New A.G. Russell Sowbelly Trapper - whoa momma!

comoha said:
So Mr. Russell has introduced a new line of slipjoints and they are brawny, muscular, and dang impressive to say the least. Of the large lockback, gunstock and sowbelly I just had to treat myself to the latter.
I am so blown away by this knife. Fit and finish? Outstanding. Nice brushed satin finish and the brown Rucarta slabs are seamless to the bolsters. Blades are dead centered and the pull is a nice 5. Sharpness? Very. I may not even strop it. This knife is not for everyone as it is too Herculean for EDC. It's 4 1/4" closed. Main blade is 3 3/8" long and 1" wide. The wharnecliffe is a whopping 3 1/2" long and 7/8" wide. It weighs nearly 6 oz. It's a fistfull, made for camp chores, farm work and anything but spending its days in a safe. What I really liked was how super clean the inside channels were. I've never had a production knife this well done on the interior. The included woven leather lanyard is a nice touch too.
Oh yeah. And the cost? 64 bucks.
Enjoy. :)

I placed this alongside a GEC Harness Jack, a big knife in its own rights on a burly 4" frame.
Click to expand...

This post makes me happy. :)

I've ordered one each of this model (Rucarta, Cocobolo and Yellow Delrin), as well as one each of the gunstock model offering the same handle choices. Six knives in all. Kept my fingers crossed that I wouldn't be disappointed. I've had somewhat mixed feelings about the Chinese imported knives, but have been hearing good things about the 'Texas Ranger' series from A.G. Russell, upon which these latest knives were based (same patterns). Still anxiously waiting to receive 'em.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
This post makes me happy. :)

I've ordered one each of this model (Rucarta, Cocobolo and Yellow Delrin), as well as one each of the gunstock model offering the same handle choices. Six knives in all.
Click to expand...

Awesome! Someone's tax return came early. :D
Make sure you post pics because I was curious of what the other models were like.
 
comoha said:
Awesome! Someone's tax return came early. :D
Make sure you post pics because I was curious of what the other models were like.
Click to expand...

I'll do that. I should have them by the end of next week, if not a little sooner. Had to wait a little bit after I ordered, because the yellow delrin models were the slowest to hit their shelves. I called them this afternoon, and they're telling me they'll be shipping either today or Monday.

After reading your post, and seeing the pics, I'm pretty stoked about these. Don't know if you've seen it yet, but I just (yesterday) received in the mail, the latest KCC flier from A.G. Russell. There are yet more knives in this series coming. The next batch, as advertised in the flier, are the Large Folding Hunter. Same handle choices (Rucarta, Cocobolo, Yellow Delrin). I'm a fan of folding hunters anyway (Case, Schrade, Queen, etc.), and was bitten by a little more of the bug today. Long story short, as of this afternoon, I've got one of each of those coming too.

So, now it's nine knives I'll be watching the mail for, this coming week. I think I've lost my mind. :p
 
I only have one Chinese made folder,and it is an AG Russel 2010 Texas Ranger Folder.It's probably by the same outfit that makes that knife.Really good quality for the money,I was pleasantly surprised.Congrats on your new knife,looks good!I'd wear that one in a sheath.
 
That's a burly and excellent looking knife, thanks for the review and the photos. I'm especially impressed by the look of the scales. Too bad big ol boyhardy blades are not so welcome for EDC in California...
 
I ordered one of these after seeing these awesome pictures, and it came today! It is nearly flawless, with perfectly centered blades (they are something smaller than .5 mm away from the handle to accomplish this--nearly touching it), nice polish, no gaps, spring and blade spine are flush when open, nice walk and talk (there's a satisfying deep thunk sound when they close), and the blades are sharp.

On the last point, I think this is the best looking edge I've had on any production knife besides from CRK; the edge stays the same height the whole way (which is impressive on the clip since it is curved along its entire length), including at the tip, where it meets the swedge to make a straight line to the very tip, and both blades are hair whittling sharp.

The only reason I call it near flawless is there is a small dent in the middle of the end piece of the wharncliffe blade's channel.

The pull is around a 4, which is nice. On first inspection, I disliked and wondered why there is only a long pull on the clip blade and not the wharncliffe, but the reason for it becomes apparent with use. Though the wharncliffe's nail nick is on the back side, you don't have to spin around the knife to open it. It would be better called a finger nick because it's so big I can get my index or middle finger in there to pull it up--no nail or thumb needed. I tried using my finger to open the long pull, but it's not wide enough, so I suspect that was the point of using the large nick instead of the long pull. As a chronic nail biter, it is a welcome design :p

The other thing I noticed right away and didn't like was that the nail nick and long pull are on opposites sides. My opinion on that was also reversed as I played with it more. Having them on opposite sides makes sense given how close the blades are to the handle. They would rub the handle so scratch/scuff the blade when opening them if either was on the opposite side. As they are, their divider lowers nearly to the height of springs except at the ends, the blades have a large gap between them, and the blades are not loose enough at the pivot for them to move side to side too muchwhile being opened, so they don't rub on anything when opening.

Something I didn't notice until holding it in my hand is the end of the channels are left open, which is unlike every other traditional I have. I imagine it will be easier to blow dirt, pocket lint, etc., out of the channels.

This one is truly a well thought out design, and it's met with very well done manufacturing. This is a knife to get, for sure.
 
WOW Corey!!!! That's one nice looking Sowbelly Trapper.:thumbup: Man, it is huge. Very, very, nice. That would make one heck of a working knife. It may sound crazy but that would make a good camp knife too. If anyone's still into chewing plug tobacco, that knife would make a fine plug cutter.:eek: The scales are very nice. A. G. Russell did a heck of a job with that knife/design.

By the way. That GEC is no slouch either.
 
KnifeHead said:
I think the front bolster is too long and the name isn't right, but other than that...kinda cool.
Click to expand...

Can you explain what you mean by this? Are you referring to the brand or the pattern? Or something else entirely?
 
kreole said:
I ordered one of these after seeing these awesome pictures, and it came today!
Click to expand...
So did I, and mine came yesterday. Without repeating what has already been said, I would judge the pull on the blades more like 3. Actually, I can open both blades with one hand, using the thumb to grab the nail nick like if it was a spydie hole. The clip blade opens one-handed with the right hand and the wharnie with the left.

The fit and finish is very good, but there is no danger to confuse the knife with a custom. The quality is not quite as good as the Bose collab Case knives. However, it is superior to all the regular production slipjoints I've seen in the sub $100 price range, perhaps even higher. I'm very pleased with it, and hope AG Russel produces a line with more models.
 
A lot goin' on with this fella. It really isn' that big of a knife and can ride in your front pocket pretty easily with a few bucks worth of change.
Greg

orig.jpg
 
Last edited:
rbmcmjr said:
Can you explain what you mean by this? Are you referring to the brand or the pattern? Or something else entirely?
Click to expand...

I'm not Kerry and I don't want to put words into anyones mouth, but I think he is just commenting on the pattern. When I first saw the knife, the first thing that jumped into my head was "dogleg". That doesn't mean anything other than what ran through my mind when I saw the pattern.

To me, the sowbelly pattern looks like it has a droopy belly. Matching top and bottom bolsters, like a stockman gone soft in the center.

It looks like a great knife and I don't care what they call it. I would like to own one.
 
AG does great work/design! I just need to get his latest move under my belt before I buy more knives.
 
I have a few other knives to get first but I will definately be getting one of these in a few weeks. Just gotta let my paychecks catch up with my hobby.

I'm torn between handle materials on this one. I like them all and can't decide which one I want. A.G.'s website says the yellow is really "YELLOW". Would love to see a homegrown pic of that one to help me decide.

Either way, I'm gettin' one!
 
Personally speaking after a few days of using this fella, I would like to see this AG version Sowbelly frame, which is extraordinary to say the least, with the original clip blade and a wharncliffe as a smaller secondary blade. After handling the original version a while, you find the comfort that the frame has to offer isn't there because the high profile of the Wharncliffe or Clip blade doesn't quite fit into the crease of the underside of you knuckles. The clip blade, which has the best design for every day use and would most likely be used the most, combined with a smaller wharncliffe blade would make this particular knife more friendly to the hand and easy to use. This is a great knife, don't get me wrong here. But, to use one as it is on a daily basis for work rather than just looking at, it needs to be a bit more friendly.
Greg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top