Green River Russell carbon %

C

catboat

Joined
May 22, 2005
Messages
37
Does anyone here know for certain what the carbon content is of the "Green River" Russell knife blades? I know they are listed as "high carbon" (>0.5% C). I emailed Jantz supply (sells the blades) and they replied (sic) "It's proprietary, but we can tell you they are fantastic."

I was wondering if they are 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, or 1.0% or higher carbon (C). I have one, and it holds a decent edge. I was looking to get another one, and modify it a bit to shorten the cutting surface/blade to about 4.5". They are ~ $13. I'm just playing.

Anyone know for certain? I couldn't get anything from googling "Green River"+Russell. Thanks.

blade in question:
http://jantzsupply.com/cartease/item-detail.cfm?ID=RH11K
 
I'm pretty sure the "Green River" Russell blades, the ones that have been around since the fur trapping era, are 1095 or 1085 steel. Good basic carbon steel. Works great.
 
Catboat, I'm confused. Tell me how you are getting from "jantz supply"
http://jantzsupply.com/cartease/item...l.cfm?ID=RH11K

to "Green River Russel blades".

I can't find the connection.

Is everyone talking about the same thing here? All the responses seem to be talking about the Green River Russel blades and none about the "Jantz Supply" blades.

I think you are asking about blades from "Jantz supply" and only people who have blades from that outfit are going to be able to give you valid info.

What am I missing here ? (aside from a few marbles.)
 
My understanding is that the slipjoints are made by Boker, and the carbon steel blades are 1095.
 
Got an email reply from Russell:
My question sent to:info@Dexter-Russell.com <info@Dexter-Russell.com>

"Can you please tell me what the carbon content is of this Russell Green River knife blade? I know it states it is "high carbon", meaning > than 0.5% carbon (C), but HOW high? Is it 0.5%, 0.8%, 1.0%?

Ref: http://jantzsupply.com/cartease/item-detail.cfm?ID=RH11K

Thanks"

=====================================================
The response:

"The blade is Type C1095 carbon steel with a carbon content of 0.95 % . This steel is very similar to type O1 tool steel. We have heat treated and tempered it to a Rockwell hardness of Rc 55-56. It can be treated to a higher Rockwell, but we think this is the best trade off between brittleness and flexibility for a knife blade.

Buck Raper
Manager of Engineering "
=================================================


I like that. It's time to play. I want to grind one of their blades down to a 4.5" drop point hunter, and put a hilt on it. I like 1095 steel.

Thanks for the help.
 
"Catboat, I'm confused. Tell me how you are getting from "jantz supply"

Jantz supply sells Russell Green River Blades and kits. Bill
 
Go to the jantz supply website, and do a product search. Type in "green river" and you get the carbon steel blades (and kits). Call up jantz, and ask if the Green River blades are Russell, and they will say "yes."

I contacted Russell, and they emailed me that while their primary knife business is with stainless blades (food service), they do make a couple of hundred Green River Russell blades each year.
***********************************
This is a cut an paste from the email I received from the Dexter-Russell Manager of Engineering, Buck Raper earlier today:

"... Dexter Russell does not really make sporting knives any more. We sell a few hundred out of old tools to people like Jantz and Indian Ridge, but our business is selling stainless knives to food service (hotel and restaurant) customers and poultry, fish, beef and pork processors."

*********************************
What am I missing on my end? Seems pretty straight forward to me. For ~ $10, I can get a nice 1095 carbon steel blade (0.95% carbon), that sharpens easy, and takes a nice edge. Add a homemade hilt, and some handle material (I like micarta) and for about $15-18, I'll have a heck of a knife.

I recently picked up a partially finished belt knife kit from CVA (Conneticut Valley Arms, the muzzleloading rifle/supply company) that needed finishing (20-30 year old kit?). On it, the stamp reads "Green River" "J. Russell & Co" and "Green River Works 1834" Then "made in USA". It's obviously not an original knife from 1834, but a modern reproduction. It takes a great edge with a simple medium grit stone. I reshaped that blade. I want to do another Green River -Russell for me, and for my brother. I wanted to know what kind of steel it was. A fresh file barely cuts the Green River-Russell knife I currently have. I'm glad I found a new supply of the blades with very high carbon content or 0.95% or "1095" steel. I'm getting a few of them.

I'll make the sheath myself-no problem cutting and sewing leather.
 
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