Rigid knife question

[Dradian]

I have these two knives that both seem to have the same stamp in the same lettering, but one is marked Italy and the other says Germany. I tried to find information on the company, but all I kept finding was stuff about knife makers from Buck and a shop from California. The folder is marked rg-8 and the other is marked rg-39. Just curious why the different countries and if in fact it's still the same maker or if they sold the brand.

[knife7knut]

Rigid knives were originally made in Santee California in the 1970's. They were very high quality and very expensive for the time. I have two California made folders and one fixed blade(a bowie).I also have a couple of metal folders marked Rigid Japan that look to have been made in the 1980's or 90's.They are pretty good quality but not near the California made knives.
I have never seen ones like you posted;they look to both have been made in Germany.If I had to guess I would say either Anton Wingen or Wolfertz. They look like pretty good quality pieces.

[philco]

I've got three modern production Rigid branded knives that were all made by Canal Street Cutlery.

Apparently Rigid is not making their own knives anymore. Instead they farm out the production to other knife companies much like Moore Makers does.

[jerryd6818]

I acquired this RG70 last year. To me, it has all the earmarks of the Schrade/Ulster/Imperial consortium.

[Dradian]

Thanks for the information. I wonder if there's a way to date them by where they were produced. I've had the sheath knife (Italy) for almost a decade I believe, and I've always felt like it was a good quality knife. I picked up the folder (Germany) in the last year and it too has a good feel to it. There is a pearl handled version of it on ebay right now, if anybody wants one. There's no real information with the listing to indicate the age. I like that the blade is all etched and what appears to me to be hand enameled. Anyway, thanks again guys.

[Dradian]

That tang stamp has the same look. Does it say where it was made?

[jerryd6818]

USA

Oops! Not Schrade group. I just noticed the pin in this picture. RG70 is probably Camillus made even though it doesn't have the match strike pull. Camillus used the plain long pull on the #5 which they made from '99-'03 so it's not like there's no precedent for it. I'd say, judging from the handles, the time frame for the RG70 is probably the '90s. I know that doesn't help with your knife.

BTW, I did find this in my archives. Sorry, I don't remember the source.

"Rigid Knives was started and run by Don Collum, Bill Duff, & Dean Parks in Santee CA. The company ran 1970-1980.

Rigid was bought by A.G. Russell who tried to keep the brand afloat before selling to United Cutlery. I saw it said that United has also gone out of business.

Most of the early knives were sheath knives.

Slip joints have at one time or another been made in USA, Japan, Taiwan and China.

USA knives have been made by Rigid, Camillus, Queen (rumor) and Canal Street."

[Dradian]

That would explain why I had seen the A.G. Russell name and United come up on images for the sheath knife during my searches. I did find pictures of the knife several times, but nothing with the amount of info that would make me sure of it. Thanks.

[knife7knut]

Here are my Rigid knives:
The first two are possibly Japanese made but still nice quality.
The Apache I bought new in the early 1970's for around $45.
The nickel handled folder I bought a couple years ago for $10
The fixed blade has some horribly done engraving work on it and I think I paid $10 for that as well.

[Dradian]

I really like that fixed blade on top.

[RobesonsRme.com]

I almost bought two identical stag handled, round bolstered, four blade congress knives with just that Rigid mark and "Germany" one of the blades.

They looked like something from Hen & Rooster or any one of several other good German makers.

I could have gotten both, still in the boxes, for a hundred dollars, but I was so hung up on Robesons I wasn't buying anything else .

Charlie

[knife7knut]

I really like that fixed blade on top.

That is an old Marbles that was given to me by a good friend.

[Dradian]

Ill have to add one to my wish list. Which is getting pretty long since joining this site.

[jerryd6818]

Ill have to add one to my wish list. Which is getting pretty long since joining this site.

I hear ya. After joining AAPK, I discovered knives I didn't know existed. The next thing you know, I own one each of several of them and some I own a lot of (ask me sometime about Camillus 72s and their clones ).

[PigSticker]

Ill have to add one to my wish list. Which is getting pretty long since joining this site.

I hear ya. After joining AAPK, I discovered knives I didn't know existed. The next thing you know, I own one each of several of them and some I own a lot of (ask me sometime about Camillus 72s and their clones ).

You can blame it on the Miracle Whip Jerry--I ain't got an excuse for myself though

[jerryd6818]

Ill have to add one to my wish list. Which is getting pretty long since joining this site.

I hear ya. After joining AAPK, I discovered knives I didn't know existed. The next thing you know, I own one each of several of them and some I own a lot of (ask me sometime about Camillus 72s and their clones ).

You can blame it on the Miracle Whip Jerry--I ain't got an excuse for myself though

[Dinadan]

Here is a Rigid from he Taiwan period. I think I bought this around 1990 to 1995.

I was interested to see the other knives posted here. I have not seen very many Rigid knives, and I did not know Rigid made folding knives.

[jerryd6818]

The little (and I do mean little) Pacific Rim Rigid showed up yesterday. Besides being made in a Pacific Rim country, it has a pin crack at the rocker pin on the pile side and it's only 2¾" closed which the seller didn't disclose. Not worth the $1.80 I paid for it to send it back. I gave the seller neutral feed back for charging $6 shipping (cost her $2.54) and she's convinced I gave her negative feedback and on and on it goes. I'm just going to see if I can find room in the folder with my sub-three inch knives or maybe just stick it in the low value roll and forget about it.

[Shearer]

Jerry.
I always give the sellers the feedback they have earned.
I have had sellers tell me the postage is higher because the have to drive to the post office.
I have sold a few knives and wait till I go to Dubbo which is 85 km .I always wait till I have to do other things in town.
Don't you like the sellers who take pictures but manage to miss the defects.
Grant

[jerryd6818]

Yeah she gave me the old song and dance about all the trouble and expense she goes to to pack and ship, plus the drive to the post office (I looked it up. 4½ miles). Sorry, I used up all my sympathy last week. I guess I'm just a cold hearted bstd.

[philco]

Hang in there J Boy. I'm on your side buddy.