Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on September 26, 2012 at 11:08

This is most of my Scouts & Hobos.  I probably have others that people would deem Scout and Hobo knives.  For one thing, this doesn't include all of "Official Boy Scout knives"  and I've only pictured one of my Swiss Army knives.  This collection includes knives made for camping/outdoor use that include a main blade, an end mounted awl/punch (that eliminates almost all Swiss Army Knives)  All but one knife has shackle/bail or key ring (the deluxe boy scout knife) And the fly fisherman has a end mounted pin, not an awl, but its purpose is the same, just on a smaller scale. I decided not to include knives with a marlin spike.  The collection continues to grow.  The SAK pictured is the Pioneer. I also have a Pioneer Harvester that should've been included.

By Christmas, I suspect the collection will include at least three more knives, among them the Case BSA Scout Jr. in navy blue bone. It's in the mail.

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on September 26, 2012 at 17:25

Nice selection there Tobias.  I see a girlscout knife in there also.  I know at one time many years ago there was a "brownies" knife but I have not seen one since I was a little girl

Permalink Reply by tom white on October 3, 2012 at 9:14

love the hobos

Billy Oneale said:

This is all I have in a Hobo.

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on October 24, 2012 at 21:21

I am a hobo nut also.  I like the older ones without the spoons but I never figured it out.  If your making a knife for a hobo and all he has is a can a soup, how is he supposed to eat it?

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on October 25, 2012 at 5:38

I've always wondered if you're making a knife for a hobo and it cost $80 how is he suppose to afford it!

Permalink Reply by Smiling-Knife on October 25, 2012 at 6:10

Knice knives everyone. I enjoyed viewing them.This is a circa 1930s Pal Blade Co.

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on October 25, 2012 at 9:17

Back years ago, I used to work as a clerk in a store near the highway.  Old fellow used to come in, open a can of soup with a trapper knife and drink the soup from the can. 

Jan Carter said:

I am a hobo nut also.  I like the older ones without the spoons but I never figured it out.  If your making a knife for a hobo and all he has is a can a soup, how is he supposed to eat it?

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on October 25, 2012 at 18:13

I'm really not sure if this should go under this thread or in Rough Rider Group or as a knife review.

My latest scout/camp knives  are a new  Chinese made Red Ryder Camp knife and an old USA made Red Ryder camp knife.  Both knives are a product of  Smoky Mountain Knife Works.

From what I can tell, the Red Ryder Line was introduced  by SMKW around 1990 and according to Steve Koontz, they had the USA made camp knives made by  Colonial.  These knives bear Red Ryder/USA tang stamp and they came in a colorful box that proclaimed "Proudly Made in the USA." The box top is still being used today.  The original Red Ryder Camp Knife was model number RR1. They also offered RR2, a Colonial made fixed blade.

I've heard that the knives were also made for a short time in Ireland, possibly by Imperial (not sure on that one).  When SMKW added the knife to the Rough Rider line they moved production off shore to China. To allow for re-use of the packaging, the knife kept its original model number  becoming RR1 in the Rough Rider line. 

The box top for the new knife is pictured with the USA made Red Ryder 1. It is the same exact box top as the old knife except little stickers saying "China" were placed over the letters USA and a bar-code sticker was affixed to the box side.  I've removed both stickers.  Close inspection makes it possible to catch the tampering. (I didn't remove the stickers to try and fool anyone.  I removed them because they annoyed me!)  The pamphlet is also the exact same except they did some minor photo-shopping, replacing the old hand drawn images of the knife with images of the new brown knife with key-ring and swapped out the drawing of the saw blade. (the Pamphlet is in English only)

There are numerous difference between the two camp knives.   Notice that the saw blade was moved and has different teeth.  The other obvious difference is the light brown bone scales and a key ring instead of bail.  The blade order differs on the two knives. The older saw has a nail nick and is easier to open.  the new one requires getting your finger nail under the tip of the blade and lifting.  It is very difficult to open if all blades are closed. The older knife also has a couple full spacer which add strength and reduces the chance of warping.  All of the spacers on the new knife are cut away.   The can opener and cap lifter on the China knife seem to have weak springs. (either that or I need to do some oiling and work them in.) They don't snap shut easily.  All blades have a nice snap on the USA knife. On the bright side, there is no blade rub on either knife.

What isn't obvious from the pictures is the blade thickness.  The blade on the Chinese made knife are obviously thinner. The USA made has blade similar in thickness to Victorinox SAK or older USA made camp knives.  The Chinese made blades are similar to the thin blades found on the  Royal Crest and Frost SAK knock-offs.

The blade etch on the China knife reads "Boys Knife"  The nylon sheath has a compass on the snap.  It will fit either knife This Scissors on both knives  are pretty big and work pretty good. 

Note the Red Ryder name and cowboy and lasso in the older USA knife The key ring on the bail was added by me for display purposes. (the knife pictured on the box art is the old pattern).  The new pattern is only shown in the pamphlet.

knife is 3 3/4 inches.  See compared to a Camillus and Imperial (USA) scout knife.  Note the very dark red handles on the Red Ryder compared to the Imperial Red Comp scout knife.

My two biggest disappointments on the China made knife are the use of a key ring over the bail and the thin blades. The current offering would probably be very pleasing  for a young boy's first camp knife ($10 complete with sheath, box and pamphlet). However, this is definitely a case of "they don't make 'em like they used to."  And yes, no doubt some people will find the packaging culturally/politically insensitive.

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on October 25, 2012 at 19:06

Tobias,

Thanks for the review.  I prefer the bail to the keyring style.  I can honestly see this going over very big for a first knife under the tree at Christmas. Do they tell you the steel type?  I only ask because it looks like a good knife to learn sharpening skills on also

FeaturedPermalink Reply by Craig Henry on October 25, 2012 at 19:13

Now that gives me the warm and fuzzy feelings!

Smiling-Knife said:

Knice knives everyone. I enjoyed viewing them.This is a circa 1930s Pal Blade Co.

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on October 25, 2012 at 19:55

Hi Jan,

as the knife is a Chinese made rough rider, I'd assume it is 440A.  I'll tell you its hard to find it on the SMKW website.  Here is a link

http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/products/Rough+Rider/Red+Ryder...

Jan Carter said:

Tobias,

Thanks for the review.  I prefer the bail to the keyring style.  I can honestly see this going over very big for a first knife under the tree at Christmas. Do they tell you the steel type?  I only ask because it looks like a good knife to learn sharpening skills on also

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on October 25, 2012 at 19:56

I got one of those with an Iroquois Tang stamp!

Ron"TUNA"Dumeah said:

old Utica 

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