Muskrat vs. Trapper, Some Updates and a New Knife!

[@jeremyspaulding7735]

Some great looking knives! Love the green on the new addition. Great video 👍

[@RJsKnives]

Thank you, Jeremy!

[@puzzlering1]

Thank you RJ, what a brilliant collection of knives, I have the Gerber Straightlace, a great knife and a few of of the others, but in a different blade selection, a very well put together video, very well explained and presented. Cheers Take care Sam

[@RJsKnives]

Thank you for the compliment, Sam! I really enjoy the Gerber. It’s been a really good knife! I am glad you enjoy yours! And thanks again for the slips, use them every day!

[@puzzlering1]

@@RJsKnives no problem RJ, I hope they bear up well, let me know if you would like one made for a specific knife, as it would be no trouble at all. Cheers Sam

[@paddyspotatopeelers2154]

Them roper knives are great looking quality. That green bone is so nice.atb paddy

[@RJsKnives]

Thank you, Paddy! I am so glad that you enjoyed that! The green bone is just lovely, they have it in a trapper also.

[@halcooper6059]

I picked up the Roper Ash Viper Stockman and Tumbleweed thanks to your videos. The first is excellent, the second is good and will likely grow on me. I'm following instructions that the tumbleweed came with to create a patina on the blade.

[@RJsKnives]

That’s interesting, none of mine came with those instructions. I wonder if they only come with the Tumbleweed. I enjoy the Ash Viper a lot. I am glad you are enjoying your Ropers! Thank you Hal for sharing your thoughts, I appreciate it!

[@halcooper6059]

@@RJsKnives the instructions say to cut a raw potato and rub it on the blades until the steel turns grey. I'm 12 hours into it and it's going to take days

[@RJsKnives]

@@halcooper6059 I have seen videos where people stick the blade into a potato or apple and then leave it anywhere from an hour to overnight to force a patina also. I have not tried it myself but you can research it for a method that you want to try. Let me know how it comes out!

[@BigRedEDC]

Some really good looking knives RJ! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@RJsKnives]

You’re welcome JB! I am glad you liked seeing them, I really enjoyed sharing them with everyone!

[@preppy890]

I've had the Roper Pecos lockback for around 6 months and I am getting ready to send it to my Grandson as a birthday present as it is my favorite knife. That muskrat looks like a highplains series knife. If you said I missed it. Beautiful knife. I loved the small blades when I used to trap muskrat for delicate skinning around the eyes and ears. I also have a red Roper Chaparral that I enjoy. Another brand I have recently been trying is Frost. I have a couple Copperhead lockbacks and I have adjusted the sharpening angle on the wharncliff blade for whittling use. Excellent little knife with a neat lock release.

[@RJsKnives]

The Ropers are great knives. The muskrat is from the High Plains series, if I didn’t say it, I apologize. I like the Frost knives. I recently picked up a Steel Warrior copperhead ( video to come). They are neat knives. Thanks Preppy!

[@rickkerans8485]

I currently do not own any Roper knives but when I can am going to see what I can find. I may have a Trapper and a Muskrat. I found a pattern haven't heard much of anything about by reviewers and that is the Large Moose. Great looking knives you had all laid out there. Good looking collection you have there. Thanks for sharing it. I believe at one point that even if a knife is called by the company then we should call it by the name the company gives it. . If they call it a Trapper then a Trapper it is. Have a great day.

[@RJsKnives]

I agree Rick. They have large and small moose pattern knives. I think I am going to try a small moose in the future. I think the difference is like large and small trappers, but we will find out! Thank you for the compliment on the collection, I appreciate it!

[@KnifeDetector]

I like that high plains series! I like the muskrat pattern because since both blades are same , it doesn’t matter which side you open it from, and. Because there are two blades, it lasts longer. Great video buddy!

[@RJsKnives]

Thank you Knife Detector! I really like the High Plains series and I am new to the muskrat but now I am bit and really like them. I am glad you enjoyed the video! Have a blessed day!

[@markcoffman494]

Love the selection you have here! I just got a muskrat in the mail (Friday)

[@RJsKnives]

Awesome! I really like the muskrat, which one did you get?

[@knifedelights7473]

That was a very great video. Thanks RJ

[@RJsKnives]

Thank you for watching! I appreciate it!

[@Goose_Gear]

I stumbled into Roper knives and I was pleased you are highlighting them. I like the locking folders in the cream delrin. The Tumbleweed sodbuster is my favorite. But my overall favorite ABKT knife is their D2 black rough stock stockman. I had an email conversation with the founding husband and wife. They are currently doing the service for orders, but they sold the company in last year or so to Bluebird. They seem like really nice people. I hope your highlights add a little coin to their lives. Thanks!

[@RJsKnives]

Thank you, Ryan! I have had my eye on that stockman and the trapper that goes with it, they are on my list. I have been impressed with everything I have handled from them, so you will definitely see more of their items on my channel. Thanks for sharing your experience with them! I hope I do make them successful, that will allow them to bring out more good stuff!

[@rustyknifelover4463]

The Roper Stockman looks great.

[@RJsKnives]

Thank you, that green bone is beautiful!

[@jeroenvoss6231]

I have a Moose pattern, and it has simular kinda blades as a trapper. I'm still bugged that over here you can't find Roper knives. (Holland that is) But i like you newest Roper. That green bone looks great and a stockman comes in handy due to the different blades. That milling on the High Plains still amazes me, it's really very beautyfull. Have a nice weekend RJ.

[@RJsKnives]

Thank you Jeroen! Hopefully you will be able to find a source for them in the future. I remember visiting Holland when I was stationed in Germany. Beautiful country and of course I loved seeing the windmills. The High Plains knives are really pretty. I think they are definitely worth it if you like them. I have not tried a moose yet but I will get one in the future.

[@jeroenvoss6231]

@@RJsKnives I live close to the German border, so if the German's are going to sell them, that would be a nice option too. I like bone for handlescales more then anything, whether smooth or jigged, but the milling on the High Plains is really exceptional. You where stationed in the middle of Germany? or more in the south? I've had some nice evenings with GI's when i was younger and there where more stationed in the area.

[@RJsKnives]

@@jeroenvoss6231 I was stationed in Wiesbaden, in the center of West Germany, just west of Frankfurt. I lived in base housing that was in Mainz Kastel, on the Rhine River just across from Mainz.

[@jeroenvoss6231]

@@RJsKnives Oh that's about a two hour drive from where i live. Frankfurt, famous for the frankfurters no not the people, the sausages. Wiesbaden has a nice surrounding. Better then in the Ruhr area, where all the heavy industries are. We where very happy having you to protect our asses from the commies. Because the dutch army well it's not that big. I've seen a lot of AWACS back then. I hope your stay was a good one.

[@RJsKnives]

@@jeroenvoss6231 Yes, I look back on those times and I miss Europe. I was there during the Cold War years, 85-88. I worked with the Dutch, German and Belgian armies a lot. I only interacted with the French and Italians once. Interesting political times for sure. My father’s side of the family is Czech and Dutch and my mother’s side is Irish and English, so I was a perfect mix to go back to Europe as an American! I do miss the countryside and the many historical sites. I hope to go back and visit again and now I can see where my dad’s family came from as it’s now open to tourists.

[@steveg.1502]

Very nice RJ. I have a couple of muskrats and I like them. No Ropers yet. But that green stockman and the red sowbelly you showed a while back is making me a bit twitchy. Only one knife this month, a Boker stockman. But next month I am pulling the trigger on a couple of Ropers. Take care RJ.

[@RJsKnives]

That’s awesome! The Boker stockman is a very nice knife! I am new to the muskrat pattern but I really like it. When you get your Ropers, let me know what you think, I am interested to hear what you think. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, I appreciate it!

[@timbo4374]

I have a Pecos, and I love it. I like the fact it's basically a traditional, with a clip, thumb stud, and a liner lock. It finds it's way into my pocket fairly often.I only have one Muskrat, and wouldn't ya know it...it's a Roper too! 🤣 One of their micarta ones. I also have a Roper stockman that looks just like your green one, but it's in jigged red bone instead. So far, I've picked up 6 in total of their knives.

[@RJsKnives]

That is awesome, Timbo! I have my eye on getting their muskrat also! I just love that Pecos hybrid. I am definitely going to add more Ropers into my collection. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I appreciate it!

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Crackie has many friends out there. I hope to find him again some day. I like how the Pecos combines traditional with modern, but doesn't get too heavy on the modern part. Have you tried a Moose pattern? It's kind of like a Trapper with blades coming out of the ends like a muskrat does.

[@RJsKnives]

I have not tried a moose yet. I have almost picked one up a couple of times but then didn’t. I need to pick one up. That Roper just checks all the boxes for me. I am glad you like yours!

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

@@RJsKnives I'm very happy with the Roper.

[@chrisosh9574]

I have a couple of Mooses, I think I prefer them to the usual trapper frame, The RRs are great and I have a Winchester brown checked bone equal end that is stunning.

[@rustyknifelover4463]

Interesting knives, haven't tried a Roper yet.

[@RJsKnives]

I really think that for the money that they are the best budget knife out there in the traditional space.

[@haveaknifeday6253]

I have the classic carbon version and it is fantastic

[@RJsKnives]

Thanks for the recommendation! I do need to beef up my muskrat collection. Thanks for watching!

[@johnkeck1025]

When I put a knife in my pocket, I like to feel it being there, so the weight and size matters to me. Otherwise I always have my hand in my pocket to make sure I haven't lost it. I have trouble with traditional pocket knives falling out of my pockets when I sit down. A rubber band around them tends to help if the knife isn't too small.

[@RJsKnives]

Yes, a rubber band will keep it in place. With my slip joints I carry in a slip. That keeps it in my pocket and protects the covers. Thanks for watching!

[@davidwhiren817]

Factories should offer the Trapper with a muskrat clip on it !!! & a long Wharncliffe in stead of the big spey blade , like on the " Hawbaker " !!!

[@RJsKnives]

That would be cool. A modern Hawbaker would be a hit with collectors!

[@davidwhiren817]

Instant !!! & with the superior blade combination !!!@@RJsKnives

[@RJsKnives]

@@davidwhiren817 design it and they will come

[@davidkurle5418]

I've only got one muskrat so far, but I want more of them. It works really well for small game (as intended, I suppose), but when I'm not hunting I mostly carry it as a secondary knife along with a larger locking knife. Very nice pattern. The trapper finds its way into my pocket more often, as the size of it makes for a better knife to get me through an average work day. Quick question about that Roper Pecos, is the thumb stud on that thing reversible, or is it unable to be removed? I ask because I mostly use my knife left handed, and I don't want to buy a knife with a right handed stud if I can't switch it around. Cheers, buddy.

[@RJsKnives]

Yes, it’s right handed only. You would have to drill it out and make a thumb stud for it. The pocket clip is not reversible either. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on muskrats and trappers. I definitely want to get some more muskrats.

[@davidkurle5418]

@@RJsKnives Thanks, buddy. I think I might just buy one, rip the thumb stud off, and put a kwik stud on it. Problem solved. lol

[@RJsKnives]

Right on!

[@andrewnawarycz3026]

Roper knives are a little gem 💎 compared to, Case and rough rider knives when it comes to price, quality and materials.... Especially being made in the USA!!!

[@RJsKnives]

They are gems, but they are made in China. All in all though, they are really high quality.

[@andrewnawarycz3026]

Sorry my mistake, my previous comment has rung rather Hollow. I'll try to get my fact's straight for the future. They're still beautiful knives though, atb UK Andy 👍

[@Zen_Ali_123]

@@andrewnawarycz3026 yup, American Buffalo Knife & Tool contracts everything to China, kinda deceptive but they seem like nice folks

[@jdnotariano]

Nice knives. So it seems the muskrat pattern has a brass liner separating the two blades but the moose does not. Is this correct? Thanks.

[@RJsKnives]

Yes, I had to double check but you’re right, the moose doesn’t have a brass liner inside.

[@davidwhiren817]

I just designed a new pattern !!!

[@RJsKnives]

Awesome!

[@Zen_Ali_123]

Will Rogers said, I've got 2 brothers. One of em's in Texas the other is in hell and really feel like I oughta get the one outta Texas first.

[@RJsKnives]

Well said!

[@Zen_Ali_123]

@@RJsKnives He was an Okie

[@RJsKnives]

@@Zen_Ali_123 oh, I know who Will Rogers was, it’s still funny! He was a national treasure and I still enjoy his work.

[@donc5220]

No ropers , I have my eye on a muskrat that was made the year i was born. 88

[@RJsKnives]

That’s a cool quest! Good luck in your search. Let me know when you find it!