I’ve been chatting to Mike @Bigeard for a while now and he’s been singing the praises of Rosecraft Blades.
So I took the plunge and ordered the new Hatchie River Jack RCT033-LGM, it's their version of a classic Tony Bose design Lannys Clip.
Light green canvas micarta covers,stainless integral bolsters/liners and backspring,nickel pins,beautifully ground 14C28N stainless blade and their latest bomb shield.
The fit and finish is absolutely flawless,the blade sits dead centre in the channel and the backsprings,liners and covers look like one unit,the backspring is perfectly flush at closed - half stop and open position and I’d say the pull is a firm 7/10.
The transitions between pins,shield,bolsters and liners is Indistinguishable,this looks and feels like a handmade custom pocketknife but at 1/10th of the price.
I’m a big fan of Rough Rider knives and comparing the two brands is not really fair as the Rosecraft is +/- 3 times the price,would I have 1 Rosecraft or 3 Rough Riders ? I’d probably go with the RR’s
One thing I can’t comment on is the comparison between a RC and a RR Reserve because I’ve never handled a Reserve,but this Rosecraft knife in its own right compares VERY favourably with anything I’ve got in my collection that was made in the USA.
Here’s a thing though,I still think I’d buy a Case pocketknife over a RC purely because of the heritage.
I don’t think this will be my last Rosecraft buy,nor will it mean I will stop buying RR or Case in favour of them,however in terms of pure quality the RC is the best.
The only thing I would like to see is brass liners and nickel bolsters,I don’t think it will happen though as the design staple of RC seems to be steel integral bolsters and liners,that will be one of the main reasons how they can build this exceptional quality at the price point.
I’m bowled over by the quality of this knife especially given its price.
So I took the plunge and ordered the new Hatchie River Jack RCT033-LGM, it's their version of a classic Tony Bose design Lannys Clip.
Light green canvas micarta covers,stainless integral bolsters/liners and backspring,nickel pins,beautifully ground 14C28N stainless blade and their latest bomb shield.
The fit and finish is absolutely flawless,the blade sits dead centre in the channel and the backsprings,liners and covers look like one unit,the backspring is perfectly flush at closed - half stop and open position and I’d say the pull is a firm 7/10.
The transitions between pins,shield,bolsters and liners is Indistinguishable,this looks and feels like a handmade custom pocketknife but at 1/10th of the price.
I’m a big fan of Rough Rider knives and comparing the two brands is not really fair as the Rosecraft is +/- 3 times the price,would I have 1 Rosecraft or 3 Rough Riders ? I’d probably go with the RR’s
One thing I can’t comment on is the comparison between a RC and a RR Reserve because I’ve never handled a Reserve,but this Rosecraft knife in its own right compares VERY favourably with anything I’ve got in my collection that was made in the USA.Here’s a thing though,I still think I’d buy a Case pocketknife over a RC purely because of the heritage.
I don’t think this will be my last Rosecraft buy,nor will it mean I will stop buying RR or Case in favour of them,however in terms of pure quality the RC is the best.
The only thing I would like to see is brass liners and nickel bolsters,I don’t think it will happen though as the design staple of RC seems to be steel integral bolsters and liners,that will be one of the main reasons how they can build this exceptional quality at the price point.
I’m bowled over by the quality of this knife especially given its price.
