A.G. Russell 2008 Texas Ranger knife

[rprocter]

AGR is well known for bringing well made unique knives into production. based on this i bought this Gunstock Lockback:

$70 is not a lot of money for a well made knife, but it is a lot for a knife from China. i have a bunch(60 ?) of Rough Rider knives, average price about $12 and they are good quality, so i did hesitate before spending 6 times as much for this AGR offering.
but i'm glad i did. it's very well made knife; solid, look at the spine pic.: 3/16" stock and nice tight interface with the fat spring. tight lockup, zero blade play. you can see down the liners that it's finished on the inside too.
shaving sharp ! sooo nice !
AG's write up implies it is "intended for heavy field use". i haven't tried it yet but i bet it's good for at least 1 full lifetime of "heavy field use".
Steel: 9Cr18Mov is this known by any other name ?
anybody else get one and care to share your impressions ?
roland

 

[Blues]

I'm sure it's a well made knife and I never disparage knives made abroad simply because of their origin...however in the case of knives like this which serve to commemorate institutions of signficant national historical note, I sure wish that someone would have found a way to have had them produced by an American manufacturer.
(Much as I feel the same should apply to a knife commemorating the RCMP being produced by a Canadian company if possible.)

This is in no way meant to detract from the knife itself which I (personally) would be able to appreciate more sans badge and etch.

 

[wildmike]

Looks to be a really stout blade. I realy like those sheaths.

 

[orca8589]

rprocter - thanks for the review; I've been on the fence about this one for awhile. I really like the whole beefy-blade & spring concept, and A.G.'s stuff is always well-made & finished, but I haven't decided to get this one yet. All of my heavy-use (yardwork, toolbox, bugout kit, etc.) knives are U.S. Schrade lockbacks, so this one looked really promising as a more compact user.

And I agree on the American institution/imported commemorative point, too. At least half of my collection is imports, but I wondered: why not just make a tough little lockback? Why a 185th year commemorative? If I do get one, I'll probably remove the shield, and replace it with an engraving plate.

I read somewhere that 9cr18mov is comparable to 440c. I have no experience with 9cr18mov, so I have no idea how easy it is to sharpen or it's durability.

thx - cpr

 

[hlee]

... why not just make a tough little lockback? Why a 185th year commemorative?

Why a 50/100/200 year commemorative? Why do knife makers make any commemoratives? To sell knives. Perhaps someone thought that linking it with the Texas Rangers would make it sell better.

Being a native Texan, I was also put off by the Ranger link and China manufacture. However, this knife isn't trying to be anything that it is not. It does not wear the tarnished stamp of an once great manufacturer. It is not a blatant knock off of someone else's design. It does not hide behind "surgical stainless." It is just an American designed knife made in China (but it does try to draw some level of affinity from the etch and shield). I'm not a "Buy American... Or else..." kind of guy, but I buy American when I can. But, I extend that to "Buy Quality" and "Buy Honest Representations." I refuse to buy cheap knockoffs, but a quality folder with good materials that is honestly represented at a decent price is hard to beat. I would like it better without the Texas Ranger association all the same.

 

[orca8589]

Why a 50/100/200 year commemorative? Why do knife makers make any commemoratives? To sell knives. Perhaps someone thought that linking it with the Texas Rangers would make it sell better.

I hear you, and I agree. That was what I was getting at - why not just dedicate the knife to the Rangers, and skip the year reference? To me, It's the same as Case dedicating a line of commems. to John Deere, etc. Good marketing idea, and it'll sell a few (or a lot?) more knives, I guess.

Stainless bolsters, rucarta scales . . . this thing is probably indestructible.

rprocter: How is the lock tension on this one? Is the spring (inside) the same width as the lock lever? And, do you plan to pocket this one, or keep it in the sheath on your belt? It's no longer than the Case large Stockman I occasionally carry, so I'm wondering how 'pocketable' this one is.

thx - cpr

 

[VCM3]

I bought,here off the exange on BF's,the Eagle beak lockback hawkbill.I'm not sure if it is made by the same manufacturer,for AG,but it has the same steel
It is along the same lines of description (not a comm.,though),"heavy duty" user
I gave this to a buddy,he is an electrician.He is hard on knives,granted,so I figured this was good for him,he likes the hawkbill blade
He was over here the other day & took it out & revealed ,a monster chunk of the blade,at the edge,busted He claims he was stripping heavy wire,witch,has a heavy coating
I was surprised to see this blade like that I am trying to get it back off him,to see if I can send it to AG Russell,just to see if they will replace it,or tell me,it,was abused
Sorry ,if any here feel if this is a hi jack,but it is,first hand knowledge of how this steel,in a heavy blade,worked out

I really like this one & the Eagle beak,too,that was impressive.Just not so sure of that steel
-Vince

 

[Jeff Clark]

I bet AG would like to see that knife. Maybe the blade is too hard for its target use. All them fancy letters and numbers in the alloy may say "hard fine-grained stainless", but they don't say "tough old-fashioned carbon steel". It looks like the kind of knife that should have a 1084 or 1095 carbon steel blade--for tradition's sake.

 

[VCM3]

I bet AG would like to see that knife. Maybe the blade is too hard for its target use. All them fancy letters and numbers in the alloy may say "hard fine-grained stainless", but they don't say "tough old-fashioned carbon steel". It looks like the kind of knife that should have a 1084 or 1095 carbon steel blade--for tradition's sake.

Jeff,funny you say that,'cause my buddy,while not really a collector/accumulator of modern folders with modern steel,has been around,used & enjoyed knives,all his life.He said,"I never had a knife do that ?"
His electricians utility pouch knife,probably was carbon
-Vince

PS,He loves the knife,even with that monster chip out of the blade I'm trying to get it off him,so's I can send it back

 

[Superdave1]

I bought,here off the exange on BF's,the Eagle beak lockback hawkbill.I'm not sure if it is made by the same manufacturer,for AG,but it has the same steel
It is along the same lines of description (not a comm.,though),"heavy duty" user
I gave this to a buddy,he is an electrician.He is hard on knives,granted,so I figured this was good for him,he likes the hawkbill blade
He was over here the other day & took it out & revealed ,a monster chunk of the blade,at the edge,busted He claims he was stripping heavy wire,witch,has a heavy coating
I was surprised to see this blade like that I am trying to get it back off him,to see if I can send it to AG Russell,just to see if they will replace it,or tell me,it,was abused
Sorry ,if any here feel if this is a hi jack,but it is,first hand knowledge of how this steel,in a heavy blade,worked out

I really like this one & the Eagle beak,too,that was impressive.Just not so sure of that steel
-Vince

I have that same knife, although mine hasn't seen hard use. I have been carrying it daily, and it is one of my sharpest knives...it came sharp but now its hair whittling sharp. It feels really solid, heavy like a more expensive knife.
F&F were good.

 

[rprocter]

AG's description says this knife is as good or better than any knife he knows of up to $300. (paraphrasing but that's the gist). perhaps this $300 figure would have been the retail price had it been made to the same quality in U.S.A. it's not any standard pattern so "machining up" costs for a relatively small run would be expensive.
i trust Mr. Russell. i don't see him as just a businessman selling knives but as passionate, very knowledgeable knife lover. when he states how extremely pleased he is with how this knife turned out, that it exceeds even his high standards, i believe, him rather than see it as marketing hype.
i too would prefer it without any etch or commemorative shield, but that is not an option.
Orca, the spring tension is "moderate". it is easy to open 1 handed with the pad of your thumb in the wide nail nick (present on both sides), but there is no way the blade moves in the closed position. i would say it is perfect.
and "Is the spring (inside) the same width as the lock lever?". not sure i understand correctly. spring and lock lever is all 1 piece of fat steel(hair over 3/16"). check the spine pic and pic looking down inside the liners.
lock-up is 100% perfect. feels like a fixed blade when open. this Gunstock pattern fits my hand with a natural comfort, my thumb resting right on the blade spine/spring junction.
it's size is similar to my Case 6375. i just put this Gunstock in one pocket and the Case in the other and walked around for awhile. feels about the same. i prefer belt carry because i don't like stuff in my pants pockets and the sheath keeps the "gluff" away.
i am not trying to sound like a salesman for this knife. i just really like it and more so each time i play with it. still haven't cut anything beyond shaving my arm hair which it does easily.
i doubt anybody would be disappointed with this knife. for me it's getting used to the fact that China can produce a truly superior knife that has been a mental hang-up.
i'm surprised that no-one else has posted that they bought one too.
roland

 

[sceva]

That is a nice heavy duty knife but I have to admit I like thier 2001 (3 centuries) Texas Ranger knife better. Plus, it was made here by Camillus.

AG stands behind averything he sells and regardless of country of origin he won't put his name on it it it isn't top notch so I would not worry about where it was made.

 

[mendezj]

With all due respect, I don't like neither the knife nor the pouch; both look cheap and the the design of the knife looks forced and contrived. Just my opinion as a consumer. I apologize if my preference offends anyone.

 

[joe-bob]

With all due respect, I don't like neither the knife nor the pouch; both look cheap and the the design of the knife looks forced and contrived. Just my opinion as a consumer. I apologize if my preference offends anyone.

I too find the knife design to be a bit odd. The pouch without a positive closure looks to me like a guaranteed lost knife.

 

[canineforge]

With all due respect, I don't like neither the knife nor the pouch; both look cheap and the the design of the knife looks forced and contrived. Just my opinion as a consumer. I apologize if my preference offends anyone.

I handled a couple of these at A.G.'s show in Rogers, AR last month. This is a super built, nice fit and finish production knife for the money. I have no background on the steel, but you won't find a better made folder of this size for $70.00, IMO. Did I buy one?? No, I couldn't get past the made in China part. And, A.G. realizes, and even mentioned, if this had Japan or Italy stamped on it for the price, his shelves would stay bare of this folder for this price.

Concerning the design, I wish A.G. would post a picture of the blueprint of this gunstock design with Ryuichi Kawamura's custom ivory folder laying on it. He made it as a part of A.G's latest custom folder project. Every one at the show that saw/handled Ryu's custom gunstock raved about it. I think the design is good.

- Joe

 

[Absintheur]

I have one of these on order, fell in love with the looks of the knife the instant I saw it. I have always admired the gunstock pattern and that bold swedge on the blade sealed the deal. As far as where it is made....

A comment was made that if marked "Made in Japan" AG wouldn't be able to keep them in stock. I have bought some pure junk that was marked Made in Japan that was supposedly high quality. I have bought American made junk as well. To me it is not the place of origin that determines quality, it is the maker. I know there are some who would rather own an American made POS that cost 3 times as much as a well made import...more power to them. I want quality....doesn't matter where it is made to me. AG made a very bold statement in his catalog I will quote here...

If you do not agree that this knife is worth at least twice what it costs you, I ask you to please return it to me. I will not only refund every penny, including your return shipping, I will send you a $10 merchandise certificate for your disappointment.

I am looking forward to receiving mine...actually I am waiting impatiantly...lol. When it gets here I will add a review, this will not be a safe queen but I intend to use it (key word...use, not abuse...I won't write a report how it failed while batoning through a railroad tie) As far as the sheath...not my favorite design either but I have a couple different size belt pouches from DM Bullard which I use daily so that is no worry.

Maybe the mailman will make me happy today...

 

[IVANKERLEY]

thats a sharp looking pattern, really nice. As was stated wisely in this thread. I also try and judge the knife in hand regardless of origin, that being said i agree with Blues on the commemorative aspect of it:thumbup: guess i'll ride the fence
Overall looks top notch
ivan

 

[Blues]

As far as where it is made....A comment was made that if marked "Made in Japan" AG wouldn't be able to keep them in stock. I have bought some pure junk that was marked Made in Japan that was supposedly high quality. I have bought American made junk as well. To me it is not the place of origin that determines quality, it is the maker. I know there are some who would rather own an American made POS that cost 3 times as much as a well made import...more power to them. I want quality....doesn't matter where it is made to me.

This is not what is being discussed in this thread.

Nobody is disputing the quality of construction, fit or finish of the knife based upon its country of origin/manufacture (or for any other reason, I might add).

Joe's comment (and attribution to A.G. Russell) as to whether they would sell better if they were stamped Japan or Italy goes to people's personal preferences or perhaps even their prejudices but that "issue" was not raised by the folks here in this forum or in this thread and is not germane to this discussion.

What was raised was whether one might want a knife commemorating a US institution which was made overseas. That's a personal decision as well.

Let's not turn this thread into a discussion or debate about the quality (or lack thereof) of Chinese or other imported knives. We've been down that road before. (Please read the forum guidelines if you need further information in that regard.)

 

[rprocter]

Blues, i think your post is a bit strong and i don't think Abs. post was going down that road, but a legit follow up to CF's post.
i'm interested in all 'things' about this knife, including that even though the majority response is "neat knife", apparently it isn't selling well. that's unusual for an A.G. Russell folder.
i hesitated too before buying, not because i had any qualms re quality, but because it is from China.
a good question is: Why ?
the computer i am using is made in China, as is my T.V., the bedsheets i slept on last night, my Red Wing Irish Setter hunting boots(best ever if you're looking for boots), etc., and none of this bothers me. so why do i feel bothered by China manufacture of a knife ?
i don't know; doesn't make any sense. but it's for sure one of the factors affecting sales.
gotta figure it out before it becomes time to accept quality knives from Pakistan.
roland

 

[FLymon]

If this knife had been made in Texas, or at least the USA, I might have an interest in the knife as a collectable.

I would have no interest in carrying this particular knife regardless of origin. Nothing against Texas Rangers, just that I wouldn't carry that knife since I have no association with the organization being commemorated. IMHO I might as well put a Marine Corp bumper sticker on my truck, and go around saying Semper Fi!, even though I'm not a Marine.

I would have an interest in it without the Ranger stuff, it looks like it would be a nice affordable knife. As-is, its just a cheesy (albeit well made) commemorative knife to me.