A.G. Russell Knives

Premium India Stag added in our own shop.

The term San Mai comes from Japan and simply means "three layers". The San Mai steels that began appearing in the American knife market the past few years have all come from Japan. Laminated steels, such as San Mai, were developed to allow a very hard center core for the best cutting and edge holding and a blade that is tough enough to not snap under normal pressure. The soft sides support the hard core and add strength.

This A. G. Russell™ Drop Point Hunter was designed to be a serious hunting knife with a wide drop point blade (1-3/16" at the widest point) of San Mai with a core of VG-10 at 59-61 Rc., supported by a softer stainless steel (420) on the sides. The blade is dropped into a forward tilt to make working inside an animal easier, with less possibility of damaging the hide. At 4-1/8" the blade is long enough to skin any animal that you have the patience to skin. The amount of belly (curve) in the forward part of the blade is important, both for skinning and for general cutting. A tiny choil at the rear of the sharpened edge allows the entire edge to be sharpened.

The hilt (guard) is quite trim, just long enough to protect your hand from the edge, yet not long enough to get in the way when you are doing delicate work. It is wide enough to be engraved. The butt is there not only for appearence but also to bring the balance point back onto the handle about an inch from the blade, putting more weight in your hand. This gives the blade a feather touch so you have total control of the edge and the point. The handle itself is thin at the front, with a swell in the center and a flare at the butt for comfort and control. The handle scales are premium India Stag from our warehouse, collected over the past twenty or so years. There is not much of this quality stag around any more. The knife measures 8-1/2" tip to butt and weighs about 7.1 oz. Made in Japan, stag added in our shop in Rogers, Arkansas. Includes a high quality handmade brown leather sheath.

A.G. Russell™ San Mai Drop Point Hunter