Russell Green River Works knives

Plumberdv

Plumberdv

Joined
Sep 26, 2008
Messages
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I'm real new to the world of knife collecting, so I'm just full of questions. I've bought a whole bunch of knives in the last year or so and most of them were bought just because I liked the way they looked.

Now I am beginning to wonder about the quality of some of the ones I've bought and would like other's opinions.

I have two of the BIG barlow style Russell GRW's, the RU13 and RU11. One has the easy open notch. I also have an RU 25 trapper. I really like the looks and feel of all three, and would really appreciate any comments about the brand, good or bad.

Thanks to any and all.
 
Welcome to the forum. :cool:

The ones you are referring to (I believe) are licensed reproductions built by Boker (Germany) for Dexter-Russell. (They should be marked Solingen or Germany on the tangs.)

They are some nice knives, especially at the price. I had one of the two bladed barlows and it was a good knife with nice features.
 
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Yes, they are all marked Solingen, Germany. I was wondering about that, because I have three of the fixed blade scalper/trade knives that I aquired back in the '70's and I believe that they were all made here in the US.
 
They've had several companies produce knives under contract over the years. (Colonial, Schrade, etc.)

I have a couple of the USA made fixed blades that I purchased online over the years. Both are USA made. One was actually a kit knife (Dadley) that I had some fun building and the other was one of the "hunter" patterns, each in carbon steel.

You can read about the company here: http://www.dexter-russell.com/history.asp

There is a book called "The History Of The John Russell Cutlery Company" which you can find via amazon or the auction sites that has more detailed information about the company and its glory days.
 
Blues, thanks a bunch for the links. I'm a traditional Black Powder shooter but I'd never seen the Crazycrow website.
I was going to ask if anyone had any links to websites to buy more of that line of knives. I bought the trapper from Waxman, but they have a very limited selection of them.
 
I think I have one like yours. I saw them at Smokey Mountian Knife Works a few years ago. I noitced that they still had them and they had them on sale this year and I bought one before they sold out. It has a carbon steel blade and a bone handle. The catalog said they were made in Germany. It has a really strong spring action.

I have a picture of all my barlows that I posted in another thread. Since, I am too lazy to take another picture, let me just say the knife at the bottom is the Russell knife.

IMG_0547_2-1.jpg
 
That's the one alright. I've found a place online that has all four models of that knife. They sell for $30.38 + $6.00 Priority mail shipping.

Since I have the R-11 and 13, I think I'll order the R-12 and 14.
 
Plumberdv said:
That's the one alright. I've found a place online that has all four models of that knife. They sell for $30.38 + $6.00 Priority mail shipping.

Since I have the R-11 and 13, I think I'll order the R-12 and 14.
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That is about the right price. They were $29.99 plus shipping at SMKW. When I went up there about 2 years ago, I saw them in person and thought they were pretty nice knives. I do know they are all carbon steel blades, so take care of them to prevent rust. I didn't buy them back then, but don't worry I didn't walk out empty handed.;)
 
i have a sheffield knife marked green river works by j.wilson (thats what it says, even though i'm pretty sure it was I. Wilson) what does the "green river works" mean?
 
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