A.G. Russell™ Serpentine Stockman (Sowbelly!!!)

supratentorial

supratentorial

Joined
Dec 19, 2006
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I'm not sure if this is an old release that's sold out or if it's a new release that's coming soon....but I haven't seen it before. It's made in China and the price is right around the price of a Case sowbelly (or 5 Rough Rider sowbellies) so I'm not sure if I'll bite. I'm not familiar with 8Cr13MoV steel but IIRC others have compared it to AUS-8. The shape of the spey blade is a bit cartoon-like but otherwise it has a traditional sowbelly appearance. I like that the sheepfoot blade doesn't rise above clip blade. The description of the construction also sounds good. Anyone have one of these knives? ...or getting one of these knives? What are your opinions??

rus-cs13swb-s-yd.jpg


At one time the Serpentine Stockman, sometimes referred to as a sowbelly stockman, was as popular as the Premium Stockman. Today that is not the case, but it is still a favorite of mine and is again gaining in popularity. In my version, I have tried to stay as close to traditional as I could while designing the finest three blade stockman I could manage.

All three blades store snugly within the handle. The blades are positioned to never touch each other or the liners, eliminating the possibility of rub marks on the blades. The steel is our very popular 8Cr13MoV, heat-treated to 57-59 Rc. It takes a razor edge and can be re-sharpened easily on ceramic, diamonds, Aluminum-Oxide or Arkansas stones. The blades have been designed for comfortable use. The 2-7/8" clip blade is wide but lays low in the handle, the 2" sheepfoot is a bit shorter but does not leave the point exposed when the spey is being used, and the 1-1/2" spey blade is a shape found no where else. I call it the A. G. Russell Surgical Spey Blade. It is an outstanding blade for skinning or for cutting calves.

A Striker Pin at both ends prevents the edge on all three blades from striking the back spring, no mater how forcefully you close the knife. Made with the finest stainless steel bolsters, liners and inlay.

Made in the same tiny factory in China that makes the Lockback Folding Hunter on page 8. These knives are the best value in the world. If you do not agree, please return your purchase for a full and complete refund, including the return shipping when you mention this statement of my personal satisfaction guarantee.

Available in our special shade of Dupont's Yellow Delrin®, Smooth White Bone or India Stag. Measures 3-5/8" closed and weighs a little over 3.0 oz. depending on the handle material. Made in China.

Option A

A.G. Russell™ Serpentine Stockman Smooth Bone

Temporarily Unavailable

Option B

A.G. Russell™ Serpentine Stockman India Stag

Temporarily Unavailable

Option C

A.G. Russell™ Serpentine Stockman Yellow Delrin

Temporarily Unavailable
Click to expand...
 
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I have not seen a production model in person but I was able to handle one of the prototypes. It seems like I will be forced to buy one.
 
If the quality is comparable to the Chinese-made AG Russell Medium Barlow Lockback I have, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Whatever "tiny factory" AG has making knives for him in China knows what they're doing. That spey sure is goofy looking, though.
 
I'll actually be in NW Arkansas for Thanksgiving (briefly) and Christmas; not sure I'll have time to stop by AG's shop around Thanksgiving, but I definitely will at Christmas. I'll have to put this one on my list of things-to-see-in-person.
 
I asked the people at AG Russell's and they told me; "Dear Adam,

Our Serpentine Stockman should be in stock sometime in the first week of December. We expect no later than 12/10/15 at the latest.

Thank You"
 
The spey blade on my old German Owl Head sowbelly is similar to this new one from A.G., although not quite as exaggerated.

IMG_0653.jpg~original
 
For me, the spey blade is somewhat of a vestigial tail. It's the least used blade on my stock knives... sometimes just relegated to mildly abusive tasks like scraping. Though my single spey blade GEC barlow has given me new appreciation for the blade.

The Dan Burke designed Queen Real Cattle Knife also has cartoon-like proportions... kind of fun. But it's so very well constructed and the nicely ground BG-42 is such a joy to use that it's definitely a knife to take serious. If the AG Russell knife is in some way built better or if the blades steel is more enjoyable to sharpen/use, then it may be worth picking up. Without any first hand experience with either, it's sort of difficult for me to justify buying instead of a comparably priced knife from Case and Queen. Rough Rider did a very good job getting the proportions very close to the oldies for their 5-blade sowbelly. The 3-blade is somewhat close but the shape of the main blade is a bit off and under sized.

Queen Burke Real Cattle Knife


Rough Rider 3 and 5 blade sowbellies
d9e3f329-ac8f-4901-bce0-c00dcbc6424d_zpswxomncja.jpg
 
The RR sowbelly (3-blade) is more slender than the Case or Queen, and I like the proportions. It has the decided hump which fits the palm so well, but is much slimmer in the pocket. Also, the blades are narrower, which I find better suited to EDC tasks. The Case and Queen sows are more robust and quite a bit like a railsplitter for proportion.

Stag Case and Rough Rider
089be7e2-6b30-4540-9f65-d583babbb3dd_zps4c169b55.jpg~original


Tuna Valley (same as Queen) Railsplitter
RS154comp_zpshjjscadl.jpg~original
 
The Bose design is a bit more stylized. The handles on the Queen and Rough Rider knives are very close in size/shape to the old knives.


 
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