AG Russell 3.5" Titanium Lockback

C

Carboniferous

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So, I'm on the fence as to whether or not this would count as traditional, but I saw another thread with the 3.0" titanium lockback and it seemed to pass as "traditional enough."

Anyway, I just got this in the mail today. I think it's absolutely fantastic. It has a blade with just over 2.5" of cutting edge and just under 3" from tip to the edge of the handle scales, the same thickness as my Victorinox Cadet and just a hair thicker than my Opinel no 6. It slices like crazy! The VG10 is great steel, the grinds are relatively even on each side, and it's very acceptably sharp from the factory. I'd say this is my second best slicer after my Opinel, really impressive.

The whole thing is only about 3/16" thick and the fit and finish is great. No light between the scales and the spring, everything is flush and smooth, no blade play at all. It opens pretty smoothly, just a little bit of roughness in the first half of opening. Nothing serious at all, not enough to bother me. Simple, thin, light, sharp, and clean knife. Good price, too.

A couple of pictures:

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Nice review and photos. I have considered one of these many times but just never pulled the trigger. Actually, it was the 3 inch version that I was looking at but I like this one too.

Something I've often wondered but never took the time to ask: Does the titanium have a smooth feel or is it more of a textured feel?
 
That looks like a very interesting knife. It also looks exceptionally thin - how does it sit in hand?
 
Railsplitter said:
Nice review and photos. I have considered one of these many times but just never pulled the trigger. Actually, it was the 3 inch version that I was looking at but I like this one too.

Something I've often wondered but never took the time to ask: Does the titanium have a smooth feel or is it more of a textured feel?
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It's completely smooth.

matus said:
That looks like a very interesting knife. It also looks exceptionally thin - how does it sit in hand?
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I was kind of worried about it being too thin, but the handle is broad enough to lend it some stability in hand. It's a comfortable three finger grip; the handle is long enough for four but the "canoe" shape fits three perfectly.
 
I have all of these in all sizes they offer. They are great knives that for one reason or another find a way out of my pocket in favor for something that seems to me as more traditional. I can't explain it because I like them all so it is most likely just me.
 
jsg71 said:
I have all of these in all sizes they offer. They are great knives that for one reason or another find a way out of my pocket in favor for something that seems to me as more traditional. I can't explain it because I like them all so it is most likely just me.
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I guess the AG Russell has less . . . character than a lot of other traditional knives in some ways. Maybe a bit "sterile." I've enjoyed it over the last couple of days, though, and I plan on carrying it most of next week and then having it as part of my regular rotation. It's a nice juxtaposition to the natural materials and relatively heavily built slipjoints in my collection.

And just for the sake of anyone else planning on buying one, two gripes with the knife:

1. Blade isn't centered and very nearly rubs on one side. It DOESN'T rub but it's close, I can imagine this would bother some people

2. There is a bit of bladeplay I didn't notice at first. Every knife I own that cost me $50 has some amount of blade play, so it doesn't bother me, but again I can imagine this would bother some people. I don't have the hex bit I need to adjust the pivot, it may be an easy fix, but it doesn't affect the knife in use so I'm not too concerned.

And one feature I didn't appreciate at first:

This knife has kind of a half-stop when you depress the backlock when closing the knife. If you depress the lock and the blade isn't perfectly vertical it closes about 40% of the way just from the weight of the blade. At that point, though, the tang comes into contact with the spring and holds the blade open. It makes closing the knife with one hand very convenient, you just let it close 40% on its own and then give it a quick tap with your index finger to finish the job. Closes with a satisfying *thick* sound, rather pleasing, and prevents it from closing on your finger (wouldn't give you a serious cut, but the momentum of the blade would be enough to draw blood, I wager).

Still very happy with the knife, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it again.
 
It is very clean and I put the mid size one in my pocket today for a series of meetings I have in other offices than normal. It is light and sharp.
 
THOSE STYLE KNIVES all look the same to me. IS that the ACIES or a cheap copy of it or what ?

And so it goes...
 
WIL TERRY said:
THOSE STYLE KNIVES all look the same to me. IS that the ACIES or a cheap copy of it or what ?

And so it goes...
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And to a lot of people all traditional slipjoints look the same. Personally, I don't see any significant resemblance to the Acies at all. Different blade shape, different grind lines, very different handle, different locking mechanism.
 
jsg71 said:
I have all of these in all sizes they offer. They are great knives that for one reason or another find a way out of my pocket in favor for something that seems to me as more traditional. I can't explain it because I like them all so it is most likely just me.
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Same here. However, if one needs something very light and thin, these are just about impossible to beat. I really enjoy this design.
 
I have never seen one of these before, they look nice. I like thin knives, I wish there was more of them!
 
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