AG Russell Airweight Fruit Knife - Queen OEM?

[ExsoLam]

I recently picked up an AG Russell airweight fruit knife manufactured in 2001, quite nicely made and a pretty stand-out design. The only similar knife I know of (swell-center hunter with a big spey blade) is the Queen #62 Easy-Open Citrus Knife, but they definitely aren't made with the same dies or anything. I have, however, seen it mentioned on this forum years ago that Queen were making these for AG at least at some point (certainly not the 3rd generation with liners and G10 and 8Cr13MoV).

I know Queen made some #62 SFOs with no EO notch but I don't know if that's a closer match to the AG Russell, the timing would make sense though. I haven't been able to find any other information suggesting that Queen made these, was hoping someone around here might know more. Attached is a picture of the knife, over 4" of ATS-34 and under 2oz overall, really nice citrus knife.



More info:
https://queencutleryguide.com/queen-special-projects/
https://queencutleryguide.com/queen-cit ... formation/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHhsflTbtaU

[ExsoLam]

I realized that this would have been when Bill Howard was at Queen, I sent GEC an email asking about it and they confirmed that they made these for AG. No additional details but it's cool to have confirmation!

[bighomer]

I realized that this would have been when Bill Howard was at Queen, I sent GEC an email asking about it and they confirmed that they made these for AG. No additional details but it's cool to have confirmation!

Sorry I can't help with the question about the AJ Russell, but the Queen you show has nothing to do with fruit, or melons, the # 62 is a skinning/ castrating knife, queen made a melon tester but it looks just like ones made other companies. Heres the cataloge cut of #53.melon and fruit knife.

[Mumbleypeg]

I saw that in the ad from the OP. Most folks in the last couple of generations haven’t had any use or need for a ‘skinning or castrating” knife, so that’s not some thin that comes to mind when they see one. The big difference between the 62 and 53 pattern knives shown is the blade shape, spey versus spear, but most non-knife people probably wouldn't notice that. The handle/frame shapes and lengths also differ.

The AG Russell example shown has a spey blade also, but the narrator in the referenced YouTube video calls it a fruit knife. (Interesting because there are so many posts here on AAPK derogatory of the usefulness of spey blades. )

Ken

[bighomer]

Exactly Ken, I don't know how many times I've read on here someone referring to the # 62 as a citrus/melon knife. The op he shows the cataloge cut but evidently he didn't read the knifes description.

[ExsoLam]

I did in fact read the catalog. I also checked websites dedicated to Queen cutlery history. I found this:

https://queencutleryguide.com/queen-cit ... on/#models

For the #62 you can see that call the pattern a melon tester in 1980, the easy open citrus/melon knife in 1989, and the easy opener citrus knife in 1991.

I've been collecting knives for maybe 20 years but I'm not an expert, but the (at least purported) experts call it a melon tester *and* a citrus knife, I don't know *why* but I'd been assuming they were basing this on either internal documentation or communications with someone with firsthand experience.

If that's incorrect information then I'll stop using it...except with regard to the knives produced for AG Russell, since he called them fruit knives and apparently had them made specifically for citrus farmers.

I wouldn't call it a melon tester if not for deferring to the Queen documentation available to me on what I presumed was a trustworthy source.

[ExsoLam]

I now have one of the original run of coral rucarta from 2000, notice the different nick placement and the lack of bevels on the micarta on the earlier model. Edit: Well I guess you can't really see it in the photo, but the original run's covers are much more squared off.

[C-WADE7]

Nice pair of knives.

[ExsoLam]

Thanks!

I haven't pulled the trigger on a #62EO yet but I did buy a blade for one to compare to the AG, I'd say it's a definite match.

I've been looking for one of the finished knives it was intended for but I haven't found and S&M variations yet, not even sure what the S&M pattern number was.

[ExsoLam]

From the 1999 Queen catalog. CITRUS KNIVES FOREVER