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.

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

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

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)

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.

I really like my Colt whittler...

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.

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

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.

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

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

And here is my Brotherhood trapper.

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

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!!

Welcome David

Tom

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

it,s going to be interesting to see what RR brings out this year. i would love to see the large swing guard lockback offered with more handle choices.

I really, really, really wish they'd bring out a line of  kinves with"cracked ice" handles..........really. They can start with the baby barehead Trapper, mini Trapper, and standard Trapper.........please and thank you. Then, they can do some in ebony wood......that would be cool........to me.

Craig commented: "knives with"cracked ice" handles."

I for one would rather see something other than acrylic/celluloid/plastic.  Not a big fan.  But I do have to admit, I've bought the Synth stones in the past and would buy more.

Ebony on the other hand  would be nice.

I know, I'm one of those weirdos that likes imitation handles! LOL!

Talking about new knives this year has anyone seen a RR moose patern knife before? I have looked all over and can't find one. I guess none were ever made.

Robert,

The only moose in the Rough Rider line I'm aware of is the "Once in a Blue Moon" which is made on the Remington/Colt Frame.

I've suggested they make a Teddy Roosevelt commemorative  "Moose" knife called the "Bull Moose"  We'll see if that happens.

I know about the Colt moose knives, infact I own some, I meant the Rough Rider line.I don't think they made one. I like that idea "Bull Moose" it better be something special.

here is my r. r. turtle shell sunfish catching a ride....

some RR patterns made with buffalo horn handles would be nice too.

Craig said "A Teddy Roosevelt  "Bull Moose" Moose knife seems like a natural."

My actual suggestion was to have it be a commemorative  and to sell it in a display that included one of the Teddy Roosevelt Coins to be issued in 2013 by the U.S. Mint.  That coin  should be released around the middle of May, 2013.  which would put the knife/coin combo ready in time for the Christmas rush.   Seems to me it belongs with the Rough Rider line.  But I'd guess if they don't snag it, someone over at Cutlery Corner will!

Wouldn't hurt for a few other people to mention it to Mr. Koontz at SMKW.  I think he'd be a person who could make it happen.

Hi Mel,

I've seen a variety knives refered to as "Moose"  some in swell center, humpback , equal-end/cigar and serpentine.  

My opinion (and it is just that) is the Moose is a large, thick  frame knife (four inches or more) with a large clip blade at  the top and a large spay blade at the bottom.  Normally the blades operate on their own springs and have a space between them (but not always).

As the RR is just 3.5 inches closed, I consider a  somewhat puny Moose or a Moosling.

(PS, the Boker Moose pattern  has clip and spear blade and often a swell or serpentine handle... The Case moose is built on the #75 frame -a  square end serpentine frame)

Ron,

That twisted bone sure is sweet

Does anyone carry a RR on a daily basis if so which one. for me it,s a stag medium stockman or a boxcar whittler in smooth black bone. 

I just recently stopped carrying a Rough Rider Scout Knife.   All in all I think Rough Riders make  great EDCs (as well as collectibles).  My only problem was I seem to need  a Phillips screwdriver an awful lot these days, and I wanted it to be an in-line Phillips. More and more I was also wishing I had a small flashlight.  As much as I liked the Scout Knife, I had to leave it behind for the Victorinox Swiss Army Spartan Lite.   I miss the inline punch of the Scout knife but I’ll just have to deal with the back mounted one of the SAK.

This knife:

Was just replaced with this knife:

The RR cost about $10-15.  The SAK was a steal at $25.   Going price is $35-50! Was my RR lacking?  Only once or so in a blue moon.  Thus it really was a good all around EDC.

That said there are still several RR that are my Sunday go to Meetin' knives. Among them, my Toothpicks.  Nothing like a Stoneworx Toothpick for a Sunday meeting.   (The one on the right is for big important meetings.)

In case you didn't know:  

SMKW  $5 flat rate shipping (domestic) on $50 or more purchase,   all of January Code:  JAN550.

So this would be a good time to buy some of those Rough Riders, you've been thinking about.

Thanks for the heads up there, Tobais.

I am new to this group. I have made one purchase a rough rider painted desert muskrat (RR1003) .  I picked this knife in part because I want to try out the pattern.  However, I also found a website hand-tools.com that has a great selection of knives.  They also offer laser engraving (up to 33 characters) for $4.95.  I am now waitng for delivery of my engraved knife.

Last night on Knives Live TV, they introduced the first Moose pattern in the RR line. The number is RR1197, it has bone handles, ya'll check it out. Hey, welcome Jay, thanks for the info on that engraving.

I sure about that number?  I have 1193 as the RR blue moon moose.  So does SMKW

Blue moon moose

Yea Tobias, they did make a moose in that blue moon handle but it's exactly like the Colt Moose, this is the first real RR moose. I plan to get one to check it out.

Robert,

Is this it?

http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/products/+RR1197/Rough+Rider%2... 

This is the image Jan was pointing towards.  A fairly big knife.  4.25 inches closed.  Has the new "bomb shield"

About the Razors (As in straight razors) if I heard the boys on KnivesLive TV correctly, this is brand new to the Rough Rider line.  I'm guessing, in this case, they are responding to the success that Frost and all their related brands have been having.

Thanks Tobias, I plan to order one this week. I got to get that Moose......

The moose looks nice,Will have to get one soon

I have both on the way, I'll post a picture when they get here.

Just when I think I've run out of Rough Riders I wan to buy, I suddenly get an urge for more peanuts.  Two days ago I had four.  Now I've got five and one on the way (Steve Koontz told me I better get the RR Stag peanut before they're all gone as Rough rider has no plans to make Stag handles in the future.

Here are all my peanuts:

Left to right,

Steel Warrior Croc Bone

Steel Warrior Key Lime Bone

Case Peach Seed Jigged Amber Bone

Rough Rider Smooth White Bone

Rough Rider Stoneworks Series.

The latest edition is the Stoneworx Peanut:

Closed

Opened

As I like the small patterns, I also have the Stoneworx Baby Toothpick

And a Few other of the Stoneworx series.   I normally don't collect whole series, just certaint patterns.  But the stoneworx knives just keep suckering me in.

So that means pattern wise, I'm not collecting

Large Toothpicks (RR has 5, so do I)

Rope Knives (RR really doesn't make them, the closest is the hawkbill)

Marlin Spike knives (They have 5 I have 6 by RR)

Scout knives (They make 2 I have Both)

Canittlers (They make a total of 7 and I have all 7)

Bartenders (They make 3 and I have 3)

Equal-end two blade pen knives & associated Gentleman's knives

(RR makes 2 and I have them)

and

Peanuts (I have no idea how many they make and it scares me)

I think I have enough  Canoes and Sowbellies to add them to the list of patterns I collect but I'm fairly dormant with those.

Those are great, Tobias.