A.G. Russell

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Brutus013

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Are these knives good quality? I've been looking at two specific knives, the A.G. Russel 4" Lockback and the A.G. Russel Gent's Pocket Carver. They seem to be a bit more expensive than most brands (well, some brands), and I'm wondering if the fit and finish, along with the blade steel, is worth the price? I know the customer service is, at least.
 
It is my opinion that AG Russell is the ultimate example of the Yankee aphorism:
"All good worth price charged."
 
My experience has been that the AG Russell knives are very good value.

And the service that you get could well serve as an example to customer service departments everywhere.
 
I have owned several AG knives and each one of the has been an excellent knife.
 
I have dealt with the AG Russell company for a number of years and can't recall a single problem that was not easily resolved. In many cases the products sold by this company are unique. It is true you can buy similar knives for less you aren't going to get the quality. The two knives you mentioned both use high end steels, not 440. Fit and finish will be of equal high quality...as someone else said...you get what you pay for, and it's true with this company.
 
Not meaning to stray from the topic but, let's not lump 440 series steel all together. 440C is a superior product.
Greg
 
mckgreg said:
Not meaning to stray from the topic but, let's not lump 440 series steel all together. 440C is a superior product.
Greg
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Good point, Greg you beat me to it.

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A G's wears are well worth the little extra for countless reasons, not to mention the exemplary service he provides. The knives are top shelf and after your first purchase with him you will surely be back for more. Don't forget to request a catalogue too. :thumbup: :)

Anthony
 
I just got my first A.G. Russell and, IMO, the quality is superb. Fit and finish is near perfect and the grinds on my blades are even and sharp.

You get every bit that you pay for with this company.
 
I believe that for traditional styled folding knives, their products are good quality.
 
We cannot possibly match internet prices in our catalog, so, this year you will see lots of Columbia River, SOG, Benchmade, and such oither knives as are sold on the net moved out of our catalog and on to our web site at prices within a dollar or two of sites we consider dependable. We will not try to match sites like "Great Knives Great Prices"

This economy is a pistol, in 45 years I have not seen the like. I was aware of the tail end of the last one. My father had 4 brothers and of the 5 only one was working. Times were tough. My dad managed to go on active duty (he had a commission in the Army reserved) commanding CCC Camps, so we got by better than most.

To give you an idea of what is going on, we were short 25,000 orders in 2008. We began a new program more than 2 years ago to help us cope with this sort of thing, we expected it but no way did we think it would be this big.

If you cannot buy for a while, stay in touch and tell us what you would be buying if you could. I really think that if the new adminstration can control their impulse to move way left that this should be improving within a few months.

study the catalogs and keep a close watch on agrussell.com and you will what is going on.
 
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Good luck with everything AG. I really enjoy those unique slipjoints like the Grandad's toothpicks and etc. They were unique and you could get them for less than or around 100 bux. I think those are your real winners. Great quality and within everyone's reach.

God Bless
 
Wow, 25,000 orders! I don't know what that is as a percentage of your total sales, but it looks like a huge number.

I will keep an eye on your website and order one or two knives from you in the coming year.
 
I picked up a premium scout for my little brother, great knife. I want one, I hope that I find as good as a deal as the one I got for my brother.
 
Keith Montgomery said:
Wow, 25,000 orders! I don't know what that is as a percentage of your total sales, but it looks like a huge number.

I will keep an eye on your website and order one or two knives from you in the coming year.
Click to expand...

It was right at 25%. It began in the Summer and did not improve until Dec. Dec was about as it should have been but could not make it up. I expect this year to be better, that is we should be able to improve our product mix and allow all of the cost cutting efforts to help us at least break even until the economy imporves.
 
kidwholaughs said:
Good luck with everything AG. I really enjoy those unique slipjoints like the Grandad's toothpicks and etc. They were unique and you could get them for less than or around 100 bux. I think those are your real winners. Great quality and within everyone's reach.

God Bless
Click to expand...

We will still have those types of knives but, they will not be from Camillus. Losing Camillus and Scharde cut our American production by 80% We will make that up in our own shop but I doubt that enything we turn out will be much under $300 and lots well over.

For knives of great quality for less than $100 we have a new supplier with shops in Taiwan and in China. He has been a collector of American handmade knives for over 20 years and understands quality and can work to my designs really well.
Check out: http://www.agrussell.com/product.asp?pn=RUS-CA12BR
 
I have two of the premium scouts, one in bone and one in black Micarta. Love them both! The pattern takes me back to my childhood, and my first knife (a scout pattern with hollow metal scales - really cheap!)

I'd love to see a re-design, especially one made in your own shop.
 
I purchased two Premium scout knives; one with jigged bone, the other with sambar stag. These are the perfect pocket knife, with only one exception. The bale material is made from high carbon steel instead of something less prone to rust.
I intially was told that the bail material was upgraded to stainless steel, at which I promptly mailed my knife back for exchange. When it arrived at A.G. Russell, I was told that in fact the bale material had not been changed. I asked if the manufacturer could change the bale, and I would pay what ever the cost. (I even had a nickle silver bale that I supplied from another scout knife enclosed with the knife) Apparently, this was not a possibility, and my knives were returned. Soon after, the Premiun scout was dropped from the catalog (I assume they all sold out).
About October - December 2008, I once again saw the Premium scout listed in the catalog. Making an assumption that the bale material could have been upgraded, I called customer service to verify the bale material. About a month went by, I received no response to the email. I called to follow up, and was told that it was still pending verification. This month, I received a reply to my email stating that it has been verified that the bale material is now stainless steel, for sure. I asked if I could exchange my scout for one of the stainless steel models. I was told to mail my knife in, which I did the next day. I also asked the customer service desk to please hold me the stock exchange knife since I noticed it was listed in the catalog as "limited supply."
This morning I received a friendly telephone call confirming reciept of the Premium scout knife that I had mailed, but unfoutunately, not only were the replacement knives no longer available, if they were, the bale would not have had the stainless steel bale as I was originally told....again.
To the customer service person's credit, a sincere apology was offered, and an option to exchange the premium scout for the Boker Scout/Camper was offered, provided that I made up the differnce in cost. Fair enough. I am still deciding if I want to do that.
The only flaw, in my mind, of the premiun scout is the bale which rusts very quickly, and stains my pocket. It just is out of charactor of this otherwise quality knife. The carbon steel used for the springs do not rust anything like the bale.
Does anyone know of a knife maker, manufacture, or hobbiest that can replace the bail on a scout knife? If I supply the replacement bail? I just don't have the tools necessary to do it myself. Please contact me if you can help me out. capnsutton@aol.com
 
Cap,

Your email address capsutton@aol.com failed. I have sent your message to our engineer who if it can be done, can do it. If you will send a working email address to philg@agrussell.com will let you know what he needs.

sorry about misunderstandings past. I doubt if anyone working with us has ever had someone ask to replace a bail.
 
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