Rough Riders!

[Legend]

20200430_164434.jpg

Hello bighomer , from the UK . I know this first photo of the sowbelly RRs is over five years old but second from the top is the brown stag bone sowbelly which I also have in my RRs collection ( 18 I think ) Seeing the photo prompted me to get this model out again and have another look at it as sometimes in a collection the knives just sit there and you tend to forget about them . I find this particular sowbelly model a nicely compacted slip joint but with enough thickness in the scales and heft to feel really solid in the hand ! also with this model I like the way the clip point is slightly downswept giving a much nicer shape and the spey blade being that slightly wider . With its classy traditional looks of the bone stag scales its a great general purpose knife to carry as an EDC .

[dlr110]

Here is my latest pile of Rough Rider & Ryder knives. I have got to be the dumbest person with a camera..

Screenshot 2025-06-18 130226.jpg (152.86 KiB) Viewed 674 times

[SwedgeHead]

Here is my latest pile of Rough Rider & Ryder knives. I have got to be the dumbest person with a camera..
Screenshot 2025-06-18 125119.jpgScreenshot 2025-06-18 125507.jpgScreenshot 2025-06-18 130121.jpgScreenshot 2025-06-18 130226.jpg

Nicely done sir.

[Dinadan]

Hello bighomer , from the UK . I know this first photo of the sowbelly RRs is over five years old

Sometimes those old posts and photos are fun to revisit. I do not have a sowbelly to post: perhaps I should change that!

Here is my latest pile of Rough Rider & Ryder knives.

That is quite a collection, David. Your knives are much more neatly organized than mine!

[Madmarco]

That's a cool display of your RR's, David, nothing wrong with your camera work that I can see?

[Nev52]

Here is my latest pile of Rough Rider & Ryder knives. I have got to be the dumbest person with a camera..
Screenshot 2025-06-18 125119.jpgScreenshot 2025-06-18 125507.jpgScreenshot 2025-06-18 130121.jpgScreenshot 2025-06-18 130226.jpg

Very nice collection and a great way to display it

[Dinadan]

I finally broke down and got a Rough Ryder Reserve knife. A peanut, RRR049.

RRR049

It is a beauty. Fit and finish are just about perfect. And it is exactly the size I like for my pocket.

RRR049

RRR049

Unfortunately, there are a couple of things that I do not like at all. One is the pull. This knife is a real nail breaker. I have to use a plier type tool to grip the main blade to open it. Secondary blade is worse, because I cannot get a grip on it with the plier unless the main blade is open. Very disappointing.

RRR049

This knife is not really very comfortable to use, even once the selected blade is open. Both blades have a very pronounced and pointy kick that sits very proud when the blade is closed. So whichever blade I use, the kick on the closed blade gouges my index finger. You can see what I mean in the photo below.

kick

In summary, I would say that this knife gets five out of five stars as a display or desk knife. For EDC it gets one out of five stars.

[doglegg]

I finally broke down and go a Rough Ryder Reserve knife. A peanut, RRR049.
RRR049-11.jpg
It is a beauty. Fit and finish are just about perfect. And it is exactly the size I like for my pocket.
RRR049-16.jpg
RRR049-17.jpg
Unfortunately, there are a couple of things that I do not like at all. One is the pull. This knife is a real nail breaker. I have to use a plier type tool to grip the main blade to open it. Secondary blade is worse, because I cannot get a grip on it with the plier unless the main blade is open. Very disappointing.
RRR049-20.jpg
This knife is not really very comfortable to use, even once the selected blade is open. Both blades have a very pronounced and pointy kick that sits very proud when the blade is closed. So whichever blade I use, the kick on the closed blade gouges my index finger. You can see what I mean in the photo below.
RRR049-35.jpg
In summary, I would say that this knife gets five out of five stars as a display or desk knife. For EDC it gets one out of five stars.

Too bad. I hate disappointment.

[dlr110]

In summary, I would say that this knife gets five out of five stars as a display or desk knife. For EDC it gets one out of five stars.

Sorry you're disappointed Mel. I had bought just a couple of the RRR and I was not happy with them either so I'm staying with
the regular RR knives.

[Modern Slip Joints]

[...] I have to use a plier type tool to grip the main blade to open it. Secondary blade is worse, because I cannot get a grip on it with the plier unless the main blade is open. [...]

Both blades have a very pronounced and pointy kick that sits very proud when the blade is closed. So whichever blade I use, the kick on the closed blade gouges my index finger. You can see what I mean in the photo below. [...]

I have no doubt SMKW will refund their price for a RR or RRR knife that you can not open including your shipping cost buying it and returning it. Sometimes they want to first send a replacement knife of the same model instructioning that if you like the replacement then keep them both. If you do not like the replacement then send both back.

Not liking design features like the high corners of blade tangs is another matter. For that reason they would probably alow you to return it the same as if you changed your mind about buying it. The return shipping cost would be on you. Quite a few RRR knives have or had unusual, questionable or controversial design features. It's wise to give some thought to whether you are going to like a RRR design before buying one. I like my RRRs but some of them are not for everyone. Patterns similar to patterns case has been able to sell continuously for a century are a safer bet.

BTW, when a blade is closed its kick contacts the spring limiting how low the blade sits in the blade well. The kick is the hump on the tang next to the choil or next to the handle side end of the edge. Choils are the notch seperating the edge and tang. Generally, higher priced knives like Case knives have choils and less expensive knives like U.S made Camillus knives do not have choils.

[Dinadan]

Thanks for the comments, Doglegg, and David.

Both blades have a very pronounced and pointy kick that sits very proud when the blade is closed. So whichever blade I use, the kick on the closed blade gouges my index finger. You can see what I mean in the photo below. [...]

BTW, when a blade is closed its kick contacts the spring limiting how low the blade sits in the blade well. The kick is the hump on the tang next to the choil or next to the handle side end of the edge. Choils are the notch seperating the edge and tang. Generally, higher priced knives like Case knives have choils and less expensive knives like U.S made Camillus knies do not have choils.

Oops! You are right, MSJ. I was confused about the term for the part of the blade in question. Here is what I am talking about. Sorry about the (my) confusion.

RRR

RRR049-37.jpg (35.51 KiB) Viewed 443 times

SMKW probably would refund or replace my purchase, but I am not going to ask for that. The knife is not defective in materials or workmanship. In fact, it is pretty close to one of my GEC knives with regard to the pull and finger gouging. It is just that I expect the GEC to be a prima donna display knife, and I expect the RR to be a good user. This one is so close to perfect that it hurts not to use it. But I have found a solution. A pair of nail clippers works very well to open the main blade: I just have to remember to put the clippers in my pocket with the knife. And grow a callus on my finger!!

RRR

RRR049-38.jpg (31.86 KiB) Viewed 443 times

[Stakeknife]

I finally broke down and got a Rough Ryder Reserve knife. A peanut, RRR049.
RRR049-11.jpg
It is a beauty. Fit and finish are just about perfect. And it is exactly the size I like for my pocket.
RRR049-16.jpg
RRR049-17.jpg
Unfortunately, there are a couple of things that I do not like at all. One is the pull. This knife is a real nail breaker. I have to use a plier type tool to grip the main blade to open it. Secondary blade is worse, because I cannot get a grip on it with the plier unless the main blade is open. Very disappointing.
RRR049-20.jpg
This knife is not really very comfortable to use, even once the selected blade is open. Both blades have a very pronounced and pointy kick that sits very proud when the blade is closed. So whichever blade I use, the kick on the closed blade gouges my index finger. You can see what I mean in the photo below.
RRR049-35.jpg
In summary, I would say that this knife gets five out of five stars as a display or desk knife. For EDC it gets one out of five stars.

I see your point. Try their canoe , nice size and easy opening.

[Modern Slip Joints]

I see your point. Try their canoe , nice size and easy opening.

That's actually a RR Stoneworks, 3 1/2" closed, small Moose, a good looking practical pocket knife. Inexplicably SMKW named it a Large Moose. In all other RR series Large Moose are 4 3/8" closed. There is a RR Stoneworx Canoe that combines a spear master with a pen like Dinadan's RRR Peanut. While the Stoneworx series' 440B is a step up from the standard RR 440A a big attraction to RRR knives is their standard D2 blade steel.

[SwedgeHead]

Thanks for the comments, Doglegg, and David.

Both blades have a very pronounced and pointy kick that sits very proud when the blade is closed. So whichever blade I use, the kick on the closed blade gouges my index finger. You can see what I mean in the photo below. [...]

BTW, when a blade is closed its kick contacts the spring limiting how low the blade sits in the blade well. The kick is the hump on the tang next to the choil or next to the handle side end of the edge. Choils are the notch seperating the edge and tang. Generally, higher priced knives like Case knives have choils and less expensive knives like U.S made Camillus knies do not have choils.

Oops! You are right, MSJ. I was confused about the term for the part of the blade in question. Here is what I am talking about. Sorry about the (my) confusion.
RRR049-37.jpg
SMKW probably would refund or replace my purchase, but I am not going to ask for that. The knife is not defective in materials or workmanship. In fact, it is pretty close to one of my GEC knives with regard to the pull and finger gouging. It is just that I expect the GEC to be a prima donna display knife, and I expect the RR to be a good user. This one is so close to perfect that it hurts not to use it. But I have found a solution. A pair of nail clippers works very well to open the main blade: I just have to remember to put the clippers in my pocket with the knife. And grow a callus on my finger!!
RRR049-38.jpg

Maybe why they sell these, but your nail clipper may be a slicker solution and you can get straight cutters too (or even straight-angled)

Screenshot 2025-06-26 11.46.11 AM.png (143.71 KiB) Viewed 420 times

[Stakeknife]

I see your point. Try their canoe , nice size and easy opening.

That's actually a RR Stoneworks, 3 1/2" closed, small Moose, a good looking practical pocket knife. Inexplicably SMKW named it a Large Moose. In all other RR series Large Moose are 4 3/8" closed. There is a RR Stoneworx Canoe that combines a spear master with a pen like Dinadan's RRR Peanut. While the Stoneworx series' 440B is a step up from the standard RR 440A a big attraction to RRR knives is their standard D2 blade steel.

You are correct sir, it fits on the pocket nicely, feels good in the hand and it will cut.

[Dinadan]

it fits on the pocket nicely, feels good in the hand and it will cut.

Nice Moose, Stakeknife. Maybe I should try one of those: yours sure looks good.

[Stakeknife]

Comes with 440b steel supposedly an upgrade from their 440a. Really all I ever use my knives for anymore is opening Amazon boxes.
Maybe you put yours to work?

[Legend]

Here is a RR I just bought. A Bird and Trout pattern, this knife is only 6.3 inches long.
Bird and Trout11.jpg
I did not see any at Smoky Mountain, so i snagged this one off Ebay.
Bird and Trout12.jpg
Next time I am cleaning some Sand Sea Trout I will have to test it out.
Bird and Trout16.jpg
I guess the folks who created the Bird and Trout pattern would probably choke at the idea of using it on a Sea Trout, but Rainbows are a bit scarce here along the Gulf of Mexico.
Bird and Trout17.jpg
Note that the RR is actually smaller than an open Case fishing knife. All in all, a very well made and cool little knife!

Hi Dinadan , really like that RR jigged bird and trout fixed blade but I think they let themselves down with the sheath . A brown leather sheath would have really set it off nicely .

[Legend]

Let’s put another one out there! How about a Barlow? Brown Stag Bone.

Those scales look real classy and set this barlow knife off nicely

[Dinadan]

Hi Dinadan , really like that RR jigged bird and trout fixed blade but I think they let themselves down with the sheath . A brown leather sheath would have really set it off nicely .

You are right, Legend, leather would be nice. That Bird and Trout knife has held up very well to salt water. I use the back for scaling smaller fish. It keeps an edge pretty good, too.