Rough Rider RR1285 Review

[gino]

I agree with Jerry on this one

[philco]

I can say this with some degree of certainty, the USA made Schrades are more substantial than the China made ones are. More metal and more heft. I suspect that on many of the Rough Riders the blades are thinner but the handles are heavier. I have no evidence to support this but I still believe it till proven wrong.

[Shearer]

I only have a couple of China Old Timers and here is a weigh comparison.All knives stainless steel blades

6-OT USA = 168 grams ( Both USA new ). Blade width above tang stamp 2.69 mm
60T USA = 175 grams 2.96 mm
60T China = 169 grams Used for four years 2.80 mm

530T USA = 51 grams both ( new ) 1.97 mm
530T china = 50 grams ( new )The china one has more snap 1.95 mm

The USA Old Timer's with carbon blades are far superior to any of these knives.
The only reason I have any China Old Timers is they where purchased by mistake or came in a knife lot of Ebay.


Grant

[junebug]

very cool ...and interesting!!!
thanks for postin those STATS!!!!!

[wazu013]

Here's the weight comparisons for the scout pattern:
Camillus Army 3.5
Kabar 1152 3.4
Case XX era 4.2
Case tested 4.0
Rough Rider 3.9
It surprised me to see how well the Rough Rider did weight wise. Here's the interesting part. The RR performs well but when my hands were wet the color leached out of the red bone and kept running color until it became brown bone. Then after about 3 months I noticed center pin cracks on both sides of the knife. None of the others leached color or have pin cracks. What that means, I don't know?
I'll take some pics and post them shortly.

[wazu013]

Pics as promised.
1-Asst
2-Camillus Army
3-Kabar
4-Case Tested
5-Case XX
6-Just a pic of Case's 55 year old red bone vs RR's red bone turned brown? I actually think they colored red over brown just to fill orders.
7-Pic of pin crack.

[glenn]

I have never seen a RR loose its color before.

[wazu013]

I have never seen a RR loose its color before.

Once I noticed it bleeding I scrubbed it to get to where it is now. I actually like this color.

[Shearer]

wazu013
I found it very interesting when I weigh some knives.


Grant

[Jeffrey]

My limited experience with the primary Chinese made brands is that there are several brands (Rough Rider, Boker Magnum, Boker Plus, Colt, Columbia River Knife and Tool, etc. ) that are quite adequate for normal daily use. I guess that's what make it such a scarey situation. They are a legitimate threat to American made knives as far as EDC is concerned, especially when you consider that the majority of knife buyers could give a flip less where the knife comes from as long as it meets his needs.

Amen Philco, Ill stick with my American knives!

[Just Plain Dave]

All things said I think the China Schrades are a little tougher that RR of the same size.
But like I said I have a few RR that are indeed up to snuff.

Given that I'd also rather carry Carbon steel or at least CV steel knives....

[deltaboy]

Been happy with my RR Barlows and the middle sized stockman I got this last month.

[kootenay joe]

On Jan 1 2015 Miller Bros. posted:
"I now plan to move on to an American equivalent made knife, a GEC #563211 which I bought last month! In a year I will see how this holds up to the same use and abuse I gave the Rough Rider and will post the results"

A year is now well past but where is this important follow up post ?
GEC builds heavy duty knives. Some will last forever because the spring is so heavy duty you can't open the blade.
RR's are very good knives but i think the GEC should hold up better.
But, i have under estimated RR before and the knives have proved me wrong.
So this anticipated GEC vs. RR follow up post is important, to me anyway.
kj

[deltaboy]

Love my Rough Riders .