#1 and #5

C

Cliff Stamp

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Can I get a scope of work for these knives, any user feedback would be appreciated as well, especially comparing them to modern variants on the same theme.

-Cliff
 
I have both, a 1-5" in 01 and a 5-6" in stainless.

I have used the #1 very hard, incluing batoning it through logs for firewood a few years ago. That, and changes in climate, caused the butt cap to become a little loose on the leather washer handle. As per Randall's advice, I turned the nut on the buttcap and now there's no play.

The #5 has a micarata handle. I have used it more "normally" and have had no problems at all. It cuts well and isn't all that hard to sharpen.

In short, both knives have performed well-- within the limitations of their grinds as far as cutting ability.
 
Well, the grind is kind of steep.

Both knives are similar, in that the primary cutting edge tapers from just above the center line. It looks neat, and probably adds some strength, but it makes for a more abrupt angle than, say, the 26.

It hasn't made much difference in actual working with the knives, but I notice that a high, flat grind slices easier than the grind on the #1 and #5.

For what it's worth, I prefer the 6" on my #5 to the 5" blade on my #1 for balance and handling.

That said, I've never found either to be lacking. The #1 did just fine dressing a whitetail (although I had to be careful with the back edge) and the #5 has been pretty good as a camp knife. A little light for chopping, but a nice compromise knife. Does everything pretty well.

Seth
 
Thanks for the additional info. What are the expected edge thickness/angles for those models?

-Cliff
 
As a followup, when Les was promoting "custom" knives he noted among others that he had seen Randalls broken under heavy prying, has Randall ever cited the flexibility of their knives specifically, the angles that the O1 and 440B models take before setting and then fracture? How do the edges hold up under harder impacts relatively?

-Cliff
 
Cliff,

I am very interested to hear the answers to these questions, since I've often wondered about them myself.

I have heard the same stories, and always been a little more gentle with the stainless #5 than some of my other models in 01.

Like I said, though, I used the 01 #1 pretty hard with no problems, and I have used an 01 #15 very hard, including accidently dropping it from shoulder height onto a rock (bad day) with no real damage or problems.

I don't know about the specific edge angles or thickness, but I can tell you that I generally resharpen my Randalls when they come from the factory, to get a little thinner edge.

Seth
 
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