A.G. Russell Large Folding Hunter?

[WVCase]

I'm trying to figure on whether or not to pull the trigger on this monster or not. If anyone owns this knife or has had the pleasure of handling it I'd appreciate some input. Thank you in advance

 

[LX_Emergency]

BIG!!! very big. Very solid. Excellent fit and finish....can't detect any bladeplay whatsoever. You're going to want to get the sheath with it though.

Not really a "pocket" knife.

Here's a couple of pictures of my Texas Ranger version:

 

[Woodrow F Call]

A Folding Texas Bowie is next right?

 

[LX_Emergency]

You mean this one?
(bottom one)

 

[WVCase]

Wow I have to say its bigger in hand than I thought and yes it really doesn't lend itself well to pocket carry does it? But this is coming from a guy who used to EDC a Rajah II ( sold it to buy a couple case knives) lol thanks very much for the reference And I foresee this knife in my collection soon.

 

[g.macdonnell]

I realize this is an old thread, but my question is more an addendum rather than being worthy of a new thread.

The Medium Locking Barlow has that nifty deep French cut that allows 1- hand opening. Does the Large Folding Hunter share this feature?

I live AG Russell designs, but prefer 1-hand opening for field & working blades, not just convenience but i have a hand injury.

The build quality on my buddy's Barlow was outstanding- perhaps on par with knives costing $150. The beautiful clip blade appeals to me, and i don't mind 8cr13mov, (properly sharpened to a shallow bevel.) i'd prefer 1095, CV or O1, but i still love the design.

Thanks for your help, guys.

 

[Sam Dean]

Yes. The milled cutout on the blade allows it to be easily opened one hand. With such a long blade, leverage is on your side. Mine opens with one hand no problem.

Closing, however, is a different affair. The lock release is pretty tight, so I usually use 2 hands.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Also concur, these can be opened one-handed, with lots of purchase on the long pull. A couple pics of mine, including A.G.R.'s yellow examples of the large gunstock and the 2-blade trapper (note the Queen Country Cousin in the 1st pic, for scale):


David

 

[midnight flyer]

Also concur, these can be opened one-handed, with lots of purchase on the long pull. A couple pics of mine, including A.G.R.'s yellow examples of the large gunstock and the 2-blade trapper (note the Queen Country Cousin in the 1st pic, for scale):

David

David, if you don't mind, how is that two bladed trapper in hand? I have some pretty big mitts so the size doesn't bother me as much as the comfort level. I have bought several AGR knives and all have been exemplary but one, and they fixed that right away. I am no doubt, a fan of his branded stuff.

But I can't figure out the geometry of that handing in my hand and that has kept me from buying. It looks to me like a gem dandy big work knife, love the clip and wharncliffe combo, but still can't reconcile how it would feel in hand. A knife like that is begging for larger, tougher projects so any uncomfortable feel would be a problem immediately.

Your thoughts? Have you used it much?

Thanks -

Robert

 

[jac_solar]

A Folding Texas Bowie is next right?

This year's design began as a Cattaraugus® King of the Woods™, a design from the late 1800s. It is a swell center, lock-back folding hunter with a large clip blade. I have used all of my design ability and much of Phil Gibbs' vast engineering ability to change the original design from a slim, light-weight hunter into a unique one-handed opening folding Bowie.

http://www.agrussell.com/ag-russell-2014-texas-ranger---king-of-the-woods/p/RUShhhCTR9BK/

I think this is the largest folder A.G Russell has released at 4.75" blade length?

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

David, if you don't mind, how is that two bladed trapper in hand? I have some pretty big mitts so the size doesn't bother me as much as the comfort level. I have bought several AGR knives and all have been exemplary but one, and they fixed that right away. I am no doubt, a fan of his branded stuff.

But I can't figure out the geometry of that handing in my hand and that has kept me from buying. It looks to me like a gem dandy big work knife, love the clip and wharncliffe combo, but still can't reconcile how it would feel in hand. A knife like that is begging for larger, tougher projects so any uncomfortable feel would be a problem immediately.

Your thoughts? Have you used it much?

Thanks -

Robert

To be honest, I haven't used or carried the trapper much. It's still a big knife; somewhere similar in hand-filling heft to the older & beefier Buck 112's, though a little more rounded. In-hand, depending on how you'll normally use it, you may notice the secondary blade's spine (when closed) in your grip. I think the uniqueness of the BIG wharncliffe and the brute(ish)-looking readiness of the clip would still make it very attractive as a user. Won't find anything like it anywhere else.

BTW, in picking it up again to organize my thoughts about it, I opened up the clip blade and then promptly dropped it. The clip's edge managed to graze my finger as the knife spun away on it's way to the carpet, resulting in this... :


David

 

[midnight flyer]

To be honest, I haven't used or carried the trapper much. It's still a big knife; somewhere similar in hand-filling heft to the older & beefier Buck 112's, though a little more rounded. In-hand, depending on how you'll normally use it, you may notice the secondary blade's spine (when closed) in your grip. I think the uniqueness of the BIG wharncliffe and the brute(ish)-looking readiness of the clip would still make it very attractive as a user. Won't find anything like it anywhere else.

I find the same things appealing about this knife. But to cement your comment about the secondary blade protruding when closed, I can see it in your picture. Not sure how that would work out for me as I really like a comfy grip for extended use. No edges that have haven't been rounded. And one thing I can see in the pic is that this knife is like my other AGRs, and that the closed blade has exposed, very sharp corners on the tang. The other AGRs I have are designed so that it isn't a problem, but I don't know about this big boy.

BTW, in picking it up again to organize my thoughts about it, I opened up the clip blade and then promptly dropped it. The clip's edge managed to graze my finger as the knife spun away on it's way to the carpet, resulting in this... :

David

Thanks for taking one for team! A blood sacrifice shows real dedication!

Seriously, thanks for the thoughtful reply.

Robert

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Robert,

Looking at the tangs on this knife (trapper), they're not as 'sharp' as the pic would seem to imply. Still fairly prominent and square, but the 'bite' has been taken out of the corners on them. I'm testing the corners by pressing into them with my fingers, and there's nothing there to take any (more) skin off. I've given my quota today, already.

(I'm thinking about giving this one some more carry time. In fiddling with it again, I'm already entertaining thoughts of thinning the edges on these blades, and that's an encouraging sign that I'd like it even more, if I make the effort.)


David

 

[g.macdonnell]

Wow- thank you all for your help! I just love A.G. Russell's design aesthetic: clearly the knives are beautiful, but they are also very practical.

onespdfrk, thank you for the info. A secret 1-handed Hunter is just too unique for me to pass up.

Obsessed with edges, thank you for the beautiful pictures. Like you, i also love yellow knives- pretty, but also easy to find if you drop them in the woods. (Plus, i like Case CV steel.)

I'm ordering my Large Folding Hunter- just having a little trouble deciding on handle material. I love the feel of micarta, but the looks of the yellow and cocobolo... I guess i'm lucky that is my difficult decision of the day!

 

[g.macdonnell]

Double Post

 

[Daniel Dorn]

So, which one did you end up with?

I have the Texas Ranger version in black Rucarta. Fun to take out and play with. I use mine occasionally in the kitchen.

They are amazingly easy to open. Just a bit harder to close, though. It's the only folder I own that I can't close one-handed, except by closing against my leg, which I don't recommend.

I'm tempted by this year's Texas Ranger, as it's almost as big, but the design is even more appealing.

 

[g.macdonnell]

So, which one did you end up with?

Brown Rucarta! Well, at least i will when it arrives! I love Yellow, but Micarta's feel & grip is my favorite, and it won't swell, (i'm in swamp country.)

The two folders, (i always have a belt knife, too,) i love for camping & hunting are a Buck 110 & an Opinel 12- but i'm taking the A.G. Russell out next trip.

Now, that little locking Barlow looks to be the ticket for EDC & hiking...

 

[midnight flyer]

Now, that little locking Barlow looks to be the ticket for EDC & hiking...

Just a quick word about that little Barlow... excellent!

Fit and finish is really tight, and from certain angles it looks like it was milled out of one piece of stainless. Open the blade/liners/backsprings are perfect.

Nice smooth opening, and a great feel in the hand. I have a few other Barlow patterns, but this one is quite distinct and can do something the others can't. It is a wicked, wicked slicer. The blade is deeply hollow ground! That means easy to hone, easy to touch up, and it blows away almost all the flat ground knives I have with its cutting ability.

Small enough to disappear in your pocket, and light enough to not notice (I got the Rucarta) this little knife is a real winner. The fact it locks so well with an easy to operate lock is just icing on the cake. This one is definitely a great EDC, but is a very capable work knife too as long as you use it just as intended... as a knife. The edge of this knife is too thin to use as a screwdriver, splitter, mini pry bar, or any of the things folks seem to do with their knives these days.

Robert

 

[g.macdonnell]

I'm tempted by this year's Texas Ranger, as it's almost as big, but the design is even more appealing.

I agree; this is one of the most beautiful folding hunters i've ever seen, anywhere. I just wish i coukd afford it, but hopefully it'll be a standard model somecday.

 

[g.macdonnell]

Just a quick word about that little Barlow... excellent!

Fit and finish is really tight, and from certain angles it looks like it was milled out of one piece of stainless. Open the blade/liners/backsprings are perfect.

Nice smooth opening, and a great feel in the hand. I have a few other Barlow patterns, but this one is quite distinct and can do something the others can't. It is a wicked, wicked slicer. The blade is deeply hollow ground! That means easy to hone, easy to touch up, and it blows away almost all the flat ground knives I have with its cutting ability.

Small enough to disappear in your pocket, and light enough to not notice (I got the Rucarta) this little knife is a real winner. The fact it locks so well with an easy to operate lock is just icing on the cake. This one is definitely a great EDC, but is a very capable work knife too as long as you use it just as intended... as a knife. The edge of this knife is too thin to use as a screwdriver, splitter, mini pry bar, or any of the things folks seem to do with their knives these days.

Robert

Thanks, Robert! Yes, at first i thought it might be too small for me, but 3.5" @ 2.9oz is pretty great for a traditional lockback, (trad in style, if not design.)

I have heard a few guys extol the virtues of the Barlow, and it's too tempting to resist.

I'm with you on thin knives & edges- sure i like more thickness for hunting & wilderness stuff, but for 95% of the time, thinner is better, (my old Case CV Stockman outslices almost any tactical folder i've owned or used.)

Sure, indestructible knives are great for a 1-tool option, but i doubt most are used that way.