Rough Ryder Barlow

Barlow knives are my favorite slip-joint knife and I carry one with me every day. Before finding these Rough Riders, I had carried vintage Schrade Barlows from both the US and Ireland, Pakistani models in black or white bone, and even some cheap Chinese knock-offs found in gas stations, tourist traps, and tchotchke shops. I am an equal opportunity employer of Barlows and love them all. These Rough Riders, I have to say, are leaps and bounds ahead of the rest. If there were no printing or etching on the blades (i.e. no maker's mark or country of origin stamp) and I had one in my hand, I would say the cost should be between $30 and $60, depending on who made it and where it came from. So, these being twelve bucks or so is absolutely, positively one of the best values in the traditional knife world, hands down. The walk and talk are excellent (that's the movement and stop/s between open and closed and also the clicking noise/s made while doing so), the fit and finish are superb, the steel is sharp and holds an edge well, and the polish is spectacular. The only faults I can find I'm these are that sometimes the backsprings will sit ever so slightly uneven when one or both blades are open and also the centering of the blade within the liner isn't always perfect. Well...the same can be said for some $65 Case brand Barlows I've held. These critiques do not affect function at all and don't much detract from the form. As a test, my first use for this Barlow was to open boxes at work for a few weeks. This includes a lot of cutting tape, quite a bit of cutting cardboard, and (unfortunately) running the blade into some staples along the way. The knife handled them all without any nicks or deformation of the blade, the blade was whipped back into razor shape with a few quick licks on a butcher's hone, and the stainless steel is very easy to clean gunk and residue off of and is very low maintenance. I also cut out all the leather for an axe mask I made using one of these, making sure to carve, draw cut, push cut, and use the edge for scoring and marking. These Rough Rider Barlows go the distance. I can't recommend them enough. Need a stocking stuffer? Need a gift for a young man who looks up to you? Need to teach your daughter knife safety? Want your significant other to stop using your house scissors for every cutting task under the sun scissors weren't designed for? Get them this knife!

I had wanted a Barlow-style knife for quite a while now. After reading numerous good reviews of the Rough Rider company, I decided to choose theirs over the ones available from companies like Schrade, etc. I was very happy. The knife arrived well within the time period given by the company. The knife's fittings and finish were perfect. The blades have a good "walk and talk," are razor sharp out of the box, and are highly polished. The bone handles have just the right amount of heft, but not so much that it makes everyday carry of the knife uncomfortable. I have used this knife for various cutting jobs, and have been happy every time. A great, old-timey style slip-joint knife, cheap, yet put together well and wonderful for everyday use. I'm looking forward to ordering more knives from Rough Rider.

Overall excellent. Fit and finish is generally good. Small scuff on left bolster and on large blade. Not very noticeable and would probably be easy to polish out but I am just going to use the knife. Opens and closes well with no half stop. Blades are sharp, large blade is the sharpest. Bone scales are well made and attractive. Pins are flush. I am pleased and am looking at other Rough Riders.

This is a nice knife - for the price! That said, It's obviously a budget knife. The main blade on mine has some visible waving - not sure if from initial steel manufacture or heat treat? The blade steel on these is 440A - takes a good edge, but doesn't hold it as long as most other cutlery steels. Gone are the half stops from previous Rough Rider models. Like most of the newer Rough Riders I've seen are a step down in quality, fit and finish from some of the older models - still a good value for less than $15 - but not a bargain like some of the previous models that had really outstanding fit and finish for this price point. Main blade came really sharp, small blade reasonably so. Four stars is rated on the "Bell curve" given that it only costs $12 at the time I purchased.

tThis knife boasts exceptional quality, with a luxurious appearance that may be perceived as extravagant by the average individual. During my visit to Pismo Beach, I utilized it effectively at the campsite. Unfortunately, I also accidentally injured myself while using it.

The knife is perfect in every way.

I am an avid believer that everyone should have a pocket knife of some sort with them at all times due to the numerous uses they can provide. Personally, I prefer folders with liner locks or lockbacks. I have more confidence these types of knives will not close on my hand while opening a box. Unfortunately, I think my folders are a bit off-putting to my coworkers and one even referred to it as a switchblade, even though it certainly is not and has no spring assisted opening mechanism, but I digress. I wanted something that would not make my coworkers think I was carrying around a "weapon" so I opted to buy a "grandpa" knife. I usually really hate nail nick knives, especially without any locking mechanism, but that would not be fair to include as a con to this knife so I won't hold that against it. Honestly, the only cons I can find are that the fitting on one side of the in a certain portion have a very small space where there is no space on the other side of the knife. With that said, I don't think this knife is going to fall apart and it feels very secure in the hand when performing tasks. Out of all the "grandpa" knife styles, I like the barlow the best. I've always wondered why these knives, stockmans, etc. had two, three, four, different sized blades on there and now I know why. I use the smaller blade for things like opening envelopes or cutting off a tag. I use the larger blade for opening and breaking down boxes and things like that. The blades are wicked sharp out of the box and I have not had to sharpen it yet (been using it for a month now I think). The bone handle feels really nice and the knife is not too big or small to get these daily tasks done and none of my coworkers have called it a switchblade so hopefully it put them at ease as well. For anyone who wants an affordable knife they can use without worrying about breaking or damaging it, and can get past the "made in china" stigma, then this is a great buy for you!

Poor centering on the blades. The front bolster was poorly rounded. One of the springs weren't flush, and protrude slightly when closed. However you get what you pay for, and for the price this is still a good functional pocket knife. If you want a beater this'll do.