Hen & Rooster Knives

[trentu]

Anyone tell me how good the quality of these guys are? Thanks for your help.

 

[Daniel Dorn]

It is my understanding that they used to be stellar in quality. A. G. Russell owned the brand for awhile, back in the mid-late 20th Century, and then someone else got a hold of the brand (Frost?). A. G. will tell you that their quality has since declined. I have no personal experience with either the post or pre A. G. Russell days, so can't verify, or qualify anything. For the price, they look to be of decent quality, though there are rarely any mentions of them. You may want to check out the Traditional Folders and Fixed Blades section of this site. They can probably give you much better information.

Daniel

 

[trentu]

Thank you Daniel. I was worried that they have fallen to the hands changing thing.

 

[JPD1998]

I have three H&R knives, one is a large stag swing guard from the early 1980's and two I recently purchased. Of the newly manufactured knives, one is a synthetic scaled sowbelly and the other a stag cattle knife. As Daniel mentioned, the older ones are better and even though my swing guard is not of the A. G. Russell vintage , it is still a better made knife than the new ones.

Some have suggested that the German marked knives are actually being outsourced to China, but I don't think so, they don't have the same F&F as the Chinese made slipjonts. IMO they just look as though they are being rushed through the assembly process to keep the labor cost completive.

On the plus side , they have some very nice traditional patterns in stag that aren't being made by other makers and I can honestly say I will most likely buy more.

Here's a picture of one of my favorites H&R, the Cattle Knife (on the right), this was originally posted over in the Traditional forum.

 

[TinyDee]

Always a good story, first by Carl Bertram and then AG in 1975 for about five years. Outstanding quality and with only sixteen employees at the top. I think these are the best period.

 

[Larry from Bend]

I have a Stag Trapper that I bought new in about '90. The steel is so soft it will not take nor hold an edge. I was disappointed as I had heard how good they USED TO BE. It is purty to look at!

 

[mrjed]

Does anybody have or know the location of a list/catalog of the Hen and Roosters made while AG Russell had the company 1975-1980?

 

[A. G. Russell]

there were two one a reprint of 1935 and one done 76-77 in color I do not know if any are left check with customer service

 

[psycho78]

Growing up, when I heard and saw the Hen and Rooster name, I knew that it represented something of the highest quality.

I recently learned that the company was bought by the cheap knife whore Frost, and now the knives are something completely different.

Same story with Marble's. Don't know who makes them now, but their knives are cheap crap.

Also the Schrade name, which was bought by Taylor cutlery. Those knives are horrible.

 

[scattershot]

Here's one I bought recently. It is beautifully finished, even the inside of the springs are mirror polished. I don't think it's one of Russells, but it was obviously made before the quality slipped.

 

[A. G. Russell]

Growing up, when I heard and saw the Hen and Rooster name, I knew that it represented something of the highest quality.

I recently learned that the company was bought by the cheap knife whore Frost, and now the knives are something completely different.
.

I'm sorry Psycho, It is true that frost did not try to keep the old quality, BUT it is also true that they charged fair prices for what was first being made by KissingKrane then by Boker, since then I cannot say but those knives were fairly priced for good solid German knives. I do not know where they are actually being made today or what the quality is but those knives were not trash.

 

[Azazello]

Last weekend I was at a place called Cutlery Connection (or something like that) in a mall in Plano, Texas. I had gone there to look at some old GW Stone knives; the guy had a couple dozen. I bought one, but the entire time I was looking at these Stone knives I had this little slipjoint in the corner of my eye.

It was a Hen and Rooster, with AG Russell Springdale Ark and Germany stamped on. It has the best looking stag I have seen on a slipjoint, no bolsters, a spear point blade (the one with the stamps) and a pen knife blade. No half stops. Strong snap. It's terrific. I don't know about the decline in quality since AG Russell, but this H&R is near the very top of manufactured knives I have seen. I'm on the lookout for more of them, and would love to hear from anyone who wants to part with one.

I'll see what I can do about posting a photo. This stag is deep-creviced and beautiful. I'd love to hear AG talk about these knives a bit. I understand AG had H&R from around '75 to '80. How many different models? How many of each? Does the model I'm describing have a name? What steel was used? You know, all the normal stuff.

I can't really eat fifty eggs.

 

[A. G. Russell]

If less than $300 it is a gift. Only about 2-300 made in stag in 1975-6. Tony, Reece and 2 or 3 others do this quality.

 

[Wildone39]

I bought a Hen N Rooster stag handled Bowie while I was in the Smokey Mtns last summer. I like the knife. It seems to be a good knife. Stag handles , full tang, solid as a rock. It says German Solagen steel. I dont know what that means but its a beautiful knife. I paid 100.00 dollars for it. It also has a leather sheath with it.........I didnt know Frost had the name now but thats ok I still like the knife.

 

[Azazello]

If less than $300 it is a gift. Only about 2-300 made in stag in 1975-6. Tony, Reece and 2 or 3 others do this quality.

It was a gift then, I paid $200 for it. I would have paid whatever. Sometimes a knife just calls out to you. I have only bought custom knives so far, but I had no hesitation adding this H&R to the collection.

When it's open, the blade flushes up against the spring, but is contoured, not flat. It's amazing to run your fingertip along the joint. I think this knife really is up there with some of the best custom makers. So, Mr. Russell, you figure this stag pen knife was made in the early part of your tenure with H&R? From what I read about stamps here and elsewhere I had though 1975 or early '76.

I can hear the regret and frustration in your tone when you write about the court intervening in your business. Courts rarely make anything better, but this German court really did a disservice to all of us, to German tradition, and to the craftsmen and artisans that turned out such impressive work.

kelly

 

[knifeswapper]

I would suspect anyone that likes Boker or Bulldog products could find a H&R to suit you. They have "striking" resemblences to one or the others product line. I don't care much for the hoards of corelon, but the knives are still nice knives in a world of declining quality. Although in most cases the two aforementioned brands can be found at a little lower price point.

Mike Latham
CollectorKnives.Net

 

[leotheknife]

I just got two older Hen & Rooster's today. Both Stag handles, one with a swing guard. Think they were made in the 70's. not to sure yet but each is a limited production model. Pictures to follow tomorrow. Was told they were worth $250 & $300 respectively. I traded a lonewolf Lobo for them

 

[DennisStrickland]

considered to be finest quality in 1970 & earlier.knives were world famous,you would have to look at earlier knives to understand.beatiful polish,opened like on ball bearings.i understand they were last facility in world to still be making knives with the old overhead belts to drive machinery.i've had some old mint h&r knives .by 90s collectors became real eager to get them.seriously doubt that a knife worth 70$ has been produced since 1990.

 

[jill jackson]

I bought a Hen N Rooster stag handled Bowie while I was in the Smokey Mtns last summer. I like the knife. It seems to be a good knife. Stag handles , full tang, solid as a rock. It says German Solagen steel. I dont know what that means but its a beautiful knife. I paid 100.00 dollars for it. It also has a leather sheath with it.........I didnt know Frost had the name now but thats ok I still like the knife.

Those fixed blades with stag are made in Spain. Like you noted the steel says German. Sort of a slick way to mislead the buyer, IMO.

 

[CL01]

It's interesting that a thread started up over here about this brand. I have a Hen & Rooster Canoe in dark red bone.

On the main blade tang, on one side it says "Solingen Germany" & on the other side, "Bertram Cutlery" & "352-BS".

From the research I did, I was/am of the opinion that it's a post Bertram/A.G. Russell knife, probably made in the early '80's. It's F&F is actually pretty good except for one flaw. Snap is quite strong (Not too strong, but strong if you know what I mean). The only flaw on this knife is that the bone on the shield side was apparently too thin at the top end, so there's a gap where the bone is too thin against the top part of the bolsters. Otherwise, every thing about this knife is excellent. The blade steel, what ever it is (SS as it does say "Rostfrei" on the tang of the small blade) is pretty decent. Sharpens relatively easy, but holds an edge well (Better than my Case SS Tru-sharps anyways).