Like every other modern folding knife manufacturer, Rough Rider makes folders with G10 and micarta scales, with some models even sporting carbon fiber.

But despite the fact that these materials are low-maintenance and affordable, and despite the fact that they are extremely durable, there’s just something about a pocket knife in a traditional pattern made with beautiful natural scale materials.

Like any of the following, which you can find in some Rough Rider knife or other.

Horn

There are a few patterns made with horn, a rich, deep black material that’s lighter than both bone and antler, and which has a luster and sheen that few other natural materials can come near.

Bone

Jigged and checkered bone is a staple in the world of traditional pocket knife patterns. Often white natural bone is used, but it is also often dyed in a variety of colors. It’s also dense, hard, strong, wear-resistant, and relatively easy to care for.

Antler

Some Rough Rider knives are made with natural stag antler, which is similar to bone, but which has slightly different aesthetics. Also, antler is rarely dyed whereas bone commonly is.

Wood

There are Rough Rider knives made with cherry wood, wenge wood, pakkawood, oak, and other hardwoods. Wood might not be as hard or as dense as bone, but it is still a tough natural material.

Mother of Pearl

A few Rough Rider knives are made with mother of pearl inlays that are peerless for their nacreous beauty. These are less common than Rough Rider knives made with the other materials mentioned here, so if you find one, get it.

Malachite

Some Rough Riders are inlaid with malachite, a rich green mineral with swirling, linear, and undulating patterns. It’s also a unique material you wouldn’t forget if you saw it.

Turquoise

Turquoise is one of the more commonly utilized semi-precious stones, and there are a few Rough Rider knives that sport it. The deep blue luster of turquoise is often set against other semi-precious stones in the knives that showcase it.

Copper

Many Rough Rider pocket knives are made with copper or copper wire accents, like bolsters. While nickel is an attractive metal, there’s something unique about copper that can’t be matched by any other metal.

Other Metal Alloys

There are Rough Rider knives made with metal scales, such as aluminum, stainless steel, and even brass, all of which sport unique aesthetics, not to mention the fact that these alloys are relatively low on maintenance and that some, like brass, will develop a rich, unique patina with time.

Leather

If you want a Rough Rider knife with a stacked leather grip, you’ll have to look outside their catalog of traditional folding pocket knives. Still, and all the same, some of their fixed blade patterns and profiles sport eye-catching and practical stacked leather grips which are not just aesthetically pleasing but functional.

Where to Get Your Next (or First) Rough Rider Knife

Rough Rider’s use of these attractive natural materials is not the only thing that has made and kept the brand extremely popular. For another thing, where other manufacturers are increasingly turning to synthetics, Rough Rider is doubling down on natural beauty.

Even if that weren’t the case, Rough Rider has an expansive catalog with an extremely wide range of unique and traditional knife patterns - perhaps more than any other knife maker currently in the industry.

And then there’s the price. You can get a Rough Rider knife in pretty much any pattern you want, with one (or a combination) of the scale materials mentioned here, for a fraction of the price of a Case of GEC knife.

That being said, take a closer look at White Mountain Knives to find what you need. There’s plenty for you to discover in their catalog and their prices are highly reasonable.

For more information about Kershaw Pocket Knife and Zero Tolerance Knives Please visit: White Mountain Knives, LLC.