Rough Rider Reserve Trapper comparison with GEC, RR, Case xx

[dks]

I got a Rough Rider Reserve, blue micarta, to see how good they and compared it with some similar knives.

Basically the Reserve line is a better finished more premium line using D2 steel, priced 2 or 3 times higher than their regular lines. There are several models and sell out quickly.

The packaging is definitely nicer.

The finish is very good, no gaps, walk and talk is similar to Wenger, so a bit easier to open or close than Victorinox.
Half stops work well and the backspring is aligned with the liners in all 3 positions the blade can stop.

I am not talking custom level, as there are some minor flaws but it is definitely a premium product.

Grinds are perfect, centering is OK but not perfect.

Looks good.

This is a large Heavy Trapper model, and is a hefty one, similar in size to the GEC 23.

[dks]

with GEC 23
The GEC has similar size, and is a bear trap...

The liners do not align with the backspring in the halfstop position.

The GEC looks nicer, but it is more shiny and has more interesting covers, so we are not comparing identically finished knives.

[dks]

with another 2 Rough Riders, premium models

No halfstops and shiny.

The reserve is definitely better, and visibly bigger.

Nothing wrong with the standard RR, for the price

[dks]

With a Case XX, Carbon Fiber model

Quite close in overall finish, the RR has a little bit better walk and talk and feels a bit more premium, but nothing you would notice unless you are looking at both of them together.

The closest in overall feel and quality

[kirk13]

Deeks, thank you for posting this. I've seem these premium RRs on Heinnies  and was shocked at the prices. Standard RR prices are going through the roof, past the point where they represent value for money. It's good to see the premium models do offer a better product

[dks]

I would not think they could compete with GEC, as they are not as desirable or as limited, but they could easily be purchased instead of a Case. Definitely better than the various low end "Sollingen" brands. They cost similar money anyway.

I did post the site I bought it from, in the European online shop thread that may be worth a look.

Heinnies has gotten expensive.

[PitCarver]

Early on, Rough Riders could just about interchange blades with CASE knives. I carried a Rough Rider stag whittler, for a long while, that besides for the shield and tang stamps was essentially a CASE brother.

My Rough Rider/Ryder purchases have diminished somewhat over their cost cutting efforts of thinning out their blades.