Texas Ranger 2011; 188 Yrs. of Service/or Big Bad Boy #4

[kamagong]

I like these Texas Ranger knives; they are designs that are not available anywhere else. I have an older Texas Ranger toothpick, with the same type of leaf shaped blade.

A fine knife, but the quality of yours blows it out of the water.

- Christian

 

[GRIM 62]

I only have the Texas Ranger Sunfish lockback.I was extremely impressed by the quality when I inspected it,f&f,build quality,and sharpness!It is a massive tank of a folder and locks up like Fort Knox!I'm usually weary of made in China knives,but not Mr.Russels offerings.They are easily worth 3 or 4 times the money that their asking price is.When the 3'5" Sowbelly comes out I might have to get one.

 

[rprocter]

There are a lot of high quality knives being made in China right now and AG seems to have found the very best of these manufacturers to make these AGR knives.
I have many very well made in China knives, but the AGR ones do standout as The Best. I cannot see how they could be improved upon. I hope this very high standard can be maintained.
roland

 

[LX_Emergency]

This thread came to life again so i re-read it. David (Obsessed with Edges), really confirmed my belief that these "Texas Rangers" are truly great knives with his sharpening report. i.e. you cannot fault these knives on any aspect, including steel quality.
So: What will be the 2012 Texas Ranger and when will it become available ?
I hope it will be from the same manufacturer (Hanwei ??).
roland

You asked....and the company just posted it on Facebook:

 

[rprocter]

Darn, i don't do Facebook. Can you provide a link (if links work for non-Facebookers).
roland

 

[LX_Emergency]

Sorry man, no link. But I remember seeing the knife on the cover of an american magazine as well.....whish I could remember which one though. I'll see if I can find it later.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

This thread came to life again so i re-read it. David (Obsessed with Edges), really confirmed my belief that these "Texas Rangers" are truly great knives with his sharpening report. i.e. you cannot fault these knives on any aspect, including steel quality...

roland

Roland,

I was once again reminded of the steel quality yesterday. I constantly tinker with different ways to touch up or sharpen my knives, and was fiddling around with some Ryobi emery compound I'd stumbled across a few days ago. I'd bought it at Home Depot a few years ago, along with some of Ryobi's 'White Rouge Buffing Compound', and had just stashed it away and forgotten about it. I 'crayoned' some of the black compound onto a piece of white printer paper wrapped around a balsa block, and stropped a few of my knives with it. One of these knives was my A.G. Russell 'Rancher' in the 8Cr13MoV steel. I had previously put a pretty shallow convex on this one (wet/dry sandpaper, and stropping on any/all of Simichrome, 1 micron diamond paste and green compound), and already had it pleasingly sharp. The little bit of additional stropping on the black compound took it up another notch, after which I followed with green compound on the inside (rough face) of my leather belt. All-the-more hair popping again. This steel really responds well to a variety of abrasives and sharpening methods, with minimal burrs/wire edges. I've read it compares somewhat to AUS-8 in composition, though I don't know specifically if AUS-8 performs similarly (I have read many favorable opinions of AUS-8, in that regard).

At any rate, I had exactly the same thought regarding the steel quality, after re-visiting it yesterday. Almost verbatim, in fact.

 

[rprocter]

David, thanks for your post above. I really appreciate your experience based posts on various knives and the steels and learn something from nearly every post you make.
I've just ordered the 2012 Texas Ranger, same steel and manufacturer as the previous 4 issues. The price is up a little but it's still an incredibly good deal for this very top level of design and workmanship.

roland

 

[LX_Emergency]

I think they look awesome. My only regret is that I didn't get the 2008 and 2009 versions. I'll be picking my 2012 up sometime next week. I've got a trip to Arkansas coming up

 

[rprocter]

Here it is:

Again, it's a BIG knife. 5" is 1/4" shorter than most Folding Hunters, but the width of both handle and blade is much greater. The thickness is similar to a standard single blade FH despite the beefy 3/16" spring.

Here it is with a 4 1/8" Trapper for a comparison of 'beefiness':

It comes with a sturdy snug fitting black leather sheath, again show with the Trapper for a size perspective:

Now i have all 5 of the Texas Ranger "Big Bad Boys".

roland

 

[Seals]

Its massive and great looking.But isnt the nail nick useless so far back?

 

[A. G. Russell]

Its massive and great looking.But isnt the nail nick useless so far back?

Really, what you are looking at are thumb notches. These are intended for putting the tip of your thumb into and swinging open the knife like you would a k93 or any other one hand knife.

 

[rprocter]

Yes, to what AGR says and add that there is a thumb notch on both sides of the blade so 'lefties' are covered too.
My hands are not large and have osteoarthritis causing a greater than 50% reduction in range of movement, but i can still easily put my thumb into this 'nick' and open the blade one-handed.
Thank you Mr. Russell for making it easy for the 'old guys'.
roland

 

[Seals]

OK,I see,It takes the place of a thumb stud.Nice A.G.! Im sold!

 

[LX_Emergency]

Got mine last week.it's my third Texas ranger so far. It's awesome as usual. Pics to follow. Maybe we should start a new thread though?

 

[LX_Emergency]

So, some pictures:

Also....I'm really excited about next years Texas Ranger already. I was in the priviliged position of visiting Mr. Russell and his facilities last week and I got to see the plans for the 2013 version. I'm not telling but it's looking to be awesome!

 

[rprocter]

Great pictures LX.
You asked if a new thread should be started. It's up to you. I like having all 5 of the AGR big Texas Ranger folders in one thread for future reference purposes.
roland