Knife of the week AG Russell Dealer Special!!!
Sorry Folks I goofed up! I do not know the history of the knife butt I do have the numbers of production!

(qty 100) RA-AG
- 4" blade, stag handle - yes all serial numbered. First Order 1-96 Last Order 1-04

(qty 250) RA-AGL
- 4" blade, Leather handle - yes all serial numbered. First Order 3-97 Last Order 6-02

(qty 35) RA-AGMB
- 4" blade, Maple Burl handle - yes all serial numbered. First Order 4-98 Last Order 4-02

(qty 525) RA-AGS4
- 4" blade, Stag handle, compass in butt - yes all serial numbered. First Order 1-96 Last Order 4-05

(qty 225) RA-AGS5
- 5" blade, Stag handle, brass butt plate - yes all serial numbered. First Order 10-98 Last Order 2-02

(qty 99) RA-AGDI5
- 5 "blade, Desert Ironwood handle - yes all serial numbered. First Order 2-07 Last Order 7-07

(qty 56) RA-AGDI42
- 4 1/2"blade, Desert Ironwood handle - yes all serial numbered. First Order 4-07 Last Order 7-07 (still taking orders)

The 4" and 5" are done, their will be no more.

Ladies and Gentlemen: could we please see some A.G Russell’s!

Jesse, here are our two - large and small...

Here's my 4.5 Desert Ironwood #36.
Every time I hold it I want to take it out in the woods,
but I just can't bring myself to do it!
Tony

Jesse, here's an AG Russell Special in Maple Burl. This Maple Burl is absolutely stunning, wish I had bought another one! By the way, Jesse, I didn't see this one on your list. The picture is not the greatest, made with older camera but quickly available. It is a 25-5 that I received in Dec 1998. I think this one has the brown stitch sheath. Note the spacers. I have two other 5" AG Stag Hunters SNs 101 and 102. All of AG's specials are very well done. AG has always favored the tool/carbon steel hunter models. Bill J.

Hi Bill,
The various models of RMK's that are sold through AG Russell (because AG is an authorized RMK dealer) are their respective models. Example would be your model 25. It is a RMK model 25, but not an AG special. What Jesse is referring to is the "dealer special" model. It is my understanding that after an authorized Randall dealer has met specifics... been a dealer for so long, and sold so many knives (not certain as to the exact requirements as I never actually asked but I know this is close), then they get their own "dealer design". As you know, Wayne Buxton has the BF design as I saw some photos you posted earlier. That knife is not available through the shop or any other RMK dealer as it is his dealer model. As is the Rick Bowles Special, Doug K.'s "Squatch", Tom Clinton's, as so on. The AG dealer special is the knife that has a blade design similar to the model 11 with a longer "swoop" (for lack of a better word) on the back side of the blade than you would see on "catalog" model 11's. They were made with various handle material, and blade lengths, as stated in the info Jesse posted above. The most recent were the ironwood handles with 5" and then 4 1/2" blade lengths.

Hope this helps...
~dale

P.S. That is a very beautiful knife you have there by the way. AND the brown stitch sheath makes it very unique too.
~dale

Here's a pic of the sheath stamping for the AG Russell Special.
~dale

Quote:

---

I have two other 5" AG Stag Hunters SNs 101 and 102.
Bill J.

---

Sounds like you have two of the "dealer specials" in your collection.

Here's some interesting info that some may already know... It is my understanding, after talking to GTR about the serial #'s on the AG specials, that the Randall shop did not # these. This was something done by AG Russell after they received the knives. The Randall shop always #'s the knives on the right side of the blade, and these specials were #'s on the top edge.
~dale

Dale, you're right, of course. I got in a hurry, the 25-5 Maple Burl was an AG Russell "Exclusive" not dealer special. I think it was limited to 200. I did not know that AG added the serial numbers on the Stag 5" AG Dealer Specials. They are on the top edge of the blade as you noted. What about other dealer specials like Buxtons, are they numbered at RMK or later? If so, why didn't the RMK shop number AG's dealer specials? Thanks, Bill.

Bill,
I am pretty sure the shop etches the others as they are all done on the right side of the blade like normal. As to why the AG Specials were #'d that way... I have no idea, that's just what Gary told me. I guess in hind sight I could have asked him why but didn't think of it when it was mentioned. Scott may see this (if the water isn't too dirty and he's wearing his goggles ) and may shed some light. Perhaps AG just wanted something different from the norm, who knows?
~dale

They never asked.

---DW---