Alternatives to Randall Knives.....Suggestions Please.

N

Nalapombu

Joined
Oct 26, 2001
Messages
303
Hey all.

Like most of you all, I love knives. I've never had any really nice ones though. The other night I was looking st the Randall page and some pics of user submitted personal Randall knives. Boy they are just gorgeous. I couldn't tell what one I would take if I were given the choice, but some of the ones I like are the Model 1, the 25 with both a 5 and 6 inch blade and some of the "commando" styled blades like the 14,15 and 16. Heck, most of them are terrific knives.

The problem I have is that I don't have $500+ sitting around to buy a knife with. One of these days I'll order one and just pay on it as the time goes by waiting on delivery.

Until then though, I'd like to get some suggestions on what would be done great choices for those that can't pay the going rate for a Randall.
I know there's lots of production blades that are perfectly suitable and are great options, but I am wondering if there are great choices out there from custom makers here on this forum that would be as good, and look as good as a Randall would? I know there are, I just need to know who to look at.

I'd like to keep it less than 1/2 the cost of a production Randall if I were to go with a custom builder. Much less if I go with a production fixed blade.

I would like something in the 5 to 7 inch blade length. A Bowie styled blade would be awesome, but others would be great too.

So, whatever you guys and gals want to suggest would be totally fine. No pressure at all. Just a great looking knife that stands up well to use. I would be using it on Wild pig hunts here in SE Texas when I go out with my longbow or recurves and sometimes with a pistol to hunt those gnarly critters.

For those in the area, if you have any tips or suggestions for hog hunting locations in SE Texas, I would be totally thankful to you for the help.

Thank you for the time and any help you care to give me.

Larry
 
This one in aus8 (SM III are pricey)
1cb920613291.jpg
 
Blackjack knives and Bark River knives come to mind. There are also alot of custom makers here that make some awesome blades for alot less then you might think.
 
Virtuovoice on youtube likes the 125's for hunting in Japan and they are under $200 at a lot of places on the web.
 
Take a look at the various knife maker forums here. There are some great knives being made for well under $500.

As far as places to hunt hogs: they are a growing infestation in Texas and I am sure there are plenty of places to hunt them. Your best bet would be to ask around at local gun shops; they could probably point you in the right direction.
 
Adam Vigil "14" in CPM3V.

 
Blackjack and Bark River are convex ground, so they really have absolutely nothing to do with a real Randall...

Hermit Dave's suggestion is closest, with excellent and very dependable SM-III steel, although you could try a 6" SOG Bowie or 7.5" Taiwan-made Super Bowie, especially a vintage 6" SOG stainless Bowie made in Japan... (Taiwan Aus-8 is less worthy of trust than Japan Aus-8 in my book, but who knows)

Gaston
 
Blackjack is the clear choice there. They are, as Gaston pointed out, convex ground. But the designs are literally identical. Blackjack makes Randall-pattern knives. They are good quality and made out of A2, although there was recently a run of Blackjack 1-7s (Copy of the Randall Model 1) in CPM 3V, which you'll never seen on a real Randall. They cost about half or a bit less than a new Randall directly from Randall Knives and have none of the wait.

I guess with Randall selling everything they can there's never been a need for them to change from O1 and 440C, but it's nice to have the 3V option for sure.
 
Hi. My feeling is the charm and the legend of Randall knives make them very difficult to replace with other products :). I would probably try to save up for a while and get the real legendary one I like the most :thumbup:. When it comes purely to performances, I think it’s another issue and there are for sure valid alternatives on the market, some of them “better” than Randall, by today standards.

If you are looking for cheaper knives closely resembling the Randall aesthetics, among the production knives, I’d also second the give suggestions to browse the Black Jack Knives catalogue.

If you are looking for some solid wild boar dressing tool, stepping away from the Randall resemblances, among the many great offers on the market, I can suggest to have a look also to these Maserin products: they have been designed and realized in cooperation with and marketed for real avid and experienced Italian wild boar hunters. They are quite simple tools, nothing fancy both in terms of materials and design but they look very effective, stout and affordable (around 140 EUR). The reviews I have read (not so many by now) are rather enthusiastic in terms of ergonomics and dressing performances. As a plus (for me at least) they are 100% made in Italy in the town of Maniago :).

Couple of pics from the web and a YT link:

i1106591_maserin977g10a.jpg

i1106592_maserin978g10a.jpg



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCryiPELsdg
 
You might check online/ebay for Deleon Knives. Mr. Deleon passed away a couple of years ago but he produced a lot of Randall style knives in his many years in the knifemaking business. ( better quality steel, as well - Deleon used ATS-34 as opposed to 440B for Randall)

JF%20Jungle%20Fighter,%20Deleon.jpg
 
As others have noted, Mike Stewart (BlackJack/BRK) makes a reasonably priced Randall....what's the best way to put it..."tribute."
 
marcinek said:
As others have noted, Mike Stewart (BlackJack/BRK) makes a reasonably priced Randall....what's the best way to put it..."tribute."
Click to expand...

Or "ripoff". Do a search on Mike Stewart in the GB&U before you buy Bark River or BlackJack...eyes wide open as they say.

If I wanted a Randall, I'd do as Herlock suggested and order one and save 10/month until it is delivered :)

If you will be truly using the knife in the field, you may want a normal edge that can be easily touched up by the stone that comes in the Randall sheath.
 
Black Jack, Bark River and Fällkniven are all great alternatives!


Regards
Mikael
 
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