Rare RR's ??

[JonTerry]

Guys,

I've have just landed a box of new Rough Ryders and it appears from the photos to be NOS.

Are there any patterns, special additions that I should be looking out for ???

Cheers

JT

[tvic]

Just saw this post, Jon. I’m not aware of any rare ones. I do have a Route 66 RR Trapper that doesn’t appear to be available anymore. Why don’t you post some pics of the knives you got? Folks might like to see what may be rare - and possibly be able to share some info.

[Rhinofly]

There are indeed some rare and hard to find Rough Riders, and I have a personal list of older RR knives I am always on the hunt for. One example might be the Half Hawk from the Outdoorsman series, number 1286. However I suspect the people who can answer this question are also competing to collect them and be hesitant to reveal the exact knives ... some can be very hard to find.

Why not post a list of what you got? It could not hurt, and we could probably help tell you if you have anything really desirable.

[Modern Slip Joints]

While I'm not aware of any RR models that were imported in small enough numbers to be called rare, many discontinued models are not convenient to find. There are a few discontinued RR models that I would not mind finding at prices slightly higher than current offerings. However, I have no way of knowing if any other collectors want the same models. Rinofly's example of a RR model he wants is not one I give a hoot about and it's likely he'd say the same about the models I'd like. Their low value does not give owners incentive to try to auction them on ebay so you aren't likely to learn much poking around there. Old RRs are not like coins where there really are rarieties collectors will pay a bunch for. People who want to spend a fist full of dollars step up to more expensive knife brands.

[Rough Ryder]

There are certainly rare and collectible RRs. Some people will pay big bucks to find something they feel they need to round out a set. The Rifleman series comes to mind as I have seen them go for $80-90 on eBay. I kick myself for not buying one of them when they were still available.

Rough Ryders are the perfect collectible knife because they are cheap and they made many models.

[treefarmer]

Just a comment: In the early RR knives, the spelling was a letter different.
Rough Ryder was Rough Rider. Would the "rare" knives be in this group?
Never thought these knives would be in the "lime light".
A Rough Rider trapper was anonymously gifted to me because I didn't think highly of the RR knives, mainly because of point of origin and my personal political views. I completely processed a deer with the trapper, straight out of the box, never having to freshen up either blade. (did use a sawzall and a filet knife )
I have a few RR knives but they'll never replace my Cases and Queens!
Treefarmer

[eveled]

The ones with an acorn shield seem to be very hard to find. I think they mostly on Tobacco Bone?

I’ve been looking for a “Half Hawk” aka LoomFixer with an acorn forever.

[Reverand]

The ones with an acorn shield seem to be very hard to find. I think they were only on Tobacco Bone?

I’ve been looking for a “Half Hawk” aka LoomFixer with an acorn forever.

Roland (Kootenay Joe) had quite a set of the Rough Riders with the acorn shields that he quoted me a good price for, a few years back. I didn't really have the money to buy the set, and now kick myself for not having scrounged around and come up with it.

[eveled]

I know that feeling.

[Rough Ryder]

It’s kind of hit or miss on which ones are more collectible. It’s not just the older models that are hard to find. Most have little to no collector value yet. The “Rough Rider” knives with the I instead of the Y don’t necessarily command a premium just because of that. At least not currently.

I would caution against buying any RR at high prices ($100 range) for two reasons:
1. You can buy more valuable knives like Case or Queen when you get up in that range
2. RR can and has reintroduced discontinued models of “rare” models which resets their value collector prices to whatever they price them at and often the quality is just as good.

I haven’t noticed a decline in quality over the years with production. I think RR is still in its prime as far as value and quality goes. It’s a great time to be a Rough Ryder collector. They were cheaper a few years ago but everything has gone up.

[Rhinofly]

The ones with an acorn shield seem to be very hard to find. I think they mostly on Tobacco Bone?

I’ve been looking for a “Half Hawk” aka LoomFixer with an acorn forever.

It is funny that you mentioned the Half Hawk with the acorn. That is exactly the half Hawk #1286 from the Outdoorsman Series that I mentioned in my post above. After literally years of looking, I finally managed to snag one off the big auction site tonight. Finally!

FYI: The smooth tobacco bone knives with the acorn shield are from the Outdoorsman series of knives. Most were from the early days of Rough Rider, although some patterns were released later under the "Ryder" name. This is one of the most expansive series that Rough Rider did: I know of at least 29 patterns released in this series. A few of these are still readily available, but the great majority are scarce. A few are in demand (Half Hawk, Barlow, Sowbelly Stockman for example) and draw lots of action on the auction site when they appear. The #1286 I got tonight received 19 bids, for example.

[Rhinofly]

Here is a picture of the two Outdoorsman knives in the auction. I wasn't about to pass up an Outdoorsman Half Hawk just because it came with another weird knife.

[eveled]

Nice score! That would be a fantastic series to have and display. They are beautiful.

The acorn shield was used by some old companies in the old days. I’ve seen BoyScout knives with their emblem on a shield shaped like an acorn.

[Rhinofly]

Nice score! That would be a fantastic series to have and display. They are beautiful.

The acorn shield was used by some old companies in the old days. I’ve seen BoyScout knives with their emblem on a shield shaped like an acorn.

Yes, the Outdoorsman series is very nice, and it is one of the most popular series RR has produced. There are a few early knives from that series I am still actively hunting for.