A.G. Russell Knives

In 1865, C. R. Bertram founded a small cutlery firm in Solingen, Germany that was fated to become for a brief period, the maker of the very finest pocketknives in the world. Herr Bertram set out to make the very best pocketknives. Because he raised (as a hobby) fancy chickens he used as a trade mark a Hen and Rooster. In time the small firm was passed on to the sons and then to the grandsons. In 1975 I bought the company and formed the firm of Bertram G. M. B. H. Using workers who had been with the firm for generations we kept the little company together for five years. Keeping a truly handmade knife company together while the German Mark multiplied itself by more than double was more than I could manage. Against my wishes, the little firm was put into bankruptcy and the name and trademark were purchased by the firm of Robert Klaas who has made knives marked with the Hen & Rooster Trademark and the words Bertram Cut. Co. since late 1980 or early 1981. These have been perfectly fine knives and worth every penny that are charged for them, BUT they are not the same quality as the knives that were made from 1865 to July of 1980. Those knives made before the bankruptcy were among the finest the world has ever known. The fit and finish both inside and out has been rivaled only by the work of a very few firms from about 1880 to sometime around 1930, and by the very top makers of handmade knives today.

We still have some of the knives made before the summer of 1980 and from time to time we offer them in our catalog. 3-1/8" Two Blade Congress with a 1-7/8" sheepfoot blade and a 1-1/2" pen blade, nickel silver liners and bolsters. Weighs 1 oz. Made in Solingen, Germany.

Collectors: Other original Hen & Rooster knives made before the 1980 collapse of the little factory can be found at cuttingedge.com. These are models where quantities are down to one or two pieces.

A.G. Russell™ Hen & Rooster Model 274 - Coral Rucarta™

A.G. Russell™ Hen & Rooster Model 274 - Ivory Rucarta™