I liked this knife so much I bought two of them. I consider this a true congress as in one definition, "congress' means a "gathering" of like items (blades). It does have a stiffer blade pull, but I found that if I insert my thumbnail into the nick at an angle, I get better purchase and it works just fine. The fact that the blades are not proud when closed makes it much more pocket friendly. I did one modification to one of the pen blades, converting it to a clip point, complete with swedge. You wouldn't know it didn't come that way. It makes it a bit more versatile for carving/whittling. I think the engineering that went into this knife was well thought out. Ive always loved the Congress pattern and glad to have a couple of these. And the price? Amazing value at less than $28 !
On my RR1326 swing guard it's called amber bone and is quite nice. My Black Appaloosa Capitol Intern RR2489, has very stiff, nail-breaking pulls. Thanks for the video. Liked the outro tune.
I have had same issue on other RR patterns on the small blades. I do love the security I feel using them in the open position and the solid snap closing, but old arthritic thumbs and easily broken nails make opening them a real chore...I still would rather have that issue over little or no detent or snap...thanks for sharing the knife...beautiful bone scales....Jim
Tobias, I have a work around on the hard blade spring tension for the smaller blades. It requires a Dremel tool and a fiber cut-off wheel (1¼ to 1½ diameter). Install the wheel on the Dremel and run it at moderate speed. Insert the wheel into the handle cavity (it will be advisable to open all the blades first) and then apply the disc to the depression on the spring closest to the small blade(s) (the low curved area) moving it back and forth across its width. The goal is to remove a small amount of material from the spring to lessen spring tension and make the blade open easier. I didn't have to take off much to make a big difference, only 5 thousandths or so. The small blades are now much easier to open. I know this should have been addressed at the factory, but this fix makes the knife much more likely to be carried and used. It works and I'm very happy with the results! Terry Knipschield
This is probably THE prettiest and certainly the most classic knife RR has ever made. I saw it and immediately had to have it, I will probably buy another one too. I love the fact that it’s made from an original piece, the blades sit low, they’re thinner (I don’t like the thick blades and bevels RR uses, I think they can follow the old style patterns and it will look better and probably sell better. That bone is definitely the prettiest color I’ve ever seen. The cigar shape is beautiful and welcome, everything is just PERFECT. Brian Wilhoite, you made a beautiful masterpiece. Please keep going in this style, I hope more originals are copied. I’m also getting the Doctor’s Knife (it’s also a beauty) the Red Micarta Razor ((awesome) and the Red jigged bone spear point Barlow (beautiful but a clip point would’ve been cool) If any of you are undecided about this one and are lovers or old knives-do yourself a favor and buy it-you won’t regret it.
Hi Tobias: It’s a very attractive knife but it’s almost a cigar shape rather than a traditional Congress….which is one of my favorite patterns. I much prefer the coping and sheepsfoot blades on a Congress frame. I do like the easy open slots but the purpose is defeated when the pulls are that stiff. I would definitely have a hard time with the small blades. For me, the negatives outweigh the positives. Thanks for the review. 👍
I really like it! Despite not being a traditional congress shape, it has a very "old school" vibe. In American pocket cutlery's early days, shapes and blade configurations were seemingly endless. They were so creative in those days, as to "patterns" (or the disregard for/lack of established patterns). They seemed to experiment more, in many ways. For years most companies fell into a rut, making the same tried-and-tested patterns. Thankfully, the old school, creative mindset is making a comeback, though. -- Thanks for all the great vids.
That's a good looking knife. Hard to open?...needs more nail nicks....on both sides...like their other ones. I wonder if the easy open cut-outs came after the hard pull? Some of my best made knives are nail breakers. Thanks Tobias.
RRR likes to do things a little differently. Like the straight instead of bent blades. I'm trying to like congress knives. My first example Rough Ryder with them was not good as 3 out of 4 blades had major blade rap.
I really do like the knife, despite the issues with the pen blades. (they are getting a little more manageable as I open them more.) Still, I have a problem thinking of the knife as a Congress. However, as the Congress, was also known as a "Tobacco Knife" and the blade arrangement is very similar to a congress, I can see myself calling it a Tobacco Knife. After all it is built on a quall end "cigar" frame and it features "tobacco smooth bone" covers. LOL. Did you mean that the congress you bought has blade rap or blade rub? Blades rubbing is a common issue. But blade rap seems almost impossible with that bent frame on a congress.
I have NEVER thought that the frame had anything to do with the term CONGRESS, its the blades. The fact that they are meeting in the middle and are equal on both side .
So I have had some QC issues with these latest runs of Rough Ryders. They have been having blades not centered and off to the side rubbing, really dirty, and scratches. I have returned and replaced them, but on one I had to do it 3 times. My opinion is after Andy left it just went down a notch. I still love buying them, but it gets frustrating. I wonder if anybody else has had those issues?
Andy had nothing to do with production, quality control, management or anything else at SMKW or Rough Rider. He was just one of several people working under Brian in the art department. He had nothing to do with running Rough Rider or anything else at SMKW.
hey blade brotha tobias there , i am blade bro's n military bro's with bigred e.d.c. , i am a new sub for ya here and i was active in the marines from 93' to 97' ! , def. wanna talk more bro, thanks n talk soon > tom !
Might be a little hard for me to open but it does look nice. If you get a chance I’m trying to share to KNIFEWERKS but I can only copy and it doesn’t show the pics. Any help you can give me is greatly appreciated Steve
Very interesting! Definitely a good looking RRR!!! Kind of a cigar congress.
Nice knife and nice review. Thanks Tobias.
I liked this knife so much I bought two of them. I consider this a true congress as in one definition, "congress' means a "gathering" of like items (blades). It does have a stiffer blade pull, but I found that if I insert my thumbnail into the nick at an angle, I get better purchase and it works just fine. The fact that the blades are not proud when closed makes it much more pocket friendly. I did one modification to one of the pen blades, converting it to a clip point, complete with swedge. You wouldn't know it didn't come that way. It makes it a bit more versatile for carving/whittling. I think the engineering that went into this knife was well thought out. Ive always loved the Congress pattern and glad to have a couple of these. And the price? Amazing value at less than $28 !
On my RR1326 swing guard it's called amber bone and is quite nice. My Black Appaloosa Capitol Intern RR2489, has very stiff, nail-breaking pulls. Thanks for the video. Liked the outro tune.
I have had same issue on other RR patterns on the small blades. I do love the security I feel using them in the open position and the solid snap closing, but old arthritic thumbs and easily broken nails make opening them a real chore...I still would rather have that issue over little or no detent or snap...thanks for sharing the knife...beautiful bone scales....Jim
Tobias, I have a work around on the hard blade spring tension for the smaller blades. It requires a Dremel tool and a fiber cut-off wheel (1¼ to 1½ diameter). Install the wheel on the Dremel and run it at moderate speed. Insert the wheel into the handle cavity (it will be advisable to open all the blades first) and then apply the disc to the depression on the spring closest to the small blade(s) (the low curved area) moving it back and forth across its width. The goal is to remove a small amount of material from the spring to lessen spring tension and make the blade open easier. I didn't have to take off much to make a big difference, only 5 thousandths or so. The small blades are now much easier to open. I know this should have been addressed at the factory, but this fix makes the knife much more likely to be carried and used. It works and I'm very happy with the results! Terry Knipschield
Thanks for sharing, Tobias!
This is probably THE prettiest and certainly the most classic knife RR has ever made. I saw it and immediately had to have it, I will probably buy another one too. I love the fact that it’s made from an original piece, the blades sit low, they’re thinner (I don’t like the thick blades and bevels RR uses, I think they can follow the old style patterns and it will look better and probably sell better. That bone is definitely the prettiest color I’ve ever seen. The cigar shape is beautiful and welcome, everything is just PERFECT. Brian Wilhoite, you made a beautiful masterpiece. Please keep going in this style, I hope more originals are copied. I’m also getting the Doctor’s Knife (it’s also a beauty) the Red Micarta Razor ((awesome) and the Red jigged bone spear point Barlow (beautiful but a clip point would’ve been cool) If any of you are undecided about this one and are lovers or old knives-do yourself a favor and buy it-you won’t regret it.
It really is a great looking knife. The flaws are actually quite minor. The small blades are getting easier to open as I use it more.
Hi Tobias:
It’s a very attractive knife but it’s almost a cigar shape rather than a traditional Congress….which is one of my favorite patterns. I much prefer the coping and sheepsfoot blades on a Congress frame. I do like the easy open slots but the purpose is defeated when the pulls are that stiff. I would definitely have a hard time with the small blades.
For me, the negatives outweigh the positives. Thanks for the review. 👍
Good looking piece. I like the setup for the blades and the easy access notches look handy. Thanks for sharing and have a great blessed day.
I really like it! Despite not being a traditional congress shape, it has a very "old school" vibe. In American pocket cutlery's early days, shapes and blade configurations were seemingly endless. They were so creative in those days, as to "patterns" (or the disregard for/lack of established patterns). They seemed to experiment more, in many ways. For years most companies fell into a rut, making the same tried-and-tested patterns. Thankfully, the old school, creative mindset is making a comeback, though. -- Thanks for all the great vids.
Good looking covers
Despite the name not matching the pattern shape, it's still a great looking knife! Thanks for showing it off, buddy!
Thanks for sharing brother you might be able to slack it a little to make the pull on the blade a little less tight.🤙
That is one of my beefs with R/R multi blade knives. I prefer single blade R/R Reserve knives. Once again another excellent video.
That's a good looking knife. Hard to open?...needs more nail nicks....on both sides...like their other ones. I wonder if the easy open cut-outs came after the hard pull? Some of my best made knives are nail breakers. Thanks Tobias.
That is the only four blade Congress I have seen that I would buy simply because the blades are lower in the frame. 😁
RRR likes to do things a little differently. Like the straight instead of bent blades. I'm trying to like congress knives. My first example Rough Ryder with them was not good as 3 out of 4 blades had major blade rap.
I really do like the knife, despite the issues with the pen blades. (they are getting a little more manageable as I open them more.) Still, I have a problem thinking of the knife as a Congress. However, as the Congress, was also known as a "Tobacco Knife" and the blade arrangement is very similar to a congress, I can see myself calling it a Tobacco Knife. After all it is built on a quall end "cigar" frame and it features "tobacco smooth bone" covers. LOL.
Did you mean that the congress you bought has blade rap or blade rub? Blades rubbing is a common issue. But blade rap seems almost impossible with that bent frame on a congress.
Nice looking covers on that one
By the looks of the pull on the pen blades, this wouldn’t suit me, but that’s a shame as this is the first RRR knife I’ve seen that I actually like!
Nice looking knife but do not agree it is congress pattern compared to the original Congress pattern to name it one. 🤔
I have NEVER thought that the frame had anything to do with the term CONGRESS, its the blades. The fact that they are meeting in the middle and are equal on both side .
you could drill a hole in the smaller pen blades and put a key ring through them.... that wouldn't look bad at all 😂
So I have had some QC issues with these latest runs of Rough Ryders. They have been having blades not centered and off to the side rubbing, really dirty, and scratches. I have returned and replaced them, but on one I had to do it 3 times. My opinion is after Andy left it just went down a notch. I still love buying them, but it gets frustrating. I wonder if anybody else has had those issues?
Andy had nothing to do with production, quality control, management or anything else at SMKW or Rough Rider. He was just one of several people working under Brian in the art department. He had nothing to do with running Rough Rider or anything else at SMKW.
hey blade brotha tobias there , i am blade bro's n military bro's with bigred e.d.c. , i am a new sub for ya here and i was active in the marines from 93' to 97' ! , def. wanna talk more bro, thanks n talk soon > tom !
That one is a hard pass for me.
Might be a little hard for me to open but it does look nice. If you get a chance I’m trying to share to KNIFEWERKS but I can only copy and it doesn’t show the pics. Any help you can give me is greatly appreciated Steve