Bat Help Needed - Rough Rider

[vintagesportflips]

Hello guys,
My dad picked up this bat at an antique market about a week ago, and he asked me to get some opinions for him. At first glance, it looks like a ring bat, with many black rings present. It has Rough Rider etched into the bat mid barrell, and the end of the bat has a flat look. Any help to dating this bat? I couldn't come up with anything when researching rough rider bats.
thanks
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp36/VintagePigskin/bat1.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp36/VintagePigskin/bat2.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp36/VintagePigskin/bat3.jpg

[MGHPro]

Cool bat. I am not familiar with Rough Rider bats, but it resembles a zebra stripe bat. Certainly looks old, does it appear to be home made or factory made?
matt

[vintagesportflips]

Thanks Matt. It doesn't have any noticeable lathe marks. It doesn't really look like a home made bat in my opinion, but I am a bat novice.

[prewarsports]

Everyone tried to cash in on the Rough Riders of the Spanish American War around 1898, they were SO famous and I bet that is where the name comes from and the time frame fits with the look of tha bat. So in the mind of this History Major/History Geek I would date the bat to July 2, 1898 :D

Rhys