My Treat from Nova Scotia, Canada - Grohmann Mini Russell Lock

E

edmundo.gurza

Joined
May 15, 2013
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144
I recently got a treat for myself.. a Grohmann Mini Russell Lock. This company is one of the only Canadian knife manufacturers in the East Coast. They have been in business vor 50+ years and handcraft in my opinion very nice and durable knives. I handled some of their original outdoor knives and I knew I had to look more into them after that.

I have been in this area of the world for over 6 years now, it is where I got my education, met my soon to be wife and basically built my (still short) life as an independent young adult so far. So I wanted to somehow get something that would remind me of that. I have been to the area of Pictou a couple times but never knew that there as a knife manufacturer there. As soon as I found about it I had to have at least one of their knives!

The rosewood on the handles is very nice, as well as the nickle-silver bolsters, lines and pins. Maybe not the classiest but this knives are made to work and not just to be pretty. The wood handles, specially rosewood, will shrink and change in size a tinny bit so after a few years of hard use the handles will look just perfectly aged. Holly smokes this thing is built like a tank, it is sharp as a razor and it is not too bulky. The size is comprable to a Case Sodbuster Jr and the weight is around the same.

The blade is a high carbon stainless steel blade (similar to AUS6 56-58 hardness) approximately 3". The shape is a design similar to their original fixed blade that started production back in 1957 and is now imitated by many manufacturers. A knife that anywhere in canada would identify you as "from Nova Scotia". The opening and locking mechanism is nice, smooth and solid. Closed this guy is approximately 4" and open an overall 7".

The blade shape is awesome for any kind of cutting, since it is a little lower from the handle it is easier to push into hard surfaces and makes it easy to prep food on a flat surface. These are not my pictures.. Can't find my little camera but I will post some proper ones by the end of today. I hope you enjoy the brief review!

R340S_in_hand_ready_to_cut__64742.1346340114.1280.1280.jpg

R340S_in_hand__50807.1346340145.1280.1280.jpg
 
Classic design --and Canadian! I've had a Russell Belt Knife for 30+ years, and it's still one of my favorites. Great choice.
 
Nice looking knife. That leaf shape blade is interesting, I can think of things it would do rather well. Steven
 
Nice knife, like the blade and handle shape. I'd like to get one of those.
 
Have to admit I have not heard of Grohmann at all, that's a nice looking piece though, the blade is a classic Canadian style.
 
pmew said:
Have to admit I have not heard of Grohmann at all, that's a nice looking piece though, the blade is a classic Canadian style.
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I hadn't hear of them either and lived here for over 6 years.. haha. Their story is very interesting and even though their F&F is not 100% perfect, I would say it is comparable to Case's though, their knives are perfect where it matters and the blades are never improperly placed or grounded. They offer a lifetime guarantee and they stand by what they produce. Which to me ultimately is everything I can ask for.

To me they have a piece of my story also so I really wanted one once I heard of them. For the same reason I also purchased some USA made Case and Buck knives, Victorinox soldier and a Sheffield knife. I love cutlery history!
 
That's a great short review!
I wanted to purchase a couple of their knives, but since they are here in Canada, i hope to make the trip out to Pictou....eventually :) rather than ordering off the web..
 
416isToronto said:
That's a great short review!
I wanted to purchase a couple of their knives, but since they are here in Canada, i hope to make the trip out to Pictou....eventually :) rather than ordering off the web..
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I suggest do both. Their factory is short of an hour away from my place and it is very nice to see them at work in such a classical east coast canadian town.
 
I hadn't realised they did a mini version, but I see from their website this is a new addition.

Thank you for drawing my attention to this Edmundo. I had admired the previous offering before but it was much too large to justify, especially over their fixed blades offerings.

Does this one have a smooth and flush transition between the bolster and scales or is there a step as per the larger model?

Ps. Slight thread derail but what Sheffield folder did you chose?
 
scruffuk said:
I hadn't realised they did a mini version, but I see from their website this is a new addition.

Thank you for drawing my attention to this Edmundo. I had admired the previous offering before but it was much too large to justify, especially over their fixed blades offerings.

Does this one have a smooth and flush transition between the bolster and scales or is there a step as per the larger model?
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Glad it helped scruffuk. I agree, at some point I will get one of their fixed blades but first I wanted something a bit more utilitarian. The handles do have a step from the bolsters (the handle being about 1 mm thicker than the bolsters. When I asked about that they mentioned they have seen that after a lont time use the wood tends to solidify and become slightly thinner because of the hand pressure on it and that that is the reason they keep doing it. It also helps prevent the wood from cracking over long periods of time even with little care.

I thought it was reasonable since sanding it off wouldn't take that much longer. I find it also adds a little bit of more hand full feeling to the knife and that if it was thinner it would feel very different. Right now it feels nice and full like a sodbuster does. It is similar to the feeling I find in the A. wright sheep foot knife when it thickens towards the bottom of the handle. Like I said for a knife that will be used and not just admired it is very well put together in my humble opinion.

I love the blade shape is a perfect mix of a clip point/skinner blade if that makes any sense.
 
Very nice knife edmundo!
I really like the rosewood and the blade shape.
Great write up :thumbup:
 
edmundo.gurza said:
I hadn't hear of them either and lived here for over 6 years.. haha. Their story is very interesting and even though their F&F is not 100% perfect, I would say it is comparable to Case's though, their knives are perfect where it matters and the blades are never improperly placed or grounded. They offer a lifetime guarantee and they stand by what they produce. Which to me ultimately is everything I can ask for.

To me they have a piece of my story also so I really wanted one once I heard of them. For the same reason I also purchased some USA made Case and Buck knives, Victorinox soldier and a Sheffield knife. I love cutlery history!
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Goodness that sounds like quite a spending spree you've been on and I must second Scruff's comment...
scruffuk said:
Ps. Slight thread derail but what Sheffield folder did you chose?
Click to expand...
 
pmew said:
Goodness that sounds like quite a spending spree you've been on and I must second Scruff's comment...
Click to expand...

It has been a gradual growth of a modest collection. I had alot of these knives and over the year or so have actually gifted them to people who I know value them. The sheffield knife I got didn't end up being, in my opinion, representative of the sheffield's cutlery (A. Wright & Son Lamb foot with ebony scales), since the blade was very off centered. I usually don't care much for exact alignment on the blade but this one was quite a bit off, and while it didn't dull the blade when closing it I was just unable to look past it for what ever reason. I gifted it to a good friend who valued it very much and will likely carry it for the rest of his life.

More than just the knife I really like when there is a meaning behind it, it is always the ones you use and gift (or just gift) that end up having the best meaning behind them. At least for me those are always the ones that I value and treasure, the rest are nice to have and try for sure though. I am in no means a collector (I may have 4 knives overall) but all of the ones I have kept are close to my heart. Although not too close they can get dangerous ;).
 
Thanks for the pics and the write up. I like the knife and I like seeing things I've never seen before ( I am familiar with the fixed blades). :thumbup:
 
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