Why do you buy all those cheap knives? 

Collect what you like and like what you collect!

Thanks for joining me everybody. Really enjoyed the chat!

I'm starting to come to the conclusion that there are no magic knives out there. You don't have to pay five hundred dollars or even one hundred dollars to get a knife that will do what is needed and that will last for many many years.

I buy them because I can afford them, they do everything a more expensive knife can, and for just as long, and I like them. As my Great Grandfather used to say: "Why pay a premium for a name?"

Thank you and you made your point in a really constructive and discriptive way. I always enjoy your enthusiasm and passion for your collection. I'm just starting my collection of traditional knives and although I've picked up a few expensive ones I also see rough riders making up the large majority of my future buys. Thankfully I'll be able to get more of a choice soon as smkw are going to post international soon. Thank you for taking the time to make this. Atb paddy 👍☘️😀

Dude I love knives so I'm with you if I see an expensive knife I want I'll get it but if I see some cheaper knives I also like, guess what?! I BUY EM!

Tobias, as usual, another great video! I too collect rough riders, as a kid I always had a knife. Dad and grandpa started me out to understand that a knife is a tool, I've had many and I appreciated each and every one! When I saw the patterns that rough rider was putting out I got intrigued and started learning about each pattern and what they were meant for, its been a trip and I enjoy them and other collectors as well, you do a very nice job for all us other knife guys and girls! Thanks again 🔪🗡🔪🗡🔪🗡🔪🪓

Knife collecting is a personal choice thing, and what people collect can vary immensely. Who am I, or anyone else for that matter, to say anyone's collection is junk? We all have our own likes and dislikes, and we all have our own budgetary constraints. The bottom line is, are you happy with what you choose to buy? If so, then who cares what others think..you're happy and that's the only thing that truly matters. I am just getting into traditional knives, so my collection of them pales in comparison to most collectors of them, but I have a lot of modern folders and fixed blades. They range from a bit over $300 to a bit over $10. I bought each one for different reasons, and I am happy with every one of them. If I am not happy with a knife, it doesn't stay in my collection. I either sell it or give it away. I am also starting to get into mods. I am not going to try to mod a $300 knife when I am new to it, and don't really know what I am doing. I will learn how to do the various mods I want to do on less expensive budget knives. That way if I mess it up, and trust me, I will make mistakes, I am not out a huge sum of cash. It just is common sense. I have learned a lot from you Tobias, and you are a wealth of information to both newbies and more experienced collectors. I appreciate your channel very much, and I thank you for all you have shared.

And... I found an old Boker Small Congress lying in the road. When I researched it that helped get me started.

Tobias really enjoy your channel you do a great job watched you channel close to 6 hrs today been a collector for years I have seen rough riders around but havnt looked at them to close thanks for showing these with detail I'm going to try and pick up a doggone and pipe knife THANK YOU

Great point! Been watching all theses knives videos and just learned for me this the way to go! Thank you!

I wondered the same thing until I bought a Rough Rider ArmorHide 6bladed stockman. Now I have a Marbles sowbelly&Cattle Jack too. I love the "cheap" slipjoints. They're fun to collect&way easier to whittle with than my ColdSteel&other big blades. Your vids have helped tremendously in my slipjoint journey. Thanks a lot knife bro!! Happy Turkeyday!!

Sir, I’m glad that you buy whatever you want and like. That’s your thing and I respect that so don’t let anyone try to make you feel bad. Keep doing what you doing and I’ll always be a big fan of yours. 👍

I remember flea markets in Southern California with thousands of Toothpick Knives, 50 years sgo. Thanks again,

Suits my budget. I love the traditional styles. My user knife is usually a small victorinox.

Do you have a video on how to make your own bone scales? it looks great!

Just recently started purchasing traditionals. I have a Buck 110 but Rough Rider has some amazing knives for less than $20. These cheaper knives are a great way to get into the hobby, find out if I like a stockman vs a congress. It also introduces you to handle materials, half stops, big vs small. I now find myself carrying modern folders and a traditional. Overkill? Probably. Do I prefer American? Yes, but now I know if I want to spend the extra on a Case. Just a lot of cool options.

Just as you say. I started out collecting mostly Case and Solingen-made Bokers (among new knives), but got bored with the same old patterns. Besides being well-built and very affordable, this is the biggest reason I now have so many Rough Ryders (and a few Steel Warriors). I love variety -- in knives, and in life. Keep the great vids coming! :)

Great video. I'm a budget-minded guy (i.e. a cheapskate). I was eyeing a Civivi Elementum but it was pricey. Then I saw the Sanrenmu 7028 with a price point of under $15! I saw a review and it seems to do everything I'd need (I'm not a heavy user). I just wanted a working man's pocket knife. It's now on it's way. Have you any experience with Sanrenmu (out of China)?

Well done sir....great collections that have motivated me into looking at Rough Rider knives. Thank you.

I collect Barlow, Stockman, and Trapper pattern knives, and have a bunch of other patterns that I don't collect. To me, collecting means getting as many of these patterns as I can, including cheap brand. I have CaseXX, GEC, and other expensive brands, but I also have rough Rider, Chinese made Old Timer knives, which I think are better made that the Old Timer knives made in the USA. The materials are certainly better. TES, I really, really like the Rough Rider and Old Times made in China knives. Anyone who doesn't has at least three rivets loose and one scale missing. I use my knives, aaand use them largely for the purposes that were made for, which is why I collect the patterns I do. My most carried knife is probably the CaseXX large Stockman, and I carry several other expensive brands when not carrying it. But for the last two weeks my carry knife has been a Rough Riden Dreamcatcher Stockman. I think it's one of the prettiest knives I have. How can you beat red and blue turquoise scales? It has done everything I needed it to do, and done it well. Anyone who doesn't like it can just, well, leave me alone and carry whatever knife they do like. I almost never modify a knife because I want them all in original condition. I have modified knives with damaged blades, but they do not go into my collection. I know I'll never have every model of Barlow, Stockman, and Trapper, but I buy what I can, even if it's a five dollar no brand I find in a thrift store. Not all are good knives, but I don't care. I do care when people don't like Chinese made Rough Rider and Old Timer knives. Both of them have upper tier and lower tier knives, but the upper tier ones are very good knives. Though I will say I cringe when someone lets a knife snap close, whether the knife is cheap or expensive.

Yes I totally agree Case knives are really nice but there out of my price range. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HONESTY HELPFUL VIDEOS

Thanks for sharing and you're right. Good knifes don't have to be always expensive! Greetings from Germany👍

Excellent video , your a better man than me for explaining what should have been obvious to numskulls . Thanks for great videos and turning me on to the joy of collecting economical slip joints !!

I've got a few RR in my collection too and one thing I really like about them is that they are pushing the envelope in creative designs and materials. From what I understand SMKW does design them here in the USA and then has them made in China. And yes Case may have better steel but you won't find a cotton sampler, a double lock whittler, or canoe lockback.

Excellent video, as usual. This is a question that I keep asking myself. And the answer I have is complex. One reason to keep buying cheap knives is the one fueling the quest of any collector, such as the fountain pen collectors -- finding a treasure on a [quasi] garbage pile. Another reason is my usual reaction to marketing strategies that try to make one believe that makers of so-and-so knives are part of the "ellected" people. And finally, because I have found that the usual "champions" also produce defective knives, with Case being the number one to reach that un-qualifying mark. What do I do, then? I go for what I find, as a collector of sorts, a reasonable choice (in terms of beauty, creation, engineering and F&F for the asking price -- and the "Roughies" are my favorites of the day. Now, for general USE I prefer the Victorinox multi-knives and to whittling I favor a Mora 120, fixed blade. Thank you and congrats!

That white smooth bone scout knife looks really nice! Good work!

I enjoy hearing you describe each knife. Their is something very relaxing to it. I also love Rough Rider knives. You cannot beat them for the price. I don't care if their made in China. I have a few knives now to where you can begin to see the collection being started.

I have watching your older videos and learning alot. I came to rough rider and marbles late in the game. I had been collecting case and other usa brands like camillus, colonial ana kabar simply because I knew of their existence, I guess. Plus there is a case dealer close to my house and that didn't help either. I have a fair number of rr and marbles knives and they have been a revelation. I enjoy most of them and they are well built and inexpensive. To be very honest with you it has been hard to break the 'name brand`habit I have with case and a few others. I have been called many things in life but never a snob. Usually quite the opposite. The one advantage is that if I buy a case I can inspect it in person. I don't buy that brand online anymore. I will continue to seek out interesting budget knives and I know there are many out there. Thank you again for an informative video, sir.

Love your collection and your criteria! Cheers from Argentina!

I always enjoy your videos and always learn something. One question which always occurs to me is how do you store, catalogue, display, etc. such a large collection? Even with a hundred or so I have them in rolls, boxes, folders, bags, etc.with no real organized method.

You got me into RR’s and slip joints. So far I have the buckshot bone copperhead, granddaddy Barlow, half hawk, and the large moose. They are sweet. My grandpa always would have a pocket knife on him, and he would love showing me the different ones he had. They were mainly slip joint Victorianox’s from what I can remember. ☺️

I am new to knife collection. I gathered up my old knives. Qween FIxed blade, buck 110, old timer and some of those chesp ones. I like the small key chain ones from the corner store. They last years and not a big concern. I an starting out snd this has helped me out. Thank you. New subscriber here. 😊

Excellent video and points 👏 I agree. I've carried multitools and pocket knives my whole life but didn't really get into collecting until about 5 years ago. At that time I had a few Victorinox, a few multitools like Leatherman's and Gerber, some fixed blades and maybe one or two slipjoint but for some reason I got the itch and started wanting to expand my Victorinox collection, then the multitool, then it was flipper type knives and lately old school slipjoint and lockbacks. I have a few more expensive ones... but I have more fun just collecting and trying different models and styles out, finding what I like and then maybe I'll buy a more expensive model of a cheaper one I've tried, maybe not 😅 I collect for my own personal enjoyment anyone else's opinion does not matter much. I will listen to advice and watch reviews, etc. But many times I will just buy it so having lower price models to experiment with and use only makes sense for me. Great video, thanks for sharing, subscribed 😉

Excellent video, Tobias! I’m with you 100%. You really can’t beat a Rough Rider in terms of price, variety of patterns, and quality. I own quite a few myself and will continue buying them. I recently bought a new Case barlow. And you know what? It’s not any nicer than my Rough Rider barlows.

Nice job. Well said. I totally agree.

I am really fond of Rough Rider Doctors Knives

Great video. I own Rough Rider, Case, Buck (made in the USA), Spyderco, Bench Made, Marbles, and many other brands of knives. I like them all, and they all have a legitimate place in my collection.

Great video buddy, I certainly can't afford to buy all high end knives or model kits for that matter, as long as you're happy with the knife, that's all that matters, enjoy your weekend, :)

Nothing worse than a knife snob or a watch snob. Great video that makes sense. Thanks. 😎👍

I like my Rough Riders too. I love my Case knives too, but I like variety. I like Sodbusters particularly and have 12 or 15 of all makes and nationalities from their origins in Germany, through Italy, on to the US and now China. Some are better than others, but I like them all in their way. I do also like the idea of the large toothpick, but I’ve yet to see one for sale in the UK!

I love this. I did almost the same modification on one of my RRs. I have collected knives anywhere from 7 bucks to a few as much as 80 or a little more. I collect what I like and can actually use. I can put a razor edge on any knife, the only difference being, a cheap knife with cheap steel will not hold an edge as long, but they are still very usable.

I would take a rough ryder, or a 10 dollar german knife over a case anyday. Case knives are overpriced. I like your knifes man!

Fun video… I think your rationale for how you purchase knives makes great sense. I guess the people who give you grief don’t fully appreciate all of the factors that the hobby entails. You will always find people who criticize… and you know the story about “opinions”…. I have a small collection of old pocket knives from the 20’s through the 60’s. Most were yard sale and estate sale picks, as well as some from my grandfather and father. Thanks for sharing your video.

I’ve carried a Victorinox tinker in my pocket for about 20 years. Recently, I decided to buy a few different scout knives for a change. Bought a Rough Rider and was surprised by the extra weight. Are all scout knives significantly heavier than the Tinker?

Good talk. I agree it’s much easier to modify an inexpensive Knife. At the end you mentioned Marbles. I don’t own any of the newer Marbles knives. Is the quality comparable to RR?

All excellent points! Through the process of time I’ve found that you can get a long way with a small piece of sharpened steel. I’ve done well with a slightly sharpened key on my keychain as well. Great video my friend 👍🏼

I’ve yet to be disappointed by a Rough Rider, while some Case knives have left me wondering why they were so expensive considering their comparatively poor quality.

Case is slipping on QC. My last knife had impossibly strong pulls, and Rough Rider has been very close to matching them in quality.

The cost of something is not the only thing that determines it value . If you love doing something that’s what counts.

I really appreciate this perspective I've always been against buying Chinese products if I can help it or other products from Pakistan Etc. The cost of buying American made knives is for me not feasible to do on a daily basis either. I have bought one Rough Rider I'm looking currently for a frost cutlery knife slowly but surely I think I'm going to buy more of these kinds of knives but I still love shopping and hunting for old traditionals American made. Thanks for sharing really appreciate your perspective on things

I like those Rough Ryders! Good looking and great quality. Can't beat the price.

Great video again 👍🤟🤙✌

I just bought a Rough Ryder and a Rite Edge small pen knives. Plus a cheap Barlow, and a Yellow Old Timer Stockman, Rough Ryder small Congress and a Moon Glow Trapper. I'm in Heaven. 63 years old and have a few knives from when I was 12 years old. That's what got me started!

What do you think of the $30 boker "tree brand" knives? I figured they're not made in Germany because of the price but they have some good looking ones.

I just got a Chinese Buck knife, a stockman pattern, and I can't find anything wrong with it. I would like a case knife, but I'm unemployed at the moment, and $20 was all I can afford. I was given a Buck canoe, also from China as a gift, and it has been a good knife.

Case actually did make a half hawk it’s called a loom fixer #6217 I think it’s what the Rough Ryder is based on

To Me buying inexpensive Knives is just what I like. Plus Sometimes The Cosmetic Looks better on budget knives Than expensive Ones. Also Rough Ryder or Steel Warrior, is more about collecting different styles , Pattern than the performance of the knife itself. Keep up your reviews I Enjoy Them 👍..

That's awsome brother I'm jealous of your collection lol you rock

The way I see it. It's your money, your channel. If you like them get them. If someone else doesn't like it they don't have to watch. Love that white bone modification. Never seen the mushroom knife before. I'll have to check into them. There are a lot of junk coming out of China but just stop and look around. There just isn't much pride in the USA made products these days like there used to be. Thanks for sharing and God bless.

Very well explained 👍.

Tobias, one day your collection will be worth a lot of money.But for me it's not about the money but the pleasure I get out of collecting traditional knives.Just bought a couple of Martins knives from Portugal.A company that started in 1850

Interesting to see the mushroom knives. The Italian one is cool, but I’d be happy to own the RR. Thanks.

Yes awesome I’m a disabled male in my 50’s and unfortunately these are all I can afford Im just tired of seeing these collecting videos of knives that cost hundreds of dollars. so THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HONESTY VIDEOS GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

Is that a sod buster in tortoise? Where can I get one of those? And the canoe?

good information for sure

My interest in knives isn't for bling. I am interested in them as tools. I'll pay a little more for a tool that is made to do a good job and last. But I don't want to spend a lot. That just makes me afraid to carry and use it. I love Rough Ryder's new Reserve line. They are beautifully designed, well made and affordable... my sweet spot. With anything, the good values are in the middle, not the extremes. I hope other domestic and import knife makers see what Rough Ryder is doing and give them competition. Great steel is fine. It doesn't have to be the latest and greatest.

If I buy a knife that subsequently I don't regularly use, then I regret buying it, however cheap it was. I have three Rough Riders which I chose because I wanted to use them, and they give me a lot of enjoyment. I also bought a couple which I got because I was attracted by the price, and every time I look at them I wish I hadn't. Perhaps I'm not really much of a collector in the pure sense. Chinese junk? As a Brit, I'm sad to have to admit that the worst junk these days comes out of Sheffield.

I don’t think explanation is even necessary. “I buy what I buy because I’m an adult” that should be the answer. I love your knives and you have introduced me to new knives. My collection isn’t big but it is there because I want it. Simple

What is that green handled knife in the beginning. My favorite color

I have only a couple of Cheap Chinese knives but I much prefer my collection of CASE XX knives.I will be leaving them all to my grandson and he will have a collection worth owning. 👍❤️🇺🇸

My buck was 46 dollars, and I think it’ll last multiple generations.

Tobias I agree with you a thousand per cent!!!

I'm wondering why you don't like steel warrior. I have a few, and they are well made, have good blade snap, fit and finish,and inexpensive.

I love Rough Ryder but that 440a dulls fast when you really use them.

I love your videos and I love cheap knives oh my God these people if you don't gotta glock you don't gotta pistol if you don't have a Harley Davidson you don't have a motorcycle and so on I watch knife videos torture Test the Chinese knives but they won't get out there good one and run it through the same test Keep up the good work I'm enjoying👍😉

I love knives like these. I have fun just hunting them.

Where could I find a tortoise shell canoe? I'm on a Barlow and canoe kick right now.

I love budget knives Kershaw makes a Barlow I use a lot with my 110 or 112 as a secondary blade 17$ slip joint work horse I tell you brother Amen

I know this video is a year old, but I’ve been watching a lot of your videos. Case does make a version of the half hawk! Just not anymore. Rough ryder got the idea from the Case Loomfixer. The only reason I know is because I recently refurbished my great grandpa’s loomfixer. Have a great day!

I think a lot of people buy budget knives and the easy answer is you can't discount a cheap knife as a bad knife and everybody likes a good deal

I own a Chinese Kershaw and a Buck 112, with some Victorinox. I tend to prefer quantity over quality, in part because like you, I want to try other styles first without wrecking my budget . Only the Buck was new; all the others were bought used, so that I can buy more :)

I enjoyed this video! Please don't be offended, but I can't help but notice that your knives often hit together with an audible click or you tap one against another. Aren't you concerned about scratching them up? I know that they are meant to be used, and perhaps I'm just too obsessive about mine, even the cheap ones. Keep the videos coming!

I've never had problems with foreign made knives a lot of them are high quality great knives.

Even more so with modern locking knives from China and Taiwan. I am relatively new to the pocket knife world and was lucky enough to come in when the competition for quality, style, price, and innovation was getting fierce. For the price of one Chris Reeves Sebenza I have 20 or so amazing Asian made knives of every shape, size and lock type that you couldn't get at any price 20 years ago. For us poor folk it's a blessing.

"Real Americans Buy What They Want!"-------my friend's dad circa 1982. RIP Mr. Johnson

I have a lot of Rough Riders. They are a real bargain for the price. The quality is very good. I also have a bunch of other brands. It's not what the book or catalog say's they are worth right now, but what what people are willing to pay for them. I'm not worried because they are all going to my kids and grand children and they can do what they want with them. I would bet that if they are well taken care of, that in 30 years even RR knives will be worth much more than now. If you don't believe me, just look at what some of the "cheap" old time antique knifes on the SMKW website are going for. (or at least what they are asking-lol). They are just like old guns, old cars, etc,etc,etc.

In the 80's & 90's Frost and Parker Frost had their knives made in Japan. They where good quality and well priced. I started my knife collecting hobby with these. In the late 90's they changed to Pakistan and we know what kind of crap came from that ! You can sometimes still find these old Frosts on Ebay, check it out.

Lol I damn near cut my thumb off today cutting straight through a stick with a factory edge on a rough rider Barlow so they are obviously sharp capable knives lol

Great job I love cheap knives anybody Has complaints about cheap knives My advice is Not to put your Expensive knife up against the cheap Knife You just piss yourself off

Why do i have the feeling that rough riders are going to spike soon?

I totally agree with you, i have a lots of pocket knives, case ,queen, great eastern, bear, but i actually really love the rough ryder patterns, and a lot of my rough riders are better quality than queen was., and yes even though they are made in China, you are supporting usa, by the tariffs and taxes to enter the country. And the knife dealers that sell them, like smkw, thanks again, great video

In the end it all comes down to you buy what you like and I like Marbles,RR,GEC and Bear and son so I say it's up to the Man that Carry's it.✌️

I like some of them

what's a coping blade? is that for wood whittling?

You never cease to amaze me at the depth and breadth of your traditional collection! It would be insanely expensive to create a collection like yours and implement the constraints of only making US made purchases. Also, as you mentioned, any such constraints would greatly hamper the variety of knives you could collect. From what I gather the large overseas slip-joint manufacturers are indeed mostly US owned with a few from Germany as well. Thanks for another outstanding video!

I have a few cheap knives that are of reasonably good quality. I can say the same about some fountain pens, and some of the wine I buy. Price and quality do not always equate. Budget knives allow the average collector to acquire a large collection.

who cares what they cost!! it is about what makes you happy. the cost is not what makes someone happy. it is the article, that makes you happy!! no explanation necessary.... greets from the Netherlands

I’ll collect any knife. I just love knives.

Right on!