Rough Riders!

[edge213]

The beautiful letter and letterhead is probably worth more than the knife.
Looking forward to see their answer.

[kootenay joe]

David, i hope you get a real answer, not just a generalized marketing B.S. reply.
We need to find out: Are some Rough Rider/Ryder folding knives now being made in Pakistan ?
The RR fixed blades have been made in Pakistan for maybe 10 years now but every folding RR knife i have (few hundred) is marked "China".
kj

[Modern Slip Joints]

[...] We need to find out: Are some Rough Rider/Ryder folding knives now being made in Pakistan ?
The RR fixed blades have been made in Pakistan for maybe 10 years now but every folding RR knife i have (few hundred) is marked "China".
kj

SMKW is selling the Rough Ryder RR1396 stag 4 1/4" lock back for $14.99. It is made in Pakistan. A stag Case Mako style knife priced that low is a good clue. I suggest always reading enough of a retailer's description or scrutinizing their pictures until you learn what country an RR was made in. For at least one Pakistan made RR fixed blade SMKW omitted country of manufacture from their description. The only place Pakistan occurs in their web site page on the knife is Pakistan etched on the blade. However, it's rumored that the factory making most of the RR pocket knives is the most automated pocket knife factory on the planet and it's hard to under price the robots when you're making knives in a cave. Apparently what the Pakistanis can do less expensively than the Chinese is attach stag.

[zed6309]

Also Pakistan is known for making these lockback hunter style knives and I remember getting one in the early 80's , there also known for these fancy bolsters as well, I'm not surprised that these are coming out of Pakistan.

[kootenay joe]

Quote Modern Slip Joints: "However, it's rumored that the factory making most of the RR pocket knives is the most automated pocket knife factory on the planet and it's hard to under price the robots".
I think i am the person responsible for this rumor. I posted a few years back that the RR knives are so consistently precise especially the thinly ground ultra sharp blades that i suggested they might be made using laser controlled computerized robotic machines.
Phil Gibbs then commented on this saying that the Chinese factory that made the very precise folders for A G Russell was far from modern and involved hand work by employees that they had to train and supervise closely to get the high standards that A.G. insisted on.
Phil Gibbs was a senior manger at Camillus for many years and after Camillus closed in 2007 he went to work for A.G. Russell. His job was designing knives and then ensuring that they were made to the highest level of workmanship and fit and finish. This involved trips to the factory in China, so he definitely knows what he is talking about.
If the excellent AGR China folders are made using old fashioned equipment, then the same is likely true for the RR folders.
kj

[kootenay joe]

I asked Dan (Old Folder) if he would help me get one of the SMKW's new Rough Ryder knives with VG-10 steel. SMKW does not ship to Canada. I do have a USA shipping address but i cannot access it as the USA/Canada border has been closed since March 2020 due to Covid.
The package arrived yesterday and to my surprise it contained 2 of these new RR folders, one with the blue handle and one with the silver-green handle.
I am super impressed with these knives. The design is excellent, feels natural in hand, blade action is smooth and blade is 100% solid in the open position. The blade is thinly ground and the VG-10 edge is literally hair poppin' sharp. My arm hairs seem to leap away as soon as the blade edge touches their outer surface.
I am a strong believer in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". The couple of hundred traditional style RR knives i have all arrived with very sharp blade edges. Not even one blade was less than very sharp. And i have used a few of them in the garden, etc. and found that these blades edge hold much longer than you would expect.
So i was concerned that a switch to VG-10 steel might result in blades not quite as sharp as they are with the 'regular' steel used for the traditional style RR blades. However there was no need to worry. These VG-10 blades could not be sharper.
These are amazingly good knives yet they cost only $15 each. If you get one you will not regret it, guaranteed.
Thank you Dan for helping me obtain these new RR's and for your generosity of sending me 2 even though i only paid for one.
kj

[KLJ77]

This ARE very nice looking, KJ. I really like the looks of the blue one.

[kootenay joe]

Thanks LJ. The looks are o.k. I like jigged bone or hardwood but these metal handles keep it slim and easy to pocket. The best things are in hand feel and an ultra-sharp blade that i expect will edge hold very well. It would be hard to find a better slicer pocket knife at any price.
You might find 'equal' but not better. And, this knife costs $15.00 ! With knives, price and quality are very loosely connected.
kj

[zed6309]

Love these KJ , not available in the uk sadly , when /if I get one I'm going to do Stag covers on it these look just like the HH slipstream that is S35vn and titanium scales

[kootenay joe]

Paul, that is a fine looking knife. I have not heard of "HH" except as "Helle Hanson" a maker of outdoor winter clothing. I doubt your knife is from the same HH ?
kj

[zed6309]

Paul, that is a fine looking knife. I have not heard of "HH" except as "Helle Hanson" a maker of outdoor winter clothing. I doubt your knife is from the same HH ?
kj

Sorry kj it's a UK company that sells edc and camping gear, it's called Heinnie haynes

[dlr110]

Here is a Rough "Rider" I didn't expect to see.
Description on Amazon:
"3 Inches closed. Stainless sheepsfoot blade, can opener, and corkscrew.
Black wood handles with brass spacers. Handle is engraved 'Select Barrel'
on one side."
It's a cool knife, but it's heavy weighting in at 4 oz. and it's
just a hair under 3/4 of an inch wide. Everything other than the handle
is brass and stainless. It's short and fat like me!

[KLJ77]

That is a very unusual and unique RR, David. I like it.

[zed6309]

Ok guys, a little question, why is it sometimes written ROUGH RIDER OR ROUGH RYDER?

[dlr110]

Ok guys, a little question, why is it sometimes written ROUGH RIDER OR ROUGH RYDER?

I'm betting Dan is the best one to answer that question. He will see this soon.

[Stanwade]

Here is a Rough "Rider" I didn't expect to see.
Description on Amazon:
"3 Inches closed. Stainless sheepsfoot blade, can opener, and corkscrew.
Black wood handles with brass spacers. Handle is engraved 'Select Barrel'
on one side."
It's a cool knife, but it's heavy weighting in at 4 oz. and it's
just a hair under 3/4 of an inch wide. Everything other than the handle
is brass and stainless. It's short and fat like me!

David, don't sell yourself "short"-- you have the body of a god-- Buddha .. (I don't have room to talk )

[Old Folder]

Ok guys, a little question, why is it sometimes written ROUGH RIDER OR ROUGH RYDER?

I'm betting Dan is the best one to answer that question. He will see this soon.

Thanks David.
I'm certainly not "The best one" to answer Pauls above question, however, on January 20, 2019 I posted the below link within our "Rough Rider" forum.
The below aapk link concerns the current discussion.
I still have no official reason for the "Ryder-Rider" name change.
Tomatos or Tomatoes

viewtopic.php?f=79&t=60502

[zed6309]

Ok guys, a little question, why is it sometimes written ROUGH RIDER OR ROUGH RYDER?

I'm betting Dan is the best one to answer that question. He will see this soon.

[jerryd6818]

The answer is simple. Because they changed it from Rough Ryder to Rough Rider. Why? Therein lies the conundrum. Unless someone here knows the reason, you would have to ask Smokey Mountain Knife Works.

[jerryd6818]

Received this today. Only bought it because of the Wharncliffe blade (and the price was cheap). 3½" like a Mini-Trapper. Looks like a Copperhead on a bowling pin. It is colorful.

[Froe]

I’m sure this is an old topic already hashed out somewhere on aapk, regardless: Has any tried out one of the more recent carbon steel RRs yet? Many thanks in advance.
Froe

[Old Folder]

I’m sure this is an old topic already hashed out somewhere on aapk, regardless: Has any tried out one of the more recent carbon steel RRs yet? Many thanks in advance.
Froe

Good question Froe.
I have read that High-carbon steel is a premium-grade steel for knife blades The high amount of carbon in the steel provides toughness, strength, edge-holding, and corrosion resistance. It is a popular material for kitchen knives also because it does not wear easily and is easier to sharpen than stainless steel. Steel stock comes in a variety of sizes and high carbon types.

I have a few RR T10 Carbon Steel bladed knives, to include the RR Denim Micarta Series, the RR Classic Carbon Series, and my RR Heavy Forge Series of two knives pictured below that are just gorgeous. Hoping RR makes more of the 'Heavy Forge' series soon?

Just go to smkw.com and put "RR Carbon Steel" in Smoky's search box at the top for some results.

I believe that SMKW has a few more 'Carbon Steel' bladed knives than I have mentioned?

They all arrived razor sharp and I have not had the need to 're-sharpen' them yet.
However, I'm sure that other members will chime in that know much more than I do about the steel quality.

Dan

[jmh58]

Hey Dan.
John 🥸

[Dinadan]

I’m sure this is an old topic already hashed out somewhere on aapk, regardless: Has any tried out one of the more recent carbon steel RRs yet? Many thanks in advance.
Froe

I have a couple of the carbon steel fish knives. I think they are good knives ... but the blades do rust just like old time carbon steel! If I had bought anything except a fish knife I probably would not have noticed.

[Froe]

Thanks for response OLd Folder. I may just buy one to try it out. I like the size of the bigger stockmans they offer. The big yellow handled one is calling me.
You’ve got some beauties posted.
Froe