Customer Testimonials
Rating: 10/10. I merely wanted to give you an "ataboy". After reading your Email, I thought you might one. I have dealt with AGRussell for many years and have always been satisfied. Just keep up the good work and ignore the trolls.
Carr B. Ishpeming, MI
I read in the most recent email news letter that there was a public comment regarding your customer service. I just want to tell you that this sounds like a troll at work. From my perspective your customer service and support has always been first rate. I have always recommended AG Russell to any of my friends when they have an interest in knives and related subjects. Keep up the good work.
Randall A. Farmington Hills, MI
A.G. Russell Serpentine Stockman with Stag Handles - This is one beautiful knife with impeccable fit and finish. I had a conventional Stockman that I carried in my youth, but somewhere along the way I lost it. Since then, I haven’t had much to do with slipjoint knives because I have brittle fingernails. But in old age I have come to value in my knives tradition and natural handle materials, and what could be more traditional than a Stockman with stag handle scales? I recently came to appreciate A.G. Russell’s twists on traditional knife designs that make them more interesting and useful, particularly his Lockback designs that open so smoothly and easily. So, I decided to take a chance on his Serpentine Stockman, and i’m glad I did. Even though it’s a slipjoint, it opens so smoothly and easily that it doesn’t break my nails. It is a most gratifying knife in that it’s serpentine shape makes it both visually and tactilely fascinating. It is truly eye catching with the clip joint blade open and its beautiful stag handle scales. Also, with this blade open, give your forefinger a treat by taking a tactile tour of the spine of the handle and clip point blade. Run your forefinger from the rear bolster along the spine of the knife to the tip of the blade with your eyes shut. The serpentine contours coupled with the smoothness of the surfaces give a wonderful tactile experience. If you have been looking for a Stockman, this is the one. I would note that this was originally offered in three handle materials and now only stag is available. It is my surmise that before long, it will be too late to get one because when you go looking for it, you will find the dreaded notation “Sold Out-Discontined.”
Robert D. Milford, CT
Changes: The expose tails of the two blades not in useable exposed and are very sharp. Perhaps you could employ a bolster at each end of the handle like the front bolster on you Vest Pocket Semi-Skinner that hides the knife tails. Perhaps you could call it the Swollen Bolster Serpentine Stockman. It would certainly make this knife absolutely unique.
Rating: 10/10
The A.G. Russell Woodswalker is possibly the greatest value among all A.G. Russell knives. I purchased 8 of these knives when I got married in 2004 for use as steak knives, and I bought another six for use as steak knives in my Airstream trailer in 2001. I vaguely recall paying $8.95 per knife back then. These knives have given great and frequent service since then. Eating a steak or chop should be like doing surgery where the flesh parts at the touch of the blade. One of my pet peeves has long been that most restaurants give you dull serrated "saws" with which to cut your meat. I vowed I would never do that to my dinner guests and my Woodwalkers have enabled me to keep that vow. It takes a good edge, and the Loveless semi-skinner blade shape provides a tip fine enough for removing all the meat from the bone of a loin lamb chop while providing enough belly to deal with a 22 ounce dry aged porterhouse steak. While the blade is relatively short, it has a long enough full tang handle to give complete and comfortable control of the blade. Dinner guests frequently comment on how much they, like these knives. Because many of my friends do not really understand knives, when cutting, they often and unnecessarily grind the blade against the plate. Since ceramic plates are harder than any blade steel, the knives have had to undergo frequent sharpening, which is easy. I am submitting this review at this late date because now, between retirement an Covid, I have had time to ponder my knife collection and recognize the standouts among my knives. This is one of them, despite the fact that it was the least expensive of my more than 80 knives. As a society we are too quick to criticize and too slow to praise. For my part, now that I have the time, I like to do what I can to change that. I have been dealing with A.G. Russell for at least 30 years and during that time they have done a lot of things right. The Woodswalker is just one of them. Rating: 10/10
Robert D. Milford, CT
The A.G. Russell Medium Barlow Lockback is yet another example of A.G. Russell taking a classic knife design and improving upon it. This is my first Barlow knife because Barlows are traditionally slipjoints, and I have brittle fingernails with which slipjoints do not generally agree. Because it is a lockback that does not require a stiff spring to keep the knife open, this knife opens easily with no broken fingernails. The mechanism is extremely smooth and locks up very solidly. The Zulu Spearpoint blade is a very useful shape suited to a wide range of tasks, and is visually more interesting than traditional blade shapes on Barlow knives. When open it flows into the traditional Barlow handle complimenting it. When closed, the elongated nail pull and downward swooping swedge of the forward part of the blade give the impression of the head of a bird of prey peering over the knife handle. The addition of the deep pocket clip which Russell has perfectly integrated into the traditional Barlow design further increases the utility of this knife. There is no gainsaying the usefulness of a good pocket clip, so long as it does not detract from the appearance and handling of the knife, which this one does not. If fact, the clip actually compliments the appearance of the knife when viewed from the Reverise side when closed because the clip is visually balanced by the long bolster at the opposite end of the handle. This clip presents a further benefit to me in that I like to carry my clip pocket knives clipped between the buttons on my shirt over the breastbone. I do this for several reasons: I have lost a least a couple of clip knives that popped out of my pants pocket while climbing in and out of my truck; the knife is readily accessible while sitting; it avoids having the knives marred by car keys or detritus in the pockets; and, the knife is much less obtrusive when carried this way, as most people know that a clip showing on a pants pocket means a knife inside the pocket. This is not so with this knife when carried clipped to a shirt, as the deep pocket clip is designed such that the knife itself is not visible when inserted into clothing, and the clip is so stylish and well finished that it can pass for the clip on a pen. Further the clip has a lip open enough to slide over thick chamois shirts and yet it holds firmly to the thinnest dress shirt. Perhaps I should explain that one of the purposes of my knives is to partially fulfill the need for art in my life. For this reason, I am a believer in “the knife du jour.” I have many different knives that I like to carry so that they each get the opportunity to be admired and the virtues of their designs, choice of materials and Craftsmanship pondered over a cup of coffee with buddies at Starbucks (back in the pre-Covid era). Knives are a quintessential tool and, as such, a good knife should be a Work of Art that Works. That certainly describes this knife and A.G. Russell designs, generally. It is simultaneously utilitarian and elegant: utilitarian in its functionality yet elegant in its design. It is a remarkable value at this price and I believe it is destined to become one of my most often carried knives. Rating: 10/10
Robert D. Milford, CT
A.G. Russell Vest Pocket Semi-Skinner - This knife is a jewel! It is flawless in both its design and execution. While this is a small knife at a closed length of 3 1/8 inches and a weight of only 2 1/2 ounces, it is a LOT of knife in a little package. The blade is quite stout and locks up very solidly. The semi-skinner blade shape is one of my favorites. This blade is deep enough that it provide a belly for skinning across its entire cutting edge, yet it has a point fine enough for digging splinters out of your hand. There are not many tasks that you could reasonably expect a pocket knife to perform that this knife cannot do, and it can do them with aplomb. The knife opens and closes with silky smoothness. This is my first knife with a carbon fiber handle and my first with CPM S35VN blade steel, and neither material disappoints. It is rare that any knife as received does not require some sharpening or at least stropping to achieve its best edge, but this knife took the hair off my arm in one pass right out of the box. The carbon fiber handles are visually fascinating and provide an optical illusion of depth that changes with changes in ambient light. This knife is yet another example of an A.G. Russell knife made in China that I do not believe could have been made better anywhere in the world. Russell's catalog says that Mr. Russell completed the design of this knife shortly befor he passed. He could hardly have left the followers of his knife designs a better parting gift than this knife. It is a suitable tribute to his memory. Having known Mr. Russell only through his knives, had I been asked to write a one sentence epitaph for him, it would have been "He had a great eye for knife design and he will be sorely missed." Rating 10/10.
Robert D. Milford, CT
A.G. Russell Gentlemen’s Pen Knife - Build quality and fit and finish WAY better than anything I’ve seen from Case in recent years. Snap and walk and talk is great. Very well engineered. Stag is ok....one scale is flat with a bit of color. The other is convex and smooth, almost like whale bone. Happy to have snagged two copies! This knife would be beautiful in stabilized blue oak! Rating: 9/10
Robert G. Township of Washington , NJ
A.G. Russell Wharncliffe Lockback AGLB-CW13S - This is a beautiful knife design perfectly executed. The smoothness of the mechanism and the fit and finish are amazing, especially at this price. It is equally at home cutting a piece of line, whacking off a chunk of Jarlsburg cheese or slicing a pear at lunch. While this knife is made in China, I don't know what about this knife could have been nicer had it been made in a custom shop here in the U.S. I particularly like the Wharncliffe blade shape and how easily the knife opens with one hand without any annoyingly protruding thumb studs or holes in the blade. I would like to see this feature incorporated in more of your lockback designs. It saddens me that Mr. Russell has passed and is no longer able to give us such brilliant knife designs. Rating: 10/10
Robert D. Milford, CT
Razorlite EDC - I would rather the pocket clip be the other direction. Not point up when you insert it into your pocket. It actually cut my palm when it opened up when i was putting my hand in my pocket. Any other pocket knife has the point facing down when clipped into your pocket. Changes: Put pocket clip on other end of knife. Rating: 1/10
Robert M. EVANSVILLE, WY
Received my order - Beck Dropoint Knife. Beautiful knife (and sheath). Customer service, packaging/presentation - all first class. My compliments! Have a great holiday season! Tks/Mike
Michael R Pittsburgh, PA
AG Russell Safety Axe - The edge of this hatchet had a pronounced "edge", and a nick. It took a fair amount of work with a "stone" to clean it up.
Carl B. Gold Creek, MT
I had a previous hatchet from you that was made in Germany and it was sharpened correctly. You should "talk" to Taiwan and your people about the quality control of their/your products.
PS: I do appreciate your customer service. Changes:
Improve quality control of products made in Taiwan. Improve the inspection of products received from Taiwan.
Maybe go back to Germany ?
Rating: 8/10
I am here to talk about AG Russell, his own self. I first started buying knives from AG back in the early 1980s. Of course, everything back then was done mail order or over the telephone. I still have and cherish a couple Sting variants, a One Hand knife from the first run, and an assortment of sheath knives from those days. I've bought more than a few other knives from him since then, of course. I never have met AG face to face, but I talked on the phone with him several times and exchanged a couple emails. My takeaway point, and yours, is that he is a cordial gentleman who never puts his name on junk.
Joseph D. Beaver Falls, PA
I am a bit of a knife enthusiast. I have to say that this A.G. Russell Gunstock Lockback with Cocobolo Handles is one of the best knives I have ever purchased. The action is clean and smooth. The size and overall fit and finish is outstanding. The knife is super clean inside and out. This is one I will I pass down to one of my kids. Worth every penny! Rating: 10/10.
Jeffrey Lanz Eugene, OR
Dear President of A.G. Russell Company,
Martin M. Jacksonville, FL
I have been collecting knives for almost 60 years. I do not normally hunt down a way to get out my extraordinary World Class overall rare experience from a purchase or numerous purchases from anyone I do business with. This memo is the result of my latest purchase this past week and how consistently fantastic from ordering to package receipt your company has earned my highest personal rating ever.
Your company is so buttoned up in EVERY AREA that allows this highest rating to be possible. Please know I will be doing as much business possible going forward with the A.G. Russell Company - in all areas of product offerings - from New Knives - Knife Accessories - Russell’s for Men Catalogue Products & Cutting Edge Collector Knives.
I want to close by stating - PLEASE CONTINUE DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN EVERY AREA FROM START (Order) to Finish (Product Receipt) & your Catalogues for Men (which is for Men & Women - because my wife grabs your catalogues before me for perusing & ordering ideas) and the Catalogue for Cutting Edge Knives. Bottom line, I hope this memo
accomplished what I intended it for - to pass on GOOD NEWS - “That Good Thoughts - Good Actions Always Produces Extraordinary Results!” — and I really hope other potential customers will give A.G. Russell a chance to experience the “Very Best” of what other companies just cannot execute.
Best Regards,
Martin M.
I think the quality is great for the price but the design of the knife falls short of the mark! the handle length is not suitable at ALL for a med- large hand. therefore looks great sitting on my bookcase shelve but I would say it wont get used much. Should it get redesigned let me know and maybeI would give it another shot since the service seems to be good! Rating: 5/10
Kevin B. MANITOU SPRINGS, CO
Just wanted to thank you for your quick response to my return - that's good service - Denny
Denny K. Topeka, KS
Rating: 10/10.
Boker Arbolito Small Stag Handled Bowie--BO-A291S - I like everything about this knife except the blade is 6-1/2" and the handle is 3-3/4". The specs say 6" blade and 4-1/2" handle, which would have been perfect given the re-drawing of the knife. The knife is perfect for a small hand (ladies) but not for medium to large size hands. I would make sure knives sent out were to spec. In this case the handle is too short for the average hand. Fair price for this knife, as it currently stands, is $125 @ best not the $175 that was paid. As stated in another review of this knife if this not the standard I will gladly send back for a replacement. Rating: 4/10
Jerome C. Oneida, TN
I received my replacement leather sheath yesterday. It was the exact color that I wanted.
Al C. Golden Valley, AZ
Thank you for the rapid response and your friendly customer service.
-Al
AGR Featherlite one hand knife VG-10 General Purpose Imperfect/Seconds - Time is valuable. I'm spending too much of my time trying to figure out what is wrong with this "imperfect" knife. Writing may help in getting me to stop looking at it. I cannot find anything wrong with it. Rating: 10/10.
Joseph B. Suffolk, VA
The FeatherLite K-93C10 is VERY impressive to me, and I have owned hundreds of knives. The heat treat on the VG-10 is very good and the factory edge is the very best I have ever seen on a production knife. I see why it is called the featherlite. It is so very, very light. It is delightfully thin and slices very well. I dare say it is better than a similar knife that people have been bugging out about over the past few years. I am now a believer in the AG Russell brand. Rating: 10/10.
Freddie P. Dawsonville, GA