Ruana Knives
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oddshooter
Member
I'm interested.
In 1971, my wife and I had just graduated and were broke.
For Christmas, she found the old man himself out at Bonner and visited his shop. She brought home the most incredible knife I've ever held. I have no idea where she found the money.
Fifty years later, that knife still holds a special place in my heart. I loved the old man and the knives he made. and I love the lady who sacrificed to get it for me.
A few years ago, I talked to his son who had taken over the business. I got a new Ruana kitchen knife for my lady. She was more than a little shocked.
This is one of the few possessions I have that my son actually wants.
Prescut
In 1971, my wife and I had just graduated and were broke.
For Christmas, she found the old man himself out at Bonner and visited his shop. She brought home the most incredible knife I've ever held. I have no idea where she found the money.
Fifty years later, that knife still holds a special place in my heart. I loved the old man and the knives he made. and I love the lady who sacrificed to get it for me.
A few years ago, I talked to his son who had taken over the business. I got a new Ruana kitchen knife for my lady. She was more than a little shocked.
This is one of the few possessions I have that my son actually wants.
Prescut
Flattop5
Member
A personal comment: while Ruana knives may be very good knives from a metallurgical standpoint, from an aesthetic, appearance standpoint I have a hard time embracing them. I just felt the need to say that...but your mileage may vary...
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huntsman22
Member
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mine don't..... and you are more polite than I could have been.
I dunno. Maybe not the prettiest I’ve seen, but not that bad either: Catalog Knives & Hatchet — Ruana Knives
On the other hand, new, at $375 up to close to $1400, per their order form, maybe I’ll stick to Randalls...
Interesting knives, though. I had never heard of them before.
On the other hand, new, at $375 up to close to $1400, per their order form, maybe I’ll stick to Randalls...
Interesting knives, though. I had never heard of them before.
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For some reason, I thought that his son-in-law had taken over the business. I probably got them mixed up with someone else.
oddshooter
Member
You may be right model520.
It may be the SIL. The old man was Rudy and he died in 1986. He was a real character and I miss him much. I always enjoyed going out to Bonner, which had maybe a dozen or so houses. There was a famous old bridge there that got used in making the knives.
Rudy was the kind of man that made Montana special for me. His knives were gorgeous hand-made creations. The SIL is really good, but Rudy was great.
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It may be the SIL. The old man was Rudy and he died in 1986. He was a real character and I miss him much. I always enjoyed going out to Bonner, which had maybe a dozen or so houses. There was a famous old bridge there that got used in making the knives.
Rudy was the kind of man that made Montana special for me. His knives were gorgeous hand-made creations. The SIL is really good, but Rudy was great.
Prescut
oddshooter
Member
a little update.
The original owner came in and got them back out of pawn. I was happy to hear that.
No man should ever lose something like that to pawn.
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The original owner came in and got them back out of pawn. I was happy to hear that.
No man should ever lose something like that to pawn.
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Rudy's SIL, Vic Hangas went to work with Rudy in 1966 and learned from the Master. He took over the business in 1984 upon Rudy's retirement. He now runs the Ruana Knives with His three sons. And actually a 5-6 is a Randall model number
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mscook
Member
Let's see a picture or three
What's the deal ?
mscook
What's the deal ?
mscook
Five or six knives, I assume.
Flattop5
Member
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This is an example of what I was talking about. Pretty? Uhhh, no. It looks like a drunk teenager made it.
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Richard Simmons
Member
Never held one and the handle/scales aren’t my cup of tea, seem dated but, I do like some of the blade shapes and would probably add a few to the collection if the opportunity and price presented itself in a favorable fashion
Flattop5
Member
I agree -- if I could buy one for $25.00, sure, I'd buy one. But some of them fetch $500.00 or more. No way. (For a Randall, yes).
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Riverboys
Member
Wow, blast from my Hippie-kid past. In 1971 I had a Ruana knife I bought in Jackson Hole - I do not remember the price, $35?. Not long afterward, I hitch hiked to Boulder, CO - big surprise - and it was stolen from my back pack by some dirt bag. My bad, I was a kid and had it proudly strapped on the outside.
I was so psyched to have that knife - even if only for a while.
I was so psyched to have that knife - even if only for a while.
Well, I agree they ain’t pretty, but they sure look serviceable as all get out. I’d enjoy having one. (At a more reasonable price than they go for typically, as noted by others.)
I have two, a GP hunting knive sharpened halfway back the top, and a larger camp knive that could do almost anything, including halving a large cabbage. The handles are only just large enough, but otherwise fine knifes. Don't remember the price, but they were very reasonable for handmade knifes.
Spelling courtesy of smith-wessonforum convention.
Spelling courtesy of smith-wessonforum convention.
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
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This is an example of what I was talking about. Pretty? Uhhh, no. It looks like a drunk teenager made it.
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I wouldn't call that ugly at all. Looks like a good, versatile, useful knife. But functionality is what I value.
Ruana knives here in Montana are actually used by the owners and not stored in a vault or safe.
They hold an edge and hold it and hold it.....that is why they are treasured items for sportsmen in Montana. They are a working mans knife and many are used hard because they can take it and then some!
Now the Damascus twist knife that the pawn shop had out for a short time.....that was stunning!!
Randy
They hold an edge and hold it and hold it.....that is why they are treasured items for sportsmen in Montana. They are a working mans knife and many are used hard because they can take it and then some!
Now the Damascus twist knife that the pawn shop had out for a short time.....that was stunning!!
Randy
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