Speaking of A.G. Russell...(pics)

Absintheur

Absintheur

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I snagged a new, to me, fighter from the E place. Was sold as an AG Russell fighter and is marked AG Russell Seki Japan on the blade and AGR on the rubber hilt. The kydex sheath is unmarked. The knife appears to be very well made, not that I would expect any less from this company, does have some faint scratches, almost looks like sand was on the blade when it was sheathed. Guard appears to be steel, grip is a medium soft rubber. The grip is both grooved and textured and very secure in the hand. The knife balances where the grip meets the guard, feels just right in hand.

Questions....
When was this knife made?
What steel was used for the blade?

I figure at 40 bucks I didn't get hurt buying this to add to my growing collection of fighters.

agfighter1.jpg


agfighter3copy.jpg


agfighter5.jpg
 
Nice knife, but I wouldn't like getting it brand new with those marks on the blade. But, thats just me new should be new IMO.
 
wasn't new, wasn't sold as new...bought it on ebay (the E-place...lol)...looking I think the scratches may be caused buy the retension strap snap. I will work a piece of moleskin over it.
 
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Well that's an entirely different story. It looks like somebody did it sharpening it to me, perhaps. The edge has a roughed up look.
 
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As far as I could tell it had not been sharpened, the edge only looks rough in the pics, picking up some reflections, the edge is very smooth actually. It was ok sharp when it arrived but just a few passes on my stones has it shaving sharp. Edge came up very quickly, felt like VG10 when sharpening.
 
It would appear to be but I am hoping an expert in AG Russell knives can shed some info on it. My research hasn't found anything about it so far.
 
AG is a member here. Hopefully he will chime in. Look for him on the forums and link him to this thread via PM or email.
 
I've kept many of the AG Russell catalogs from the 'old days'.
I'll take a look this evening and see if I can find a catalog that has that knife in it.

I do remember seeing that specific knife in AG's catalogs...

-Mike
 
If you can pin down a time frame I would appreciate it. I remember the knife vaguely as well but am not sure if it was when I had my shop open.
 
Oh Yeah!
It's an AG alrite.
I place it as mid/late 1990's.
In fact there was also a dagger so akin to the SOG Knives Desert Dagger (except for AG's kraton handle type as in the one pictured).
That this has led me to belive that it's probably from the same Seki (Japan) knife factory which OEM's for SOG Knives and later Junglee Knives.
 
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Mid 90s would be about the time we closed the gun shop. I really didn't have any doubt's it was a real AG, I was sure I had seen it in a catalog but couldn't figure out a time period. The kydex sheath also points towards that time period. Hoping TheFlash can pin it down with his catalogs, I looked through my files and couldn't find it myself.
 
Absintheur,

Found the knife in an old AG Russell catalog.
It was in the Fall 1994 catalog and a few others shortly before and after.

The knife was called: G.I. Combat Utility
This is the text from the catalog:


If you feel the need for a knife that is better made and of more modern material than the issue K-Bar [sic] style knife (made by today's lowest bidder) you should try our G.I. It is not government issue, but it is intended to stand in for what is. If you want a reasonable size combat utility knife of really good quality then this is the one for you. The Super-Grip Kraton handle gives a postiive grip under all conditions. This, with the stainless hilt, means your hand is always positioned safely behind the blade.
11 3/4" total length, 6 5/8" clip blade made of high carbon stainless steel with a satin finish. This knife comes with a Kraton handle, weights 8.6 oz. and you have a choice of sheaths. Choose between a quality black leather sheath or a Custom Kydex Sheath made for us by Bob Dozier, America's Premier Maker of Kydex sheaths. This is the same sheath he design for the Navy Seals. They didn't think they could afford it, but you can.
Suggested retail: with leather sheath $79.95, with Kydex sheath $109.95

With Leather Sheath (sheath not shown) AG-GILS ...........$69.95
With Kydex Sheath AG-GIKS...........$99.95


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There is a pic in the catalog of the knife itself and also the knife sheathed in the kydex sheath.
If you would like, I could scan a copy of the pic in the catalog and send to you.

Regards,
Mike
 
TheFlash said:
Absintheur,

Found the knife in an old AG Russell catalog.
It was in the Fall 1994 catalog and a few others shortly before and after.

The knife was called: G.I. Combat Utility
This is the text from the catalog:


If you feel the need for a knife that is better made and of more modern material than the issue K-Bar [sic] style knife (made by today's lowest bidder) you should try our G.I. It is not government issue, but it is intended to stand in for what is. If you want a reasonable size combat utility knife of really good quality then this is the one for you. The Super-Grip Kraton handle gives a postiive grip under all conditions. This, with the stainless hilt, means your hand is always positioned safely behind the blade.
11 3/4" total length, 6 5/8" clip blade made of high carbon stainless steel with a satin finish. This knife comes with a Kraton handle, weights 8.6 oz. and you have a choice of sheaths. Choose between a quality black leather sheath or a Custom Kydex Sheath made for us by Bob Dozier, America's Premier Maker of Kydex sheaths. This is the same sheath he design for the Navy Seals. They didn't think they could afford it, but you can.
Suggested retail: with leather sheath $79.95, with Kydex sheath $109.95

With Leather Sheath (sheath not shown) AG-GILS ...........$69.95
With Kydex Sheath AG-GIKS...........$99.95


----------------

There is a pic in the catalog of the knife itself and also the knife sheathed in the kydex sheath.
If you would like, I could scan a copy of the pic in the catalog and send to you.

Regards,
Mike
Click to expand...

I did not design the handle, just added the blade to the makers handlle.
 
Lycosa said:
Hi A.G.! Where is that Sting 3?? ;)
Click to expand...

I hope to have a pre-production sample before Christmas. I will probably take pre-orders with the KCC Brochure and the e-mails. We have ordered a first run of 1,500 black micarta and 500 blades to which we will apply the handle material. We will not pre-offer the special handle material until next year.
 
Great news! Thank you, A.G.
The Original STING, started my knife madness.
 
Thanks Flash and if you would send a scan of the page to my email it would be appreciated greatly, sounds like I did ok for 40 bucks.

I am guessing probably AUS-8 or similar for the blade then.

And yes...I too am looking forward to a new Sting....
 
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