" RR doesn't have the  model # stamped on very many of their knives."

My chief complaint with Rough Riders.  I hate their numbering system.

I agree. It would be nice if they did a model/pattern numbering system kinda like Case, AND stamped them on the knives.

 

Also, it would be nice to know who, what, when, and where with Rough Rider tang stamps. They may never be collectible like Case with everyone, but with SOME of us they will. Besides, tang stamp info is just something I've gotten used to wanting to know about after all these years.

Craig, anything can be collected. When I was a boy I had a rock collection.

It is strange that some of the RR have pattern numbers and others do not.  I'm assuming this has to do with the fact that some blades are used on different knives.  I will need to investigate a little.  I'm sure it would ease manufacturing and cost not to put a pattern number on every sowbelly, especially if no other distinguishing marks were being added to the blade.  Thus maybe, you'd put the pattern number on the clip blade for the moonshiner or blue but not for the White bone sowbelly and sawcut bone sowbelly.   As the knives aren't in front of me, this is all just conjecture right now.

 

I also have an excel sheet for all my knives and pattern numbers are entered there when I get a new knife.  When I first started the sheet, I had to look for pattern numbers.  I found it easier to go to SMKW and look the items up than go though my drawer full of empty boxes and match the knife to the box.

 

We are a knife club that lets everyone enjoy the knife of their choice. You may get as much enjoyment out of a $25 dollar knife as some guy with his $2500 knife. Life too short, get your pleasure from what you like.

Has anyone done any work on dates RR tangs stamps were/are used?

The guys at Knives Live TV are real nice and understanding, try right them a letter about the tang stamp dating. I wrote them and everything was solved.

Write a letter, or email? I haven't written a letter in so long I don't know if I can write anymore! LOL!

Have you tried asking for the info on their facebook page?

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rough-Rider-Knives/126552174041147

No, I don't have a facebook account.

I'm old fashion, an email will work.

I agree with Robert and Craig. I try to buy as much USA made as I can. It was Rough Riders and Steel warriors that got me started because they were affordable and there were so many different handles and patterns. Some of the steel warriors I have are patterns that you won't see any where else, Just like the Rough Riders. I don't think they will ever be worth as much as my USA made knives,but I started with them and they are a prized part of my collection. If some people don't like them ,then that is their right. I have noticed that a lot of high end tacticals have a China or Taiwan stamp on the blade. I have found that a lot of these perform as good as any of the others. I do believe that a USA citizen should try to buy and help American knife companies by buying USA, but price is a big factor when purchasing knives. I do like a lot of the German brands also. Sorry about the soap box, but if you like knives, then buy what you like that you can afford. I think most people want USA built, but they just can't afford it. A lot of the USA made brands are getting really competitive with the imports. I do wish that Rough Riders had one blade stamped with the model number.

I think Billy pretty well nailed it.  I also would like to buy American Made but it is hard for me to compare a Case and Rough Rider side by side and then look at the price tag and not go with the Rough Rider.  The F&F of a Case is not really that much better and the quality of the Case Tru-sharp steel may actually be less.  Yet the the price is two to five times higher!

 

As it is I'm left to just collecting  the peach seed jigged amber bone Case Knives and if RR produced a similar handle, I would buy it instead.

 

Will RR be worth more in the future?  I think some will go up in value once they are discontinued. Others not so much.

 

As for Steel Warriors, I've heard lots of good things about them but Tom O'Dell and co.  and Cutlery Corner has turned me off to almost anything Frost.   Still,  A friend gave me several Steel Warriors and I have to say they are  very good.    As good as Rough Riders?  That will be a long argument clouded by personal bias.  I will say,  I really like the Crocodile Jigged bone Peanut and occasionally look on eBay for other Steel Warriors in that jig pattern.   

Y'all need to read Mr. AG Russell's letter in his Late Fall catalog, it kinda puts things into prospective on the China knife industry.  I started a little talk on his group here earlier today.

Robert, it would be nice if you could place that letter here sometime. I don't get the A.G. Russell Catalogue because they don't ship it outside of the US. But I'd love to have a read of it.

I'll try get help to do that.

I just sent for his latest catalog....I haven't had one for a while. I'm anxious to read his letter.

I just posted it on his AG Russell group. Check it out. You need one of his catalogs anyway.lol

Guys I absolutley agree.  Will RR go up in value?  Some will eventually but if you are collecting for the love of the knife that is not always a consideration.  If you are not spending a lot of money up front for the knife then its future value is not as much of a consideration as if it were 300.00 up front.  I would like to se a pattern number list though, Craig I will ask for one under my facebook and keep checking to see if we get a list or led to where they may be one.  I dont know that the guys at SMKW ever dreamed that folks would be saying they are just as happy with their RR as they are with their Case knives but it says alot for the caliber of the collectors here that we were willing to give the knife a chance and be fair in evaluating it.

Thanks Miss Jan, your input helps calm the water. We are all in this for the fun and in a few years we will all probably be laughing about it. I hope so any way.

somewhere I have PDF files for RR up to the 400 numbers. It used to be on the sharpfans site.

 

I could be the start of an effort of devoted fans to get the whole line up in place.  We could start an excel sheet and just start filling it in.

That is a very good idea , Toby. There must be something somewhere with all the numbers.Robert, I ordered the AG Russell catalog to hopefully read this article. I get a few RR that have some issues, but the majority are well built. I also like the Marbles  brand which is a little more expensive than RR , but made in the same factory. The reason I like the Marbles brand is that you will not see most of their handle materials on any thing else, And the build is a very well built knife. A lot of the imports are well built if a person will take the time to really look them over and try them instead of just passing all of the imports off as junk. There is an unbelievable amount of junk knives that are imported. As I have said before, I wish everything could be USA made, but it just isn't going to happen until The Companies can find ways to be competitive with the importers. Queen and Bear and Son are finding ways to do that. You can also find a really good buy on Case knives for under $40.00 also. I have seen some Queen delrin knives sell for around $24.00 and the same can be said for Bear & Son. I will buy what I like, be it a German, Chinese  or USA made knife, Preferably German or USA made, but for dollar and quality you can find a better deal than a RR. I also agree with Jan, I don't buy the RR because I think it will become a collector item worth a lot of money. I buy them because I like the way it looks and performs, beside that, if I lose one it will not be as big a loss like it would be for me to lose one of my Queen, GEC or Case knives.

I bought a Imitation Tortoise shell locking Trapper from the round man a week ago. It works really well. May have to carry this one. Locking trappers are good EDC knives. I will post pictures when I get some taken. I only paid $9.99 for this which was a good price.

Here is a picture of my newest Stroke of Luck knife. It is a large Stockman.

Nice looking "A Stroke Of Luck" stockman there Billy!

 

I'm thinking about getting a canoe in the "A Stroke Of Luck" series.....I've been buying Rough Rider canoes (standard and mini) like crazy lately! 

Hi Craig,

If you get the ASOL canoe, let me know if the reverse side green bone is noticeablylighter.  Mine has very dark green bone on the shield side and very light green bone  on the reverse.  I saw it that way at an eBay site and didn't think much of it.  I ended up buying one direct from Smoky Mountain Knife works and it was as it was shown at the ebay site.  My large toothpick has green bone of same shade on both sides

 

The back side of the Canoe actually matches the shade of the large toothpick (see Picture)

 

Billy, I don't think I have ever seen their locking Trapper. Post a picture if you can.

Toby, It sounds like the different sides of your canoe came from different dye lots. There is a lot of difference between your toothpick and your canoe.

What do y'all think about that new handle material, Ryno tuff or something like that. I forgot the name. It looks good though.

Armor Hide? I like it. I haven't got one yet, but I WILL get the Canoe RR1158 and 3 1/2" Stockman RR1155 in it (and maybe the Muskrat RR1157). I don't know why they have a "Samurai warriors" story tied to it, the handles just have a nice rugged look, and I like the shield they're using...it looks old timey/western to me.

That's the stuff, let me know if some one gets some. It sho does look tuff...lol

Craig,

Let us know when you get one.  I have not seen the Armor hide in person but would love to hear your ideas when you get it

I may pick up the hawkbill in the armor hide but I'm not sure.  I'm also not sure about the whole  "Samaurai" thing but it reminds me of "Steel Warrior".  Hopefully that isn't what they were going for.  When they talked about the knives on Knives Live TV, they said the jig pattern was reminiscent of the old Samurai's suit of armor.  Regardless of how it looks, its is going to be as tough as any other RR bone handle, which in itself  is not a bad thing.  I would guess the box was design by Brian Wilhoite but can't say for certain.  I wish they would've made a 5 inch toothpick but alas, my pleas fall on deaf ears.

Here are some pics of that locking trapper, Robert. They are not some of my best pics, but here they are.You push down on the second blade to unlock the knife for folding. I like the eye for opening and the wharncliff blade that is on it.

I  have also thought about the Armor Hide. I'm going to have to realize that I can't have everything. I'll be interested in the review of it.

Hey Tobias, I didn't get the ASOL Canoe yet, BUT, I did do some searching for images on google and I found several ASOL Canoe pictures that showed both sides, and they matched very well.

You gotta give it to the designers at Rough Riders, they keep coming up with new and interesting materials for their cutlery.

You also have to hand it to them for thier ability to older patterns and make them fresh looking.  I like that locking trapper and the match strike pull and the open oval just give it a freash new look

I'm getting ready to put in a big RR Stockman pattern order. One will be with Armor Hide handles, so, we'll see if I like it as much in person as in pictures.

Craig,

Glad you like it, thanks for the reference on how it appears to you more like an armadillo.  Changes a bit how I was seeing it, because I could not put the samuri reference into context with the knife.

Really glad to know that this RR feels more like it's not only good for the price but a steal for that price.  This speaks volumes for how RR is becoming more and more a quality peice

Might want to share your thoughts with Rough Rider.  Who knows they may tint the bone a shade of gray or may lighter brown and come out with an Armadillo series.  Maybe have an armadillo blade etch or perhaps give it a Texas theme.    suddenly i want to sing a  Gary P. Nunn song.

 

But no joke, share your thought with Rough Rider. They do listen.

Craig, pictures please. I want to see what it looks like.

How does one post pictures around here? Through the "ADD IMAGE" button up there? Size requirements? 640x480?

Craig,

yes the second icon on the left above where I am writing this is add image.  You choose browse, find it in your computer and add.  I find the work best in 640 pixel width.  Looking forward to the pics.  Let me know if I can be of any more help

When i was growing up, my dad would always say, "You know why America is the greatest country on Earth?  Because we see things made by some other country and say, So what we can make it better and for cheaper and then we do it!  That's why were better, because we  look at what everyone else is doing and we do it faster, better and cheaper. As long as we keep doing that we'll be the greatest country in the world.

We no longer do that. When we as a country start making things faster better cheaper, then American companies who manufacture overseas, (like Rough Rider) will move production back to America. As for now Rough Rider, like many American companies have looked at what other companies are making and have said, "I can make that faster, better, and cheaper!  All I need to do is move production overseas and keep quality control in the hands of Americans"

Craig, that's a good picture. I like the texture of that handle.

Craig,

LOL, this is a perspective I am willing to bet a lot of people don't think of

I bet when this country was started guys would say; "If it ain't a Sheffield knife it ain't worth buying!". And there weren't many friendly feelings towards the Brits at that time.

Thanks for sharing

The first pocket knives bought by the U.S. military under contract were Jack Knives used by the U.S. Navy.  The blades had a Distinct U.S. Navy blade etch.  The Tangs was  stamped Sheffield.  In fact, most of the knives purchased for the U.S. military before 1890 was made in Sheffield, England.  The U.S. knife industry Was virtually non-existent before then.  Even during WWI, the military was contracting with Sheffield and French cutlery companies to make knives for the service.  Many of the East coast cutlery companies started off as knife importers (from Germany and England) before they actually started making knives here.

I will now be keeping my eyes open for the one with the mermaid.  What a great stocking stuffer that would be

It may be a hard to find knife, Jan.  Currently it is a one of a kind.  There are other white smooth bone knives out there with mermaids, but not with the Mermaid of Warsaw:  My Mermaid of Warsaw Rigger