Rough Rider Collector's

Home of the Rough Rider. RR offers all of the great knife patterns from the past. Quality and affordable, a rare product these days.

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  • Featured

    Craig Henry

    Bowie Series......

  • Billy Oneale

    The only Bowie series RR I have is a leg knife I bought for my wife. Oh! I guess it's not really mine. Robert, I don't have a moonshiner knives, but I think they look good.


  • Featured

    Craig Henry

    No Moonshiner knives for me....yet. Not sure which one I want.

  • Tobias Gibson

    Did someone say Moonshiner?

    I only have the Sowbelly.   I need to get around to picking up the canoe.  I wish they'd make their scout knife in this pattern.  The blade etch and the corncob jig is flat-out beautiful.

    The only real ptoblem with the collection is all the barrels and the flask.  Each knife comes with one and they add to the cost.  At the end of the day, the barrels take up a lot of space.  Don't get me wrong, I like both the barrel and the flask, but if I get around to getting more (if they are re-released) I'm not sure what I'll do with all the barrels. 

  • Tobias Gibson

    There not cheap these days.  They are currently out of production.  Original cost at SMKW was $19.99.   I see a lot of buy it nows on eBay floating around $30!

    Yeah I kick myself sometimes but at other times I reminded to happy with what you have.   It that's that commandment about not coveting thy neighbors knife.

  • Billy Oneale

    I finally got my Rough Rider fix today. Here is what I got.This ended up being my favorite of the 4. Once In A Blue Moon lockback and it came with a nylon sheath also.

  • Billy Oneale

    Here is a small Lime Green trapperHere is RR1169

  • Billy Oneale

    Here is a small lime green leg that I bought for my wife's collection.RR1171

  • Billy Oneale

    And here is the Battle Axe trapper. I had to oil the joint on the spey blade to get it to work smoothly. I thought I was going to have to make a call to SMKW tomorrow, but it started working smoothly after some oil.

  • stephen tungate

  • stephen tungate

    this is a great knife for the money,and was very sharp right out of the box...

  • EDWARD M. EBERT

    Hi all boy I never thought that there were any other RR collectors out there. I started collecting RRs about two yearsago. They are just neat well made knives. I have about 48 RR now. But what Im trying to do is find A wholesaler where I can bye RRs I would really like to start selling them. Can any one help me. I have already tryed Blue ridge. Thanks .

  • Billy Oneale

    Nice clasp Stephen. I like the bulldog on it.
  • Tobias Gibson

    Edward, as Rough Riders are the House Brand  fro Smoky Mountain Knife Works (SMKW) and Blue Ridge is the wholesaler/distributor  for SMKW, I can't imagine that you would find them anywhere else.  I Could be wrong, but I think Blue Ridge is going to be it.  (I thought there minimum order is something like a $100 of merchandise.  That may have changed)

    I know a couple people who buy from Blue Ridge.  They are able to make a few bucks selling RR but because of the low price already offered by SMKW, the only way the can under sell is by offering lower shipping charges. 

    With all the shipping deals that have been offered by Knives Live TV it has been hard for me to buy new from just about anyone else unless I managed to hit the jack pot on a bid on eBay.  Anymore the only time I look on eBay is when it is out of stock at SMKW.

    Rough Rider Reviews


  • KnifeMaker

    Tom Hudson

    I have had an account with Blue ridge for many years - I gave up on the rest a long time ago - If Blue Ridge don't have it - I just do with out - They still have the dealer 100 dollar min on an order - tom


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    Stephen, I have given over a dozen of those RR clasp knives away as presents over the years and everyone loved them.

  • Tobias Gibson

    After a very long delay, I've finally finished my review of the Rough Rider Bartenders.   As I have a weakness for Bartender style knives, I realized my background information was  getting out of hand.  As not everyone wants to know a bunch of stuff about collecting bartender knives,  I put all that info on a background page linked from within the RR review of Bartenders.

    For those who don't know, the Rough Rider Bartender Knives are part of the SMKW Support the Cause series of knives which raise money to support research in fighting Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer, and Heart Disease.

    You can buy the Support the cause knives for friends and let them know that at the same time, you've made a small donation (indirectly) in their name.

    You'll find the reviews at Rough Rider Reviews - ( blindkat.hegewisch.net/RRR/ )


  • KnifeMaker

    Tom Hudson

    A True story:

    This is a tuffy – My wife & I have been foster parents for many years – we have shared our home with 36 foster kids and have adopted 4 children out of the system.

     

    Last night we got a call from CPS to see if we could help with a 16-year-old girl.

     

    I normally don’t share these stories but we never had one like this before.

     

    The young lady & her dad have been homeless since last June. Living in the river bottoms. The dad took amber to school & signed her up for home school. Amber has her schoolwork completed thru February!

     

    Now with winter setting in & the cold weather (cold for our area) & living in a tent without electricity it has just over whelmed Amber’s father. He sent her to the store. When she got back to their shelter her dad wasn’t there but he had lift her a note.

     

    He told her he loved her but he just couldn’t deal with life anymore & told her he was going to commit suicide. He told her to take the note to a police officer & that they would see that she was taken care of.

     

    The police haven’t been able to locate her dad, we can only hope they can find him alive & get him the help he needs.

     

    Amber is a very polite young lady. She wants to be a social worker when she grows up.

     

    Most foster kids are in the system because their parents have turned to drugs but in this case it not drugs. Lots of folks out there loosing their homes or not able to pay the rent.

     

    Damn we need to take this country back!

     

    Tom Hudson

    Foster Parent

  • robert benton

    Tom,my hat is off to you i have a freind that i have known for over 25 yrs that takes in foster kids that have special needs and has adopted one of them. my freind and his wife are special people whom have opened both their home and heart to the children that they have taken in.

  • robert benton

    Got my RR muskrat in the Moonshiner series,Pretty cool!

  • Billy Oneale

    Great story, Robert. I found a quill pen that Rough rider makes to trim quill feathers for feather writing pens. I take my hat off to foster parents. We are raising 3 grandkids that are 1 &1/2, 3 and 8. It takes a special person to be able to share that much love and caring. These are our grandkids and they try my patience quite a bit, but I love them to pieces. They were taken out of there home and given to us by OK DHS. It takes a really special person to take in complete strangers. Anyway here is the picture of this knife. it is only about 2 1/2" long with blue smooth bone .

  • Billy Oneale

    Tom, my post was meant for you especially. You are a special person for taking these kids and giving them a loving home. I don't think I could do it if they were not my flesh and blood. May God bless you and your wife in what you do.


  • KnifeMaker

    Tom Hudson

    Just a note - I'm thinking I'll close my shop one of these days - not sure when but business isn't what it use to be -  gun laws are horrable to work with & I give 100 qoutes for one job anymore & I'm working for less than I ever have - I turn down 4 or 5 jobs a week - this time of the year folks want complete love letters engraved on the back of a watch for 20 bucks - I send them to the trophy shop - Just a sign of the times - tom

  • Tobias Gibson

    Drew, you just might be shocked at just how similar that RR is to a Case!

  • robert benton

    Drew ,Tobias is right the RR Yellow trapper is very similar to a case.And Craig i do like it Get your Own LOL,have a merry christmas everyone


  • Featured

    Craig Henry

    Yeah, I better get one of those Moonshiner Muskrats before they're all gone!

  • robert benton

    I ordered mine through a dealer that i do business with and he got it from blue ridge.They still have some i am pretty sure.


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    I got a Colt moose pattern for Chirstmas and was wondering if anyone on here knows something about the brand? I find it very well made, maybe a step up on the Rough Rider. I was told they were made by the same people. Thanks.

  • Jan Carter

    Robert,

    It is my understanding that the Colt is made by United Cutlery.  With the exception of the 75th anniversary run that is being made by Case


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    The one I have is the anniversary eddition. No wonder its so well made.


  • Featured

    Craig Henry

    I heard that they are made in the same factory as RR, but I don't know for sure. The ones I've seen looked about the same as RR....actually most of my RR I thought were as nice if not nicer.


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    Hey guys, I had only a couple of knives to compare so I wasn't saying one was better than the other. I just was surprised at how well it was made and thats a good thing. I said it before and I'll say it again those knives just keep getting better and better.


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    Check out the picture on a Box Full of Knives Group/Moose Pattern discussion.

  • Tobias Gibson

    Smoky Mountain Knife Works currently owns the Trademark for  Colt Knives.  They make them in the same factories they use for Rough Riders and several other house brands.  Most of the fixed blades are made with 420j2 stainless,  and most of the folders use 440a.  Im not sure what steel is used on the titanium coated blades.    Same factories also make the Chinese made Remington.   I'm not sure if their is connection between Colt and United, other than they probably share manufacturing facilities in China.  Elk Ridge is a United Brand.

  • robert benton

    Back in the 90,s Colt was a united brand. the knives were made in taiwan,germany and the us.the steel used was either 440 c or 420j2.SMKW now owns the colt trademark and has expanded the line

  • robert benton

    Craig i own the large version of the RR damascus lockback it is a real nice knifegreat buy for the money 

  • Tobias Gibson

    My thought on the Colt line is this.   SMKW is trying to use the line as sort of a upscale version of Rough Riders.   They seem to do the same thing with the Marbles TM.  As far as I'm concerned, I'll stick to RR unless I can only find the knife in the other two brands.   The quality of the Colt Folders is a little better than the RRs but I'm not sure if that quality translates to the higher price tag.  I know the quality of Marbles knives is about the same as that of RRs and the price tag will need to be lower before I guy the Marbles five inch toothpicks.   I'm not paying an extra $6 for fake leather pouch I'm not going to use and the marbles blade etch.

    I have two Colt Fixed blades.  Both a re decent enough knives, especially in the looks department but the blades are 420j2 Stainless.  I think if I get other Colt fixed blades (which is doubtful), I'll have to go with the Damascus blades.

    In the end, I'd say the Chinese made Colt and Marble's knives are decent enough for the price but if you can find a similar style in Rough Rider then you'll get a similar quality knife for a better price.  (Same for the Chinese made Remingtons)


  • Featured

    Craig Henry

    One thing that turns me off about the Colts is the corny looking (to me) BIG "C" on the front bolsters. Now the Colt "Signature" series I would definitely consider buying.....those look nice.

  • J.J. Smith III

    I really like my Colt whittler...

  • Tobias Gibson

    Would it help if you knew the big C  on the colts is a snake, such as Anaconda, Boa, Cobra, Diamondback, King Cobra, Python, Viper, etc. Look closely.

  • Jan Carter

    LOL...Drew love the enthusiasm!!!  Show us the knife?

  • Tobias Gibson

    Drew Rossman Comment by Drew Rossman 5 minutes ago

    I got my new RR Yellow Trapper. Just as nice as my Case Yellow Trapper...and I could get 6-7 for the same price! I freakin love Rough Rider knives!

    Another person who took the challenge and discovered what they've missing.    Drew, take a look at  "Case Vs. Rough Rider at Rough Rider Reviews.  You're not alone.

  • Billy Oneale

    I got a new yellow delrin hawkbill that I won on ebay. Pics to come later.

  • Billy Oneale

    Here is a Quill knife. It's amazing the patterns that RR will make. This is about 2" long

  • Billy Oneale

    And here is my Brotherhood trapper.

  • Mel Jones

    I liked the Viet Nam Brotherwood so well I ordered one from Smoky Mountain Knife Works. Very well done and priced right.
  • Billy Oneale

    Welcome to the Rough Rider's Collectors, David. It's about time you found your way here. Tell Jeannie  I said Hi.

  • David Moore

    Thank you for the welcome!  I am one of the bigger advocates for Rough Riders, and should have come here before this!!  While my collecting has been somewhat curtailed by my economic situation, my enthusiasm thas not!  I am looking for great topics of conversation for my favorite off-shore knives!!


  • KnifeMaker

    Tom Hudson

    Welcome David

    Tom

  • Billy Oneale

    Here is the  Rough Rider Yellow Delrin Hawkbill I got about a week ago.