Went to A.G. Russell's Today -ATS 34 FeatherLite

S

scrimmer

Joined
Dec 22, 2004
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I live in the town where A.G.'s shop is located. Had a little Christmas money to spend and I wanted a good knife to carry and use. I chose the A.G. Russell FeatherLite ATS 34 drop point. I love it! I open it, I close it, I open it, I close it. Very nice knife and razor sharp! I also got an A.G. Russel Lockback ATS34 with a bone handle to scrim and sell. Also super nice!
scrimmer
www.thescrimshawartist.com
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I've got the "utility" blade shape that's almost a wharncliff in ATS34. A very impressive blade for the money. Perhaps not as robust as a mini grip but close competition as a knife overall.

Phil
 
I have one of those FeatherLite knives too, as well as the metal factory-made One-Hand Knife, and one of the hand-finished One Hand Knives. There was a recent review on a forum (bladeforums, or some other) with test results comparing the ATS-34 FeatherLite to the less expensive model. Both did well, but the ATS-34 was outstanding.

I haven't handled the Russell Lockback that you also bought, but I have one of the model 340 lockbacks that I bought as a second. It's a great knife too.

For a while I lived in Blue Springs Village east of Springdale on Beaver Lake, that was very close to the old store. It seemed I had first dibs on anything in the Cutting Edge resale catalog (no longer published), even though the mailings were staggered to level the playing field. Plus I could visit the shop and see all of the knives in person. Unfortunately at Arkansas wages I couldn't afford many knives back then.

Best Wishes,
Bob
 
Great Choices.
I have the featherlite in AUS-8 and it has been a great knife. Much tougher than I expected. It is the knife I currently carry in my uniform pocket at the firehouse. The ATS-34 blade should really be good.

I have the smaller lockback (ATS-34) with the quince wood handle. One of my favorite edc knives.
 
Here's a dumb question....

What's the locking mechanism on the FeatherLites? I can't make it out in any of the pictures, and the description on AG Russell's website doesn't describe one. Does it even lock? I love the design, love the steel, and LOVE the price, but if it doesn't lock, my interest will fall significantly.
 
It does lock. I don't know what you actually call the locking system but you push straight up on the button at the top. It lifts the spring up out of the notch. It was a little hard to get the hang of at first but I got it now and can open and close it one handed.
scrimmer
 
Maybe I can describe. In the picture there's a black plastic piece on the backspring. When the knife opens, there's a notch in the back of the blade and a piece of the backspring slips into the notch. The black plastic piece is used to pull the piece out of the notch and unlock the blade.

It's the same design as the other OneHand Knives.

-Bob
 
Maker Pat Crawford used a similar locking mechanism in his "T- lock" folder models many years back. A nice companion to AGs one handed folder would be his series of molded handle fix blades- the Deer Hunter and Bird and Trout. Both are lightweight, ground thin to sharpen up easily and priced right.

I hear there' s some good fishing to be done over at Beaver Lake. Drove right up this past February while visiting my good friend Bob Dozier. Perhaps on my next trip back, I' ll find time to cast a line.

N2
 
Yep. In pictures I've seen, the Pat Crawford customs and the original AG Russell One-Hand-Knife are nearly identical. The backspring, lock, and handle of the real One-Hand Knife and the Crawford are cut from a single piece of steel. Very cool.

I never had much luck fishing in Arkansas' large lakes or rivers. Farm ponds were always better.

Best Wishes,
-Bob
 
Where can I find the Deer Hunter and Bird and Trout knives? I looked at his web site but couldn't locate them.

The best fishing I've done at Beaver lake has been below the dam in the White River. Some real good trout fishing there.

Scrimmer
 
Using the drop down menu at AG's site, you can find them here:

Knives > By Maker > A through D > AG Russell > Straight knives

Best Luck,
Bob
 
At $50 for the ATS 34 version , I probably paid too much given I could have had a mini-Grip for the same money. That said, the Featherlite is an outstanding value. The AUS8 versions used to sell at $35 which is a good price. No liner. But the lockback release allows one handed open and close, something rare for a lockback. It's profile is slender. It disappears in your pocket. And at 1 1/2 ounces, it really is featherlite. While the zytel handle isn't as strong as it's aluminum handled counterpart, there is little in the way of blade play when you hold the handle firmly and gently pull the blade from side to side. Downsides: no clip, no liners. Upside: blade holds it edge very well, very easy to carry, easy one hand open and close. slim profile.

Kref
 
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