All About Pocket Knives

Not a knife, but thought this was an interesting about J.Russell and Green River Works. http://www.mman.us/jrussellco.htm

J. Russell&Co Navy Knife showed up and it's a pretty nice example of a hard to find knife. Tight with no play and bear trap snap, if you get your finger in the way closing you will lose it. Tang stamp is J. Russell&Co Green River Works, from what I can find that tang stamp puts it pre 1895.

Sweet John ... only 2nd Russell rope knife with stag (same stamp) I’ve seen other than mine .. Here’s mine as I don’t think I posted it here ..

Hey John - Think this one is a good candidate for uncovering the etch?? I can see it still exists if you look closely... problem is I don’t trust myself to try it ..

LongBlade wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2020 9:43 pm Sweet John ... only 2nd Russell rope knife with stag (same stamp) I’ve seen other than mine .. Here’s mine as I don’t think I posted it here ..

Hey John - Think this one is a good candidate for uncovering the etch?? I can see it still exists if you look closely... problem is I don’t trust myself to try it ..



187194CA-0ADE-4C69-88F1-F89F44A5F8B7.jpeg

Thanks Lee, nice Russell, they sure used some great stag on these. I bet you could bring some of that etch right back, if you want to be careful start with 2500 grit, pretty much will just get rid of gunk and rust, it will load the paper up, then I clean the blade with Balistol which is mainly mineral oil. Just do a little at a time if you are worried and start on pile side just so you can see how it works before tackling the etch.

Picked up this interesting old Russell barlow, typical well worn, tip needs to be reprofiled, saw cut covers are in nice used condition, good snap and no play. What is interesting is it's a straight line tang stamp that has been overstamped with the later arched tang stamp. Some say that tang stamp was applied when knife was sent in for Russell's refurbish program, however that would usually be a blade replacement which should only have the arched stamp.
I've handled a fair amount of Russell barlows and this is the first I've seen with double stamp. Wonder if this one only received new covers.

At least you know it a legit Russel - I can't see a counterfeiter double-stamping a blade like that.
It does look really nice. I have no information to offer, but your explanation about a factory repair sounds good to me. Any repairs done on that knife were done long ago, so that still counts as a factory original knife in my book!

Smitty: Nice article.
Aside from their famous Barlows, Russel made some fine table cutlery. Here's a Green River stag carving set and 2 of a set of 12 carved pearl dinner knives. Actually 11. One was dropped by a customer at a show and shattered. Oh well! J.O'.

This is my one-and-only Russell Green River knife, a full 9" oal Barlow with spear-point blade cross-cut burnt bone covers and E/O notch! This knife displays super-strong and loud walk n' talk!

15 inch J.RUSSELL & CO. 1834 GREEN RIVER WORKS knife. Nice stag handle.

JKB: That's a beauty. Nice stamp too. J.O'.

One I've been after a long time, over 5 years since I saw the last one in good condition. A Russell straight line curved frame castrating or veterinarians barlow. I just love the curve to the frame. The comparison shot showing it with another Russell of the same vintage clearly shows a little nugget of Russell history, they cranked out a lot of barlows and they would use the bolster stamp until it was worn out, you can see that is these 2 examples.

The curved frame veterinarians knife is exceptional, John, and the other barlow is a real gem too.

I wasn't aware of the veterinarians knife. What a prize.

What Joe said.

FRJ wrote: ↑Thu Nov 10, 2022 11:33 pm The curved frame veterinarians knife is exceptional, John, and the other barlow is a real gem too.

I wasn't aware of the veterinarians knife. What a prize.

Thank you Joe and thank you Cudgee. It took a long time to locate a decent example. Here is an original HSB ad with the knife, fairly pricy for a single blade which is probably why we don't see very many.

Nice Barlow John

Here's a few Russell's for the thread.

Nice HSB ad, John.

A great pile of knives you have there, Dimitri.

I only have a few Russell's. Probably on this thread ....... somewhere.

Thank you Joe

Here are a couple more Russells for this thread.

JohnR wrote: ↑Thu Nov 10, 2022 4:15 pm One I've been after a long time, over 5 years since I saw the last one in good condition. A Russell straight line curved frame castrating or veterinarians barlow. I just love the curve to the frame. The comparison shot showing it with another Russell of the same vintage clearly shows a little nugget of Russell history, they cranked out a lot of barlows and they would use the bolster stamp until it was worn out, you can see that is these 2 examples.

I don't know how I missed this one.
Really cool old Barlow John.
I've never seen one in person.

luckydog64 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 22, 2022 3:21 pm Here are a couple more Russells for this thread.

The first one is a counterfeit.

JohnR wrote: ↑Thu Nov 10, 2022 11:58 pm

FRJ wrote: ↑Thu Nov 10, 2022 11:33 pm The curved frame veterinarians knife is exceptional, John, and the other barlow is a real gem too.

I wasn't aware of the veterinarians knife. What a prize.

Thank you Joe and thank you Cudgee. It took a long time to locate a decent example. Here is an original HSB ad with the knife, fairly pricy for a single blade which is probably why we don't see very many.

Like David above I too missed this post John, but it's better late than never, so, that's a gorgeous Barlow you posted, and again like Joe I wasn't aware of the veterinarians knife, but I sure do like it! I'm trying to figure out though how you consider .27 cents/knife "fairly pricey"? I wonder how much we'd pay for a dozen nowadays?

Thanks Miller Bros. the tang stamps on small blades are pretty bad.

Some great knives being shown here .
That Vets knife is blinking Killer !! Wow John, can I come live with you and figure out Where you keep coming up with great pieces ! Don’t eat much !
Here’s a painter’s palette knife . As Ray has mentioned the pallette knife ( which is what the Artists call them ) is thin like a mechanics feeler gauge.
This one was found in this condition . Some old oil paint has crept into the crevices. Believe it to be bone handled and in good shape .
Could anyone tell us if the stamp on these is the same as there other products? Would like to get a closer idea of age . Whoever did the carving of the Gator did a excellent job .
Take care out there .

Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Thu Dec 22, 2022 7:19 pm

luckydog64 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 22, 2022 3:21 pm Here are a couple more Russells for this thread.

The first one is a counterfeit.

Agreed,looks to be a Utica.

Madmarco wrote: ↑Thu Dec 22, 2022 10:54 pm

JohnR wrote: ↑Thu Nov 10, 2022 11:58 pm

FRJ wrote: ↑Thu Nov 10, 2022 11:33 pm The curved frame veterinarians knife is exceptional, John, and the other barlow is a real gem too.

I wasn't aware of the veterinarians knife. What a prize.

Thank you Joe and thank you Cudgee. It took a long time to locate a decent example. Here is an original HSB ad with the knife, fairly pricy for a single blade which is probably why we don't see very many.

Like David above I too missed this post John, but it's better late than never, so, that's a gorgeous Barlow you posted, and again like Joe I wasn't aware of the veterinarians knife, but I sure do like it! I'm trying to figure out though how you consider .27 cents/knife "fairly pricey"? I wonder how much we'd pay for a dozen nowadays?

Thank you all for the comments, Madmarco the vets barlow was a whole dollar a dozen more that most of the others, outrageous!