Greetings all. I recently picked up an example of the 4.5" A.G. Russell Special to complete my 'set' of all three sizes issues, and I decided to do a bit of reading and research to try and update the available information on these knives. If anyone can add any additional information, correct anything that may be incorrect, or answer any of the questions listed, it would be much appreciated. Thanks, Bob.

A.G. Russell Special
Hunter/Skinner Knife
-Blade: Three different lengths have been available: 4", 4.5" or 5" of 01 Swedish tool steel, in 3/16" (4" version and newest 4.5" version) or 1/4" stock (other 4.5" and 5" versions). The profile is a modified drop point with a prominent spine "swoop" or "hump". Since approximately July, 2007, only the 4.5" blade length has been available (no more 4" or 5" versions are available).
-Handle: Various materials (Sambar stag, leather, Desert Ironwood, Maple burl, Ivorite). Single hilt in brass or nickel silver. Various spacer configurations. Various handle butt configurations (cap, plate, compass).
-Sheath: Randall (Sullivan’s) brown or black leather Model A sheath. Reverse stamped with RMK logo and "A.G. Russell Special" in arcs above and below logo. The sheaths for the first eighty (80) AGR Specials were instead stamped with "AGRS" above the logo.
-NOTES:
-Description of the knife (and the currently available version) from the A.G. Russell website: "Back in the 1990s, I designed a hunting knife for Randall to make just for A. G. Russell customers. We made the knife with a 4" blade, a 4-1/2" blade and a 5" blade. Most that we had made were with stag handles. We also produced a few with Maple Burl, Leather, and Desert Ironwood. In 2012, Randall made one hundred with a 4-1/2" blade of O-1 and a plain Ivorite handle. I really like the look of a finger grooved handle, and Randall does those so well. We have asked them to make a limited number with a 4-1/2" O-1 blade at 56-57 Rc. with a finger grooved Ivorite handle. Ivorite is Randall's proprietary off-white phenolic handle material.
-Production numbers and availability dates for 4” and 5” knives listed below are as per Jesse Egnew posting on page 1 of this thread.
-These knives appear to all be numbered by A.G. Russell (not by the Randall shop). The number is etched on spine between the thumb notches and the “swoop”.

Here are the versions of the RMK A.G. Russell Dealer Specials:

1. RA-AG
-Blade: 4" tool steel of 3/16” stock. Stamped “Randall Made Orlando FL” with d/s. Spine etched with knife number.
-Handle: Sambar stag. Single brass hilt. 5 brass and black spacers at hilt. Compass in butt.
-Sheath: Randall (Sullivan’s) leather sheath. Reverse stamped with RMK logo and “A.G. Russell Special” in arcs above and below logo. The first 80 knives had “AGRS” stamped on the sheath instead.
-NOTES:
-Limited edition of 100. This # seems incorrect given the sales figures cited in the RKS Newsletter (Issue #30, March, 1996, p. 3), which reported that “almost 200” had been sold upon initial offering to the AGR Knife Collectors Club.
-Available 1-96 through 1-04. First knives delivered February, 1996 as per KTS Newletter article. Closing date for this knife conflicts with Wickersham p. 202, which indicates that this model of the AGRS was replaced in 1997 with the model featuring a leather handle.
-Original AGR retail price was $335.00 ($385.00 for knives numbered 1-100).

2. RA-AGL
-Blade: 4" tool steel of 3/16” stock. Thumb notches. Stamped “Randall Made Orlando FL” with d/s. Spine etched with knife number.
-Handle: Stacked leather. Single brass hilt. 5 brass and black spacers at hilt and 3 at butt cap. Brass butt cap and nut.
-Sheath: Randall (Sullivan’s) brown leather Model A sheath. Reverse stamped with RMK logo and “A.G. Russell Special” in arcs above and below logo.
-NOTES:
-Limited edition of 250.
-Available 3-97 through 6-02.

3. RA-AGMB
-Blade: 4" tool steel of 3/16” stock. Stamped “Randall Made Orlando FL” with d/s. Spine etched with knife number.
-Handle: Maple burl.
-Sheath:
-NOTES:
-Limited edition of 35.
-Available 4-98 through 4-02. These availability dates seem unlikely given the small number of the edition.

4. RA-AGS4
-Blade: 4" tool steel of 3/16” stock. Thumb notches. Stamped “Randall Made Orlando FL” with d/s. Spine etched with knife number.
-Handle: Sambar stag. Single brass hilt. 5 brass and black spacers at hilt. Compass in butt.
-Sheath: Randall (Sullivan’s) brown leather Model A sheath. Reverse stamped with RMK logo and "A.G. Russell Special" in arcs above and below logo.
-NOTES:
-Limited edition of 525.
-Available 1-96 through 4-05.
-AGR retail price $495.00.
-Not sure how this knife differs from the RA-AG (very first AGR Special on list). White compass in earlier version versus black compass in later version? Different numbering? If numbering was the same, how are the two editions distinguished? Does numbering continue from where it left off at end of edition of RA-AG (else there could be two similarly configured knives with the same number)?

5. RA-AGS5
-Blade: 5" tool steel of 1/4" stock. Thumb notches. Stamped "Randall Made Orlando FL" with d/s. Spine etched with knife number.
-Handle: Sambar stag. Single brass hilt. 5 brass and black spacers at hilt. Brass butt plate.
-Sheath: Randall (Sullivan’s) brown leather Model A sheath. Reverse stamped with RMK logo and "A.G. Russell Special" in arcs above and below logo.
-NOTES:
-Limited edition of 225.
-Available 10-98 through 2-02.

6. RA-AGDI5
-Blade: 5" tool steel of 1/4" stock. Thumb notches. Stamped "Randall Made Orlando FL" with d/s. Spine etched with knife number.
-Handle: Desert Ironwood in standard shape. Single brass hilt. 5 brass and black spacers at hilt. Single black spacer at butt plate. Brass butt plate.
-Sheath: Randall (Sullivan’s) brown leather Model A sheath. Reverse stamped with RMK logo and "A.G. Russell Special" in arcs above and below logo.
-NOTES:
-Limited edition of 99.
-Available 2-07 through 7-07.

7. RA-AGDI42
-Blade: 4.5" tool steel of 1/4" stock. Thumb notches. Stamped "Randall Made Orlando FL" with d/s. Spine etched with knife number.
-Handle: Desert Ironwood in standard shape. Single brass hilt. 5 brass and black spacers at hilt. Single black spacer at butt plate. Brass butt plate.
-Sheath: Randall (Sullivan’s) brown leather Model A sheath. Reverse stamped with RMK logo and "A.G. Russell Special" in arcs above and below logo. "4 5" stamped above log.
-NOTES:
-Limited edition (number unknown?; as per KTF, at least 60).
-Available 4-07 through 2012 (?).
-AGR retail price $545.00.

8. RA-AGIV(?)
-Blade: 4.5" tool steel of 1/4" stock. Thumb notches. Stamped "Randall Made Orlando FL" with d/s. Spine etched with knife number.
-Handle: Ivorite in standard shape. Single nickel silver hilt. 5 black spacers at hilt; single black spacer at butt plate. Nickel silver butt plate.
-Sheath: Randall (Sullivan’s) black leather Model A sheath with hone pouch. Reverse stamped with RMK logo, "4.5" and "“A.G. Russell Special" in arcs above and below logo.
-NOTES:
-Limited edition of 100.
-Available 2012 (?).
-AGR retail price $665.00.

9. RA-AGIV42FG
-Blade: 4.5" (4.625") tool steel of 3/16" stock. Thumb notches. Stamped "Randall Made Orlando FL" with d/s. Spine etched with knife number.
-Handle: Ivorite with finger grooves/grips. Single brass guard. 5 brass and red spacers at hilt. Wrist thong.
-Sheath: Black leather Sullivan’s Model A sheath with hone pocket. Reverse stamped with RMK logo and "A.G. Russell Special" in arcs above and below logo.
-AGR Website Description: “The 4-1/2" blade of O-1 tool steel measures 1-3/8" wide at the widest point and 3/16" thick. It is both hollow ground and convex ground in a very complex design to give you real slicing ability. The nickel silver guard and nickel silver and red spacers wonderfully compliment the Ivorite handle. All knives have the words "A. G. Russell Special" above the Randall stamp on the back of the sheath. Measures 9-1/4" from tip to butt and weighs 7.0 oz. Includes a black model A leather sheath. Handmade in the U.S.A. Limited to 200 pieces.”
-NOTES:
-Limited edition of 200.
-Available currently on AGR website (2017).
-AGR retail price $695.00.