My full size Ritter hogue is hands down one of my favorite knives I own and use. The quality and materials of the gen 2 and especially the price in my opinion can’t be beat! No questions asked!
Agreed! I just grabbed a orange full size RSK on sale for $143 to the door. I can't think of an American made knife out there that can compete with it for that amount of money.
I’m so happy for you that you got the Hogue Ritter RSK full size. It is, as you pointed out the perfect edc knife! I love mine the most. I carry the Mini RSK with the blue gmascus scales every day at work. The mini is really good too. I still like the full size version better. It is just ideal in every way. The scale texture pattern, the tall flat ground slicey blade, the action, the thumb studs and the lock bar springs and studs and the overall ergonomics are all just ideal. The mini is identical in every way except scaled down. Scaling down made the scale texture sharp like a rasp. I removed the scales and sanded them down just enough to spare my jeans. While I was at it I hit the slightly sharp studs on a wire wheel to mellow them a bit too. I had to be careful because the Able Lock mechanism can be tricky to reassemble like the Axis. Totally worth it to me though because I was working in a city with a 3 inch blade limit law. I could have been charged with carrying a concealed weapon for having the full size in my pocket! Don’t let me get started on that but apparently that’s something Doug Ritter has been working to change. He is the man! If it is legal, get the full size because it is perfect in every way. The 20CV steel is great but I will be getting a Magnacut version now that I know they exist.
I have a Benchmade TRIAGE ... bought a Hogue TRAUMA ..EXACT same knife ! ! ! I feel the Hogue to me personally "feels" .. cheaper ?? I am assuming the designer did both .. ? And yet I personally know that the Benchmade does NOT hold up to their video of abuse in opening wooden crates ( been there .. done that )
I love that Hogue are doing so well in the knife space. I’ve seen that Knife Works have an exclusive on the full size, running it with Carbon Fiber and 63-64 HRC MagnaCut, so I’m extremely excited about getting both this mini RSK and the full size from Knife Works into my pocket!!
Hey Erica, one of my viewers shared with me that the aftermarket Bugout clips fit on it and I grabbed in and it fit perfectly. I love my mini and regular RSK-MK1. Also I like how the G2 version on the Deka addressed everything the community complained about. To me I feel it shows Hogue wants to be and is serious about a brand the community respects and wants. I think your review was spot on! 👍
I'm so glad you did this video. I have a short list of "expensive" (to me) knives I wanna get in the near future and this has been #1 for a long time. I think the reason it's not more popular is because it can only be bought from one vendor. Or maybe it's not trendy enough, I dunno. Whatever the case, it checks every box for what I'm looking for, and now I know it passes Erica's scrutiny. Only thing left to do is choose which one. I'm leaning toward the red gmascus.
I used to have the full size and loved every aspect of the knife, but my army vet bud wanted to get into the high end production of knives so I have it to him as his first knife. Still uses it to this day.
Agree on all of your points for this one. One of the best blade shapes ever. Try swapping out the pocket clip with a Griptilian clip if you have one, that improved the knife for me
I have been thinking about getting a version of that. I only have one Hogue knife now. I love the knife but it came with the Pocket Clip from Hell. It was extremely difficult to get into my jeans pocket and almost impossible to get out. I literally bent the clip out away from the knife handle and it was still too tight. Eventually I just put a lanyard on the back of the knife and I use that to pull the knife out. Thank you.
MagnaCut versions are treated up to 63-64. Mine just came in, will be doing some testing over the weekend. Would love to hear your experience with the MagnaCut version if you’re ever able to handle one.
The Spyderco double stuff is the best pocket sharpener there is. Work sharp has a decent one too, but its just a diamond plate with a really dumb plastic base. A 6x1 or 4x1 plate designed for a guided system would be a better option, if that's the route you wanna take.
My full size Ritter hogue is hands down one of my favorite knives I own and use. The quality and materials of the gen 2 and especially the price in my opinion can’t be beat! No questions asked!
Agreed! I just grabbed a orange full size RSK on sale for $143 to the door. I can't think of an American made knife out there that can compete with it for that amount of money.
The RSK models are also only available through KnifeWorks if I recall - that makes it hard to get the model visibility in the community
The minimal amount of screws for take down sold me over a benchmade. Love them but god its like defusing a bomb.
Got large version in black, which I feel is a little heavy for edc and the mini in purple g-mascus, which is perfect. Love them both.
Hogue is supposed to be using omega springs made by Wolff on their able lock so they are indeed a bit more sturdy.
Wolf springs are legendary in the firearms realm. Makes sense that hogue would use them. USA made too. Good stuff
I literally ordered one after watching your video! I can’t wait to try it out myself, seems like a solid knife!! 😄
Happy Knife Day Erica, Nicole, and the puppers!
Love my Ritter.....sharp , smooth, and easy in the hand. All I need for edc.
I’m so happy for you that you got the Hogue Ritter RSK full size. It is, as you pointed out the perfect edc knife! I love mine the most. I carry the Mini RSK with the blue gmascus scales every day at work. The mini is really good too. I still like the full size version better. It is just ideal in every way. The scale texture pattern, the tall flat ground slicey blade, the action, the thumb studs and the lock bar springs and studs and the overall ergonomics are all just ideal. The mini is identical in every way except scaled down. Scaling down made the scale texture sharp like a rasp. I removed the scales and sanded them down just enough to spare my jeans. While I was at it I hit the slightly sharp studs on a wire wheel to mellow them a bit too. I had to be careful because the Able Lock mechanism can be tricky to reassemble like the Axis. Totally worth it to me though because I was working in a city with a 3 inch blade limit law. I could have been charged with carrying a concealed weapon for having the full size in my pocket! Don’t let me get started on that but apparently that’s something Doug Ritter has been working to change. He is the man!
If it is legal, get the full size because it is perfect in every way. The 20CV steel is great but I will be getting a Magnacut version now that I know they exist.
I have this version and I switched the clip out for a Lynch clip- made a phenomenal knife even better!!
I have a Benchmade TRIAGE ... bought a Hogue TRAUMA ..EXACT same knife ! ! !
I feel the Hogue to me personally "feels" .. cheaper ??
I am assuming the designer did both .. ?
And yet I personally know that the Benchmade does NOT hold up to their video of abuse in opening wooden crates ( been there .. done that )
Wish they'd do the sheepsfoot/hole version as well
The mini rsk is one of my favorite knives, my only problem was the pocket clip. It was a great choice by houge to use the bm pattern
I love that Hogue are doing so well in the knife space.
I’ve seen that Knife Works have an exclusive on the full size, running it with Carbon Fiber and 63-64 HRC MagnaCut, so I’m extremely excited about getting both this mini RSK and the full size from Knife Works into my pocket!!
Hey Erica, one of my viewers shared with me that the aftermarket Bugout clips fit on it and I grabbed in and it fit perfectly. I love my mini and regular RSK-MK1.
Also I like how the G2 version on the Deka addressed everything the community complained about. To me I feel it shows Hogue wants to be and is serious about a brand the community respects and wants.
I think your review was spot on! 👍
Neat history on the knife and as always terrific review ! 🤗
On my full size version the stock clip is a bit of a hot spot. Replaced it with an old school non deep carry Benchmade v style clip and it is perfect.
I'm so glad you did this video. I have a short list of "expensive" (to me) knives I wanna get in the near future and this has been #1 for a long time. I think the reason it's not more popular is because it can only be bought from one vendor. Or maybe it's not trendy enough, I dunno. Whatever the case, it checks every box for what I'm looking for, and now I know it passes Erica's scrutiny. Only thing left to do is choose which one. I'm leaning toward the red gmascus.
I love that knife! (Only ever used the full size)
Everyone compares the Ritter Hogue to the Griptilian, when all I see is the Freek. Am I wrong?
Good point!
I used to have the full size and loved every aspect of the knife, but my army vet bud wanted to get into the high end production of knives so I have it to him as his first knife. Still uses it to this day.
Great stuff. Keepem' coming.
Agree on all of your points for this one. One of the best blade shapes ever. Try swapping out the pocket clip with a Griptilian clip if you have one, that improved the knife for me
Will do Sir! Thanks for watching!
I have been thinking about getting a version of that. I only have one Hogue knife now. I love the knife but it came with the Pocket Clip from Hell. It was extremely difficult to get into my jeans pocket and almost impossible to get out. I literally bent the clip out away from the knife handle and it was still too tight. Eventually I just put a lanyard on the back of the knife and I use that to pull the knife out. Thank you.
If you prefer Benchmade clips, they will fit on the Ritter, at least they do on my full sized one.
I love my grip and wanted to love my rsk but the heat treat on the 20cv is horrible and I hate the knife.
I'm going to get one after this, that's for sure. Although the Deka in magnacut at $30 less is enticing.
Watch Neeve’s review of my Magnacut Deka before buying
Love the RSK!
My. First Grail Knife was a griptilian mini .from the custom shop with M4 ..
The. RSK Is better. Hogue is Top Quality 👌. Thanks Doug ✌..
To my mind much better looking than the Benchmade. High on my list of a second knife (non Spyderco).
Curious to see what Hogue has in store for pocket clips - they've got a really interesting patent on a clip that should have really good retention.
Sold. Dammit
How's the magnacut on the hogue deka?
MagnaCut versions are treated up to 63-64. Mine just came in, will be doing some testing over the weekend. Would love to hear your experience with the MagnaCut version if you’re ever able to handle one.
Does anyone know any US makers for ZT 0640 scales?
Have Benchmade and hogue version. S30V, m390 in both and a 20cv. In my pocket Benchmade s30v
FINALLY
Looks like a scaled down copy of the Benchmade Freak
I believe these were actually in production before the Freek!
Other way around. The Freek is a knockoff of the original RSK. It was the version they started making after they split with Doug Ritter.
what kind of pocket sharpener do you use?
The Spyderco double stuff is the best pocket sharpener there is.
Work sharp has a decent one too, but its just a diamond plate with a really dumb plastic base. A 6x1 or 4x1 plate designed for a guided system would be a better option, if that's the route you wanna take.
Worksharp pocket sharpener!
@@ericasedc thank