Just got my first Rough Rider today! Got myself a Pipe Doctor, awesome tool and a very nice smoker's EDC. The pick tool is great for poking baccy into my rollups and the quality is great for £20. I took a blowtorch to the scales because I wasn't a fan of the original tobacco brown bone but it's got a lovely dark scorched look now. Love it.
I really appreciate what RR is doing, and I've enjoyed some of their knives. I think I'm holding off on buying them, though, because it often feels like I'm buying a "filler" knife that's just ok over one that's truly amazing, like a GEC, Boker or many other amazing makers out there. Sure, the latter are harder to come by and more expensive, but I feel the wait and extra cash are worth it in the end.
More than once I've heard people say that the RRR knives are "GEC quality". But this is the first time I've actually seen someone compare similar patterns from both companies, so thank you. I think both knives are neat in their own right. But if I owned both, I guarantee that RRR would make it into my pocket on most work days. I would feel terrible if I accidentally dropped that GEC on the shop floor! All the best to you and Sally, my friend.
One thing the RRR line is certainly NOT doing is just pumping out more of the same ‘already available’ patterns. I do honestly appreciate that, even if they don’t all appeal to me. The Whittler was a solidly carried work knife for awhile when it was new.
Nice comparison of two very different whittlers. I don't have either, but I do have a 1970s Case splitback whittler that I enjoy. It is smaller than both whittlers in your video. Thanks, Paddy!
Hey Paddy, both very nice knives, I don't own any Rough Riders or GEC as yet, I am looking for the right GEC to come along, I really liked that English Whitler, mind you there's not many GEC's I don't like. I'd definitly buy the GEC out of the two. I have an early USA made Schrade Heritage Green Bone Whitler and a Case White Bone Whitler, I like the Whitler pattern, though it is not my favourite.
The GEC is really pretty and is a classic whittler, the RRR although it follows a whittler pattern is not something I would carry as a whittler, however, I would rate it as a fantastic back pocket, heavy duty multi blade. I would have loved the RRR back when I kept horses, multiple D2 blades on with a large wide main would have been perfect. So far I haven't seen one on sale by anyone who ships to Spain, otherwise I would have one in my pocket right now. The only other RRR that I like the look of so far is the Nomad lock back, the rest of them are a bit funky looking.
There is just something inableing to view these big multi blades knives. They remind me of days gone by, no fancy smancy tricked up knife, but a solid grandpa knife. My father always had a Case or a Boker in his pocket. But even more so these knives are beautiful with wonderful finishing work. One looks forward to just holding it for the pleasure of it.
The RRR is based almost directly on a traditional from the early 1900s. I forget which maker put out the original, maybe Utica. Someone posted the catalog illustration of the 1920s version online a while back.
The RRR 003 is the best of all of them. A workhorse that you can do fine work with too! The GEC is lovely, similar to my RR carbon seahorse whittler my other purpose knife for whittling. My personal choice is the RRR 003 of theCase two. I've altered the main blade into a clip point which took forever to grind and file correctly, but it's worth it 👍👍👍 and both knives are optimal compared to the Case seahorse whittler........atb Andy 👍
Paddy, I've just had delivered today my roughrider rhino toe. it's awesome! you must tell us what you think. You can batton with this folding knife, a first for me!
Only have one RR, the denim micarta work knife, bought it on the back of reviews claiming it was unbelievable amazingly I wasn't disappointed and believe me I'm a harsh critic. I've also got a GEC #47 which is pretty much perfect but one thing better on the RR is the talk but they are two different knives in quality the #47 oozes quality the RR surprised me though.
See, for me the little thing poking up on the GEC would drive me MAD!! Especially on a dearer knife. I have not had the spare change to get the RRR, the size, the design, i LOVE that big main blade, that is SO SEXY! I love my little RR traditionals, so cheap and nice looking, but the new Reserve line is KILLING it! Slightly larger for my slightly larger hands and such good designs! Iove it! I need to wean myself off of moderns anyway... since Germanys knife laws don't seem to be getting looser any time soon :( (I send an inquiry a while ago... at least the official said there were no plans or movements from any side to be more restrictive)
The GEC looks like a reasonable prospect for whittling, but I'm afraid the RRR appears more suited to putting a point on fence posts. Depends entirely what you want to do, though, and the quality seems tasty. They're both nice items, but neither is my dream carving tool, alas.
@@deathbyastonishment7930 Agreed. It's a nice sturdy work knife though, by the looks of it. Most people who get the whittling bug wind up with fixed blades in the end, so perhaps it's a bit unfair to have too much of a downer on the RR. The name really refers to the spring layout more than the intended use I guess ... he said, charitably. ;-)
I'm really confused by these RR Reserve knives. People collect traditionals because they're traditional patterns. These knives are all just slightly off-putting for me in their design. The steel choice is odd, D2 will never patina like granddad's knife, so why not use a good stainless. People were asking for higher end classic knives, a single blade Barlow, a canoe, a stockman, with good fit and finish, made in China to reduce costs. I was excited when I first heard about them, but they're just not for me.
I too enjoy RR, but I find their Reserve designs too bloated (apart from the single-blade 001, which I kept). That GEC is beautiful - I bought the Tidioute Bloodwood version, and always wonder if I chose the right one! It's an interesting comparison, but I agree chalk'n'cheese - or Beauty and The Beast if you prefer - there's a lot more than a split back which sets these knives apart. If SMKW could factor slimness and elegance into their RRRs, they'd be onto a winner, but so far they haven't - maybe they're aiming for a different aesthetic.
That RR's main blade doesn't seem like the right shape for carving, more for general stuff I'd say. What you really want is a thicker scandi ground blade in a fixed handle.
The fit & finish of the RR Whittler is excellent. However, it is bad design & engineering. Any design that includes 2 washers on each side of the main blade (4 total) is throwing extra material to make up for poor tolerance & design. I sent mine back. Junk engineering.
@@paddyspotatopeelers2154 I have a 3G Tracphone. I pay $20 for 90 days of service. I have never had a smart phone. Let me ask you this. Ireland used to have a metal industry that produced knives. Imperial maybe, I think Schrade contracted out to them. What happened to that company? Listen we all like bargains and I am not different, sometimes you have to make a stand for your fellow brothers and sisters. I do not fault individual Chinese workers, far from it, they are great craftsmen. The Chicom government is a different story. China's cheap labor allows incorporated entities to depress the worth of workers. Are you Irish or Northern? If you are from Ireland you should be ashamed.
I'm from Northern Ireland, if you don't have any Chinese products, you have a valid argument, but just one makes your reasoning null and void.sorry but for me it's that simple.
@@paddyspotatopeelers2154 I apologize for being an ass, but it is an important issue for me. I am a collector of vintage items. One item that I collect is small kitchen appliances that were made in the USA. Presto used to make appliances in Wisconsin. One item a Dutch Oven/deep fryer/ crock pot was manufactured there up until the early 80's. The earliest I have is from the mid 60's. It's my go to for frying and slow cooking. Extremely well made and rugged. The heating element is cast aluminum. I have and example of this appliance as the years go buy. The last appliance made in USA is just o.k.. The heating element is attached by thin aluminum catches. Now all Presto appliances are made in China. Very, very sad.
Every time I watch you videos I end up pulling out a bunch of my knives and having a cup of tea 😁 lol thanks again , have a great day
Just got my first Rough Rider today! Got myself a Pipe Doctor, awesome tool and a very nice smoker's EDC. The pick tool is great for poking baccy into my rollups and the quality is great for £20.
I took a blowtorch to the scales because I wasn't a fan of the original tobacco brown bone but it's got a lovely dark scorched look now. Love it.
I really appreciate what RR is doing, and I've enjoyed some of their knives. I think I'm holding off on buying them, though, because it often feels like I'm buying a "filler" knife that's just ok over one that's truly amazing, like a GEC, Boker or many other amazing makers out there. Sure, the latter are harder to come by and more expensive, but I feel the wait and extra cash are worth it in the end.
I’ve had the rough Ryder Whittier for a while now and the finish is excellent.
Great comparison of 2 very good knives! Love the RRR line!! Be well Paddy!
Both great knives. The largest difference is also availability.
More than once I've heard people say that the RRR knives are "GEC quality". But this is the first time I've actually seen someone compare similar patterns from both companies, so thank you. I think both knives are neat in their own right. But if I owned both, I guarantee that RRR would make it into my pocket on most work days. I would feel terrible if I accidentally dropped that GEC on the shop floor! All the best to you and Sally, my friend.
Great video paddy loving your enthusiasm can't wait to see your whittling projects 🖐️
One thing the RRR line is certainly NOT doing is just pumping out more of the same ‘already available’ patterns. I do honestly appreciate that, even if they don’t all appeal to me. The Whittler was a solidly carried work knife for awhile when it was new.
The RRR whittler was my first Reserve knife. I like it. I would like the GEC better.
Nice comparison of two very different whittlers. I don't have either, but I do have a 1970s Case splitback whittler that I enjoy. It is smaller than both whittlers in your video. Thanks, Paddy!
Hey Paddy, both very nice knives, I don't own any Rough Riders or GEC as yet, I am looking for the right GEC to come along, I really liked that English Whitler, mind you there's not many GEC's I don't like. I'd definitly buy the GEC out of the two. I have an early USA made Schrade Heritage Green Bone Whitler and a Case White Bone Whitler, I like the Whitler pattern, though it is not my favourite.
I own all of the Rough Ryder Reserve lineup so far. I like the Swell Center Whittler, but I would prefer the GEC.
The GEC is really pretty and is a classic whittler, the RRR although it follows a whittler pattern is not something I would carry as a whittler, however, I would rate it as a fantastic back pocket, heavy duty multi blade. I would have loved the RRR back when I kept horses, multiple D2 blades on with a large wide main would have been perfect.
So far I haven't seen one on sale by anyone who ships to Spain, otherwise I would have one in my pocket right now.
The only other RRR that I like the look of so far is the Nomad lock back, the rest of them are a bit funky looking.
2 beauties right there! Completely agree with your points. Great video Paddy, thanks! 👍
There is just something inableing to view these big multi blades knives. They remind me of days gone by, no fancy smancy tricked up knife, but a solid grandpa knife. My father always had a Case or a Boker in his pocket. But even more so these knives are beautiful with wonderful finishing work. One looks forward to just holding it for the pleasure of it.
The RRR is based almost directly on a traditional from the early 1900s. I forget which maker put out the original, maybe Utica. Someone posted the catalog illustration of the 1920s version online a while back.
The RRR 003 is the best of all of them. A workhorse that you can do fine work with too!
The GEC is lovely, similar to my RR carbon seahorse whittler my other purpose knife for whittling. My personal choice is the RRR 003 of theCase two. I've altered the main blade into a clip point which took forever to grind and file correctly, but it's worth it 👍👍👍 and both knives are optimal compared to the Case seahorse whittler........atb Andy 👍
Thank Whittler from GEC is a great looking knife Paddy! Thanks!
Hi paddy love the videos it was recently my birthday and love the look of the GEC knives could you tell me how to get my hands on one
Paddy, I've just had delivered today my roughrider rhino toe. it's awesome! you must tell us what you think. You can batton with this folding knife, a first for me!
Them's some workin hands Brother
Equal price? The GEC. It's much better as a pocket dropper, which is how I like to carry a traditional.
Only have one RR, the denim micarta work knife, bought it on the back of reviews claiming it was unbelievable amazingly I wasn't disappointed and believe me I'm a harsh critic. I've also got a GEC #47 which is pretty much perfect but one thing better on the RR is the talk but they are two different knives in quality the #47 oozes quality the RR surprised me though.
See, for me the little thing poking up on the GEC would drive me MAD!! Especially on a dearer knife. I have not had the spare change to get the RRR, the size, the design, i LOVE that big main blade, that is SO SEXY!
I love my little RR traditionals, so cheap and nice looking, but the new Reserve line is KILLING it! Slightly larger for my slightly larger hands and such good designs! Iove it!
I need to wean myself off of moderns anyway... since Germanys knife laws don't seem to be getting looser any time soon :(
(I send an inquiry a while ago... at least the official said there were no plans or movements from any side to be more restrictive)
The GEC for looks alone!!
You asked if both are the same price which one would I buy, easy decision. GEC.
Dam you paddy with the GECs.... Dam you! 😫👍
The RR has the name whittler. But it's only a name. You can't whittle with it. Now the GEC would be Awsome for some serious whittling.
The GEC looks like a reasonable prospect for whittling, but I'm afraid the RRR appears more suited to putting a point on fence posts. Depends entirely what you want to do, though, and the quality seems tasty. They're both nice items, but neither is my dream carving tool, alas.
The main blade is far too thick and obtuse in my opinion, what do you think?
@@deathbyastonishment7930 Agreed. It's a nice sturdy work knife though, by the looks of it. Most people who get the whittling bug wind up with fixed blades in the end, so perhaps it's a bit unfair to have too much of a downer on the RR. The name really refers to the spring layout more than the intended use I guess ... he said, charitably. ;-)
I'm really confused by these RR Reserve knives.
People collect traditionals because they're traditional patterns. These knives are all just slightly off-putting for me in their design. The steel choice is odd, D2 will never patina like granddad's knife, so why not use a good stainless.
People were asking for higher end classic knives, a single blade Barlow, a canoe, a stockman, with good fit and finish, made in China to reduce costs.
I was excited when I first heard about them, but they're just not for me.
Hey paddy how's the walk and talk on your English whitller??? I my walk was not good. Gec had the greatest walk and talk hope they get back to it
They are both great but not compareable. If money wasn't the issue ofcourse the GEC without any question.
Chinese workers are high craftsman, but they work for pennies. The owner of Rough Rider is making a huge profit off the backs of slave labor.
I too enjoy RR, but I find their Reserve designs too bloated (apart from the single-blade 001, which I kept).
That GEC is beautiful - I bought the Tidioute Bloodwood version, and always wonder if I chose the right one!
It's an interesting comparison, but I agree chalk'n'cheese - or Beauty and The Beast if you prefer - there's a lot more than a split back which sets these knives apart.
If SMKW could factor slimness and elegance into their RRRs, they'd be onto a winner, but so far they haven't - maybe they're aiming for a different aesthetic.
I would prefer the rough rider as I have long hands
That RR's main blade doesn't seem like the right shape for carving, more for general stuff I'd say. What you really want is a thicker scandi ground blade in a fixed handle.
The fit & finish of the RR Whittler is excellent. However, it is bad design & engineering. Any design that includes 2 washers on each side of the main blade (4 total) is throwing extra material to make up for poor tolerance & design. I sent mine back. Junk engineering.
Ive bought and owned GEC knives....WAY over rated and over priced.
17:01 You are Irish? The fault with Chinese slave labor is the depression of wages.
Where is your phone from, you ignorant little boy.
@@paddyspotatopeelers2154 I have a 3G Tracphone. I pay $20 for 90 days of service. I have never had a smart phone.
Let me ask you this. Ireland used to have a metal industry that produced knives. Imperial maybe, I think Schrade contracted out to them. What happened to that company?
Listen we all like bargains and I am not different, sometimes you have to make a stand for your fellow brothers and sisters. I do not fault individual Chinese workers, far from it, they are great craftsmen. The Chicom government is a different story.
China's cheap labor allows incorporated entities to depress the worth of workers.
Are you Irish or Northern? If you are from Ireland you should be ashamed.
I'm from Northern Ireland, if you don't have any Chinese products, you have a valid argument, but just one makes your reasoning null and void.sorry but for me it's that simple.
@@paddyspotatopeelers2154 I apologize for being an ass, but it is an important issue for me.
I am a collector of vintage items. One item that I collect is small kitchen appliances that were made in the USA. Presto used to make appliances in Wisconsin. One item a Dutch Oven/deep fryer/ crock pot was manufactured there up until the early 80's. The earliest I have is from the mid 60's. It's my go to for frying and slow cooking. Extremely well made and rugged. The heating element is cast aluminum. I have and example of this appliance as the years go buy. The last appliance made in USA is just o.k.. The heating element is attached by thin aluminum catches. Now all Presto appliances are made in China. Very, very sad.
@@paddyspotatopeelers2154 I actually don't have too much that is made in China-probably 2%.