A.G. Russell vs Customs

T

TomW

Joined
Oct 7, 1998
Messages
1,128
All the talk in regards to CRKT and customs brings to mind something I read In a A.G. Russell catalog regarding changing a knife he sells from a button lock to a lockback because customs kept seizing them as switchblades. If AG couldn't get it straightened out and had to give up it makes me wonder how much trouble custome is capable of giving knife importers in the future if this becomes a trend.
I can't find that catalog to post exactly what AG said but if somebody has one can you please post the information. I'm beginning to wonder just how much of this Customs does
that we don't get to hear about.

[This message has been edited by TomW (edited 10-17-2000).]
 
Tom
I have Russell catalogs going back 15 or so years and it doesn't ring a bell. If you can give me a time span I will look and see if I have the info.
 
I was within the previous 9 months.
It's written with the picture of a small stainless lockback that was a button lock.
 
Hi Gents -
Its the Fall 99 catalog, last site.
The knive is the "City Knife"!
""US Costom determined that the brass button in the handle, which when depressed, allowed you to CLOSE the blade, made it a switchblade.""


sorry no comment on this, im speakless
 
I may be mistaken, but I think the knives that Tom may be referring to are shown on the A.G. Russell website as City Knives. The text indicates that they were originally manufactured as button locks but were redesigned as liner locks in order to avoid running afoul of Customs' switchblade policies. It doesn't sound like A.G. Russell was very successful in challenging Customs' position...

Jim
 
Yup, it's in the Winter 2000 catalog as well. It tells the narrative about how they sold hundreds until Customs noticed the little brass button to close the knife.

He says they talked and talked to no avail, so they redesigned it with a liner lock. To quote: "No more buttons to confuse Customs".

Try their website as well. It might have something there. Very sad tale indeed.

------------------
Sometimes I catch myself assuming that everybody knows their way around a pocket knife. Then I remember what the first three letters of "assume" are.
- James K. Mattis
 
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