What the heck AG Russell?!

I should really be grown up enough to let this be, but hell in my business 3/5 would leave an unacceptable body count and have my ass before the state medical board so fast you couldn't say AG Russell.

Even though Mr. Russell chastises Gary McFadden from Al Mar he certainly still does do business with the man since the current catalog lists 2 Al Mar knives. Gary is the same individual who tries to convince folks that the surplus Al Mar knives that pre-date his ownership of the company that are sold from Japan and Europe are "counterfeit."

My "exclusive" Black Pearl Spyderco Kiwi was no doubt produced by Santa Fe Stone Works since it really is identical to the one AGR has sold.

Mr. Russell rather adeptly skirted the issue on the kitchen knives. Are they KAI/Kershaw remarques or not? It's not just the same steel, it's the same knife with a "white corian like handle". Well are they or not?

I also forgot that the AG Russell Abalone interframe lockback sure resembles a Hiro abalone lockback I've come across more than once, but hey who's counting?

How could I forget the "exclusive" AG Russell nail nipper now what a crock of AG Russell exclusive manure that one is!!:rolleyes: I'm not sure how many companies produce an identical nail clipper, Seki Edge, Zwilling, or maybe this fine example:

http://www.cosmeticmall.com/froogle/default.aspx?product_id=25593

Maybe we could try the "exclusive Paul Perfecto in Gold Lip Pearl"

http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=LWLM21700

Sorry there, my BAD...these have goldlip AND damascus for $50 more than the AGR price. Guess you don't have a goldlip pearl handle exclusive there huh? Maybe a plain steel and goldlip pearl exclusive, but certainly not a goldlip pearl exclusive.

So Mr. Russell, tell me about your next exclusive? :yawn:
 
It is most certainly not :jerkit: :jerkit:

It is a guy who seems to have some solid information, sharing it with the group at large.

He is not condemning AG, he is not calling him a crook, and he is not saying he does not offer a service of quality.

He is pointing out specific areas of "shadow", and bringing them to light.

How in the blazes is this :jerkit: :jerkit: worthy?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Cause it is Steven!!

It's sour grapes, and far more :jerkit: than substance of value.

Like my Momma always said: If you act like a:jerkit: don't expect much for Christmas beyond a handful of a semen...................................

Anyway, it's:jerkit: :jerkit: :jerkit:


...............................:p
 
wolfmann601 said:
Like my Momma always said: If you act like a:jerkit: don't expect much for Christmas beyond a handful of a semen...................................
Click to expand...

Well, I must admit, your mother is much more direct than mine.

Mine just called (and still calls) me an a**hole.:p

I'm not seeing sour grapes. Lots of us have had dealings with AG over the years, I have, and have really enjoyed them.

But A.G. does not walk on water, and marcangel's points do not seem like sour grapes to me. They just seem like a different side of the coin, and seem valid, and valuable.

I guess we just won't agree on this, but we usually agree more than we disagree.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I'd like to tell all of the whiners that you are nothing but whiners, so quit whining. Thank you for listening. This has been a public service announcement, so heed it.
 
marcangel said:
How could I forget the "exclusive" AG Russell nail nipper now what a crock of AG Russell exclusive manure that one is!!:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
I don't believe these were marketed as an exclusive. Anyway I think your point has been made and before anybody gets an ulcer, lets all wish each other a happy holiday (whatever denomination or atheist) and move on. :)
 
Torz, yeah they are marketed that way, it is verbatim from the catalog. Anyway, enough, I've said my piece. Happy holidays to all (even you Wolfie :p)and let's move on. I said from the very beginning that I would never try and take away from what AGR has done for the industry and collectors.
 
marcangel, If you are right, well then you are right and its ok to say so.

However, you do have a history it seems of shooting your mouth off and when the heat gets a bit much you cut and run.

http://knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/248221/post/248636/hl/+marcangel/#248636

In the thread listed on Knifeforums you flat out accused Tim Herman of stealing your idea for some artwork on a knife. When it was shown that the artwork was in the works before Tim ever knew of you, you ducked for cover and just ignored the thread.

If you think you are right you shout it loudly, when shown to be wrong you clam up...no apologies or anything. Old news? Maybe, but your last accusations were wrong and you never corrected yourself.

Would you care to apologize to Tim now or just shift your accusations to AG.
 
marcangel said:
My "exclusive" Black Pearl Spyderco Kiwi was no doubt produced by Santa Fe Stone Works since it really is identical to the one AGR has sold.
Click to expand...
Can't really check out any of your other claims marcangel, but this one is totally wrong. Identical? Maybe from twenty feet away in bad light, looking at the right side only.

I'm a nut when it comes to Kiwis. Have well over a dozen. Can tell you that AG Russell Kiwis have brushed finish bolsters, like the standard Spyderco jigged bone ones, and un-adorned pearl scales. SFSW Kiwis all have mirror polished bolsters and the "stock" ones they normally sell directly and through dealers like NGK have a palladium silver Spyderco "bug" inlaid into the left scale. Yes, they do make white and black pearl. Am sure you can special order a pearl one without the "bug", have done it with other materials. But it would still normally be mirror polished. Have never asked them if they'd leave the bolsters brush finished, but even if they would, the fact that they were able to duplicate the features of that knife does not make it "the same".

Lastly, all SFSW modified knives are warranteed by SFSW, and are shipped in little tan SFSW boxes. The AGR Kiwi are covered by the normal Spyderco warranty and comes in a Spyderco box.
 
i have had good experiences with the ag russell for the past 15 years or so, they were courteous and prompt.

alex
 
I have many High Carbon Steel Bowies.I have one Stainless Bowie.I got it from A.G.Russell. :thumbup:
 
marcangel said:
I should really be grown up enough to let this be, but hell in my business 3/5 would leave an unacceptable body count and have my ass before the state medical board so fast you couldn't say AG Russell.

Even though Mr. Russell chastises Gary McFadden from Al Mar he certainly still does do business with the man since the current catalog lists 2 Al Mar knives. Gary is the same individual who tries to convince folks that the surplus Al Mar knives that pre-date his ownership of the company that are sold from Japan and Europe are "counterfeit."

My "exclusive" Black Pearl Spyderco Kiwi was no doubt produced by Santa Fe Stone Works since it really is identical to the one AGR has sold.

Mr. Russell rather adeptly skirted the issue on the kitchen knives. Are they KAI/Kershaw remarques or not? It's not just the same steel, it's the same knife with a "white corian like handle". Well are they or not?

I also forgot that the AG Russell Abalone interframe lockback sure resembles a Hiro abalone lockback I've come across more than once, but hey who's counting?

How could I forget the "exclusive" AG Russell nail nipper now what a crock of AG Russell exclusive manure that one is!!:rolleyes: I'm not sure how many companies produce an identical nail clipper, Seki Edge, Zwilling, or maybe this fine example:

http://www.cosmeticmall.com/froogle/default.aspx?product_id=25593

Maybe we could try the "exclusive Paul Perfecto in Gold Lip Pearl"

http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=LWLM21700

Sorry there, my BAD...these have goldlip AND damascus for $50 more than the AGR price. Guess you don't have a goldlip pearl handle exclusive there huh? Maybe a plain steel and goldlip pearl exclusive, but certainly not a goldlip pearl exclusive.

So Mr. Russell, tell me about your next exclusive? :yawn:
Click to expand...


This messsage is direct from Lone Wolf Knives in hopes of straightening out AG's credability with "exclusives". AG Russell did have an exclusive with Lone Wolf Knives for the gold lip pearl onlays on the Paul Perfecto knife. We made AG's Paul Perfecto (Gold Lip) knives in th early Spring and had planned to follow up with a Damascus verion in the Fall. The Damascus blade knives were finished in October and on the shelf. Unfortunately, through a mis-communication at Lone Wolf, the knives were offerd to Lone Wolf dealers and shipped in early November. Needless to say, when AG found out Lone Wolf had shipped his knives to other people he was not a happy camper! There is at least one top managemnt person at Lone Wolf with most of his butt chewed away and another with a boot protruding from his lower regions. While Lone Wolf regrets the shipping error, more importantly, Lone Wolf let AG Russell down and caused his reputation to be slightly tarnished by no fault of his own! AG has been around for a long time, has one of the best customer policies around and doesn't deserve the hit on this "exclusive" issue!
 
Obviously mistakes happen on both sides of the fence. I was unaware of the whole Kiwi issue and how many black pearl versions have been produced. I apologize to Mr. Russell for my mistakes. However, there clearly are some legitimate issues regarding the use of the term exclusive, by AGR's own admission. I have offered AG my contact information so we could clear the air like big boys. As for apologizing to Tim Herman, the answer is when HELL FREEZES OVER! Tim isn't the only knifemaker to produce a knife that was the idea of a customer. I must admit the sliver is HIS design, modifications to make it into a figural of a marlin was my idea.

The price quoted was over $10,000, which was well out of my price range. The problem I have with Tim was not so much that he built and engraved the knife, but the fact that he said it was his "most inspired work".

Actually, I did order an all stainless interframe version of the Osborne T-hawk that is being engraved as we speak. Not quite as "marlin like" as a sliver, but much more affordable. So, even though I'll never apologize to Tim (it really should go the other way), I can thank him for inspiring ME to work with other makers and engravers.

Now for the last time, Happy Holidays to all.
 
Well it looks like Dr. Markangel knows how I feel. he trashs me for days and then sends me his name and phone number and wants to talk.

I would not have known about the goldlip except for him so thanks for that.

Talk to him? I quote the good Dr. from his talk about Tim. "when HELL FREEZES OVER"

I cannot control anyone sending a knife or a quanity of knives to someone like Santa Fe Stoneworks. Since the price of their work is higher than the knives they copy I do not see why anyone would object.

For 40 years I have tried to deal in a fair and strightforward manner with over 1,000,000 orders. We are filling about 150,000 a year and ordering 10s of thousands of knives every year. Mistakes happen and we do our best to make them right. about once every two years I run into someone like Dr C or Joel Rosenberg who doen't want anything corrected all they want is do as much damage to our business as they possibly can. I feel sorry for them, but, once I find that I cannot help them I no longer want to talk to them.

God bless everyone here, even the good Dr. and a Merry Christmas to all.

A. G.
 
I really cannot find any fault here.......as AG Russell has one of THE BEST return or exchange policy I've ever come across........

And yes, I have tried this "policy".........as I'm extremely fussy
 
AG - my original comments stand - thanks for turning me on to one-hand knives and for having some of the best service and best selections in your business.

Marcangel, I've no idea how long your obsession with knives has been - mine started long before an internet, long before the discount houses like Smokey Mountain were sending cut-rate fly-bills to my home and long before I was capable of appreciating knives like Doziers and Blackjacks, never mine the exotica I tend to carry these days as daily drivers.

AG Russell makes knives like Bill Morans or SR Johnsons available to the general public without the benefit of the internet. I dunno about you, but after reading about Bill Moran and his ST-23 when I was a senior in college I fell in love. Well, love like you get for Cindy Crawford - you can;t have her and can't afford her, but wow, what a memory she left on us all. I could never fathom knife made by man of his age, a 25-year wait list and the price tag to match as being mine.

I do recall the story I read, and I cannot recall if this was in Blade Magazine of Fighting Knives, the story opened my eyes to the prospect of a knife like that being taken to Vietnam and carried and used in the field by a special forces soldier. It was related in the story that the pictured knife was the second-largest ST-23 ever built.

About 18 months ago, AG offered a pair of ST-23 for sale in the cutting edge. I still have the photos and still relish them every time I open them up. Maybe you saw them - the ebony hilt and sheath inlaid with ivory and silver wire made my wife swoon and she really doesn't get it about knives all that much. I'm sorry the Cutting Edge does not do a mailer every six weeks any more, those were outstanding influences on my young self and made a hell of an impression on me as a young lad still in high school.

I guess maybe you can find an ST-23 for sale every day. I can't. Maybe in a couple years I might even convince myself to break another HUGE barrier, the five-figure barrier and buck up for one, assuming I can find one. I am certain of one thing - if that time comes, AG Russell is one of the guys I will approach in that search.
 
Well, the good Doctor seems to have more of an interest in trying to wreck peoples business than he does in actual knives. Perhaps he has some behavioral issues.

Doc, I hope you practice medicine better than you do manners.
 
Whenever anyone says, no matter who, "exclusive", "limited time only", "limited availability", "Sure to be a collector", etc. I personally take that with a huge grain of salt.

marcangel has legitimate concerns IMO.
 
AG, you realize of course that after 1,000,000+ sales, that you cannot control people's response to the items they receive, or the manners of the person to whom you ship.

All I can say is THANK YOU for having the best customer service I've ever come across. No one is perfect, but I'll take my chances with you and your company any time.

whitie
 
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