The A.G. Russel Ultimate Pen Knife
AGR Model: RUS-P3TIB
This little beauty is about the smallest, lightest, sharpest out-of-the-box
cutter, whittler, picker I've come across. AGR had them on sale thru their
2009 Customer Appreciation Catalog, and I finally fell for it. Glad I did!
I'd been watching the AGR catalogs (which are an art-form in themselves) to
see if the price had dropped any from their ages-long $19.95. Finally!
It only took three days from order to receipt, and the AGR staff was as fine
as ever.
I don't have a camera that's worth a flip for close-ups so the photo below
comes from the AGR catalog...and you really need the close-up function for
a knife this small.
Stats:
Type - slipjoint;
Blade- 1.5" long, 0.06" thick, 0.4" wide, flat ground, VG-10,
Rc 59-61, drop point;
Handle- Titanium, linerless; 0.103 thick.
Knife Length- 2" closed; 2.45" open ( excluding bail); hinged bail for split ring
Knife Width- 0.562" at the widest point, closed
Weight- 0.2oz (5.7 grams, about the same as a US dime + a penny)
Mfgr- Japan
Handle Details:
The canoe shaped handle is made from .032" thick sheet Titanium (Ti),
held together by three tiny Phillips/slotted screws (stainless?). The Ti has
a satin-like finish though it is smooth, with no grind nor polish marks of
any kind. The whole knife measures only 0.150" thru the screws which project
slightly above the Ti scales. The backspring measures 0.040" thick and appears
to be stainless. The backspring has a small, pierced 'nubbin' at the rear of the
handle which serves as a hinge-point for the tiny, trapezoid shaped bail.
Included with the knife is a small split-ring for attaching the knife to a
keychain, lanyard, etc.
Blade Details:
The blade, made of VG-10, is a shape which AGR uses frequently. Although
listed in the catalog as a 'drop point', it follows the lines, in
miniature, of the AGR "General Purpose" blade found in AGR's One Hand
Knife, the Funny Folder, and the Featherlite. The blade is flat ground
all the way to the spine, with a small (~.030") bevel at the edge. The
blade is marked "A. G. Russell" along the length of one side near the
spine, and "Japan" in similar placement on the other side. There is a
nail-nick near the apex of the spine curve, though the knife operates so
smoothly that the nick is not needed to open the blade. A simple 'pinch'
between thumb and index finger opens the blade smoothly. The blade is
shaving sharp out of the box, and responds well to stropping with chrome
oxide for a polished edge. As the AGR write-up for the General Purpose
blade says, "The General Purpose blade shape makes it ideal for picking
splinters, opening letters and boxes, cutting articles from magazines
and newspapers." That description fits the little Ti pen knife blade
to a "T". It's also an excellent pencil sharpener, and casual whittler.
Sheath:
Nope, no need, this is a tiny keychain or neck lanyard knife. The titanium
scales will get scratched up a bit from pocket carry, but then, scratches
and normal wear-and-tear add character, in my opinion. If you want to keep
the knife in shiny, pristine condition you should buy two...carry one
and keep the 'new' one in the safe with your wife's jewelry.
Overall Impression:
This is a knife worth its price. The VG-10 blade can be made screaming
sharp; so sharp, in fact, that I'm afraid to wave it around much,
for fear of splitting atoms in the air, setting off a chain reaction
that would burn up the atmosphere and destroy the earth.
The fit and finish are excellent, in keeping with all the AGR knives,
and though the knife is small and thin it feels sturdy, though probably
not suitable for batoning.
Formerly, my keychain sported a SOG Micron, which is also a fine little
knife...BUT...The AGR Ultimate Pen sports a better steel, is lighter, has
that "Titanium" mystique, and you just can't beat AGR's design and their
"lifetime, for any reason" warranty.
Bottom Line:
You should get one...I did...and I'm glad of it.
________________________________________________________________________
AGR Model: RUS-P3TIB
This little beauty is about the smallest, lightest, sharpest out-of-the-box
cutter, whittler, picker I've come across. AGR had them on sale thru their
2009 Customer Appreciation Catalog, and I finally fell for it. Glad I did!
I'd been watching the AGR catalogs (which are an art-form in themselves) to
see if the price had dropped any from their ages-long $19.95. Finally!
It only took three days from order to receipt, and the AGR staff was as fine
as ever.
I don't have a camera that's worth a flip for close-ups so the photo below
comes from the AGR catalog...and you really need the close-up function for
a knife this small.
Stats:
Type - slipjoint;
Blade- 1.5" long, 0.06" thick, 0.4" wide, flat ground, VG-10,
Rc 59-61, drop point;
Handle- Titanium, linerless; 0.103 thick.
Knife Length- 2" closed; 2.45" open ( excluding bail); hinged bail for split ring
Knife Width- 0.562" at the widest point, closed
Weight- 0.2oz (5.7 grams, about the same as a US dime + a penny)
Mfgr- Japan
Handle Details:
The canoe shaped handle is made from .032" thick sheet Titanium (Ti),
held together by three tiny Phillips/slotted screws (stainless?). The Ti has
a satin-like finish though it is smooth, with no grind nor polish marks of
any kind. The whole knife measures only 0.150" thru the screws which project
slightly above the Ti scales. The backspring measures 0.040" thick and appears
to be stainless. The backspring has a small, pierced 'nubbin' at the rear of the
handle which serves as a hinge-point for the tiny, trapezoid shaped bail.
Included with the knife is a small split-ring for attaching the knife to a
keychain, lanyard, etc.
Blade Details:
The blade, made of VG-10, is a shape which AGR uses frequently. Although
listed in the catalog as a 'drop point', it follows the lines, in
miniature, of the AGR "General Purpose" blade found in AGR's One Hand
Knife, the Funny Folder, and the Featherlite. The blade is flat ground
all the way to the spine, with a small (~.030") bevel at the edge. The
blade is marked "A. G. Russell" along the length of one side near the
spine, and "Japan" in similar placement on the other side. There is a
nail-nick near the apex of the spine curve, though the knife operates so
smoothly that the nick is not needed to open the blade. A simple 'pinch'
between thumb and index finger opens the blade smoothly. The blade is
shaving sharp out of the box, and responds well to stropping with chrome
oxide for a polished edge. As the AGR write-up for the General Purpose
blade says, "The General Purpose blade shape makes it ideal for picking
splinters, opening letters and boxes, cutting articles from magazines
and newspapers." That description fits the little Ti pen knife blade
to a "T". It's also an excellent pencil sharpener, and casual whittler.
Sheath:
Nope, no need, this is a tiny keychain or neck lanyard knife. The titanium
scales will get scratched up a bit from pocket carry, but then, scratches
and normal wear-and-tear add character, in my opinion. If you want to keep
the knife in shiny, pristine condition you should buy two...carry one
and keep the 'new' one in the safe with your wife's jewelry.
Overall Impression:
This is a knife worth its price. The VG-10 blade can be made screaming
sharp; so sharp, in fact, that I'm afraid to wave it around much,
for fear of splitting atoms in the air, setting off a chain reaction
that would burn up the atmosphere and destroy the earth.
The fit and finish are excellent, in keeping with all the AGR knives,
and though the knife is small and thin it feels sturdy, though probably
not suitable for batoning.
Formerly, my keychain sported a SOG Micron, which is also a fine little
knife...BUT...The AGR Ultimate Pen sports a better steel, is lighter, has
that "Titanium" mystique, and you just can't beat AGR's design and their
"lifetime, for any reason" warranty.
Bottom Line:
You should get one...I did...and I'm glad of it.
________________________________________________________________________
