A.G.Russell Knives

[Zeke/PA]

Hi Gang,
I just today received an impressive A.G. Russel catalog.
Beautiful knives displayed in a super catalog.
Prices are in fact another issue and my question is just why some one would spend such big bucks for knife?
Pride in/of ownership I can understand, BUT, your "pride" only extends to a fellow "knife worshiper" a shallow following to say the least!
I own at least 200 knives so I'm not finding fault but my question IS, BIG bucks for a knife??

 

[JShirley]

It depends on what you find expensive.

I have spent $60-150 fairly frequently on Spydercos. I know people who would be aghast at paying so much for a knife.

 

[blindhari]

If you think AG Russell pricy, lay a case sod buster and an AG Russell Rancher side by side in yellow delrin and see which knife you chose. Even better, Hold a medium barlow AG Russell and try to put it down. Either under $40. Both future "Dad's knife heirlooms".

blindhari

My wife calls their catalog Knife Porn

 

[joneb]

Is there any connection to Green River knives?

 

[rcmodel]

No.

J. Russell and Green River knives were a product of the early 1800's.

http://www.crazycrow.com/green-river-knives

A.G. Russell is a modern knife retailer dealing in high quality factory & hand made knives.
Who also happens to publish the best knife porn catalog in the business.

But he, or his company has nothing to do with the old Russell Green River knives of 150 years ago.

rc

 

[Piraticalbob]

A.G. Russell was one of the founding members of the Knifemaker's Guild and has been in the knife business longer than most of you have been alive. He sells quality knives at a decent price and stands behind everything he sells. If you see a particular knife in his catalog it might be possible to find it cheaper at Amazon or other companies, but many of his offerings are exclusive to his company and can't be found anywhere else.

The old Russell Green River company is still in business and selling knives, they are popular with buckskinners and mountain man re-enactors. Companies such as Crazy Crow sell their knives as well as the blades for making knives of your own.

 

[DT Guy]

What are 'big' bucks for a knife? I've spent enough on some knives that I later traded them for brand new S&W revolvers, and still don't think of it as 'big' money. Folks are driving around in $60,000 mass-produced cars; what is 'big' about a $1000 hand-made, or partially hand-made, tool made of space-age materials, crafted to a level of precision pretty much unmatched anywhere else in our lives?


Larry

 

[JShirley]

I think Chris Reeve knives are fairly pricy, but evidently many buyers of CR products find them to be a great value.

It's all about perceived worth.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Value is hard to determine.

I don't carry what I would call an expensive knife most days.
Many people can't/won't appreciate a high end knife (those are the people with dull kitchen knives which they put in the dishwasher). However, for those that do appreciate them or ever had to bet big on the performance of a knife the price is well worth it!

Also, at times I simply want the best I can reasonably afford. Life is short, I'm not driving a Ferrari but at times can have a knife in that class.

 

[JShirley]

There are diminishing returns. I am happy carrying a knife that's perhaps 95% as good as is possible, considering that carrying a 99% knife would likely cost 3-7x as much...and truthfully, there are a lot of materials in the knife world that are not quantifiably better. An inexpensive steel may cost only 18% as much as a "super" steel, take a similar edge, hold it 1/3 as long, but sharpen in 1/4 of the time and ease.

 

[hso]

Zeek,

I carry a plain Sebenza because it performs under abuse I warn people not to subject knives to. The utter confidence I have in it in extreme use is worth the money to me.

AG has been offering outstanding knives before internet dealers existed. He has provided solid service and guarantees equally long. He is utterly reliable.

 

[Ron James]

My first knife from AG Russell was a small fixed blade called " The Sting ", if I remember correctly it cost me just a little north of thirty dollars. Never carried it, I just like the workmanship and the feel of the knife. Now I have seen the same knife ( the original, not one of the current ones ) sell for close to 400 dollars, My oldest will get it when I have dinner with devil. When I was a kid I could only afford the dollar and few cents caliber knifes. they did the job but were quickly broken or so loose in the hinge they were useless. I can afford it, so now I have carry knifes that when I pull them out to clean my fingernails people look. The quality is also such that they will get the job done and never have to worry .AG Russell has a guarantee . if you are not satisfied with one of his knifes, for any reason { perhaps you don't like the color of the handle } he will replace or refund your money , no questions asked. Now, my knifes are a personal thing, a piece of male jewelry if you will. more a pride thing. That's why some people drive Kia's and others drive something a little more substantial. The Kia's will get the job done, why would you spend more money for a Cadillac.

 

[blindhari]

I have more than a few pocket knives. Kershaw, CRKT, Case, Moore Maker, Buck, Great Eastern Cutlery, Schrade, Case, Boker, Bulldog, Tree, Henckl, etc. I have laid in a supply of AG Russell for any who are still breathing when they put me under ground. All are in Yellow Delrin and will probably outlast those they are going to. Each has been modified with a different lanyard and antler point on the end of it. These go to our children, grand children, brother and sister in laws, and those over the years I would have trusted to guard my back, or guard my family. Engraving fees have been prepaid with a local jeweler.
I am mostly Irish and these are for the wake.
Trust AG Russell, yes,

blindhari

I don't buy booze for anybody, not even for a wake, I have had to do eulogies for far too many who have walked that road too far

 

[Elkins45]

I occasionally buy a knife from AG just so I can keep getting the catalogs.

To answer the OP's question with a question: why so much for that Holland's double gun? Because someone perceives it to be an acceptable value for the price paid.

The knife in my pocket now (Spyderco Paramilitary 2) cost just over $100. I don't consider it an expensive knife. People I know think I'm crazy for spending that much on a knife. I perceive the value differently.

 

[bannockburn]

I can remember spending "big money" on Randall and A.G. Russell knives many years ago because they were quality products at a reasonable price. Of course I have many other knives, most for work and relatively inexpensive; however there will always be some in my collection that are just for the pleasure of enjoying their design and craftsmanship.

 

[huntsman]

The AG Russell Woodswalker is a great value and my favorite for skinning/dressing out game.

I'm not into fantasy or fighting knives just working knives.

 

[lemaymiami]

I don't collect knives - every one I own is a working tool for one application or other. I greatly enjoy the AG Russell catalogue though, since every item is clearly described and illustrated (call it knife porn if you will). It's particularly useful if I spot a blade that I might consider owning when most of the available info about it is a bit sketchy elsewhere. Although I've never bought one of their knives they come across as a class act. Not many of those around in any field these days...

 

[Zeke/PA]

If you think AG Russell pricy, lay a case sod buster and an AG Russell Rancher side by side in yellow delrin and see which knife you chose. Even better, Hold a medium barlow AG Russell and try to put it down. Either under $40. Both future "Dad's knife heirlooms".

blindhari

My wife calls their catalog Knife Porn

Yeah, but as YET, none of the Case stuff is made in China!

 

[Slamfire]

A. G. Russell sells excellent knives, his catalog descriptions are accurate, the more you pay, the more you get, but all are excellent value for the money. His customer service is second to none. A.G has been selling his own designs for decades now, a number of Morseth knives are in fact, his designs from after he took over the business. The Morseth Cascade skinner is an outstanding skinning knife.

I think the real question is at what price point do you actually start to see diminishing returns. For an analysis of that you have to define your criteria. If the criteria is cost versus function, I think modern production knives offer everything you need in the price range of $75-$125.00. For that price, for whatever task you want, there are excellent designs with properly heat treated steels. At this price range, you can consider the knife a “throw away knife” as if you lose or break it, you are not out of a mortgage payment. This Hattori knife falls into this category:



Is this very expensive Jesse Davis drop point that much better than the Hattori drop point?:



Well not from a functional viewpoint. Both are well made, both take an edge and cut well. The Jesse Davis knife is just a little prettier and it is a pleasure owning an excellent example of a man’s work. If I lose it, I will be very upset as I won’t find another.

When it comes to what you get for the money in cutting and functionality, sometimes I think the 1830's Green River patterns were the end of history.



Skinner

Hunter

Dadley


This Carbon V Butcher is a Green River Pattern


Art knives are in a category all their own. I have seen modern replicas made from silver and abalone, based on the Micheal Price and Will & Finck patterns, that are art works by themselves. Is a $1,000 - $2,000 dollar knife that will never cut bread worth it? For some it is. A.G sells custom knives that are $500 and up, and they are undoubtedly excellent knives and they sure look pretty in the catalog. Is a $500.00 knife that much functionally better than $100.00 knife? Well, probably not . But the pleasure of owning a beautiful knife is sometimes worth the money.

I could not afford the $27,000 it takes to buy an original Gravely and Wreaks bowie, http://www.antiquebowies.com/antiqueBowies/earlySheffield/Graveley/graveleyAndWreaks.htm but I was able to buy a nicely made replica for $200.00. It will not be used for much, but so what.