For years I heard how good Rough Ryders were and I finally pulled the trigger on two of them and they are simply great. Thanks for the video, really enjoyed it.
The RR reserve Stockman is always in my pocket! It's so useful, it's a great pocket size, it's elegant looking but still tough and no frills. My absolute favorite slip joint!
@@thunderbolt5354 I'd rather a quality tool regardless of where it's made, compared to poor QC made in murica junk. I'm not spending 4 times the price for a knife that's way worse in quality. I have a couple of old Case knives that I got for cheap on Ebay that I restored, but the new stuff is pure garbage. I have 2 and I had to return them both multiple times, annoying the seller, until I got a decent one. I will never again buy one until they fix their atrocious quality control
@@thunderbolt5354 I can't tell whether you're joking, or if you were dropped on your head as a kid? Either way, keep simping for modern day Case boomer, while the people that actually enjoy using their tools and don't enjoy getting ripped off know that geography doesn't dictate quality. If Case wants people to come back then they need to fix their awful quality control, until then everyone that isn't some fanatical collector is going to stay away
Rough Ryder is probably the best value in the knife business. They have so many patterns and they are all well constructed. The RR reserves are exceptional!
Really enjoyed your video. My experience is similar to yours. I think we all know why RRs are inexpensive relative to Case. But there is no excuse for American manufacturing fit and finish issues.
Nice job 👍 I just got my first Rough Ryder Reserve series knife as a gift but I think it was $35 😮 super nice knife, fit & finish spot on. I was impressed. I have a fair collection and pretty good variety of knives including some regular RR and a few Case too. The RRs are just good and the value is excellent. You don't want to say it too loud for fear of them raising the prices but it is what it is. My Case knives have been good also though,...so far. I only have 5 so I don't have alot in my collection. But the price is always a factor and I think alot of knives out there are way, way over priced. So it's great to see a good quality product at good affordable prices bumping into the competition. Why can they do it and America can't? I love buying American products and always try to first but it's hard to do when you make comparisons. You start to question why spend double or more for the item when the quality just isn't there. Thanks for the video!
They really are quality knives, the Reserve line. American made is ok, so long as the quality justifies the price. I will never understand the notion that we should only buy products made by people that look like us. Seems kinda racist, if you ask me. Add to that, that if we did all do that, we would in effect create a monopoly, where they wouldn't have to work hard to earn our business. We should buy American when we can, because the product is made here and its BETTER. But paying more, to get less... just doesn't make sense to me... I buy from both, depending on what I want and what my budget is that day... My cars are American, but my current motorcycles are Japanese and Italian...
As a collector of traditional pocketknives, with the Case Medium Stockman as my favorite pattern, I can tell you that blade rub is extremely common with the pattern. I'll agree that my older Case knives have better fit and finish than the newer ones, but they are starting to get better again.
Blade rub is common to almost all stockman knives (and krinked blades in general). BUCK is the exception, since their stockmans are not krinked at all. Instead, their blades are straight and each has its own backspring. However, the BUCK stockmans are rather underwhelming, and I don't see the blade rub as a problem that needed to be "solved" in the first place. I am perfectly happy with my krinked stockmans and I prefer them to my BUCK stockmans.
I refuse to mail order a case knife. I hand pick them only due to a high rate of poor fit and finish. I have yet to see a tightening up of CQ, but I keep hopping and looking. Now I did move this past year so need to find a new dealer.
I’ve got exactly the same Carbon II RR Stockman and I am also amazed by the quality of that very affordable knife. Thanks a lot for this open-minded review.
About the longevity of Rough Rider compared to Case etc. I once dropped a Rough Rider stockman down a flight of concrete steps, and broke a chunk off one of the bone scales (this would likely happen with any bone scaled knife). Since it was broken, I decided to take it apart and see what the co nstruction was like. It was the same as any other slipjoint knife. Solid brass liners with solid German silver bolsters soldered onto them, solid German silver/brass pins, and stainless steel blades and backsprings. There were no surprises whatsoever, and no evidence that any corners were cut during manufacture. There's absolutely no reason a Rough Rider shouldn't last as long as a Case, or any other brand for that matter.
Interesting perspective, as I have never taken one apart. Was it a Rough Rider, or one of the higher end Reserve models? Even the Reserves are still cheaper than Case
I just received my first Rough Rider Carbon large Stockman, and it is fantastic. No blade rub. Great transitions. Carbon blade shaving sharp out of the box, and it is really nice to look at and handle. I paid $15 for it.
I just picked up two today and got one for father kept the one you’re holding I think for money these are really good knifes and like you said about case I ordered a back the blue trapper and the bone handle came to me from bladehq cracked at one of the pins as if somone took a hammer and hammered the pins in with no regard it was quite impressive cause this one was an slightly more expensive one sent it back got a sodbuster in a bone handle from scheels and never used it I took it out a while to find that it had a blow out above the sharpening choil it looks as if someone hit it with a cutting a wheel
When you get a good case, they are great. Unfortunately they are the exception rather than the norm... But I have yet to get a bad Rough Ryder Reserve.
I know what you mean man, I have a cheap Owl Head large sow belly stockman that is perfect in every way, polish, snap, no blade rub, no cracks in the handle material, no gaps in the springs and brass spacers, no blade wobble and I paid $32 at a flea market so I know I over paid but I'm cool with it.
According to a post by CASE, the TRU-SHARP steel is 420HC. The Rough Ryder T-10 is 1090 with 1% Tungsten to add fine grain structure to the steel and make it razor sharp. The T-10 is comparable to CASE Cro-Van Steel.
Even with all this problems on that case stockman they’re still very good work knives most of mine in my collection are good but one or two I’ve had transitioning is bad but I don’t sell my knives just use and collect them so take my experience with a grain of salt because imperfections don’t bother me much.
@@SquireSCA I expect as close to perfection as possible on anything I buy. Ahh there lies the problem, you as many have lowered your expectations to match the product. If we put the pressure on case, they would tighten up,but we don't and as a result they don't.
Everytime i gun,knife,or lure shop if there is 20 of the same item (case xx,ruger,rapala,or whateverbrand it maybe) i look at and feel all 20 items of the same one before I choose what i want. I rarely have a return item as well.
The RRR are absolutely superb for the price and so are Queen which is even less. Then, in the $50 range, there are Rosecraft Blades traditional offerings! They are so well made I really would like to know if the extra $100-200 for one of the US made traditional knives are worth it‽ I watch a lot of knife channels and Case is the one that gets the most negative complaints. It is a shame because they are one of the major employers in my region and I sure wish they would step up their quality control process...that knife should have been at a discount for $30 max!
I have some Boker traditional knives, and the ones made in Germany at the old factory are top notch, real craftsmanship... And I love RRR. Every one that I have, is excellent. I need to look at Rosecraft and see how I like them. I have a couple Great Eastern Cutlery that are made in the US, and the quality is fantastic. I had head that Schrade and Uncle Henry were shifting back to being made in the US. Really hoping that happens, and that they do it right.
@@SquireSCA Amazon had the Schrade Uncle Henry Bruin in D2 and three of the US made Generation were 50% off on Friday. I received them today and they are well made. Nothing is proud, blades centered and no gaps. I also received the Rosecraft Loosahatchie and Beaver Creed Barlow and they are flawless!! I have all the traditional Rosecraft Blades and I am simply amazed at the build quality for sub $50 knives!! The GEC's always seem to be sold out so I don't have one to compare. Finch just have not grabbed my attention at the price. I am curious if these high price knives are really worth the price difference when compared to the RCB? I am not a steel snob when it comes to pocket knives so perhaps that is why I consider the cost.
We get ripped off on pretty much everything here in the UK. I mean I'd get it if it was a Case knife being cheaper in the US but a RR knife is Chinese. So why do we get to pay a third more?
Great video. RR can also be a bit hit or miss (have yet to handle Reserve's) but at 8-12 bucks a knife it's much much easier to forgive a little on the fit and finish of a knife. This is even more true as Case's prices continue to go up, with their cheapest being in the 60-70 range now days.
@@dereksteele2284 Then don't. But the Rough Ryder Reserves beat the Case XX knives hands down, every day. Better materials, better steel, better grinds, better fit and finish, etc... You might not like it or agree, but it is what it is. The Reserve line is a step above Case in every way.
Got a question. Last week I purchased my first case knife ever (medium toothpick in Mediterranean Blue) and I can actually see the bolster pins. Can’t feel ‘em, bolsters are nice and smooth and I have to turn them just right to see them in light but I’ve never seen these pins on any other knife (I have probably 15 or so Rough Ryders as well as other assorted brands). I thought that’s weird, maybe that’s just how Case is but in this video you mentioned in seeming consternation that you could see the bolster pins on yours as if one weren’t supposed to. Now I can’t unsee them on mine. With shipping and everything it was close to $80, a lot to put up with a flaw. Is there any easy way to polish them so the bolster pins can’t be seen? Is it worth it if they’re smooth? Just ran across your channel and subscribed. Great and informative review!
I don't see the pins on any of my Boker, Rough Rider Reserve or y GEC's. I don't think I would polish it, you might make it worse... But what you are describing, and other issues, is why I won't buy a Case unless I can physically hold it in my hand and inspect it first...
@@SquireSCA Thank you! It’s not worth it to send back plus it was the only one the dealer had and also I like the dealer so I’ll just keep it. There was also a small blemish on one bolster that I think will regular-polish off. Another thing that I thought was kinda bad was that it came in such a flimsy box with no padding, just the knife in a piece of brown paper loose in there. Nothing at all like the cool boxes RR has! The box was so cheap I just tossed it. On the plus side though I really like the MB dye on the scales. Those are beautiful and the jugging looks like waves in the ocean so I’m happy with that! The blade is nicely polished and was razor sharp. Have to look close to see the blemish and pins. And it’s not that it maybe it wouldn’t get a scratch in a pocket anyway it’s just that when you spend good money you’d like it to be perfectly nice upon receipt. I’d rather be the one who scratches it up if anyone. Guess I’ll live with the knife but I won’t buy another Case. I’m getting close to 100 knives now and there’s plenty of other great brands to buy! Thanks again! Nice channel!
Bummer about your bad Case. I’m a RR fan. Good, solid users. And they do have some heavier blade stock in some lines, if you want to really beat on them. Micarta on the RRRs. Lots of new series coming out, interesting tweaks on trad patterns, fun colors. Chicago Knife Works has the best prices. Common stock?
Rough Ryder is an interesting brand with some really cool takes on the traditional slipjoint, but their quality is nowhere near as good as CASE, in my experience. Although Rough Ryder CAN make some great stuff for outrageously low prices, the quality can be absolutely atrocious at times (WAY worse than your nitpicky complaints about that CASE stockman); stuff that would never pass QC in a US company. Rough Ryders are also more likely to have gritty actions and mushy springs and are FILTHY dirty with polishing compound. While all slipjoints suffer from this to some degree (polishing compound gets trapped in the action when the knife is made), the Chinese brands are notoriously dirty across the board and it takes a LOT of work to clean this out with oil. My CASE knives, in comparision, aren't nearly as bad, and I find them to be one of the "cleaner" slipjoint brands. I also think that CASE makes prettier knives overall (though I do have a few Rough Ryder beauties). While I like and own both brands, I prefer CASE hands down and am happy to pay extra for what they bring to the table.
The average Case might be better than Rough Ryder, but they are nowhere near as good as the Rough Ryder Reserve series. Completely different animal. Better materials, stronger springs, the fit and finish is night and day better. I have 3 Case knives here, and none of them can hold a candle to the stack of Rough Ryder Reserves that I have on hand... The D2 steel is nicer, everything is higher quality... And nitpicky? Cracked handle, proud pins that keep wiggling out, blade rap dinging the edge when you close it and uneven edges on the materials are nitpicky? haha
@@thunderbolt5354 only half of that statement is true. China can make a knife. kizer, civivi, reate, artisan, the list goes on. Jack Wolf Knives are made in China, and the craftsmanship is exquisite. You know that Microtech is now having some of their knives made in China, don't you? And they are amazing quality. This isn't China from the 1980s dude. There is a reason why Apple makes most of their stuff there.
@@thunderbolt5354 and to be clear, I am talking about Rough Rider RESERVE knives... Their regular line is cheap and hit or miss. The Reserve line, runs circles around anything case has made in the last 20 years... Better materials, better action, better fit and finish.
The Rough Ryder Reserve scales are probably Micarta. I was going to buy a Case knife but these are really expensive in the UK......and I can only buy on line. I think I'll give the RR a go.
The RR knives are impressive that I have purchased and many can be purchased for less than $15 …. They seem much higher quality than the USA made ones that cost well over $40…. I’d rather buy USA made but poor quality makes me think twice. Spend four times as much for the same quality because it’s made here? Hmmm
Totally agree.. wish they were made anywhere but china though.. i remember the mess they created denied and lots of people died.. makes my blood boil.. do you know how they hold up.. i doubt I will but one due to that but who knows
@@jamesbranham2217 Oh yeah the virus right? Guess that’s enough reason to boycott china made…. Antique stores and pawnshops sometimes have older USA made knives to add to the collection.
Are they though? I know that the older Hen and Rooster were German made, but I thought that several years back, that changed and their quality went downhill?
Appreciate it. See, I like criticism of this directed at an american knife icon. They need to do better, and until competition starts eating away at their sales, they will just sit there putting out a sub-par product...
@@propblast82nd Yeah, I will make a new video and save it here without uploading it... the "before service" situation, and then a review of what it was like after, and put them together...
From what I understand--listening to people in the business investing world--China owns or controls much of the world's mining resources and resources for production that are used to make the knives we are buying. Add that to cheap labor and the thieft of intellectual property (that would be considered business trade secrets for the best of the best companies of the world) and you have high quality and ridiculously low prices. I'm not saying good or bad. Or that every other country in the world doesn't try to do the same. I'm just saying that sometimes prices can't be compared to quality due to unfair global markets. We shouldn't shoot ourselves in the foot, though, and give in to the competitors just to save a few bucks, but we shouldn't let American companies slack either. You are right to hold their feet to the fire for quality control.
Problem with Rough Rider is I don’t think they do a very good job on their heat treats of their blades and back springs. Put some muscle behind cutting into a 4x4 and you’re likely to find your RR falling apart. From the blades snapping backwards to the back springs separating or breaking also. Their upgraded knives do look really good though.
I agree about Case... very inconsistent manufacturing. I bought a synthetic stockman in a clamshell pack and one blade was so bent it had a curve in it all the way down to the hilt.... like a Pringle. I returned it. I got a Case mini trapper for Christmas and it is night and day different. If you want a really good Trapper buy a Schrade Uncle Henry. They're not American-made but they close perfectly and feel like a quality knife for a third of the price of Case.
Buck stockmans don’t rub bc they have 3 bolsters for all 3 blades and they don’t overlap and they’re priced the same as the case ones only thing is they only have 2 sizes in a sawcut delrin and wood
Knife snobs hate considering knives with reasonable prices. I got a couple of Steel Warrior Hunter style knives this weekend and they are equal to Case for a fraction of the price. They have an actual Rockwell hardness test mark on their blades.
Well, I can walk into local knife shops that are Case dealers, and open up and handle the knives before I buy them. And typically, I have to go through several to find a "good one". When I buy from Case online, same thing, hit or miss. I talk to people here, and get similar experiences. You go to blade forums, and it's the same story. So when what I see on the internet, mirrors my personal experience over the past several years... Don't know what else to tell you. The fact that I also documented the issues in several of these videos, and it makes me wonder why you are questioning it... Do you think the videos are faked? For what purpose?
@@SquireSCA I think all You Nit Picking UA-cam Knive Nerds/Geeks are all alike ! 95% of Folks who buy a Case knife would never notice these minor imperfections in a case knive AKA minor gaps or minor blade wobble ! They are not 200 dollar GEC Knives !
@@thunderbolt5354 I do notice them though. And the reason I notice them is because other companies make similar knives at the same price, that don't have those wobbles or gaps, and that don't get blade rap and ding the edge when you close them, etc... that's kinda why it stands out, because several companies don't have those flaws at that price point. If you don't like the Chinese brands, then don't buy them. Nobody is forcing you to...
I have several case knives, some older some newer and none show poor craftsmanship or quality control issues. Maybe I’m just lucky. I also have some buck knifes and Schrade in the stockman pattern and I’m pretty sure they are Chinese made and are excellent garage work knives.
I have some good ones, but man there are a lot of lemons out there of late. I was at the store again yesterday and I liked the look of their large stockman, but not of them were decent. Excessive blade wobble and bad blade rubbing when you open and close the small blades... The ones I have are very good, but I had to dig through a bunch to find them.
Squire I have to say that although I’ve had my Bucks and Case knifes for years but until recently through watching so many videos I actually had no idea what made a knife of higher quality and fit finish than another. Videos from guys like this Dave’s Man Cave and many others have helped me to make a more educated selection of what collect.@@SquireSCA
I'll only buy a Case from my local Ace hardware where they are patient enough to let me inspect a bunch before I buy. Usually I have to go through 4 or 5 before I get a good one. Some are like a 4 out of 10 as far as quality control. No way I am ordering them online. If I am going to treat myself to one for 70-100 bucks or more it better be good. Their work knives like sodbusters are often sloppy as heck in my experience and still cost a lot. I still like the brand for traditional slip joints mainly out of nostalgia, but they have to seriously get on the quality control issues. For work knives... no way I'm using a Case. Meanwhile I have gotten Rough Riders like my denim micarta canoe which is spot on and which I carry and love for 10 bucks online. They have been consistently 8 out of 10 or better as far as fit and finish. Their work knives like my swayback wharncliff seem to get the same attention as dressy ones, too. Buck has maintained their quality if you want good USA made knives that demonstrate craftsmanship.
It's nice to have a steel that you don't have to keep oiled, and worry about being out riding on the bike and it rains, and if I don't get it dried off and oiled quick enough I have rust and pitting...
They really are. They make a quality product, well designed and it should be putting American knife makers on notice. China isn't taking over the knife world because of cheap prices. They are doing it because they are cheaper, and more often than not BETTER. That combination is hard to beat. But notice that Gerber, and now Shrade are building knives in the US again. China is forcing US knife makers to up their game or go the way of the Dodo... And that is a good thing!
@@SquireSCA Just subscribed. Looking forward to the next video. Also grabbing a Case knife in that dark red jigged bone, but as a fan of smaller knives, I'm going for the Medium Jack. Peace, DD
Rough Rider makes the best knife on earth for the price you pay. To see the quality and reputation of Case go down the drain really pains me as an American, but.... put up or shut up! The Case knife you reviewed speaks for itself.
For that style of knife, I haven't found a better blade for the price. Now if we go outside of the traditional styles, that opens the door to companies like Civivi and others, that are just crushing it right now...
I do own 3 Case knives that are nice but not perfect in construction , I own many Rough Rider knives and they are better made than the Case knives costing much more. I will never buy a Case knife anymore from my experience. My favorite are my Great Eastern cutlery knives but I cannot afford to buy those anymore even if I get the chance to buy one. Rough Rider are the best knife for the money and will cut and do the job like the more expensive knives.
If you get a Monday knife from Case, its decent. Not awesome, but decent. I have yet to get a Rough Ryder Reserve that was NOT excellent. People can say what they want, but the facts don't change. Case isn't what they used to be, and the Chinese have really stepped up their game. You wouldn't believe some of the hate mail I get... like literal hate and rage, calling me a Communist and a traitor, because I give positive reviews to many of these Chinese knives... It's comical... But also alarming that I have to deal with those racists...
If you ordered it on the internet sight unseen maybe the case is a fake? Never had anything bad but never ordered a knife except for cheap RR's off eBay before. I have ordered direct from a manufacturer before.
Nah, I ordered it from Case's store front on Amazon. And I have a local dealer who is a large Case reseller, and when I look at Case knives, I have to go through a pile of them to find just one that was actually built right... It's just a sign of the times... American Made sounds great on paper and all, but to make anything here costs a lot of money... and so in order to keep the prices where they are, corners must be cut somewhere along the line... materials, manufacturing, fit and finish... The Chinese have much cheaper labor, and they are often the source of most of the raw materials that everyone else uses... So for the same price, they can make a knife that is superior in quality and fit and finish. Some folks don't like that, politically, but that doesn't change the fact that the knives from a company like RRR, run circles around any Case knife I have held in the past 15 years...
In the past 3 months I have bought 15 case knifes and 1/3 of them needed to be sent back for warranty or returned to seller for refund due to horrible craftsmanship. The other 1/3 of them are flawless works of art and the other 1/3 has 1 or 2 small gripes not worth sending in for warranty or returning to seller. The good knives show me that they know how to make a knife RIGHT and the crappy ones should not go into boxes and sent out. I do not hesitate to return a knife to Case, I will pay the shipping, oh well they need to see what we see and learn from their mistakes. I love Case knives but collecting them can be a huge headache.
I have several case knives that are all great quality. I Also have not as many but a few Rough Ryders that are well made. I bet you can find plenty of rough ryders with fit and finish issues too. When youre talking high volume factory made its just part of it unfortunately. Given the option ill buy American made first. I bet Case makes it right though.
They replaced the knife, and it was ok, but the blades were so wobbly... I ended up giving it away. I will buy Case, so long as I can inspect them myself to make sure I get a good one. Most, don't make the cut. I find that they make the grade maybe 10-15% of the time. Rough Ryder Reserve models, are damned near 100% for me so far. I get the argument about American Made, but Case just isn't what it used to be.
@@SquireSCA I am fortunate to have a Case store nearby so I can look at them first. Hopefully Case will fix their quality control issues. It is hard to find Americans that will put that American pride in their work nowadays.
I use other knives daily. I have drawers full of them and most of the time I am carrying a multitool or a SAK. That's irrelevant to the point, that case has largely gone down hill. They aren't the brand they used to be, and as others have noted, neither is their parent company, Zippo...
I have a couple of RR coming from SMKW, the Tuff Stag and Kamp King Cinnamon Stag large Camp/ Scout Knives and I'm sorta nervous about it, every knife I've ever gotten from them has had something wrong with it, like it was one that no one else wanted and kept returning. All that nonsense would go away if they got it together at the factory, quality starts at the factory with workers with pride and good experience, and if thats in place then QC has less of a job to do and everyone gets a great sample, If not its a fcukin crap shot...com'on black 13, black 13...lol
Yeah, I have had decent luck with them. I need to go to their store the next time I am up that way. We go up to Deal's Gap a few times a year and its only like an hour from there...
I only have a couple well put together Case knives, the majority of them are horrible. I also have a bunch of Rough Rider knives and although they are put together really well, especially for the price. My only real complaint is how fat they are. I wish they would thin them down. Oh, I have a large Case stockman with 1095 steel, you can not open the spey blade without opening the sheep's foot first.
Rough rider blades always seem thinner in blade thickness compared to Case. But I will say Case is hit and miss on Quality. I have had bad ones in Rough Rider quality also. Very off center and light springs or very heavy nail breakers to name a few.
Case has gotten to where they want way too much for their knives. If you got them for $65 that's cheap compared to the prices marked at a hardware store in town. They're ungodly. Ganzo has some really nice knives imo
Well I have a case just exactly like that and that is the sorriest knife because the secondary blade called the Spey blade sets way too low and I went ahead and sharpened out the main blade and it just won't get sharp and I have Superior sharpening things and it just won't get sharp and it is carbon steel and I will never have another
I got that same knife from Amazon I was leery about buying a Case knife from them. Well it looks and feels like a fake. Its light , feels cheap and looks just like the one you have. Are they fake or just crappy Cases's. The only way to get the back springs to lay flat is to lift the large blade up about an 1/8 of an inch then the back blades lay flat. I hate to say it as a new pocket knife collector and new to all of this I feel that for the price RR knives and others less expensive ones are really showing up these high priced USA Cases. Great channel and thanks for your knowledge.
The Cases that I got from Amazon, were from Case's official Amazon store front. And one of them that I bought that was really poor quality, they did replace for me under warranty, so I know it was legit...
@@SquireSCA domestics need no openers except, well, a certain Lite which will go unnamed. I did enjoy the news that Rough R(y)iders are so good. Thanks!
You know case has a excellent program on fixing there mistakes for free And the case you used definitely is one they would fix Now i bet you wouldn’t pick one of my cases and show how the rough rider is better. Although I will say they do make excellent knIves for the money they don’t come close to case xx upper end products. Just my opinion though
Go and put your Case knives against the Rough Rider Reserve line. Still cheaper than Case, although not as much cheaper, but 10x better than the standard RR knives... 🙂
@@SquireSCA only there china and for not much less but honestly I understand ur point they are good and extremely affordable but in my opinion I’ll take the case since my great grandfather kinda started a heritage to us carrying cases 😂 years ago. Although I do own a few rough riders because there great copies of cases I also get them to give to the younger boys in our family when we’re all together checking each other’s knives out. They definitely have a place in the knife market
To each their own. I kept a few of the "good" Case knives in my collection, but the RR Reserve just tend to be better materials, and better fit and finish...
I collect zippos and they own case, the quality of a zippo over the last 20yrs has dropped off so badly I can’t tell the difference between a new $60zippo and a new $20 Japanese special. The quality control has gone to crap. And their customer service ain’t far behind.
And that's a shame. Case used to be a quality American brand, an icon... something that gave good value and was a joy to use. Now, they are so hit or miss... I have a few that I like, but they were the exceptions...
@@michealbarnett3065 Yeah, I have so many knives that some I never end of using... so when a buddy or family member needs one, I just hand them one from the collection...
LET ME BE CLEAR.... I own both CASE and Rough Ryders...several of different designs and of different years in the case of CASE....lol? ROUGH RYDERS are every bit as good as CASE when it comes to the quality of craftsmanship. 100%, if not better. Rough Ryders are 10-25% of the cost of similar types made by CASE. CASE, is hands down the best blade metal of the two. The steel in a CASE blade is the best. Cant argue. Its the winner on blade steel. Quality is equal. Price goes to Rough Ryder. Blade steel goes to CASE. I love both.
Agreed, until we get to the Rough Ryder Reserve models, and then the quality and steel exceeds anything that Case is offering, and the Reserves are still cheaper than Case.
I AM WRONG ! The truth is, CASE TRU SHARP vs Rough Ryder T-10, the ROUGH RYDER is the winner! The T-10 has more carbon and tungsten for better edges and the CASE knives are just 420HC. That is a huge difference.
US companies use China for its cheap manufacturing. However, China has the ability to make knives far superior to anything the US can produce and there are several Chinese knife brands which have emerged in the last 5 years who set the bar for some of the highest quality modern production knives available and have been at the forefront of innovation along with it.
Yeah, and that's the part that nobody wants to acknowledge... It started with "cheap labor" and back then, the quality wasn't great. But China, if nothing else, adapts quickly and they get up to speed in the blink of an eye in a lot of industries... Their manufacturing capabilities today, are better than ours. Maybe not with jet fighters, but that's just a matter of time till they catch and surpass us. With something as mundane as a knife or a smartphone, they already passed us. That doesn't sit well with a lot of "knife bro's", but it doesn't change the fact that they can make knives both cheaper, and better, than we do.
And yet, those workers making hardly anything an hour, are better craftsman and take more pride in their work than Case does... I don't want an $18 Case knife. I want their $80 knife to not be uneven with poor grinds, proud pins, cracked scales, loose blades, etc...
Another thing is that while the hourly rate in China is like $4 an hour, their cost of living is half of ours, and their average cost of rent is 1/4 of ours... That aside, the issue here isn't who makes what... It's the quality of the product. I expect the Chinese knife to cost $40, and the US to cost $80, due to the cost of labor. I know that, and I accept that. It's when the $40 knife outshines the $80 knife in both materials and quality, that it irks me. I don't mind paying more for American made, if I am getting better quality for my money... When it's lower, and costs more.... What's the benefit?
Yup. And that's what the fanboys don't seem to get. Case is capable of making a good knife. But many of them just aren't. So you have to either roll the dice and have a 1 out of 10 chance of getting one you like, or, you have pick through and inspect them manually to find that good one. I never have to do that with Rough Ryder. I think I had 1 or 2 Rough Ryder Reserves that had a small amount of "blade rap". 2 out of 15. And it was minimal, but it was there. For Case and Boker, its more like 90% had blade rap, and it was usually worse, requiring more grinding to fix, and leather inserts inside the knife to prevent the blade from smashing into the spring and damaging the edge...
@@robertgallagher2226 Yup, I use strips of leather, but same deal. Its a shame that we have to do that in this day and age, but its a simple fix I guess...
Last Case knife I purchased was 1998 , Since then I have looked once in awhile just to be disappointed that Case don't have CV / CS / or 1095 every time I look , The only ones are ever available is the ugly red with the American flag or the Baby cream Yellow . Case Forgot what made them a knife Co , 1095 ! Not dime store stainless , shame shame on Case !
@@kennethking817 Yeah. They are great knives, but their cult like following is crazy... People camped out with handfuls of cash waiting for the store to open. It's like the Beanie Babies of this era...
@SquireSCA they do. They still has junk steel that won't hold an edge, which makes it useless. Marbles makes a d2 knife that looks as good as the rough ryder reserve for half the the price. Rough ryder knives are improperly heat treated, and everyone I had just looked really cheap made. Case makes alot better knife than them Chinese made junk knives that you think is gold or something. Must be getting paid by them
@@dereksteele2284 Dude... Nobody pays me anything. I buy what I want. Sometimes it's a Microtech or a Medford, or a Leatherman. Other times it's Civivi or Rough Ryder Reserve, or Boker, or Case. So tired of FUDDs who think that if you like a brand other than THEIR brand, that you must be getting paid by them, I wish. If they want to pay me, they know where to find me. I will take their money! -)
Now actually USE that cheap China knife for a year then come back with a follow up. Plenty of people bought into the Chinese chainsaw clones of the Husqvarna 372 and Stihl 660 only to find that they were complete trash and didn’t even last one full season. They looked great at first then the polish wore off of the turd and they grenaded.
This is different. It's a couple pieces of steel, not an internal combustion engine and a chain blade being abused... The Rough Ryder Reserves are better knives than Case. The Case knives often come with "blade rap", loose pins and wobbly blades with crude edges from the factory. A year of hard use on a knife that is already compromised when new, doesn't convey a feeling of confidence to me. The Reserve knives are better on all counts, and will hold up better over time, and have. I get why a lot of people don't like to admit that, "because China", but it is what it is... facts don't care about our feelings or national pride. Just because it's from China doesn't mean its crap, and being Made in the USA doesn't mean its good.
For years I heard how good Rough Ryders were and I finally pulled the trigger on two of them and they are simply great. Thanks for the video, really enjoyed it.
Their reserve line really is excellent. Some folks like to hate on them because it's China, but so is a $350 Jack Wolf Knife.
The RR reserve Stockman is always in my pocket! It's so useful, it's a great pocket size, it's elegant looking but still tough and no frills. My absolute favorite slip joint!
i like there quillcliffe, great little whittler
@ furyxan Chinese made Junk !
@@thunderbolt5354 I'd rather a quality tool regardless of where it's made, compared to poor QC made in murica junk. I'm not spending 4 times the price for a knife that's way worse in quality. I have a couple of old Case knives that I got for cheap on Ebay that I restored, but the new stuff is pure garbage. I have 2 and I had to return them both multiple times, annoying the seller, until I got a decent one. I will never again buy one until they fix their atrocious quality control
@@General_Kenobi_212 I bet You Have Slanted Eyes and crossed into the US from the unsecure Southern Border !
@@thunderbolt5354 I can't tell whether you're joking, or if you were dropped on your head as a kid?
Either way, keep simping for modern day Case boomer, while the people that actually enjoy using their tools and don't enjoy getting ripped off know that geography doesn't dictate quality.
If Case wants people to come back then they need to fix their awful quality control, until then everyone that isn't some fanatical collector is going to stay away
This was a real helpful comparison, even between the two RR pieces. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Rough Ryder is probably the best value in the knife business. They have so many patterns and they are all well constructed. The RR reserves are exceptional!
Really enjoyed your video. My experience is similar to yours. I think we all know why RRs are inexpensive relative to Case. But there is no excuse for American manufacturing fit and finish issues.
There is no real excuse for it. If all these Chinese companies can crank out quality products, then why can't Case?
Yes there is an excuse, laziness...he said it.
Nice job 👍 I just got my first Rough Ryder Reserve series knife as a gift but I think it was $35 😮 super nice knife, fit & finish spot on. I was impressed. I have a fair collection and pretty good variety of knives including some regular RR and a few Case too. The RRs are just good and the value is excellent. You don't want to say it too loud for fear of them raising the prices but it is what it is. My Case knives have been good also though,...so far. I only have 5 so I don't have alot in my collection. But the price is always a factor and I think alot of knives out there are way, way over priced. So it's great to see a good quality product at good affordable prices bumping into the competition. Why can they do it and America can't? I love buying American products and always try to first but it's hard to do when you make comparisons. You start to question why spend double or more for the item when the quality just isn't there. Thanks for the video!
They really are quality knives, the Reserve line. American made is ok, so long as the quality justifies the price. I will never understand the notion that we should only buy products made by people that look like us. Seems kinda racist, if you ask me. Add to that, that if we did all do that, we would in effect create a monopoly, where they wouldn't have to work hard to earn our business. We should buy American when we can, because the product is made here and its BETTER. But paying more, to get less... just doesn't make sense to me... I buy from both, depending on what I want and what my budget is that day... My cars are American, but my current motorcycles are Japanese and Italian...
As a collector of traditional pocketknives, with the Case Medium Stockman as my favorite pattern, I can tell you that blade rub is extremely common with the pattern. I'll agree that my older Case knives have better fit and finish than the newer ones, but they are starting to get better again.
Blade rub is common to almost all stockman knives (and krinked blades in general). BUCK is the exception, since their stockmans are not krinked at all. Instead, their blades are straight and each has its own backspring. However, the BUCK stockmans are rather underwhelming, and I don't see the blade rub as a problem that needed to be "solved" in the first place. I am perfectly happy with my krinked stockmans and I prefer them to my BUCK stockmans.
I refuse to mail order a case knife. I hand pick them only due to a high rate of poor fit and finish. I have yet to see a tightening up of CQ, but I keep hopping and looking. Now I did move this past year so need to find a new dealer.
I have a buck stockman and they use 3 separate black springs so no blade rub.
I people returned every poorly made Case (or other knife), the quality would improve.
I’ve got exactly the same Carbon II RR Stockman and I am also amazed by the quality of that very affordable knife.
Thanks a lot for this open-minded review.
I try to be fair and give credit where credit is due.
About the longevity of Rough Rider compared to Case etc.
I once dropped a Rough Rider stockman down a flight of concrete steps, and broke a chunk off one of the bone scales (this would likely happen with any bone scaled knife).
Since it was broken, I decided to take it apart and see what the co nstruction was like.
It was the same as any other slipjoint knife. Solid brass liners with solid German silver bolsters soldered onto them, solid German silver/brass pins, and stainless steel blades and backsprings.
There were no surprises whatsoever, and no evidence that any corners were cut during manufacture.
There's absolutely no reason a Rough Rider shouldn't last as long as a Case, or any other brand for that matter.
Interesting perspective, as I have never taken one apart. Was it a Rough Rider, or one of the higher end Reserve models? Even the Reserves are still cheaper than Case
@@SquireSCA It was just a standard Rough Rider. This was about 8 years ago I think. It looks like the quality has only improved since then.
Check out the new Rough Rider Reserve line. It's night and day better. D2 steel, and amazing fit and finish.
@@SquireSCA Yeah, I've I've looking at them since finding out about them from you video actually!
@@SquireSCA Are You of Chinese Heritage ?
Well Done, Thank You
I just received my first Rough Rider Carbon large Stockman, and it is fantastic. No blade rub. Great transitions. Carbon blade shaving sharp out of the box, and it is really nice to look at and handle. I paid $15 for it.
Wait till you handle one from their Reserve line...
I just picked up two today and got one for father kept the one you’re holding I think for money these are really good knifes and like you said about case I ordered a back the blue trapper and the bone handle came to me from bladehq cracked at one of the pins as if somone took a hammer and hammered the pins in with no regard it was quite impressive cause this one was an slightly more expensive one sent it back got a sodbuster in a bone handle from scheels and never used it I took it out a while to find that it had a blow out above the sharpening choil it looks as if someone hit it with a cutting a wheel
When you get a good case, they are great. Unfortunately they are the exception rather than the norm... But I have yet to get a bad Rough Ryder Reserve.
A great honest review ! Thanks for posting.
I know what you mean man, I have a cheap Owl Head large sow belly stockman that is perfect in every way, polish, snap, no blade rub, no cracks in the handle material, no gaps in the springs and brass spacers, no blade wobble and I paid $32 at a flea market so I know I over paid but I'm cool with it.
According to a post by CASE, the TRU-SHARP steel is 420HC.
The Rough Ryder T-10 is 1090 with 1% Tungsten to add fine grain structure to the steel and make it razor sharp.
The T-10 is comparable to CASE Cro-Van Steel.
@@Orlosthedruid yeah but china really is up front about if it's actually that true steel or not sooo...
No slave made for me
Even with all this problems on that case stockman they’re still very good work knives most of mine in my collection are good but one or two I’ve had transitioning is bad but I don’t sell my knives just use and collect them so take my experience with a grain of salt because imperfections don’t bother me much.
I don't expect perfection in a $70 knife, but when the Chinese knives cost less and are FAR better made....
So you will buy a new car with dings, dents and scratches? OK then.
@@SquireSCA I expect as close to perfection as possible on anything I buy. Ahh there lies the problem, you as many have lowered your expectations to match the product. If we put the pressure on case, they would tighten up,but we don't and as a result they don't.
@@nitrorc4life1 I would love things to be perfect, but nothing made by man ever is. haha
@SquireSCA they're not better made, and they won't hold an edge at all, I've had too many know
Everytime i gun,knife,or lure shop if there is 20 of the same item (case xx,ruger,rapala,or whateverbrand it maybe) i look at and feel all 20 items of the same one before I choose what i want. I rarely have a return item as well.
The RRR are absolutely superb for the price and so are Queen which is even less. Then, in the $50 range, there are Rosecraft Blades traditional offerings! They are so well made I really would like to know if the extra $100-200 for one of the US made traditional knives are worth it‽ I watch a lot of knife channels and Case is the one that gets the most negative complaints. It is a shame because they are one of the major employers in my region and I sure wish they would step up their quality control process...that knife should have been at a discount for $30 max!
I have some Boker traditional knives, and the ones made in Germany at the old factory are top notch, real craftsmanship... And I love RRR. Every one that I have, is excellent. I need to look at Rosecraft and see how I like them.
I have a couple Great Eastern Cutlery that are made in the US, and the quality is fantastic.
I had head that Schrade and Uncle Henry were shifting back to being made in the US. Really hoping that happens, and that they do it right.
@@SquireSCA Amazon had the Schrade Uncle Henry Bruin in D2 and three of the US made Generation were 50% off on Friday. I received them today and they are well made. Nothing is proud, blades centered and no gaps. I also received the Rosecraft Loosahatchie and Beaver Creed Barlow and they are flawless!! I have all the traditional Rosecraft Blades and I am simply amazed at the build quality for sub $50 knives!! The GEC's always seem to be sold out so I don't have one to compare. Finch just have not grabbed my attention at the price. I am curious if these high price knives are really worth the price difference when compared to the RCB? I am not a steel snob when it comes to pocket knives so perhaps that is why I consider the cost.
Wow what a deal on that RRR Stockman. In the UK that costs $95.
Yikes! That's crazy... On sale I can get some for under $40, but even full price is about $60 or so...
We get ripped off on pretty much everything here in the UK. I mean I'd get it if it was a Case knife being cheaper in the US but a RR knife is Chinese. So why do we get to pay a third more?
I had the same thought about RR knives and I just got a Barlow and it is absolutely flawless all for $13 bucks! Made in America really?
Great video. RR can also be a bit hit or miss (have yet to handle Reserve's) but at 8-12 bucks a knife it's much much easier to forgive a little on the fit and finish of a knife. This is even more true as Case's prices continue to go up, with their cheapest being in the 60-70 range now days.
Get your hand on some of the Reserve models, you won;t be disappointed. They cost as much as a Case, but they are twice the knife...
Their cheapest is more like in the $30 to $40 range
@@dereksteele2284 Who? RRR or Case?
@@SquireSCA case, I wouldn't give $5 for a rough ryder
@@dereksteele2284 Then don't. But the Rough Ryder Reserves beat the Case XX knives hands down, every day. Better materials, better steel, better grinds, better fit and finish, etc... You might not like it or agree, but it is what it is. The Reserve line is a step above Case in every way.
Let’s call it “The whatchamacallit” that’s your go to word of the day. I love the Rough Ryder also.
I do overuse that word, don't I? Haha. That's the trouble when working without a script or doing multiple takes...
I spent $270 on a Bark River ULB that came duller than a butter knife.
Dang! I would be chapped if I spent that kind of money and got a dull knife.
Got a question. Last week I purchased my first case knife ever (medium toothpick in Mediterranean Blue) and I can actually see the bolster pins. Can’t feel ‘em, bolsters are nice and smooth and I have to turn them just right to see them in light but I’ve never seen these pins on any other knife (I have probably 15 or so Rough Ryders as well as other assorted brands). I thought that’s weird, maybe that’s just how Case is but in this video you mentioned in seeming consternation that you could see the bolster pins on yours as if one weren’t supposed to. Now I can’t unsee them on mine. With shipping and everything it was close to $80, a lot to put up with a flaw. Is there any easy way to polish them so the bolster pins can’t be seen? Is it worth it if they’re smooth? Just ran across your channel and subscribed. Great and informative review!
I don't see the pins on any of my Boker, Rough Rider Reserve or y GEC's. I don't think I would polish it, you might make it worse... But what you are describing, and other issues, is why I won't buy a Case unless I can physically hold it in my hand and inspect it first...
@@SquireSCA Thank you! It’s not worth it to send back plus it was the only one the dealer had and also I like the dealer so I’ll just keep it. There was also a small blemish on one bolster that I think will regular-polish off. Another thing that I thought was kinda bad was that it came in such a flimsy box with no padding, just the knife in a piece of brown paper loose in there. Nothing at all like the cool boxes RR has! The box was so cheap I just tossed it. On the plus side though I really like the MB dye on the scales. Those are beautiful and the jugging looks like waves in the ocean so I’m happy with that! The blade is nicely polished and was razor sharp. Have to look close to see the blemish and pins. And it’s not that it maybe it wouldn’t get a scratch in a pocket anyway it’s just that when you spend good money you’d like it to be perfectly nice upon receipt. I’d rather be the one who scratches it up if anyone. Guess I’ll live with the knife but I won’t buy another Case. I’m getting close to 100 knives now and there’s plenty of other great brands to buy! Thanks again! Nice channel!
Bummer about your bad Case. I’m a RR fan. Good, solid users. And they do have some heavier blade stock in some lines, if you want to really beat on them. Micarta on the RRRs. Lots of new series coming out, interesting tweaks on trad patterns, fun colors. Chicago Knife Works has the best prices. Common stock?
I got the Common Stock, as well as The Whittler, and their Hunter lockback. I just did a new review of all of them.
@@SquireSCA I have the whittler, Kayak and one arm razor. Like them, but use my regular RRs more often. I’ll go check out your review!
Rough Ryder is an interesting brand with some really cool takes on the traditional slipjoint, but their quality is nowhere near as good as CASE, in my experience. Although Rough Ryder CAN make some great stuff for outrageously low prices, the quality can be absolutely atrocious at times (WAY worse than your nitpicky complaints about that CASE stockman); stuff that would never pass QC in a US company.
Rough Ryders are also more likely to have gritty actions and mushy springs and are FILTHY dirty with polishing compound. While all slipjoints suffer from this to some degree (polishing compound gets trapped in the action when the knife is made), the Chinese brands are notoriously dirty across the board and it takes a LOT of work to clean this out with oil. My CASE knives, in comparision, aren't nearly as bad, and I find them to be one of the "cleaner" slipjoint brands.
I also think that CASE makes prettier knives overall (though I do have a few Rough Ryder beauties). While I like and own both brands, I prefer CASE hands down and am happy to pay extra for what they bring to the table.
The average Case might be better than Rough Ryder, but they are nowhere near as good as the Rough Ryder Reserve series. Completely different animal. Better materials, stronger springs, the fit and finish is night and day better. I have 3 Case knives here, and none of them can hold a candle to the stack of Rough Ryder Reserves that I have on hand... The D2 steel is nicer, everything is higher quality...
And nitpicky? Cracked handle, proud pins that keep wiggling out, blade rap dinging the edge when you close it and uneven edges on the materials are nitpicky? haha
@@SquireSCA Chinese made Junk !
@@thunderbolt5354 only half of that statement is true. China can make a knife. kizer, civivi, reate, artisan, the list goes on. Jack Wolf Knives are made in China, and the craftsmanship is exquisite.
You know that Microtech is now having some of their knives made in China, don't you? And they are amazing quality.
This isn't China from the 1980s dude. There is a reason why Apple makes most of their stuff there.
@@thunderbolt5354 and to be clear, I am talking about Rough Rider RESERVE knives... Their regular line is cheap and hit or miss. The Reserve line, runs circles around anything case has made in the last 20 years... Better materials, better action, better fit and finish.
@@SquireSCA Dude how about Your well paying job here in the USA be taken from You and sent to China !
The Rough Ryder Reserve scales are probably Micarta. I was going to buy a Case knife but these are really expensive in the UK......and I can only buy on line. I think I'll give the RR a go.
I think you are right on the scales. If you go with RR, get the Reserve line. Blows anything that Case makes, out of the water.
The RR knives are impressive that I have purchased and many can be purchased for less than $15 …. They seem much higher quality than the USA made ones that cost well over $40…. I’d rather buy USA made but poor quality makes me think twice. Spend four times as much for the same quality because it’s made here? Hmmm
Totally agree.. wish they were made anywhere but china though.. i remember the mess they created denied and lots of people died.. makes my blood boil.. do you know how they hold up.. i doubt I will but one due to that but who knows
@@jamesbranham2217 Oh yeah the virus right? Guess that’s enough reason to boycott china made…. Antique stores and pawnshops sometimes have older USA made knives to add to the collection.
If you haven't you should check out the hen and rooster brand knives. Fairly priced or were. German made
Are they though? I know that the older Hen and Rooster were German made, but I thought that several years back, that changed and their quality went downhill?
I like truth no matter whose feelings get hurt! Thanks.
Appreciate it. See, I like criticism of this directed at an american knife icon. They need to do better, and until competition starts eating away at their sales, they will just sit there putting out a sub-par product...
Both are great
You should send that Stockman back to Case and do a review on their Warranty service ?
I finally heard back from them, and I plan to do that... Might take a couple months... lol
@@SquireSCA That would be an outstanding review , I've been planning on getting one myself.
@@propblast82nd Yeah, I will make a new video and save it here without uploading it... the "before service" situation, and then a review of what it was like after, and put them together...
@@SquireSCA I'm looking forward to hearing about your experience, as surely others will as well. Good Luck .
From what I understand--listening to people in the business investing world--China owns or controls much of the world's mining resources and resources for production that are used to make the knives we are buying. Add that to cheap labor and the thieft of intellectual property (that would be considered business trade secrets for the best of the best companies of the world) and you have high quality and ridiculously low prices. I'm not saying good or bad. Or that every other country in the world doesn't try to do the same. I'm just saying that sometimes prices can't be compared to quality due to unfair global markets. We shouldn't shoot ourselves in the foot, though, and give in to the competitors just to save a few bucks, but we shouldn't let American companies slack either. You are right to hold their feet to the fire for quality control.
Problem with Rough Rider is I don’t think they do a very good job on their heat treats of their blades and back springs. Put some muscle behind cutting into a 4x4 and you’re likely to find your RR falling apart. From the blades snapping backwards to the back springs separating or breaking also. Their upgraded knives do look really good though.
It's the Common Stock D2 RRR008
I agree about Case... very inconsistent manufacturing. I bought a synthetic stockman in a clamshell pack and one blade was so bent it had a curve in it all the way down to the hilt.... like a Pringle. I returned it. I got a Case mini trapper for Christmas and it is night and day different. If you want a really good Trapper buy a Schrade Uncle Henry. They're not American-made but they close perfectly and feel like a quality knife for a third of the price of Case.
I kept one Case Trapper that is pretty good, but even then, its not as nice as any of my Rough Ryder Reserves, or my Boker or GEC's
I'am a Case by name , I'am watching bro. 😎
I am happy with the one Case knife I have, but the other is horrible, Literally horrible.
@@SquireSCA Yea , thats no good.
Buck stockmans don’t rub bc they have 3 bolsters for all 3 blades and they don’t overlap and they’re priced the same as the case ones only thing is they only have 2 sizes in a sawcut delrin and wood
Yeah, the Buck looks decent, but its a bit small for my hands... I like the 4.25" length closed models...
Knife snobs hate considering knives with reasonable prices. I got a couple of Steel Warrior Hunter style knives this weekend and they are equal to Case for a fraction of the price. They have an actual Rockwell hardness test mark on their blades.
Nothing wrong with the more expensive name brands... But I do like me a quality bargain.
I have never bought a Bad Case Knife ! I have ten case Knives , all very Nice !
Search the web. My experience is all too common. Like a lot of brands, Case isn't what it used to be.
@@SquireSCA If You believe everything You read on the internet You are very Gullible !
Well, I can walk into local knife shops that are Case dealers, and open up and handle the knives before I buy them. And typically, I have to go through several to find a "good one". When I buy from Case online, same thing, hit or miss.
I talk to people here, and get similar experiences. You go to blade forums, and it's the same story.
So when what I see on the internet, mirrors my personal experience over the past several years... Don't know what else to tell you. The fact that I also documented the issues in several of these videos, and it makes me wonder why you are questioning it... Do you think the videos are faked? For what purpose?
@@SquireSCA I think all You Nit Picking UA-cam Knive Nerds/Geeks are all alike ! 95% of Folks who buy a Case knife would never notice these minor imperfections in a case knive AKA minor gaps or minor blade wobble ! They are not 200 dollar GEC Knives !
@@thunderbolt5354 I do notice them though. And the reason I notice them is because other companies make similar knives at the same price, that don't have those wobbles or gaps, and that don't get blade rap and ding the edge when you close them, etc... that's kinda why it stands out, because several companies don't have those flaws at that price point.
If you don't like the Chinese brands, then don't buy them. Nobody is forcing you to...
I have several case knives, some older some newer and none show poor craftsmanship or quality control issues. Maybe I’m just lucky. I also have some buck knifes and Schrade in the stockman pattern and I’m pretty sure they are Chinese made and are excellent garage work knives.
I have some good ones, but man there are a lot of lemons out there of late. I was at the store again yesterday and I liked the look of their large stockman, but not of them were decent. Excessive blade wobble and bad blade rubbing when you open and close the small blades...
The ones I have are very good, but I had to dig through a bunch to find them.
Squire I have to say that although I’ve had my Bucks and Case knifes for years but until recently through watching so many videos I actually had no idea what made a knife of higher quality and fit finish than another. Videos from guys like this Dave’s Man Cave and many others have helped me to make a more educated selection of what collect.@@SquireSCA
I'll only buy a Case from my local Ace hardware where they are patient enough to let me inspect a bunch before I buy. Usually I have to go through 4 or 5 before I get a good one. Some are like a 4 out of 10 as far as quality control. No way I am ordering them online. If I am going to treat myself to one for 70-100 bucks or more it better be good. Their work knives like sodbusters are often sloppy as heck in my experience and still cost a lot. I still like the brand for traditional slip joints mainly out of nostalgia, but they have to seriously get on the quality control issues. For work knives... no way I'm using a Case. Meanwhile I have gotten Rough Riders like my denim micarta canoe which is spot on and which I carry and love for 10 bucks online. They have been consistently 8 out of 10 or better as far as fit and finish. Their work knives like my swayback wharncliff seem to get the same attention as dressy ones, too. Buck has maintained their quality if you want good USA made knives that demonstrate craftsmanship.
The whole steel thing, idk...I like old fashioned regular 1095 carbon. Just burnt out on stainless.
It's nice to have a steel that you don't have to keep oiled, and worry about being out riding on the bike and it rains, and if I don't get it dried off and oiled quick enough I have rust and pitting...
RRR is killing case from what I have seen
They really are. They make a quality product, well designed and it should be putting American knife makers on notice. China isn't taking over the knife world because of cheap prices. They are doing it because they are cheaper, and more often than not BETTER. That combination is hard to beat.
But notice that Gerber, and now Shrade are building knives in the US again. China is forcing US knife makers to up their game or go the way of the Dodo... And that is a good thing!
Spot on 👍🏻
Where do you get RRR for $33?
Olde Towne Cutlery in Cumming, GA. Not sure if they have any left, and the prices were in store only...
Went over there today and found a different RRR that I don't have yet, so I picked it up for $35... Review coming tomorrow!
@@SquireSCA Just subscribed. Looking forward to the next video. Also grabbing a Case knife in that dark red jigged bone, but as a fan of smaller knives, I'm going for the Medium Jack. Peace, DD
Get your hands on a Ganzo 729....eye opener about 20.00.
Even the boxing!!!!
I will check it out, thanks!
@@SquireSCA big time.
Rough Rider makes the best knife on earth for the price you pay. To see the quality and reputation of Case go down the drain really pains me as an American, but.... put up or shut up! The Case knife you reviewed speaks for itself.
For that style of knife, I haven't found a better blade for the price. Now if we go outside of the traditional styles, that opens the door to companies like Civivi and others, that are just crushing it right now...
I do own 3 Case knives that are nice but not perfect in construction , I own many Rough Rider knives and they are better made than the Case knives costing much more. I will never buy a Case knife anymore from my experience. My favorite are my Great Eastern cutlery knives but I cannot afford to buy those anymore even if I get the chance to buy one. Rough Rider are the best knife for the money and will cut and do the job like the more expensive knives.
If you get a Monday knife from Case, its decent. Not awesome, but decent. I have yet to get a Rough Ryder Reserve that was NOT excellent.
People can say what they want, but the facts don't change. Case isn't what they used to be, and the Chinese have really stepped up their game. You wouldn't believe some of the hate mail I get... like literal hate and rage, calling me a Communist and a traitor, because I give positive reviews to many of these Chinese knives... It's comical... But also alarming that I have to deal with those racists...
If you ordered it on the internet sight unseen maybe the case is a fake? Never had anything bad but never ordered a knife except for cheap RR's off eBay before. I have ordered direct from a manufacturer before.
Nah, I ordered it from Case's store front on Amazon. And I have a local dealer who is a large Case reseller, and when I look at Case knives, I have to go through a pile of them to find just one that was actually built right... It's just a sign of the times... American Made sounds great on paper and all, but to make anything here costs a lot of money... and so in order to keep the prices where they are, corners must be cut somewhere along the line... materials, manufacturing, fit and finish...
The Chinese have much cheaper labor, and they are often the source of most of the raw materials that everyone else uses... So for the same price, they can make a knife that is superior in quality and fit and finish.
Some folks don't like that, politically, but that doesn't change the fact that the knives from a company like RRR, run circles around any Case knife I have held in the past 15 years...
@@SquireSCA I guess I haven't ordered one before except a couple tiny little ones from eBay the rest have been in a store display.
Dude did you have PMS when you made this
Why? What part? The Case knife was a complete lemon, as at least 50% of them are.
You said it right off, with Case you hope… you get decent quality. I’ve given up on them and won’t buy any more
In the past 3 months I have bought 15 case knifes and 1/3 of them needed to be sent back for warranty or returned to seller for refund due to horrible craftsmanship. The other 1/3 of them are flawless works of art and the other 1/3 has 1 or 2 small gripes not worth sending in for warranty or returning to seller. The good knives show me that they know how to make a knife RIGHT and the crappy ones should not go into boxes and sent out. I do not hesitate to return a knife to Case, I will pay the shipping, oh well they need to see what we see and learn from their mistakes.
I love Case knives but collecting them can be a huge headache.
I have several case knives that are all great quality. I Also have not as many but a few Rough Ryders that are well made. I bet you can find plenty of rough ryders with fit and finish issues too. When youre talking high volume factory made its just part of it unfortunately. Given the option ill buy American made first. I bet Case makes it right though.
They replaced the knife, and it was ok, but the blades were so wobbly... I ended up giving it away. I will buy Case, so long as I can inspect them myself to make sure I get a good one. Most, don't make the cut. I find that they make the grade maybe 10-15% of the time.
Rough Ryder Reserve models, are damned near 100% for me so far. I get the argument about American Made, but Case just isn't what it used to be.
@@SquireSCA I am fortunate to have a Case store nearby so I can look at them first. Hopefully Case will fix their quality control issues. It is hard to find Americans that will put that American pride in their work nowadays.
As someone that uses them daily I’d understand but these look like they sit in the box so if it’s for looks then what does it matter
I use other knives daily. I have drawers full of them and most of the time I am carrying a multitool or a SAK.
That's irrelevant to the point, that case has largely gone down hill. They aren't the brand they used to be, and as others have noted, neither is their parent company, Zippo...
I have a couple of RR coming from SMKW, the Tuff Stag and Kamp King Cinnamon Stag large Camp/ Scout Knives and I'm sorta nervous about it, every knife I've ever gotten from them has had something wrong with it, like it was one that no one else wanted and kept returning. All that nonsense would go away if they got it together at the factory, quality starts at the factory with workers with pride and good experience, and if thats in place then QC has less of a job to do and everyone gets a great sample, If not its a fcukin crap shot...com'on black 13, black 13...lol
Yeah, I have had decent luck with them. I need to go to their store the next time I am up that way. We go up to Deal's Gap a few times a year and its only like an hour from there...
I only have a couple well put together Case knives, the majority of them are horrible. I also have a bunch of Rough Rider knives and although they are put together really well, especially for the price. My only real complaint is how fat they are. I wish they would thin them down.
Oh, I have a large Case stockman with 1095 steel, you can not open the spey blade without opening the sheep's foot first.
Rough rider blades always seem thinner in blade thickness compared to Case. But I will say Case is hit and miss on Quality. I have had bad ones in Rough Rider quality also. Very off center and light springs or very heavy nail breakers to name a few.
I tend to get the Rough Rider Reserves, which are leaps and bounds a step up from the normal Rough Rider Line.
Their carbon steel knives use thicker blades, so thick some complain too thick....I like them.
Case has gotten to where they want way too much for their knives. If you got them for $65 that's cheap compared to the prices marked at a hardware store in town. They're ungodly. Ganzo has some really nice knives imo
Well I have a case just exactly like that and that is the sorriest knife because the secondary blade called the Spey blade sets way too low and I went ahead and sharpened out the main blade and it just won't get sharp and I have Superior sharpening things and it just won't get sharp and it is carbon steel and I will never have another
user error on sharpening
I got that same knife from Amazon I was leery about buying a Case knife from them. Well it looks and feels like a fake. Its light , feels cheap and looks just like the one you have. Are they fake or just crappy Cases's. The only way to get the back springs to lay flat is to lift the large blade up about an 1/8 of an inch then the back blades lay flat. I hate to say it as a new pocket knife collector and new to all of this I feel that for the price RR knives and others less expensive ones are really showing up these high priced USA Cases. Great channel and thanks for your knowledge.
The Cases that I got from Amazon, were from Case's official Amazon store front. And one of them that I bought that was really poor quality, they did replace for me under warranty, so I know it was legit...
Send it back. And only buy what you can exam in your hands before purchasing.
Yeah, my dealer carries a lot of Case knives, and he lets me open the boxes and inspect them before buying. Got a few really nice ones that way...
Should outlaw all bottle openers on knives. Automatic 5yrs.
I mean, that means only crappy beers that are twist off... Is that really the kind of world we want to live in?
@@SquireSCA domestics need no openers except, well, a certain Lite which will go unnamed. I did enjoy the news that Rough R(y)iders are so good. Thanks!
You know case has a excellent program on fixing there mistakes for free And the case you used definitely is one they would fix Now i bet you wouldn’t pick one of my cases and show how the rough rider is better. Although I will say they do make excellent knIves for the money they don’t come close to case xx upper end products. Just my opinion though
Go and put your Case knives against the Rough Rider Reserve line. Still cheaper than Case, although not as much cheaper, but 10x better than the standard RR knives... 🙂
@@SquireSCA only there china and for not much less but honestly I understand ur point they are good and extremely affordable but in my opinion I’ll take the case since my great grandfather kinda started a heritage to us carrying cases 😂 years ago. Although I do own a few rough riders because there great copies of cases I also get them to give to the younger boys in our family when we’re all together checking each other’s knives out. They definitely have a place in the knife market
To each their own. I kept a few of the "good" Case knives in my collection, but the RR Reserve just tend to be better materials, and better fit and finish...
I collect zippos and they own case, the quality of a zippo over the last 20yrs has dropped off so badly I can’t tell the difference between a new $60zippo and a new $20 Japanese special. The quality control has gone to crap. And their customer service ain’t far behind.
And that's a shame. Case used to be a quality American brand, an icon... something that gave good value and was a joy to use. Now, they are so hit or miss... I have a few that I like, but they were the exceptions...
Do you still got that case stockman ? I will buy it so you dont have such a junk knife in your collection.
I gave it away last year.
@SquireSCA Thanks for the reply sir. Have a good day.
@@michealbarnett3065 Yeah, I have so many knives that some I never end of using... so when a buddy or family member needs one, I just hand them one from the collection...
LET ME BE CLEAR....
I own both CASE and Rough Ryders...several of different designs and of different years in the case of CASE....lol?
ROUGH RYDERS are every bit as good as CASE when it comes to the quality of craftsmanship. 100%, if not better.
Rough Ryders are 10-25% of the cost of similar types made by CASE.
CASE, is hands down the best blade metal of the two. The steel in a CASE blade is the best. Cant argue. Its the winner on blade steel.
Quality is equal.
Price goes to Rough Ryder.
Blade steel goes to CASE.
I love both.
Agreed, until we get to the Rough Ryder Reserve models, and then the quality and steel exceeds anything that Case is offering, and the Reserves are still cheaper than Case.
@@SquireSCA...Agreed. Also, the RRR knives have a wider assortment of designs and scale materials. Giving even more weight to their side of the scale.
I AM WRONG !
The truth is, CASE TRU SHARP vs Rough Ryder T-10, the ROUGH RYDER is the winner!
The T-10 has more carbon and tungsten for better edges and the CASE knives are just 420HC.
That is a huge difference.
US companies use China for its cheap manufacturing. However, China has the ability to make knives far superior to anything the US can produce and there are several Chinese knife brands which have emerged in the last 5 years who set the bar for some of the highest quality modern production knives available and have been at the forefront of innovation along with it.
Yeah, and that's the part that nobody wants to acknowledge... It started with "cheap labor" and back then, the quality wasn't great. But China, if nothing else, adapts quickly and they get up to speed in the blink of an eye in a lot of industries... Their manufacturing capabilities today, are better than ours. Maybe not with jet fighters, but that's just a matter of time till they catch and surpass us.
With something as mundane as a knife or a smartphone, they already passed us. That doesn't sit well with a lot of "knife bro's", but it doesn't change the fact that they can make knives both cheaper, and better, than we do.
I'll stick with GEC
Why not both, as I have? GEC is fine and all, but they cost 3-4x as much, and you can hardly ever find the things...
Case can't sell a knife for $18 because they don't pay their workers $.34/hour.
And yet, those workers making hardly anything an hour, are better craftsman and take more pride in their work than Case does...
I don't want an $18 Case knife. I want their $80 knife to not be uneven with poor grinds, proud pins, cracked scales, loose blades, etc...
Another thing is that while the hourly rate in China is like $4 an hour, their cost of living is half of ours, and their average cost of rent is 1/4 of ours...
That aside, the issue here isn't who makes what... It's the quality of the product. I expect the Chinese knife to cost $40, and the US to cost $80, due to the cost of labor. I know that, and I accept that.
It's when the $40 knife outshines the $80 knife in both materials and quality, that it irks me. I don't mind paying more for American made, if I am getting better quality for my money... When it's lower, and costs more.... What's the benefit?
I LOVE Case knives but.....never ever buy a Case online. You have to handle them.
Yup. And that's what the fanboys don't seem to get. Case is capable of making a good knife. But many of them just aren't. So you have to either roll the dice and have a 1 out of 10 chance of getting one you like, or, you have pick through and inspect them manually to find that good one.
I never have to do that with Rough Ryder. I think I had 1 or 2 Rough Ryder Reserves that had a small amount of "blade rap". 2 out of 15. And it was minimal, but it was there. For Case and Boker, its more like 90% had blade rap, and it was usually worse, requiring more grinding to fix, and leather inserts inside the knife to prevent the blade from smashing into the spring and damaging the edge...
@SquireSCA true! I used to put small zip ties in my bokers to prevent spring damage to the blades
@@robertgallagher2226 Yup, I use strips of leather, but same deal. Its a shame that we have to do that in this day and age, but its a simple fix I guess...
Last Case knife I purchased was 1998 , Since then I have looked once in awhile just to be disappointed that Case don't have CV / CS / or 1095 every time I look , The only ones are ever available is the ugly red with the American flag or the Baby cream Yellow .
Case Forgot what made them a knife Co , 1095 !
Not dime store stainless , shame shame on Case !
If you want 1095, then the GEC knives are very nice. Cost a bit more, but they are really well crafted knives...
If I only knew back in the 90's what I know now I would make a fortune in no time reselling GEC knives to fools today .
@@kennethking817 Yeah. They are great knives, but their cult like following is crazy... People camped out with handfuls of cash waiting for the store to open. It's like the Beanie Babies of this era...
I wouldn't give one case for ten of those rough ryders, them knives are junk, that won't cut hot butter after cutting a piece of plastic
HUUUUGE difference between Rough Ryder and Rough Ryder Reserve. Case wishes they could make a knife as nice as the Reserve line.
@SquireSCA they do. They still has junk steel that won't hold an edge, which makes it useless. Marbles makes a d2 knife that looks as good as the rough ryder reserve for half the the price. Rough ryder knives are improperly heat treated, and everyone I had just looked really cheap made. Case makes alot better knife than them Chinese made junk knives that you think is gold or something. Must be getting paid by them
@@dereksteele2284 Dude... Nobody pays me anything. I buy what I want. Sometimes it's a Microtech or a Medford, or a Leatherman. Other times it's Civivi or Rough Ryder Reserve, or Boker, or Case. So tired of FUDDs who think that if you like a brand other than THEIR brand, that you must be getting paid by them,
I wish. If they want to pay me, they know where to find me. I will take their money! -)
@@SquireSCA you don't have to cry
@@dereksteele2284 LOL. Says the guy crying about Chinese knives. Thanks for the laugh, I needed that. 🙂
Now actually USE that cheap China knife for a year then come back with a follow up. Plenty of people bought into the Chinese chainsaw clones of the Husqvarna 372 and Stihl 660 only to find that they were complete trash and didn’t even last one full season. They looked great at first then the polish wore off of the turd and they grenaded.
This is different. It's a couple pieces of steel, not an internal combustion engine and a chain blade being abused...
The Rough Ryder Reserves are better knives than Case. The Case knives often come with "blade rap", loose pins and wobbly blades with crude edges from the factory. A year of hard use on a knife that is already compromised when new, doesn't convey a feeling of confidence to me.
The Reserve knives are better on all counts, and will hold up better over time, and have.
I get why a lot of people don't like to admit that, "because China", but it is what it is... facts don't care about our feelings or national pride. Just because it's from China doesn't mean its crap, and being Made in the USA doesn't mean its good.
Case is gone to junk
I hate to say it, but yeah... There are some good ones, but you have to dig to find them. American Made isn't what it used to be...