A.G. Russell blade steel?

nickvnlr

nickvnlr

Joined
Sep 23, 2014
Messages
301
I recently picked up this A.G. Russell Fruit Sampler. It is the older micarta handles and it is stamped 2001. I have not been able to find much info on these except the early ones were micarta with ATS34 (blades are marked and tang stamp matches mine) and the 3rd gen are G10 with 8Cr13MoV (blades marked and tang stamp is different). When did they shift from ATS34 to 8Cr13MoV? Is this ATS34 or 8CR13MoV?
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Thanks for any help.
~Nick
 
I don’t have an answer to your question, but I have found the folks at Russell customer service to be very helpful. I’d bet if you reach out to them they will find an answer to your inquiry. Oh yeah, that’s a good looking melon tester.
 
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My fuzzy memory thinks GEC made some of these one early year for them?
I do have a folder of his with the 8 cro-mo and it cuts and sharpens just fine
 
From that long ago it's unlikely to be 8Cr13MoV. ATS-34 or AUS-8 seems most likely to me. If I had to guess I'd guess AUS-8, because the 2 older (year unknown) AGR knives I own, both Japan made, that are ATS-34 are marked as such, as are the VG-10 ones.
 
To my knowledge, A.G. Russell has been very consistent over the years in marking the tangs with the country of manufacture. The steels sourced for the blades would follow that. If the tang is marked from Japan, then A.G.R. might've used ATS-34, AUS-6/6A, AUS-8/8A, etc., all of which are Japanese-produced steels. If the tang is marked from China, as with many of his recent-generation products, then the Chinese 8Cr13Mov steel is what's most-often used in those knives. The handful of Chinese-produced knives I do have from A.G.R. are all clearly marked with both the country of manufacture and steel type (8Cr13MoV).

In my mind, I seem to think ATS-34 might've been used in that particular knife. I'd received catalogs from A.G. Russell since the early-mid 90s or so, and that's what I seem to remember for that knife. When I get the chance, I'll dig through some of the few catalogs I have left and see if that knife is listed. If I find something, I'll post back here.
 
Thanks for the wealth of knowledge! I wasn't aware they used AUS-8.
It's definitely an upgraded from the cheap Chinese melon testers currently available.
 
nickvnlr said:
That's what I noticed while researching. However, there is no country on the tang other than "Springdale, Ark". Is it possible this is a US made blade?
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Just knocked the dust off a few of my A.G.R. catalogs. In picking up a 'Christmas Special 2010' catalog, I already found a listing for 'A.G.'s Fruit Testing Knife' with black 'Rucarta' handle (A.G.R.'s proprietary version of micarta) and ATS-34 steel @ 59-61 RC. In that catalog listing, it's shown as 'Made in the U.S.A.'

I'd ridden the fence for a very long time about buying one, in looking at these in his catalog. Never got around to buying one of those, but I now wish I had. That seems to be a familiar pattern for me. ;D
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
Just knocked the dust off a few of my A.G.R. catalogs. In picking up a 'Christmas Special 2010' catalog, I already found a listing for 'A.G.'s Fruit Testing Knife' with black 'Rucarta' handle (A.G.R.'s proprietary version of micarta) and ATS-34 steel @ 59-61 RC. In that catalog listing, it's shown as 'Made in the U.S.A.'
Click to expand...

Very cool. Thank you!

Obsessed with Edges said:
I'd ridden the fence for a very long time about buying one, in looking at these in his catalog. Never got around to buying one of those, but I now wish I had. That seems to be a familiar pattern for me. ;D
Click to expand...

Fruit/melon samplers are kind of in my wheelhouse. I work at a stone fruit packing/cold storage facility and they are a tool of the trade for me. I just kind of happened onto it in the 'bay. If it is indeed US made I think I got a very good deal. I have always wanted a really good one vs. the throw-away mass produced Chinese Schrades et.al. Now I do. :thumbsup:
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
Just knocked the dust off a few of my A.G.R. catalogs. In picking up a 'Christmas Special 2010' catalog, I already found a listing for 'A.G.'s Fruit Testing Knife' with black 'Rucarta' handle (A.G.R.'s proprietary version of micarta) and ATS-34 steel @ 59-61 RC. In that catalog listing, it's shown as 'Made in the U.S.A.'
Click to expand...
I try and keep my AGR catalogs, but SWMBO mysteriously makes them disappear after awhile. ;)Nice to find the information on that knife.
 
Peregrin said:
I try and keep my AGR catalogs, but SWMBO mysteriously makes them disappear after awhile. ;)Nice to find the information on that knife.
Click to expand...

I was always conflicted about tossing out any of those catalogs. While I was on his mailing list, I'd get LOTS of them mailed to me over the course of each year, for many years running. Part of me always scratched my head over that, thinking those mailings must've been very costly for him. And another part was thankful for it, because I knew they could be a treasure trove of information on his unique patterns not seen anywhere else. But, eventually I ended up tossing out most of the earlier ones. Most or all of what I have left seem to be from the last 10 years or so, although somewhere, I may still have some going back to a few years earlier.
 
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