Rough Rider – Cowboy Knife

Rough Rider is a brand that divides knife enthusiasts. For lovers of traditional pocket knife patterns who appreciate brands like W. R. Case & Sons, Schatt & Morgan or Great Eastern Cutlery, the Chinese-made knives are an insult to the American heritage of knifemaking. Other knife collectors who mainly look for affordable and attractive pocket knives buy Rough Rider knives because they are a great deal for how cheap they are. These knives are not collectibles in the sense that they increase in value over time, but they are generally well made and nice to look at.

Instead of the usual combination of brass liners, nickel silver bolsters and bone handle scales, the Cowboy Knife features two brass handle scales similar to the Couperier Coursolle knives. The front handle scale shows two cowboys wrangling a cow, the back scale depicts a cowboy sitting on a horse. The Cowboy Knife is a slip joint with a half-stop position. The blade features a long pull and came reasonably sharp right out of the box. The 440A blade steel is not great, but could be worse. The overall fit and finish is remarkably good for the price.