The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
Here is a nice little Russell boys knife.
A straight line stamp. Goin's gives a date of 1884 - 1933. 3" closed.
A straight line stamp. Goin's gives a date of 1884 - 1933. 3" closed.
Joe
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
Oh, ohh, ohhhhh, that is nice! Knife Lore has been a little quiet lately, thataway to rattle the cage, Joe.
Ike
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
I think I have the same knife. Not as clean as yours.
Harold
Harold
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
Nice old knife, Harold.
I think they're two peas in a pod. Same stamps.
I'd say yours is 3 inches too.
I think they're two peas in a pod. Same stamps.
I'd say yours is 3 inches too.
Joe
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
Joe 3" they are fun little knives. I was surprised to see another one.
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
Thanks Harold.
I was surprised to see another one too.
They are pretty neat. I'm glad you have one.
I got mine just last Sunday at a knife show.
I plopped it in Steve Pfeiffer's hand. He looks at it briefly. Unopened, he says "is this a Russell?".
I laughed; Yes Steve it's a Russell. He sure knows his knives!
I was surprised to see another one too.
They are pretty neat. I'm glad you have one.
I got mine just last Sunday at a knife show.
I plopped it in Steve Pfeiffer's hand. He looks at it briefly. Unopened, he says "is this a Russell?".
I laughed; Yes Steve it's a Russell. He sure knows his knives!
Joe
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
He is Good. Seems to know all knives not just Case.
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
Nice knives, Joe and Harold! I like the long pulls on the pen blade, don't often see that.
Dan
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
Thanks Dan. I agree, the long pull is a nice touch.
Joe
- stumpstalker
- Posts: 215
- Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2016 11:03 am
- Location: Massachusetts
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
knife7knut begins this Thread noting the absence of a dedicated thread on J. Russell knives.
Maybe there is a paradox about the most esteemed knives being the least collected knives; that is, there can be a knife brand with such a transcendent mystique, and so assiduously held, that they are rarely traded. And if traded, it is done “below the RADAR”; probably to another inner-coterie collector.
Bruce Voyles several years ago wrote about some of the highest-ranked knives for collectors in the early years of organized collecting slipping down the list in later years. J. Russell was one of the brands. This he attributed to the progressive unavailability of what once were the most-collected. To use a term from the world of investing, those knives tended to be held in “strong hands”; that is, transitory market vicissitudes did not readily shake the confidence of the investor who held the asset.
I have long had an interest in acquiring J. Russell folders in the patterns I collect, but do not have a single one. They never seem to be offered to me. The last time I examined one, the dealer warned me that the knife “might not be right”. That could be another problem that puts a crimp on collecting some most highly-regarded knives: they are often counterfeited.
I do own a J. Russell chef’s knife, which has that especial pre-World W I feel, that “finesse”, an attribute not shared by the later Sabattier-style knives -- cook’s knives that couldn’t decide if they really wanted to be cleavers.
So, I postulate that J. Russell knives may been hovering too far up in the knife collecting firmament to have had it's own dedicated thread.
Maybe there is a paradox about the most esteemed knives being the least collected knives; that is, there can be a knife brand with such a transcendent mystique, and so assiduously held, that they are rarely traded. And if traded, it is done “below the RADAR”; probably to another inner-coterie collector.
Bruce Voyles several years ago wrote about some of the highest-ranked knives for collectors in the early years of organized collecting slipping down the list in later years. J. Russell was one of the brands. This he attributed to the progressive unavailability of what once were the most-collected. To use a term from the world of investing, those knives tended to be held in “strong hands”; that is, transitory market vicissitudes did not readily shake the confidence of the investor who held the asset.
I have long had an interest in acquiring J. Russell folders in the patterns I collect, but do not have a single one. They never seem to be offered to me. The last time I examined one, the dealer warned me that the knife “might not be right”. That could be another problem that puts a crimp on collecting some most highly-regarded knives: they are often counterfeited.
I do own a J. Russell chef’s knife, which has that especial pre-World W I feel, that “finesse”, an attribute not shared by the later Sabattier-style knives -- cook’s knives that couldn’t decide if they really wanted to be cleavers.
So, I postulate that J. Russell knives may been hovering too far up in the knife collecting firmament to have had it's own dedicated thread.
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
Held in "Strong Hands" indeed, until not held.
The vicissitudes of personal ownership have swung my way, much to my delight and for the mere pittance of $50.
I agree with you, stumpstalker. Russell knives are not circulated often and I wonder how many still exist.
It would be nice to see your Russell chef knife in "In the Kitchen".
The vicissitudes of personal ownership have swung my way, much to my delight and for the mere pittance of $50.
I agree with you, stumpstalker. Russell knives are not circulated often and I wonder how many still exist.
It would be nice to see your Russell chef knife in "In the Kitchen".
Joe
- stumpstalker
- Posts: 215
- Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2016 11:03 am
- Location: Massachusetts
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
FRJ:
One of these days I will get some new-fangled electronic equipment, i.e., a ‘phone, and provide an illustration of that J. Russell chef’s knife. I confess I have been an egregious free-rider on this Forum, having illustrated only three knives, thus far; and those solely due to my having corralled a visiting family member to use his.
One of these days I will get some new-fangled electronic equipment, i.e., a ‘phone, and provide an illustration of that J. Russell chef’s knife. I confess I have been an egregious free-rider on this Forum, having illustrated only three knives, thus far; and those solely due to my having corralled a visiting family member to use his.
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
I bought this small Russell stag several years ago and have been looking for a blade since then. When I first got it I thought the blade from a Barlow would work but they are way too big. This is about the size of a Case 63 pattern. These early stags don't come up often and I thought others would enjoy.
“The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion.” (Paulo Coelho)
Men make plans and God laughs
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.
Men make plans and God laughs
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
Added this Russell Barlow to the collection, still has full blade with factory grind marks present.
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
That's a sweet one, John!!!
Heretical Refurb / Mods of cheap old folders, since late 2018
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
Nice one, John! Don't often see blades so close to full on an old Russell.
Dan
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
That's a lovely example
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
Corso, Dan, Doc, thanks for the comments.
Picked up a Russell thistle top hunter, made roughly 1900 to 1930, nice diamond checkered ebony handle and a fitted sheath.
Picked up a Russell thistle top hunter, made roughly 1900 to 1930, nice diamond checkered ebony handle and a fitted sheath.
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
John, your Barlow is beautiful but that thistle top is extraordinary.
The checkering still looks sharp. Two fine knives. Congratulations ...... again.
And great photos, by the way.
The checkering still looks sharp. Two fine knives. Congratulations ...... again.
And great photos, by the way.
Joe
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
Joe, thank you for the kind comments. The thistle top is in pretty good shape for it's age but it does have a pin crack and chip on other side. The diamond checkering is still sharp.
- TripleF
- Bronze Tier
- Posts: 18499
- Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2011 3:42 pm
- Location: West Central FL
- Contact:
Re: The John Russell Co. Green River Works......
Picked this up a couple weeks ago....
SCOTT
HOME OF THE BRAVE! (not the scarety cats)
Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb
HOME OF THE BRAVE! (not the scarety cats)
Colonial Knife Company History ebook:
https://gumroad.com/l/ZLDb