All About Pocket Knives

I have seen some nice looking Rough Rider knives, and being new and all to collecting was just trying to get a little info on the knife. I know they are made in China and thats about all I know. Can anyone share thier opinons please?

recycled car bumpers for blades, decent fit and finish, but I wouldn't count on them increasing in value or taking a good edge. Just my .02

Everyone has to make their own choices when deciding what to collect. I prefer to collect knives that- are of a high quality- are well constructed- and are likely to go up in value, and are of such that I can be proud to own. I don't think any of these apply to the Rough Rider line of knives. They would be ok to throw in a tackle box or glove compartment, but I think thay fall short of being a collectable knife.

Hey richied, while they do design them to entice the buyer with fancy bolsters and the like, they are Chinese made and not considered as collectable in our market. Aggree with everything mm and remington collector said.
Hope that answers your question.

Singin46

It's what I ocassionally practice with for filework, new ideas (when I get a chance). I can throw them out without any great sense of loss. Rough Riders are knives that seem to come up once a month or so as a topic of discussion. Anyone can collect what they want, but some folks have gotten angry after they have 40 or so and then ask about them. They don't seem to care for the answers they get. Quality is sketchy, may say 440 on the tang, but it is not 440C which they want you to think. Another Chinese company using an American name. "The Rough Riders" was the name bestowed by the American press on the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment during the Spanish-American War. They went on to become "Roosevelt's Rough Riders". Buffalo Bill also used the name for his western show, "Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World."

It sometimes seems as if the Chinese companies do not want you to know that they were made in China, hence all the American and German names.

In a nutshell, I don't think RR's are the best Cinese slip joints either. I think Steel Warrior is better with fit and finish but question thier durability also.
But each person collect what they like, it's up to each of us to decide, buy a couple try them, abuse them, see how they hold up. I have not found these to be durable.

There not collectible IMO, no resale value and more than likely never will have.. ..This is strictly from a collecting point of view.

johnnierotten wrote:There not collectible IMO, no resale value and more than likely never will have.. ..This is strictly from a collecting point of view.

I'll second that!

Thanks for your opinions. I bought a couple earlier in the year,and as new as I was, I was reluctant to buy anymore.I appreciate the info and felt pretty much the same as all of you. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something Thanks again. Just like the old saying"you get what you pay for"

Hey richied, I think edgy46 said it best, buy some knives, hold them in your hand and they will talk to you. They will tell you the diff. in quality in fit and finish and in heft. That very thing happened to me once I got a hold of some
Schatts, bought my first one at a knife show a couple yrs back and measured every knife after that by that 1st railsplitter which spoke to me like no other knife had up to that point. And when I purchased my 1st Case Classic I knew there was something familiar about the feel. Guess what?
All of my Classics were made by......you guessed it....Queen, who makes the S&M line that I have grown to appreciate more by the day. And for many, other knives are measured by. And IMO, GEC is well on their way to becoming another company to be reckoned with in this same way. They speak to me VERY LOUD AND CLEAR, if you know what I mean.

Singin46

richied hello;
I feel their are many kinds of crazy people collecting many thing.
Here at AAPK I think we like to have you collect knives that you can pass on to you family when you pass away.
There are some people that might save toilet paper, new and used...
We might think he is crazy. When and if we lose control of our country and money. His collection might be worth more then. The new toilet paper I hope. So you can collect any thing you want. I for one think of China made knives as toilet paper new or used.... ...

I have some too... ..I had to learn the hard way I gess.

Thanks guys. Believe me, I Do understand about the feel of a knife in your hands. You can just tell the difference in a good knife and a cheapie.I bought a Rough Rider fat stag handled trapper, and even tho the handle is a good looking handle, you can just feel the difference.Yep you can just tell by the feel when you've got a good knife in your hands

Just a comment about the Rough Rider brand.

Although they do not seem to have the votes needed for long term collectible status, you just never know what someone going to collect. Most people do not buy these for collecting but everyday use.

What makes these knives so popular with the masses is the fact they are inexpensive purchases. I have been told many times that generally these knives sell 5 to 1 to people purchasing knives for everyday use. The guys selling these tell me most working guys don't want to pay $50 for a knife that they may leave on the tail gate or on a job site. There's a little store not to far from me that carries a few Case knives, but has mostly Rough Riders in the display case. The old guy says he goes through the Rough Riders by the dozens. Go to any flea market and the places are flooded with these low end knives.

I am not endorsing these by any means, as you all know I like my Schatt's, Case, and Queens. But if you think about that a little bit, what gets passed on to the next generation from fathers and grandpa's? My wife has some fantastic leg knives in her collection. But the one she carries each day is a Rough Rider Saw Cut Bone leg knife. Every time someone sees that knife, they ask her about it and where they can get one. Each of my daughters and daughter-in laws wanted one of them and so they got one for Christmas. They all see my collection of great brands and fine knives, but that's the one they wanted! Go figure.

Collections are full of cheap items from by gone era's... Carnival glass, Hot Wheels cars, comics, made in Occupied Japan items, etc. Just a point to consider is that most of these things were give aways or sold for 50 cents to a dollar. It will cost you more than a few dollars to build a collection of any of those items now.

Buzzard

....what is the general opinion of the Boker Magnum (Chinese made) knives? Although Chinese made, they seem to be of better overall fit, finish and quality. Certainly will never be of "collector value" but....just wondering what you guys thought of the difference in them and the other "off shore" knives.

dewman wrote:....what is the general opinion of the Boker Magnum (Chinese made) knives? Although Chinese made, they seem to be of better overall fit, finish and quality. Certainly will never be of "collector value" but....just wondering what you guys thought of the difference in them and the other "off shore" knives.

My opinion, as a Vietnam Veteran (shared by many of my fellow veterans), is that we dodged too darn much Chinese steel in Vietnam to buy any now. Although occasionally it does happen.

I bought a Boker Magnum a few years ago, not realizing it was made in China. I carried it for some time, and used to quit a bit. I like the design of the knife and the ease with which it opens. It is similar to a Buck 186. However, the edge holding ability of the Magnum is not even in the same ballpark as the Buck.

Just my 2¢,
Dale

I've worked as a mechanic and now I work as a welder. To me, a good tool is a must. That's why I always bought the best tools I could get. Nothing stinks worse than being in the middle of a job and having a tool fail. I consider my knife as a tool too. So I keep a good knife in my pocket. I always used a Buck folder. I payed more for it but I always knew I could rely on it. When I look at an imported knife, I think of doing a job with it and my answer is always...nah . As for collecting them, I'm not really a collector but I'm slowly becomming one, I wouldn't waste my money. Maybe someday they will be worth something but I don't think I'll be around to see it.

I agree with celticastronomer, a good working tool is a must. But also, as someone who has dropped 3 knives to the bottom of the Salton Sea while working, you can bet I'll buy a low priced work knife

The boker magnum line is made in Taiwan,I think, not china. Could be wrong usually am.