Picked up a few RR this weekend.  The guys watching the house will be very happy.  We picked up a stockman and a few others.  Will post some pics when I get home. Seeing the number of patterns and handle materials was amazing.  Made for some difficult choices :)

Rough Rider makes the best gifts for our younger friends.  The folks that watched the house and the parrot for us got these

Cute little Barlow. Got my brother-in-law the lockback version last year. 

You've got a Parrot?!

I recently bought the "Orca Dive Knife"  I'll take some pics and a do a review soon.  If nothing else it makes for an interesting fridge magnet. The magnet on the end is really strong!

Hello all, I have been toting one of the new RR linerlock trapper patterns for several weeks now and i must say it is a great EDC knife.my knife has the yellow composition handles. when i first got it the blade was a little stiff to open but after some lube and repeated opening and closing of the blade it has smoothed out and opens very easy now. i recommend this knife to all of the RR fans on this forum.

You are welcome steve, SMKW has them for around 10 bucks. They look just like a boker trapperliner. 

Hello all, i want to wish everyone on the RR forum and all of IKC a happy thanksgiving!. I also picked up one of the new Robt. Klaas knives made in china. it is a trapper in rams horn.the quality of this knife is right up there with RR, the rams horn is very nice.the only place that the knife is marked made in china is on the box and a sticker on the clip blade. i like rams horn and wish RR would make some with rams horn.

they are solid steve,more money than RR but worth it.i also picked up a RR scout in red jigged bone,very impressed with it built to last and for 10 bucks a real bargain. 

Not sure if anyone heard Josh talking about the RR paratrooper Bowie on last Tueday but he confirmed my suspicions on the blade.  It is NOT 440A Stainless Steel.  It is actually 1075 Carbon Steel, making it one the very few carbon steel RRs  (the others being the Damascus blades).  He didn't say but as the Marbles machetes are made in the Condor Factory, I'm betting this knife was as well.

RR using carbon steel? COOL! 

Just a shameless plug.  I've revamped my Rough Rider Reviews web site so that it is hopefully easier to use and more meaningful.  Basically I give my over all opinion of Rough rider Knives and then briefer reviews on individual knives.  The in depth reviews of specific patterns are still there but will slowly be re-written and cleaned up.  I'm also in the process of adding more photos to go along with the text.

Latest additions include a review of the Stoneworx line of knives, a mini neck knife, and the Orca  Dive knife.  Find it all at http://blindkat.hegewisch.net/RRR/

As always Toby, a great site!

I saw that on tv. I thought it was different too. And, I thought dog whistles were silent to humans? When he blew it on tv you could hear it!

I use a real dog whistle to train my dogs and it's loud and everyone can hear it. I've never tried those silent ones.

From what I understand, some dog whistles operate at two frequencies.  If you blow with moderate intensity it will be audible for a moderate distance.  However if you blow with strong force the whistle will  not be heard by humans (humans will hear a hissing sound) but the high frequency pitch will be heard by dogs at a much greater distance than the audible tone.  There are also some dog whistles (Galton Whistle) that is high frequency and cannot be heard by humans (except for the hissing sound)

My dog only comes when it's time to eat...

I know nothing about using dog whistles. My wife likes that knife!

Well guys and gals, if I blow a dog whistle, I want to hear it too, sorry. Back to the knives, thats a great Rough Rider, whistle or no whistle...lol

.

I like the shield also.  I wonder why they didn't make it on their dog leg stockman frame?

Has anoyone seen any of the diamond Jim knives:

Trapper,

Sowbelly

Sowbelly lock-back

That's the first that I've seen them.

I believe the "out of stock" really translates to brand spanking new and waiting on the first shipment!

I think you're right Toby. I've seen that before at SMKW on brand new knives.

According to Rough Rider Facebook page.  They are on order for early 2013.  So if the world doesn't end  on 12/21 we'll be able to snag some of them.

I have a feeling we'll still be buying knives after the 21st.....we BETTER be! LOL!

Hmm.. Still buying knives after the 21st?  The seems like a topic of discussion!

Do you have some inside information Toby? LOL!

Here is my newest RR. It is a Black pearl Trapper and these are getting harder to find.

That's good looking Billy! I wonder if the pearl is going to dry up like their stag? If I remember right, the pearl and stag Parker knives still bring a good price. Maybe the RR pearl and stag will too one day?

I really do like the black pearl.  I do understand that RR is not making much in pearl these days and the ones they are making are costing more an more.  The traditional pattern slippies in Stag are just going away unless they can find a new stag stash somewhere.   I think the main reason it is disappearing in the RR line is because they are using it in other lines such as Colt.  I think they are also doing the Chinese made Remingtons even though they don't admit to it.

RR541 Swiss style pocket knife review.  I gave it three out of five stars, only because I've seen how crappy so many of these Swiss clones are.  Here is my review as posted on Amazon.  

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The knife isn't bad for Victorinox Classic SD clone. It has the same type of nail file and all tools seem to be made to about the same tolerances as the original. The spring on the scissors seems a little weaker so it may wear out sooner than the real deal. I also noticed that the tweezers and toothpick are little harder to remove from the handle than those on the Victroinox model. Speak of handles. One of them was actually loose. I'm not sure if this happened while trying to remove the toothpick or not. In any case I just snapped it back in place. It seems fine now. (note the handles on Real Victorinox knives simply snap on and off as well, but not nearly as easy as this one came loose and was snapped back in place.)

Still, the real problem is the original can normally be bought for around $10. So unless you are buying these in bulk as a promotional item, I'm not sure why you will want to buy this one. (With shipping this one goes for around $7. I bought mine for under $5, including shipping)

Don't get me wrong. Rough Rider makes some of the best globally manufactured knives on the market but the original Victorinox Swiss Army Classic Pocket Knife is only slightly more and can be found in most big box stores for a very low price.

I'm giving it 3 stars because of the weak spring and loose handle. Still,it is better than any of the other Chinese or globally produced Swiss Army knock-offs I have encountered. But in the end, it is still just a knock-off. Buy the real thing or accept an inferior Swiss style knife, EVEN from Rough Rider.

I have one too Toby. The blades on mine are VERY rough to open. The spring is pushed against the other side and stops, making the blade grind against the spring. Not one of RR's best efforts.

If Rough Rider were to make a clone of a Case Russlock, would you buy it or would it upset you?

I ask this because I've always been a bit irked by all the Swiss Army Knock-offs and I'd be irked by Russlock knock-off.

Yet I have no problem with RRs copy of the locking Sodbuster (an old Case pattern)  and would welcome a copy of the Schrade Sharpfinger.  

I know part of my rationale is  both of these patterns have  been copied so many times that they are very much traditional and generic, yet the Russlock remains a Case original.    But at the same time, I don't apply that thinking to Swiss Army knives.

How do others feel? Would you welcome a Rough Rider Russlock clone?

I don't htink it would bother me....though if I bought a Russlock I'd get a Case.

About the Rough Rider Swiss clone.  I only bought it to compare the scissors agains those of my Case Pen knife.  Sadly, the RR scissors, at least straight out the box out performed the Case scissors. That said, I seriously doubt the RR scissors will stand the test of time.  I'm pretty sure the Case Scissors will, however.  I was really generous with the stars on that RR.

Here's one that's getting a bit hard to find....though you can still find them here and there. The first production of imitation turquoise. Which I like better than what they're using now. I also like the fancy bolsters better than the ones they are using now too.

I should point out that ALL of the first production imitation turquoise had hairline cracks. The crack on mine is almost invisible. I know where it is and I have to search for it. I read that that's the reason they stopped using this type of imitation turquoise.

Canoe 696 Indian Feather carved soapstone box........

Thanks for the info Craig.  I was wondering why they don't make these anymore.  They really look nice.  I haven't bought any... yet.  You are correct,  They are getting hard to find and the price seems to be going up!  The turquoise looks much better than on  the Brian Yellowhorse knives. Even better than the synth stone used on the Stoneworx line.

Yeah, too bad they had trouble with it....I think it looks real, even in person.

I like that turquoise, it has a nice appearance and I do like RR.  As for the SAK knock off...I agree, why?  If you can get the original for 10.00?

As for a Russlock, it would give folks that could not afford to pay the cost of a Case the ability to own a great pattern so I do not think I would be upset

"As for a Russlock, it would give folks that could not afford to pay the cost of a Case the ability to own a great pattern"

I read where some guys will buy a RR to try out a certain pattern before they pay a higher price for a pattern they may not like.

I don't have to worry about that.....I like most everything! LOL!

I had to look at some RR's because there are a quite a few of you collectors that I have come to respect you opinions about knives in general. I have narrowed down what I would like to get. I like the Stoneworx and Tortoise shell line initially. I just need to find the pattern I like, I saw on eBay a RR "Pigsticker" that is basically a melon tester with a long Wharncliff blade. I might start off with that.

Hi Brad.

I think you mean a "Toad Sticker"  While it is a decent enough knife, I think it would be bad choice for your first Rough Rider.  See my reviews:  http://blindkat.hegewisch.net/RRR/

Toad sticker summary: The blade on the Toad Sticker is a very slender and tapers evenly from tang to tip.  This is unlike the typical melon tester which is normally a long spear blade that for most of its length is the same width from spine to edge.  The blade is 4.5 inches long At just 3/8 of an inch wide at the tang, you can imagine how pointy the blade is.  The Match striker pull is located around mid spine and the blade opens smoothly with little effort. Because of the thin profile of the blade, I was able to penetrate heavy cardboard almost effortlessly. It was also quite easy to push the knife through an inch thick uncooked pork chop and the side of 7 inch blue gill which stood in for a bullfrog.  The blade is also razor sharp but because of how thin the blade is, I’m reluctant to cut anything more than paper or cooked meat. I would not use it for carving or whittling. The blade is not designed for such work.  I also would not try pushing the blade into anything like wood as this in not a leather punch or awl. I suspect the tip would bend or break.  Nor is the knife an ice pick. You can use it to poke melons and/or frogs!The blade will not handle twisting or prying.  I'm sure it will bend or break with moderate side force or twisting torque

If you like Tortoise shell, you may want to consider their "RR 515 Work Knife which is a locking Sodbuster. 

Sodbuster summary: Call it what you like, The knife is a spittin' image of the old discontinued liner-lock sod buster first made by W.R. Case & Sons. And guess what? It is fantastic. Case has said repeatedly that they have no plans to re-release the pattern. Rough Rider has been making this pattern for some time and quite frankly, if you don't own one, what are you waiting for! Anyone who collects Sodbusters or sodbuster like knives should jump on this pattern. I have two of these Rough Riders. The coal miner and tortoise shell. Both are excellent in every aspect. Sharp right out the box with a very positive, super strong liner lock, and just a beauty to cut with. They make an excellent work knife and are half the price of Case's cheapest non-locking sodbuster.

See images of both knives below

Hey Brad, I really like the Tortoise shell look. I have a bunch of the RRs in it. I wish other companies would put out Tortoise handles! I've read a lot of other people say they like them too, so I don't know why they don't do them. I think it looks classy.

Craig and others have slowly convinced me that I like Tortoiseshell as well.  Either that or the Marbles Toothpick did.  So far I've got the RR liner lock sod buster and the Marbles 5 inch toothpick in tortoise shell.  the quality is excellent on both knives which doesn't surprise me because they are both SMKW house brands and are made in the same factory in China.  The Tortoise shell looks remarkably good.

More pix of the tortoise shell toothpick and sodbuster.

The Sodbuster is RR 515    The Marbles is MR 207.   Sorry i didn't give the numbers at first.   Both are getting pretty hard to find.  The soddy is damn near impossible.

Oops.  The Soddy might be RR 514.  Either that or it is listed wrong with this seller.  $12 on Ebay   Use the auction number:  251195167839