All About Pocket Knives

I have seen a few of these and have been thinking of getting one for my scout collection.
I also saw on another scout thread that Kissing crane has an import scout that looked pretty cool. .

Johnnie let us know if you get either one. I've seen them on ebay and they look pretty decent but I haven't pulled the trigger on one thus far.

Phil

I have the Rough Rider in Red Bone. I bought it to use and it does well. The only problem was a pin crack developed after about two months. I paid .99 on ebay so who can complain.
wazu013

johnnierotten,

I have both of the RR Scouts, in Amber and Red jigged bone.......





They are well built and use some thick blade stock, they are hefty pieces with a girth wider than most of my other Scouts from various makes........



Of all the asian import Scouts I've handled the RR versions are the best of them. I also have one of the new Kissing Crane Scouts.......





The quality is decent. Not as hefty as the RR versions, they are built more along the lines of many of my Camillus built pieces. Overall they are solid but mine did have a few minor F&F issues in the backspring area........



Some slight gaps here on either end of the knife. Ain't affecting anything, all blades are sans any lateral play. But they are noticable. Backsprings have a good stoutness to them, mainblade has a good edge evenly honed, the bone is real nice, and aside from the slight gaps in the backspring area the rest of the knife is solid in fit. But given their curerent price tag which exceeds $20, the RR's are a better value......you get alot more knife for alot less in the Rough Riders.

2xTap

Ive seen 2xtaps RR scouts before and i like them a lot, ive got 2 RR and there both well made, love the jigged bone one


paul

I like the looks of that RR amber bone scout.

Yep,Jim.....thats the one that caught my eye.
I'm definitely going to get one......just waiting for the right price. ...I know that sounds funny...but I still like snag'n them as cheap as possible.
Thanks for posting the pics.

Johnnie, I picked this one up a while back at a gunshow because it was around $8 bucks and I thought I would try one for that. I would rate these knives based mainly on this one.
Fit and finish go first, the fit is decent at best, kind of like a late 80s Case knife.
The finish however is very good for the money spent, I would give it a 95 for finish. The weight is a good heft and sturdy enough, I would say a score of 85 would be fair here.
The action finally, this is where I have to draw a line in the sand and say disappointing at best. The simple fact is that they missed on this critical part in making a great knife but it's not claiming to be one, I know. I would say they are a decent, to midgrade knife for not much money spent.
I do feel that some of my American cheapies from the 40s beat this knife overall. Thinkin bout tryin one of the "Work knives" (aka Sodbuster) liner-locks to see how they measure up.
I say go for one JR, you may get one that has a better fit than mine.

Thanks Perry for your input. ......I'll let you guys know what I think of them as soon as I spot a deal on ebay.
I really like the look of the brown amber bone ones.

johnnierotten wrote:Thanks Perry for your input. ......I'll let you guys know what I think of them as soon as I spot a deal on ebay.
I really like the look of the brown amber bone ones.

see if 2xtap can help on info on these scouts as both my RR work really well, fit n finnish is really good as it build , both mine have a really good snap as you open them so pretty hard springs, my only gripe with my sowbelly stockman is the nail nick isnt deep enough on the main blade so slips now and then , but overal ive been nothing but impressed with RR for the price my stockman looks more like a £25-30 knife in the flesh and gets nice comments when its seen by people ,

Thanks for the info,Paul.

johnnierotten wrote:Thanks for the info,Paul.

now problem mr rotten

I just got a Rough Rider Scout in red jigged bone today. This is a very nice knife for $12.00. So far, it rides well in the pocket(front right), came razor sharp out of the box, very impressed with the fit and finish, and the color of the bone is a very dark red that is drop dead in my opinion. The main blade opens nice and smooth, the screwdriver and can opener are stiff, and the punch is super stiff a little Quick Release and some break in time should help with this I hope. Over all this is not a bad knife and a good inexpensive way to see if I like the pattern. I want the amber bone now.

Hi All,

New member here, I originally found this site when looking for info on the Rough Rider Scout pattern. I'm a Scoutmaster and we just had our annual Christmas gift exchange for the boys. The gifts had to be $10 or less, and I stumbled on the RR Scouts for <$10 on a webstore site. I figured what the heck, most of the boys have Chinese knives to begin with so they should at least get a chance to use a "traditional" Scout pattern.

They were a hit, along with other (American name, Chinese made, WalMart purchased) pocket knives during our Christmas "Sneaky Santa" game (some call it Yankee Swap among other names). Anyway, I handled them before my 2 boys wrapped them up and they were pretty decent, at least on first view.

I'll be interested to see if the 2 knives make it to summer camp next year, and if so how they're holding up.

BTW, the current "Official Boy Scout Knife" and other BSA "official" knives sold by BSA National through Scoutstuff and council stores are all Chinese made. These aren't the Case BSA series, I've yet to see those sold in any BSA council (I wish...).

Hi Zippofan, Welcome to AAPK.

There's something about boys and pocketknives. Glad you were able to give a few boys a nice gift that they can learn to use. Those knives are about to get a true test if those boys treat them the way most boys do thier first knives. I collect Boy Scout knives and I can attest to the fact that they get USED.

Phil

Welcome to AAPK Zippofan! It's hard to ponder BSA and Chinese made knives.....just doesn't go.

Hope to see you around these parts! !

Thanks for the welcome guys!

It does bother me that Official Boy Scout knives are Chinese, with CHINA stamped on the tang of the main blade. I've written to National about it and got a form email back. While I understand that not many Scouts have a ton of money for a pocket knife, it seems to me that companies like Bear and Utica, even Buck, might be able to produce affordable USA knives as an "Official Scout Knife". Colonial has a USA made official Scout line (Cub Scouts, Eagle Scout and Girl Scouts) and I have yet to see one in a Scout shop.

On a side note, Buck makes a customized 500 series lockback for Eagle Scouts. I found information on it while looking at other Troop's web pages. They don't advertise it, you have to call them. For 40 bucks, they engrave the Eagle emblem, Scout's name, Troop number and date they made Eagle on the bolsters, and it comes with a leather belt sheath too. I got one for my older son on his birthday, you should have seen his eyes light up. Now that's what I'd like to see in Scout shops!

Cheers,
Griff

philco wrote:Hi Zippofan, Welcome to AAPK.

There's something about boys and pocketknives. Glad you were able to give a few boys a nice gift that they can learn to use. Those knives are about to get a true test if those boys treat them the way most boys do thier first knives. I collect Boy Scout knives and I can attest to the fact that they get USED.

Phil

I am sure that they will be *used*! Maybe not as intended, and that is where the true test of the value of the knives will shine through. If boys are still boys, I know that I totally mistreated any knife I had, so I will be interested in a report after the summer camp season starts.

Well, I couldn't resist and picked up one of the red bone handled RR Scouts. For <$8.00, it ain't bad at all. The main blade grind is sorta funky but still sharp. If I get some time this weekend I'll get it sharper and see how it goes.
No blade play, the tools are halfway decent and fit and finish are good. The screwdriver tip isn't perfect but not bad.
I'll take it out when I know a knife might get some abuse and test it out.

Thanks for this thread OP.

I haven't been able to justify the cost of a Case scout knife (for my sons) when SAKs can be found for 1/3 of the price. RR is even less expensive and I will not be upset if it gets misplaced.

Mark

johnnierotten wrote:I have seen a few of these and have been thinking of getting one for my scout collection.
I also saw on another scout thread that Kissing crane has an import scout that looked pretty cool. .

I bought one of the Rough Rider scouts at a gun and knife show over the weekend, cost $7. It was new unused, never carried. The guy takes everything out of boxes for some reason, so his knives do not come with boxes.

Nice knife for $7, beats the heck out of the old US made Kamp King I had as a kid. Beats the heck out of some of the garbage scout knives being sold on ebay for $20+.

Before buying the Rough Rider I had bid on a Blackhills Steel scout, from Frost. I was the sole bidder and bought it for $12.99/inc shipping. It arrived today and is also a very nice knife.

Both have bone handles and as the old times say they "Walk and talk." I have a grand total of $20 invested in the two knives, the quality is so good that I can't decide to use them or keep them in the collection alongside my US and German knives. Quality is as good as any of them.

KeithB1982 wrote:
Nice knife for $7, beats the heck out of the old US made Kamp King I had as a kid. Beats the heck out of some of the garbage scout knives being sold on ebay for $20+.

I wouldn't say it beats the heck out of it. You can still find an AMERICAN made Kamp King on the bay, all day every day, for about the same money. I just don't think it beats the heck out of it.......

Ill take the Kamp King please...

^Me too^

I bought one of the Rough Rider scouts at a gun and knife show over the weekend, cost $7. It was new unused, never carried. The guy takes everything out of boxes for some reason, so his knives do not come with boxes.

Well Fella's....I'm really happy with my RR Scout. .....and the price makes it even more enjoyable. ...I purchased it only for comparison .. I picked it up for $12 or $14 including S&H.
I haven't bought a Kissing Crane or Steel Warrior Scout .... cause I just don't care for their looks. MHO.
I think I have 50 - 60 Scouts in all....my latest is a Colonial in mint condition... paid around $15...very pleased.

Like I said, I bought the RR for comparison .. to a Bear & Son's Scout that I bought .... (which is pictured below) ... First off I want to say that I am in no way saying China imports are equal to American made knives.
But heres my rundown on the 2 Scouts in the pics that I have posted...
First Scout....very nice fit & finish...all blades are sharp with excellent snap.
Second knife ...fit & finish,is nothing to brag about ...blades are dull...and only one blade has snap...and its very weak.
I haven't put any one of them through a durability test....but I will say ,I paid almost triple the amount for the B&S.