Fight'n Rooster 10+ blade knives?

cpirtle

cpirtle

Leathercrafter
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Mar 28, 2001
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So, I'm thinking for kicks I may pick up a Fight'n Rooster 10 or 12 blade congress. I'll probably make a nice wet molded belt sheath and carry it occasionally.

How's the fit and finish typically on these? Tight back spacers, good W&T etc...?

I know zero about FR's so any thoughts you may have in addition would be appreciated.
 
Fight'n Rooster's are very well made knives and have high carbon steel blades. The chances of getting a well made knife with several blades is pretty much a thing of the past. The Fightn' Roosters are great in my book. Stay away from the celluloid handled ones and you will find that they are well worth the price you pay for them. Right now they seem to be in a depressed state as far as what they can be purchased for. I have several of the pearl and stag handled ones that I really do cherish. One word of advice. Don't let the high polish finish on the blades fool you. You still need to keep a rust preventer on the blades and backsprings. They will get pepper spots in a blink of an eye ( or so it seems ) if you don't. Get that 10 blader, you wont regret it. I once saw the 100 blade knife that Fightn' Rooster made. All the blades worked perfectly. It really was a engineering marvel. That kind of workmanship has vanished in today's world of knives. The 10 blader is a small example of old world craftmanship that has dissapeared. There just isn't many cutlers that can do what once was.
Greg
 
Thanks Greg, that helps a lot. I have a line on a 12 blader with stag scales. (good price too)

Been wanting one for a while so I think I'll jump on it.
 
I got my start collecting Fight'n Roosters & still have weak spot in my heart for some of them.

I'd suggest staying with pearl & stag, and Captain's Roosters usually resell the best. I'd avoid a club knife like the plague, they don't resell to well overall unless a guy belongs to that club.

The multiblades are cool, I think the 12 blades are probably the neatest without getting ridiculous on price.
 
Oh yeah and another thing. Keep in mind that Fight'n Roosters trade in a wide price range, depending on location etc. So be sure you really are getting a reasonable price.

It's not uncommon at the same knife show to see someone highly motivated to unload 'em and another guy asking a fortune. They have some characteristics that some folks get tired of, and when they do decide to sell-- they sell them cheap.
 
Well there are a number of things about Fight'n Roosters that people get tired of over the course of time...

Some have been mentioned such as pepper spots. I'd also add that The production numbers aren't always accurate, over use of the word "prototype", and the bolsters turn golden in color no matter what you do...including pearl & stag. The blade etchings can also be catching, annoying, or even offensive to some.

I'm not running down Roosters as a whole, because I still think they made some exceptional knives over the years...and that the average knife collector would be better off with a reproduction such as a fight'n Rooster rather than a fake.
 
Durwood,
I agree that Olbertz makes a good knife. And I agree that they do "pepper" up easily. That said, I also firmly believe the incredible proliferation of late, of Bulldog, and other German knives, from the Parker's, has actually driven down the price of Fight'n Roosters. There are so many knives with matchstriker pulls and pearl or celluloid, or stag (even if it's German stag) scales on eBay, that folks think they are all the same. Their "surgical inst" steel sucks, in my opinion. The heat treat makes it difficult to sharpen...I think they are "Display" knives only... :(
My Roosters are better knives, in fit, finish, and steel than the Bulldogs, Weidmannsheill, Groten, Shapleigh, etc...etc. I just feel that the Parker's have flooded the market with similar German knives, and hurt the Rooster's value. Free enterprise, I know, but a shame for Rooster collectors. This from someone who wrote the book on Rooster's.

Bill
 
I agree 100% with you El Lobo... I think the junk knives lowered the value of the Fight'n Rooster more than it should have.

I'm still looking for a Captain's Rooster lockback whittler at the right price...now those are a knife!
 
Thanks for the posts guys.

Unfortunately my "line" on the 10 blade fell through, but I'll add one soon enough.

Funny thing about price is that I know an online dealer who has some 12 bladers for around $125, but when I see them on eBay the guys always have a buy it now price of over $200, seems they think the market is pretty high, although I've never seen one purchased at that price..
 
cpirtle,
$125 for a twelve blade seems pretty reasonable, if the scales are real nice....but here's hoping you find the one you want for less than that.... ;)

Bill
 
Yep, that price seems reasonable...5-6 years ago a 12 blade Fight'n Rooster in stag or pearl would have brought a mint on ebay. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, those days have passed.

All this talk about Fight'n Roosters has got me wanting a few more...I bet the price goes up now :D
 
I've had a Fight'n Rooster in my EDC for over fifteen years and it's one of my favorites. Odd pattern though. It's a full size serpentine stockman without a spey blade. I think Levine called em serpentine double end jacks. I've heard of half whittlers. How bout a 2/3 stockman?(:--KV
 
I really like FR's. They are the brand that sold me in the Irish Congress. Their pearl handled knifes are almost impossible to beat. I love the tortoise shell, but it does gas out. I have a big lock back with that cell and it makes me cry.
 
Not sure I would ever carry it due to the size, but I would add one to the collection for the right price. Do you have a picture of the one you have a line on?
 
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