A.G. Russell Knives
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1964
- HeadquartersRogers, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
A.G. Russell Knives firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- A.G. Russell Knives
- Legal name
- A.G. Russell Knives, Inc.
- Website
- https://agrussell.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1964
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
A.G. Russell Knives industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Knives and Cutlery
- NAICS
- Metal Kitchen Cookware, Utensil, Cutlery, and Flatware (except Precious) Manufacturing (332215)
- SIC
- Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hunting & Shooting Specialty Knife/Tool Retail (CRAMAKAH)
Keywords
Where A.G. Russell Knives is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rogers
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
A.G. Russell Knives business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Knife and Accessory Retail Sales: Direct retail sales of knives and knife accessories through e-commerce website, catalog orders, and physical retail store. Revenue generated from one-time product purchases across various price points.
- Knife Sharpening Service: Professional knife sharpening service for plain edge blades (fixed or folding) and refreshing of serrated blades. Pricing based on knife length: $5 for knives 4.99 inches and under, $8 for 5-10 inches, $10 for over 10 inches.
- Knife Collector's Club Membership: Annual membership program (KCC) established in 1970 providing access to limited quantity collectible knives, serial numbered knives, and limited edition offerings. $10/year USA, $20/year Canada & Mexico, $35/year international.
- The Cutting Edge Catalog Subscription: Printed book subscription and PDF email notification service for aftermarket and handmade knives consignment, featuring 200-250 mostly handmade knives per edition, published 6 times yearly. $15/year domestic, $30/year international.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Knife Sharpening by blade length |
| Subscription | Annual | Knife Collector's Club Annual Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | The Cutting Edge Catalog Subscription |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Shipping |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
A.G. Russell Knives product offering
Product offeringCore offering
A.G. Russell Knives designs, sources (via manufacturing partners in the USA, Japan, Taiwan, and China), and retails branded and third-party knives, knife accessories, and knife-related services. The company operates as a direct-to-consumer retailer through its own e-commerce website, a physical retail store in Rogers, Arkansas, and catalog/mail-order channels, offering its own A.G. Russell, War Eagle Blades, and A.G. Russell Shopmade Morseth brands alongside curated knives from manufacturers such as Chris Reeve, Benchmade, CRKT, Case, and Spyderco.
Product overview
A.G. Russell Knives is a traditional knife retailer founded in 1964, operating primarily as a mail-order and e-commerce business headquartered in Rogers, Arkansas. The company's core offerings include their own branded knives (A.G. Russell, A.G. Russell Shopmade Morseth, and War Eagle Blades), along with a curated selection of knives from major manufacturers like Chris Reeve, Benchmade, CRKT, Case, Spyderco, and others. The company operates two complementary catalog/services: The Cutting Edge (aftermarket and handmade knife consignment established 1968) and the Knife Collector's Club (membership organization established 1970 for collectors). A.G. Russell also provides ancillary products including knife sharpening tools (V-Sharpeners, ceramic rods, diamond sharpeners from DMT, Spyderco Sharpmaker), knife care products (RustFree rust prevention), and kitchen accessories (knife blocks, magnetic bars). The company offers professional sharpening services and publishes educational knife-related articles and sharpening guides.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- War Eagle Blades: A knife brand sold by A.G. Russell Knives alongside their main A.G. Russell brand and A.G. Russell Shopmade Morseth.
Products and services
- A.G. Russell Brand Knives The company's own brand of knives including pocketknives, one-hand knives, lockbacks, and fixed blade knives designed by A.G. Russell III and made to company standards in the USA, Japan, Taiwan, and China.
- War Eagle Blades The company's newest brand of knives, produced in the USA.
- A.G. Russell Shopmade Morseth Handmade knives produced in-house at the company's Rogers, Arkansas headquarters.
- Knife Sharpening Service Professional knife sharpening service for plain edge blades (fixed or folding), priced by blade length: $5 for knives 4.99 inches and under, $8 for 5-10 inches, $10 for over 10 inches. Local turnaround is 2-4 business days; shipped blades take 1-2 weeks.
- Knife Collector's Club (KCC) Annual membership club offering access to limited quantity collectible knives, serial numbered knives, and limited edition offerings. USA $10/year, Canada & Mexico $20/year, international $35/year.
- The Cutting Edge Catalog Subscription Printed book and PDF email catalog subscription for aftermarket and handmade knives consignment, featuring 200-250 mostly handmade knives per edition, published 6 times yearly. Domestic $15/year, international $30/year.
- A.G. Russell V-Sharpener Ceramic Large with Walnut Base Ceramic V-sharpener with rods set at 15 degrees per side creating a 30-degree compound angle, includes walnut base and ceramic or diamond rods for knife maintenance.
- RustFree Silicone-based rust prevention product for high carbon tool steel and non-stainless steel knives and tools.
- Case Knives Traditional American pocket knives and limited edition commemoratives from W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company, known for Tru-Sharp stainless steel and colorful bone handles.
Companies that use A.G. Russell Knives
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
A.G. Russell Knives technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
A.G. Russell Knives partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and historical.
- Knifemakers GuildcoreFounded by A.G. Russell III in the early 1970s along with twelve other knifemakers. A.G. Russell was named Honorary President. This organization is still in existence today and remains central to the handmade knife community.
- Cutting Edge (cuttingedge.com)coreRelated company and website for The Cutting Edge aftermarket and handmade knives consignment service. The Cutting Edge offers one of the biggest selections of aftermarket and handmade knives in the country.
- Russell's for Men (russellsformen.com)minorRelated website listed in footer as a related site, serving a related men's products market.
- Taiwan Knife ManufacturerscoreManufacturing partners in Taiwan producing high-quality drop-forged integral knives including Sting 3, Integral Hunter, and Chute knife. Also produces Spyderco, Benchmade, CRKT, Buck, Gerber, and other brand knives.
- China Knife Factory PartnerscoreManufacturing partners in China selected for quality production of A.G. Russell designs including the Beak knife. A customer in Taiwan who loves American handmade knives owns the China factory.
- Japan Manufacturing PartnerscoreManufacturing partners in Japan producing two very special traditional slip joint knives at $150-$175 price point. Quality described as unbelievable for a production knife.
- Schrade Cutlery (historical)historicalHistorical partnership in 1970 to establish the Knife Collector's Club (KCC). Also collaborated on the first Limited Edition Serial Numbered knife - the Kentucky Rifle made by Schrade in 1971.
- American Knife and Tool Institute (AKTI)minorListed as a related site. AKTI serves as the responsible, credible voice and advocate for the knife community.
- Google (AdSense)minorUses Google AdSense advertising on the website with Demographics and Interests Reporting, Remarketing with Google Analytics, and Google Display Network Impression Reporting.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
A.G. Russell Knives competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Blade HQ: Online-first specialty knife retailer headquartered in Utah; carries an extensive assortment of premium and production knives including Chris Reeve, Benchmade, Spyderco, CRKT, and Case — directly overlapping with AGR's curated marketplace model and target buyer (collectors, EDC, hunters).
- Knife Center: Long-established mail-order and online knife retailer founded in the 1970s; offers a similar broad assortment of premium and handmade knives plus sharpening services, mirroring AGR's mail-order heritage and multi-brand catalog positioning.
- Smoky Mountain Knife Works (SMKW): Tennessee-based online knife superstore with deep inventory across Case, Benchmade, Buck, and collectible brands; competes head-on with AGR for the same hunting, collecting, and EDC customers via discount-driven and assortment-led e-commerce.
- Chris Reeve Knives: Idaho-based ultra-premium fixed-blade and folder maker (Sebenza, Inkosi, Magnacut); both a featured AGR assortment line and a direct-to-consumer competitor for the high-end collector/practical user that AGR's premium tier targets.
Broad incumbents
- Benchmade Knife Company: Oregon-based premium knife manufacturer whose products (Bugout, Griptilian, Osbourne, recent folders) are heavily sold through AGR; competes in the same product category and also sells direct, making it both a key supplier and overlapping channel.
- Spyderco: Colorado-based premium knife manufacturer (Delica, Endura, Para 3) carried by AGR; reaches the same EDC/outdoor buyer and operates both wholesale and direct channels, putting it in competition with AGR's curated assortment role.
- CRKT (Columbia River Knife & Tool): Oregon-based knife maker producing value-to-mid-tier folders and fixed blades (M16, Pilar, homegrown designer collaborations) sold through AGR; same target market of hunters/EDC users and similar Taiwan/China manufacturing sourcing profile.
- W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company: Pennsylvania-based heritage knife manufacturer (yellow handle trapper, Mini Trapper, traditional American pocketknives) carried by AGR; comparable rooted-in-Americana heritage and museum-quality collector focus, with overlap on traditional/hunting segment.
- Buck Knives: Idaho-based legacy knife brand (110 Folding Hunter, 119 Special) with strong hunting/outdoor positioning; parallels AGR's traditional hunting-customer franchise and operates direct-to-consumer plus retail distribution similar in scale and channel mix.
- Kershaw Knives: Oregon-based knife brand owned by KAI USA, producing value-tier folders (Leek, Chive, Blur) for hunting/EDC users; comparable product portfolio tier and customer overlap, though broader and more mass-market than AGR's curated/niche position.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
A.G. Russell Knives social profiles
Digital presenceA.G. Russell Knives financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
A.G. Russell Knives leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
A.G. Russell Knives funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
A.G. Russell Knives M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about A.G. Russell Knives
What does A.G. Russell Knives do?
A.G. Russell Knives designs, sources (via manufacturing partners in the USA, Japan, Taiwan, and China), and retails branded and third-party knives, knife accessories, and knife-related services. The company operates as a direct-to-consumer retailer through its own e-commerce website, a physical retail store in Rogers, Arkansas, and catalog/mail-order channels, offering its own A.G. Russell, War Eagle Blades, and A.G. Russell Shopmade Morseth brands alongside curated knives from manufacturers such as Chris Reeve, Benchmade, CRKT, Case, and Spyderco.
Is A.G. Russell Knives a public or private company?
A.G. Russell Knives is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was A.G. Russell Knives founded?
A.G. Russell Knives was founded in 1964. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is A.G. Russell Knives based?
A.G. Russell Knives is headquartered in Rogers, United States, in the North America region.
How does A.G. Russell Knives make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Knife and Accessory Retail Sales are the primary driver. The others are knife Sharpening Service, knife Collector's Club Membership and the Cutting Edge Catalog Subscription.
Who are A.G. Russell Knives's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Blade HQ, Knife Center, Smoky Mountain Knife Works (SMKW) and Chris Reeve Knives. Broad incumbents are Benchmade Knife Company, Spyderco, CRKT (Columbia River Knife & Tool), W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company, Buck Knives and Kershaw Knives.
Does A.G. Russell Knives have an API?
No public API is recorded for A.G. Russell Knives.
What industry is A.G. Russell Knives in?
A.G. Russell Knives's product category is Knives and Cutlery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAKAH, Hunting & Shooting Specialty Knife/Tool Retail. Its NAICS code is 332215 and its SIC code is 3420.