Chinese and the future is going to be tough for them.

There are very few American brand names that are not made in China, Buck knives are Chinese made. Winchester is a label. As we all know, the New Haven Winchester plant closed. The Winchester name has been cheapened by the inexpensive Chinese knives, sold under that name. I think Gerber knives are made in China.

Victorinox knives are still made in Switzerland. I don’t know the steel, but an original SAK is an excellent knife and still not overpriced. I would not buy a Chinese replica.
 
SlamFire1,

Some models are made in China amongst those companies you mentioned, and others, but not all, or even the majority, of their models are made in China.

Camillus made most of the knives for many American knife companies. Cold Steel Carbon V knives, most Case models, some Buck and others were manufactured in the Camillus factory in NY. Ontario seems to be the only U.S. company that still makes almost all it's own products in it's own factory.

Production in China is almost an inevitability for most knife companies that want to get to a minimum price point knife. Some companies are working hard at making sure that the knives get reasonable QC on grinding, heat treat and assembly. That requires the U.S. companies to pay slightly more for the services compared to junk the same facilities might produce. Spydero's Byrd line is an example of what the Chinese are capable of in producing quality knives. Rough Rider seems to be another. The Meyerco products coming out of China are also of reasonable quality.

The power dive to low price usually equates to low quality, but there are some U.S. companies working to keep their Chinese manufacturing partners up on quality to avoid damaging the company's reputation in the market.

The sad thing is that enough of us won't pay the price needed for a product to be made in the US, but in today's global economy we have those sorts of decisions to make.
 
oh yes, I also prefer Cases with CV blades. The Sodbuster seems to be priced well- does its blade lock? For work knives I prefer locking blades.
 
Future tough for Case? They've almost destroyed themselves several times over just with family squabbles. I'd say the future is probably brighter than the past now that Zippo owns them.

What Buck Knives are made in China? They have a plant in Idaho where Paul Bos does all their heat treating so it'd be suprising to bring in crap from China. I'd want to know which models are made here with the Bos HT.
 
Some models are made in China amongst those companies you mentioned, and others, but not all, or even the majority, of their models are made in China.
Click to expand...

You are correct, I over generalized. I have seen chinese made Buck knives, or at least think I have. Along with Gerber. I cannot recall a "Winchester" knife that was not made in China. Unless it was made by United Cutlery, also sadly out of business.

Spydero's Byrd line is an example of what the Chinese are capable of in producing quality knives.
Click to expand...

Ouch! I did not know Spydero was outsourcing to China.

As for knives outsourced in Japan, the ones I have have always been excellent quality.

The best kitchen knives that I have ever owned, made in Japan.
 
SlamFire1 said:
Chinese 440 steels are much softer than American 440 steels, either the heat treat is poor, of there is an actual difference in composition.
Click to expand...
It’s probably a different composition. Sal Gelsser of Spyderco found this out when they first started producing byrd knives with the 8Cr13MoV blade steel. The Chinese originally told Spyderco it was 440C, but when Sal checked the composition he realized that it wasn’t 440C. That’s why some of the earlier Cara Cara’s and Meadowlarks were marked 440C. The same steel is in both variations.


Buck knives Ghostrider is made in China IIRC. And, while I’m sure some of you are mistaking Japan with China, Spyderco has been importing knives from Japan for years (Endura and Delica just to name a couple). All the VG-10 knives from Spyderco are from Japan.
 
Rough Rider knives are pretty decent. I own several. They make a linerlock Sodbuster that is very good. Yes, they are Chinese. I'm doing my best to kill a legitimate knife making concern somewhere in the free world. :neener:

FWIW, Buck's website lists which knives are US made and which are Chinese. It'd be nice if more manufacturers were as up front about such info, as it is important to some consumers.
 
my uncle is a third or 4th generation knife collector...

He loves the american knives... obviously the best...


but for the $$$ he swears by Rough Rider knives...

he buys them in bulk just to give away to friends and family and the one he gave me... has 4 RAZOR sharp blades on it...

I have had dozens of knives but I swear that little RR knife is about the sharpest little 7 or 10 $ knife I have ever owned and im not afraid to use it and abuse it since its cheap....


If u want to collect one, buy american...

if u want one that is fantastic to use and abuse buy foreign
 
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