All About Pocket Knives

I have been a fan of the A.G. Russell Texas Ranger knives since their introduction. The first three were all cut from the same cloth, as big and tough as the State they represented. These were larger than life knives made for larger than life users. They filled the hand, the blades were stout, they were men's knives and made no apologies about it.

Today my 2011 Texas Ranger Knife arrived and I am not sure what happened. Don't get me wrong, it is a nice knife, well made, same great fit and finish, a unique design with it's willow leave blade and sub hilt bolster...things not commonly found on a toothpick. But it leaves me feeling more Dallas suburbanite than Pecos Texas Ranger. The blade is the thinnest yet and lacks the big nail nick that allows for one hand opening om the others. It has fantastic walk and talk but the lack of blade weight doesn't allow it to thunk into the open position with the authoritative thunk of a Colt 45 hammer falling. It doesn't fill the hand, rather it feels almost...well..a bit effeminate.

And it doesn't have a lanyard hole.

I think if I didn't own and use the first three I would be perfectly happy with this knife. It embodies all the qualities I would expect a knife from A.G. Russell to have. Great design, great fit, plenty of snap, a stand alone style. If it wasn't the 2011 Texas Ranger Knife and I saw it in the catalog I probably would have bought one and been very happy with it.

The specs are...

closed... 5 1/8 inches
OAL... 9 1/4 inches
blade... 4 1/4 inches
spine 1/8 inch thick





Here you can see the nail nick compared to previous version. The older knives have a large deep nick that allows for one hand opening...also you can see the difference in blade thickness between previous models and the 2011...





It also comes with an excellent fitted sheath, much as the other did. The leather is heavy and sits the sheath high on the belt. The fit is near perfect.



Here is the complete family to date...



This knife is a fine knife, I will carry and use it but it just doesn't quite meet the legacy left by the first three. If the knife had only been 10% larger with the same heavy blade and nail nick used in previous models it would have fit in perfectly. Rather than being a brother to the other three I will have to consider this one to be their sister.

Absintheur,

I can see why you might be disappointed. Comparing the gunstock blade width to your new toothpick is night and day. The Swell center sunfish is an absolute beast so you can't do any comparisons there. I've got a couple of them. But looking at the blade thickness, although typical of a knife its size, is rather narrow and lacks the power, and feel of the others in this line.

It still is good looking knife none the less and I'm sure the quality is there

Bonehead

The quality is there, and I am impressed with the knife in general but it falls short of meeting the standards A.G. set with the other knives in the series. It is a very nice back or belt pouch pocket knife, well capable of the daily cutting chores you would expect it to do. And as I said I would have likely bought one if it wasn't the Texas Ranger 2011 knife just because I like the design. I do like it...however I suspect this one knows how to line dance...

Its a nice design....but is my least favorite of the four...

They all look like a lot of knife for the money.

If I wanted a big, one-hand opener with a blade that thunks open I'm not sure a toothpick would be the first knife I looked at, even if it is in A.G.'s Texas Ranger series.

i believe this pattern was used in 2002 or so.i ordered one & the quality was real good, also the willow leaf blade could be pinched open with one hand. i ordered from his catalog that had great pictures & didnt expect a crowbar. the folder i gifted to a friend but it was plenty stout enough for camp, food prep & game smaller than deer. it certainly would do whitetail if a person was reasonably careful & took their time.i wonder if the knife was ordered w/o seeing a good pic.----HiPower

I pretty much agree about the latest knife. That leaf shaped blade is a bit disconcerting. But for better or worse I intend to collect them all.

I started with the very first Texas Ranger which I purchased in March of 2003. This was the jigged bone lock back with a blade of 154CM. As you may know, on the first 100 or so blades the dates were misprinted. So I got one of the error knives and one of the correct. I consider them a pair. Should the day ever come when I sell them, it will be only as a pair.