The Free Butterbean and the Thuja

[Froggyedge]

Hey! A free knife is always a great thing!

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But a Rough Rider Butterbean..?

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I don't collect Butterbeans. In fact this is my very first Butterbean..!

I like Canoes. But those tiny little Butterbeans..?
Is such a knife even capable of doing some real work besides opening letters and cutting string?

Hm…
I do actually have an assignment today that involves some cutting. My beloved has a Thuja that needs some trimming and I have promised her to do so several times now…

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OK then, it's Butterbean testing time!

The knife is not really dull, but the edge is not as keen as I like it either.

It needs some thinning on the diamond whetstone…

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…and then a few strokes on the ceramic rod to get it shaving sharp!

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I'm good at postponing work, but now it's time to do something about that bushy thing…

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The tiny Butterbean actually was capable of trimming that Thuja!

It cut well, but how about edge holding?
Time to put some leg hair at risk…

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I'm actually quite impressed by my bonus knife..!

[Pen & Toothpick]

Butterbeans and Canoes go together well................my late father collected both of them.

I need to put more of mine to work like that.

[SuperC51]

Great surprise! I got this little guy as a surprise extra with a group of e-bay knives. Everyone that passes my desk picks it up & looks at it. Free knives are great fun.

[Pen & Toothpick]

Can't believe that there are people out here that actually like little knifes!......LIKE ME..........................you have to walk on your tippy toes here though....most off these guys like BIG KNIFES....WITH BIG BLADES...AND THEY HAVE TO BE STAG...maybe bone..........................Could be lacking somewhere else I would suspect!

[carvin don]

Well done Froggyedge

[jonet143]

great little knife test. rr s make good users and you show great skill in taming that thuja.

[Hukk]

I think most of us here enjoy little knives, knives of all types for that matter but we all have favorites. I've never seen anyone come out and say they dislike small knives. I can't even begin to think of how many deer I dressed out with a 3 inch stockman or a lockback. (not a miniture, but small for hunting most folks think - I think dfferently and have shown that most carry more knife than they need). Those guys wearing 14 inch bowies - riding the roads with 20x scopes mounted on their rifles are just plain DANGEROUS idiots.

Biggest knife I ever needed outside of a fillet knife was a 9-3/4 inch Hunter (O-1 tool steel) so I could slit the chest cavity and other bone of a bull elk or wild pig, anything less is a complete waste of time. For bear I just used a hatchet - they are tough. But for deer, the same knife I used on squirrel or rabbit worked just fine.

A 7 inch skinner with a small handle for dexterity works fine on deer, elk, and pig. But Bears have a lot of dirt in the fur, the bigger knife (9-3/4) was absolutely necessary and the fact that I could skin it without sharpening was impressive, cause usually it takes 3 knives or a couple sharpenings.

I like stag out in the field, cause when your hands are a bloody mess from dressing game, the natural surface of the stag makes it easy to handle. Wood is often to polished and gets real slippery, making it a hazard.

I like all knives especially the ones that remind me of the knives I've used. But if my hands are going to get messy - give me a stag grip.

[carvin don]

I like stag out in the field, cause when your hands are a bloody mess from dressing game, the natural surface of the stag makes it easy to handle. Wood is often to polished and gets real slippery, making it a hazard.

I like all knives especially the ones that remind me of the knives I've used. But if my hands are going to get messy - give me a stag grip.

Excellent point Hukk

[TM]

Butterbeans are cool They're a pattern I like and collect. I think they make a very handy small pocket knife that can be carried along with a larger one.

[testcase]

I have to agree with Hukk, again! Most people believe the need much more knife than they really do.
No Elk or bear in my neck of the woods, when I go riding I usually stick a 6" bladed Bowie I made out of a hoof file/rasp in my boot. Curly Maple handles, I have no idea what the blade steel is, but it is tough and holds an edge well enough. Many a whitetail has been disassembled with no problem. In my pocket is usually a sheepfoot Barlow. I have never felt the need for a bigger knife.
Just my opinion and worth exactly what you paid for it

A free knife that actually works is a fine thing. I have a handful on the way a friend is sending me, probably junk but you just never know.

[Pen & Toothpick]

I would imagine all of us have a rough rider or two at least.......no one wants to admit it, a knife made in China........................................I really loved this story, took that freeby right out of the box and put it to the test!

I was real excited that there was a brand new Case Tiny Toothpick this year, I bought one and went right to the pocket...heck yesterday I found it in the bottom of the washing machine!

I got a freebe White Delrin Doctors Knife a few months ago and a free Case YoYo for what it's worth.

[ilikeknives]

Frog, I collect and love the butterbeans, plus, what a cool name fr a knife.

[Hukk]

Your hoof file or rasp is likely 1095, occasionally some are made with W2 and I for one would love to find some files made of W2. I have plenty of files made with 1095. 1095 makes great knives, but W2 is a step or 2 better. Anyhow, that rasp makes for a good knife.

I also favor a Barlow with a sheepsfoot blade, usually 3-1/2 inches. I have my own plans for a 3-7/8 Barlow and a design by Don Robinson, a 3-1/2 inch PRECSION Barlow Liner lock using titanium liners. 3-7/8, that's generally the approxamite largest size folder I ever need. I've been planning to build it for some months now, but I still making fixed blades. Likely it will be that way until Elk season stars, December looks to be a realistic time frame now. Hard to keep saying NO, when they wave an extra $100.00. What am I going to do? Make the knife!

I have about 20 Rough Riders, not as collectables but to use as knives to run experiments on. But as far as Chinese knives go, I think Steel Warrior is the best Chinese knife even though I hate most of their designs. Rough Rider has copied many English, German, and American designs because they have targeted the American knife market and we tend to buy what we are familiar with.

They do have quality issues - seem to be pattern or plant associated, even problems with soft blade steel on some.

Butter Beans - Bring them on, real nice little knives.

[Froggyedge]

Thanks for the kind words!

I had great fun testing the Butterbean and was impressed with the capabilities of this small pattern. I don't think this will be my last Butterbean.

As for a general discussion of big knives vs. small knives, I think that deserves a topic of its own. Coming right up!

[peterforce]

i actually have a few rough riders. some were given to me free as well. any free knife is a good knife just out of the fact that the person was considerate enough to do so.i have given knives and received and nothing is more kidlike or fun then a free suprise. i try and always include a freebie with anything i trade or sell.

when i first cam on here i said rough rider makes a decent knife and got a little BOO.

but so what its about what i like. RR make great edc. and their affordable practice knives.

[Froggyedge]

My impression is that the quality of Chinese made knives in general is much better today than a few years ago.

My little free RR Butterbean was a pleasant surprise and it is now one of my users.