Brother Watchman Carbon Fiber Black Series 1503 1507 1508 1511

[bigshot]

While waiting for the Rough Ryder forum to come back, I figured I'd post about some other knives I got this week. These are Brother Knives. Some say Brother is the company that manufactures Rough Ryder Reserves. The four knives I have here are as good quality as you could hope for. No gaps, perfect centering, no flaws. Beautiful knives.

The Watchman series of knives are high end gentleman's everyday carry. The steel is VG10 and the handles are gorgeous carbon fiber. Sharp enough to shave with out of the box, and they glitter in the sunlight. They're thinner and lighter weight than most Rough Ryder Reserves, with the same modern twist on traditional styling. They are all single blade knives. These models are currently in stock at Amazon and Aliexpress. There are good reviews of them at YouTube by Paddys Potato Peelers, Luv ThemKnives and Messer HQ.

Here are the four models in this series and the specs...

BROTHER 1503 "COWFISH"

This lock back knife has a flat grind spearpoint blade in VG10 steel (60 HRC) with a satin finish. It has a swedge and a long nail nick. The liners and bolsters are steel and it has a copper washer. The overall length closed is a little over 3 1/2 inches, and the blade is a little over 2 1/2 inches. The thickness is under a half inch. It weighs 75 grams. The handles are carbon fiber, and it is also available in natural cow bone.

BROTHER 1507

This lock back knife has a flat grind clip point blade in VG10 steel (60 HRC) with a satin finish. No swedge and a long nail nick. The liners and bolsters are steel and it has a copper washer. The overall length closed is a little under 4 inches, and the blade is a little over 3 1/4 inches. The thickness is under a half inch. It weighs 82 grams. The handles are carbon fiber.

BROTHER 1508

This slip joint knife has a flat grind wharncliffe blade in VG10 steel (60 HRC) with a satin finish. No swedge, short nail nick. The liners and bolsters are steel and it has a copper washer. The overall length closed is a little under 3 3/4 inches, and the blade is about 3 1/8 inches. The thickness is under a half inch. It weighs 74 grams. The handles are carbon fiber, and it is also available in natural cow bone.

BROTHER 1511

This slip joint work knife has a flat grind spearpoint blade in VG10 steel (60 HRC) with a satin finish. No swedge, short nail nick. The liners are blue G10, the bolsters are steel and it has a copper washer. The overall length closed is a little under 3 3/4 inches, and the blade is a little over 3 inches. The thickness is under a half inch. It weighs 46 grams. The handles are carbon fiber.

Feel free to chime in with your experience with these knives and post your pictures, especially if you have the 1503 or 1508 in cow bone. Thanks!

[TPK]

Beautiful knives bigshot. Each one has it's own personal charm. I am especially fond of the blade form on the first one! Thanks for the details about them!

[Railsplitter]

I have the 1503 and it is very well made. Hard telling which factory makes them but it has an uncanny resemblance to this A.G.Russell model which is also very well made.

If you enlarge the pictures and look very closely, you can see that the Brother shield is pinned. I assume this is only because that's where the front pin would go anyway even if there were no shield. Either way, we don't see pinned shields on China made knives very often.

[bigshot]

One thing that impressed me is when the knife is open, you can barely see the line between the blade and the back spring. Very tight tolerances. I wish they'd do a line in neutral colored canvas micarta. I really like the way the Rough Ryder Reserve Kayak looks.

Thrifty Kaniffy on YouTube set one of these down on top of one of the Rough Ryder Reserves and the frame was identical.

[joeradza]

I just received the white bone lockback #1509. My impression as I opened the package was as follows. It’s a nice thick cardboard box upon opening, I pull out a nice canvas drawstring pouch. I pull out the knife hoping for a white bone but I see a more yellowish example. More on that. The knife itself has excellent f&f with very smooth transitions. It has a light pull (immaterial in a lockback) but locks up with a satisfying click with no play in any direction. It is sharp and is well centered. It has an easy release with a nice closing walk with more of a soft thud than a snap. It reminds me of the Bladeforums Viper of 2019 that way. I love the closed size of 3 3/4” with a handsome (can a blade be handsome?) clip point blade. Now back to the coloration. As you can see from the photos it’s not as yellow as I first thought and is actually quite satisfying.

[Railsplitter]

Lookin’ good, Alan.

[joeradza]

Lookin’ good, Alan.

Thanks. Haven’t spoken in a while. Happy New Year!

[Madmarco]

I just received the white bone lockback #1509. My impression as I opened the package was as follows. It’s a nice thick cardboard box upon opening, I pull out a nice canvas drawstring pouch. I pull out the knife hoping for a white bone but I see a more yellowish example. More on that. The knife itself has excellent f&f with very smooth transitions. It has a light pull (immaterial in a lockback) but locks up with a satisfying click with no play in any direction. It is sharp and is well centered. It has an easy release with a nice closing walk with more of a soft thud than a snap. It reminds me of the Bladeforums Viper of 2019 that way. I love the closed size of 3 3/4” with a handsome (can a blade be handsome?) clip point blade. Now back to the coloration. As you can see from the photos it’s not as yellow as I first thought and is actually quite satisfying.

Very nice inexpensive knife Alan! I currently have 4 of their models coming in the mail and I'll post em' when they arrive! Good to have you posting again, and Happy New Year!

[joeradza]

I just received the white bone lockback #1509. My impression as I opened the package was as follows. It’s a nice thick cardboard box upon opening, I pull out a nice canvas drawstring pouch. I pull out the knife hoping for a white bone but I see a more yellowish example. More on that. The knife itself has excellent f&f with very smooth transitions. It has a light pull (immaterial in a lockback) but locks up with a satisfying click with no play in any direction. It is sharp and is well centered. It has an easy release with a nice closing walk with more of a soft thud than a snap. It reminds me of the Bladeforums Viper of 2019 that way. I love the closed size of 3 3/4” with a handsome (can a blade be handsome?) clip point blade. Now back to the coloration. As you can see from the photos it’s not as yellow as I first thought and is actually quite satisfying.

Very nice inexpensive knife Alan! I currently have 4 of their models coming in the mail and I'll post em' when they arrive! Good to have you posting again, and Happy New Year!

Thanks. And a happy and healthy new year to you and yours. I've read these were made in the same factory as the Rough Ryders. They seem to be a step up so who knows. I'll be watching for your new ones.

[Madmarco]

Yes, I heard the same thing about where these are built, and that they're a step-up from R/R's. I'll be sure to post pictures when mine arrive!

[QTCut5]

I got a few of these models (1508 & 1503) in both handle material options (Smooth Natural Bone & Carbon Fiber).
Kept (the best) one of each for myself and traded or gifted the others.
My favorite, of course, is the 1508 single Wharncliffe Swaybelly...but all are very well-made and reasonably priced.

So, is Big Shot no longer a member?

[Madmarco]

I got a few of these models (1508 & 1503) in both handle material options (Smooth Natural Bone & Carbon Fiber).
Kept (the best) one of each for myself and traded or gifted the others.
My favorite, of course, is the 1508 single Wharncliffe Swaybelly...but all are very well-made and reasonably priced.


P2170007.JPGP2170013.JPGP2170008.JPGP2170014.JPGP2170027.JPG



So, is Big Shot no longer a member?

Great looking knives ~Q~! I have 2 of those models plus 2 others currently on the way and I'll post them when they arrive. My favorite is also the 1508. And yes, you're correct that bigshot is no longer a member here. The admins decommissioned him after a particularly rude comment, but even if they hadn't his days here were numbered.

[Madmarco]

As promised here are the 4 Brother models I recently received!

Brother 1502 7 1/2" oal lockback with 440C blade, G-10 covers, and brass hardware!

Brother 1511 slip-joint with VG-10 blade, blue G-10 liners, shield, and carbon fiber covers!

Brother 1508 slip-joint with VG-10 Wharncliffe blade, SS hardware, shield, and carbon fiber covers!

Brother 1503 lockback with VG-10 blade, SS hardware, shield, and carbon fiber covers!

Each knife comes with it's own sturdy canvas sack for carrying!

[Nev52]

Nice knives Marco,
I really like the 1508 with Wharncliffe blade.
Nev

[jerryd6818]

Youse guys are a terribly bad influence. I had decided no knife purchases for the month of February and then I read this thread. Just texted my daughter to please order a 1508 for me (she has Prime and loves me)

[jmh58]

As promised here are the 4 Brother models I recently received! 8)WIN_20220208_16_12_02_Pro.jpgWIN_20220208_16_11_47_Pro.jpgBrother 1502 7 1/2" oal lockback with 440C blade, G-10 covers, and brass hardware!WIN_20220208_16_12_54_Pro.jpgWIN_20220208_16_12_42_Pro.jpgBrother 1511 slip-joint with VG-10 blade, blue G-10 liners, shield, and carbon fiber covers!WIN_20220208_16_13_37_Pro.jpgWIN_20220208_16_13_23_Pro.jpgBrother 1508 slip-joint with VG-10 Wharncliffe blade, SS hardware, shield, and carbon fiber covers!WIN_20220208_16_14_51_Pro.jpgWIN_20220208_16_14_16_Pro.jpgBrother 1503 lockback with VG-10 blade, SS hardware, shield, and carbon fiber covers!WIN_20220208_18_14_31_Pro.jpgEach knife comes with it's own sturdy canvas sack for carrying!

Those are FINE Mark!!
John

[Madmarco]

Nice knives Marco,
I really like the 1508 with Wharncliffe blade.
Nev

Thanks a lot Nev! The 1508 is also my favorite, and that seems to be the general consensus among others too, it's that blade that gets everyone! The 1511 is also a very nice knife, if you're thinking of purchasing any Brother knives it can't be left out!

[Madmarco]

Youse guys are a terribly bad influence. I had decided no knife purchases for the month of February and then I read this thread. Just texted my daughter to please order a 1508 for me (she has Prime and loves me)

Jeez, I'm sorry Jer! I always look at it as, I'm not getting any younger and in this chaotic, polluted, corrupt day and age we live in my number may come up at any point, and since I can't take it with me cuz I don't have a U-Haul, I might as well spend and enjoy for whatever time is left allotted to me! And with the connection with your daughter to make things easy and less expensive cuz she loves you, it's a win-win for you! So go ahead and spend, spend, spend, my friend, friend, friend! Sorry, got carried away! P.S.-Take a long hard look at the 1511 too!

[Madmarco]

As promised here are the 4 Brother models I recently received! 8)WIN_20220208_16_12_02_Pro.jpgWIN_20220208_16_11_47_Pro.jpgBrother 1502 7 1/2" oal lockback with 440C blade, G-10 covers, and brass hardware!WIN_20220208_16_12_54_Pro.jpgWIN_20220208_16_12_42_Pro.jpgBrother 1511 slip-joint with VG-10 blade, blue G-10 liners, shield, and carbon fiber covers!WIN_20220208_16_13_37_Pro.jpgWIN_20220208_16_13_23_Pro.jpgBrother 1508 slip-joint with VG-10 Wharncliffe blade, SS hardware, shield, and carbon fiber covers!WIN_20220208_16_14_51_Pro.jpgWIN_20220208_16_14_16_Pro.jpgBrother 1503 lockback with VG-10 blade, SS hardware, shield, and carbon fiber covers!WIN_20220208_18_14_31_Pro.jpgEach knife comes with it's own sturdy canvas sack for carrying!

Those are FINE Mark!!
John

Thank you buddy!

[Nev52]

Nice knives Marco,
I really like the 1508 with Wharncliffe blade.
Nev

Thanks a lot Nev! The 1508 is also my favorite, and that seems to be the general consensus among others too, it's that blade that gets everyone! The 1511 is also a very nice knife, if you're thinking of purchasing any Brother knives it can't be left out!

Marco,
You read my mind. I was thinking I need that knife!! I must control my self.
Regards
Nev

[Madmarco]

Nah, don't even try to control yourself Nev, were not gettin' any younger, might as well enjoy ourselves while we're still here! You will REALLY like the 1511, don't deny your heart's desires! LOL!

[jerryd6818]

Looked at the 1511 and it just doesn't do it for me. To each his own.

[Madmarco]

Looked at the 1511 and it just doesn't do it for me. To each his own.

Absolutely!

[Nev52]

Nice knives Marco,
I really like the 1508 with Wharncliffe blade.
Nev

Thanks a lot Nev! The 1508 is also my favorite, and that seems to be the general consensus among others too, it's that blade that gets everyone! The 1511 is also a very nice knife, if you're thinking of purchasing any Brother knives it can't be left out!

Marco,
You read my mind. I was thinking I need that knife!! I must control my self.
Regards
Nev

Marco,
You are a bad influence on me. I just ordered the 1503!! I could not help myself I kept looking at your knives and tossed a coin on the 1508 or 1503. I decided on the 1503 in bone. I am going to have to stop looking at this web site. It's costing me too much money But you only live once. Thank you for posting I had never heard of this brand. I will post it when it arrives.
Nev

[jerryd6818]

Each knife comes with it's own sturdy canvas sack for carrying!

I don't see that as a plus.