Rigid USA help?

[Chaser81]

Can anyone tell me the model of this rigid USA fixed blade knife? Paid 30$ at an auction and don’t know much about it.

[Killgar]

The model is R1 Sidewinder. From the "Wilderness Series".

Second pic for closeup.

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[Chaser81]

Thanks so much, do you know a rough value?

[1967redrider]

Made by Canal Street?

[Killgar]

Thanks so much, do you know a rough value?

You're welcome.

I don't normally do values, but taking a quick look at the SOLD listings on ebay for Rigid R1 Sidewinders, I see that one with the box and papers sold this past February for $127. Another with the box sold this past March for $240.

Both of those knives have black sheaths. But I don't know if sheath color would affect value or desirability.


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[Chaser81]

Thanks for the info! Is it one of the originals from when the company first started?

[Killgar]

Thanks for the info! Is it one of the originals from when the company first started?

I've been looking around (got curious, and always looking to learn), and although I haven't been able to find an official, and unquestionable source of information regarding the history of Rigid knives (people say a lot of things on the internet), and more specifically, your R1, here is what I've got-

It's my understanding that Rigid USA began in Santee, California in the 1970's (I haven't been able to find the exact year). It's also my understanding that at different times all Rigid USA fixed-blades (including the R1) had two handle pins holding the handles on, but at other times they had no pins.

It's my understanding that at some point Rigid USA moved from Santee, California to Arkansas. And that later they moved production to Japan, and then Taiwan and China.

It's my understanding that the Rigid knives made in the USA (like yours) are of the highest value, with the original/oldest ones being of the greatest value.

Below is a pic from a Rigid USA catalog. Your model (R1, no handle pins) is one of the knives pictured. The mailing address on the catalog page is Santee, California. So that leads me to believe that while Rigid was still in Santee (their original location) that they were producing R1 Sidewinders with no handle pins.

I would also point out that the R1 Sidewinder that sold for $240 last march on ebay had no handle pins.

So, that's what I've got for you. For whatever it's worth. There's no way for me to pin down the exact year your knife was made, or if it was made in California or Arkansas. But it was made in the USA, so that's a good thing.

First pic- Rigid Catalog. Second pic- Close-up of the address.

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[Chaser81]

Thank you so much for your patience and knowledge! You are great!

[Killgar]

Thank you so much for your patience and knowledge! You are great!

You're very welcome.

Funny thing, I live in San Diego county (Santee is in San Diego), and I worked for several years on Prospect Ave (long after Rigid left). I had no idea that Rigid began either in San Diego, Santee, or on Prospect Ave.. How's that for a coincidence. It's a small world sometimes.

[Chaser81]

Yes it is!

[Modern Slip Joints]

Chaser81 should keep an eye on his rear view mirror for flashing blue lights. He stole it.

Black Leather sheaths were superseeded by brown. I've seen a Sidewinder with black sheath in its original box with its original paper that wrote its steel was something other than 440. I'm curious what the copy right dates are on the two papers pictured above. In the early 1980s the rumor was Rigid was using 440C but that could have been salesmen adding the C if not the whole 440C. In those days 440C was the best known super cutlery steel.

Fortunately, after the original U.S. Rigid company went out of business none of the users of the Rigid brand name ever sold knives that look remotely like the knives in the Wilderness series so originals are positively identified at a glance. The only knife I've seen that copies the Sidewinder is in Rough Ryder's Tater Skin series but it has mircata hnadle sides instead of wood, nickel silver instead of brass, a nylon sheath instead of leather and is stamped Rough Ryder China. If a hunter wanted to try out the blade shape before paying the going price for an original it would be worth SMKW approximately $24.

The design has one fault that is more important for older hikers. For their size they are heavy.

[Killgar]

I don't see a copyright date. The catalog page in my previous post was from a dealer/salesman catalog consisting of several loose catalog pages in a folder with a price guide. The price guide is dated 1978 (pics below). Interesting detail about the price guide, some knives are shown with handle pins, some are not. So that would indicate to me that at least in 1978 Rigid was producing the Sidewinder and other fixed-blades without handle pins.

I found pics of another dealer/salesman folder catalog, it's not dated but the person selling it says it's from 1979. It contains a letter from the Rigid sales manager describing the blades (steel, hardness) (pics below).

Price guide-

Supposed 1979 catalog and letter (close-up of the letter included)-

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[Modern Slip Joints]

Killgar,
Thank you for posting pictures of the papers. The rumored 440C is verified, at least for some years. What was the price for R19 Bowies? I did handle a Alamo Bowie. I thought its impracticle 3 1/2 pound weight and huge size made it purely a display knife. I also handled an expensive Rigid stag handled long Arkinsaw Toothpick that, with a blade not nearly so broad and without a full tang handle was a lot lighter. That dagger appears to be mostly forgotten. I suspect they're pretty scarce.

[Killgar]

Killgar,
Thank you for posting pictures of the papers. The rumored 440C is verified, at least for some years. What was the price for R19 Bowies? I did handle a Alamo Bowie. I thought its impracticle 3 1/2 pound weight and huge size made it purely a display knife. I also handled an expensive Rigid stag handled long Arkinsaw Toothpick that, with a blade not nearly so broad and without a full tang handle was a lot lighter. That dagger appears to be mostly forgotten. I suspect they're pretty scarce.

You're welcome.

Here's a pic of the full price list. Close-up pic of the R19 below it. I included the dagger. Looks like it was one of their more expensive models. I would guess that not many were sold. $325 was A LOT to pay for a knife in 1978. Heck, it's a lot now.

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[tallguy606]

I've had a few Rigids over the years. I always thought the early ones were pins/black sheath, later - no pins, natural leather sheath. But I have seen other combinations that appear original so this may not be correct. Great knives, but overly heavy with all that brass.

[Modern Slip Joints]

[...] $325 was A LOT to pay for a knife in 1978. [...]

3 to 4 years later in a knife store in the big mall in the center of a fairly expensive city stag handled Randals were on the shelf for $125. That was a lot of money. (lot not capitalized )