Are "Rambo" type knives practical?

leghog said:
Aren't those videos showing the toughness of a knife in a shop/garage and the back yard. I'm speaking of evidence of real practical use in the field by owners/users. Pics of the knives alone will tell the story. A knife will show it has actually been carried and used hard for years. There's a reason so few of these Rambo-type knives show that, and that's the entirety of my point.
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Really man ? I was trying to take u seriously until now !

leghog said:
Face it. The VAST majority of Randalls are safe queens.
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Wow, LOL ,whatever u say :-)

Like I said before majority of us can't afford the good quality HH , or HH Rambo knife . So to deal with it is to hate on it ! Mr. leghog is great example ! As he never ever owned or used Rambo knife :-) (And I'm talking about Rambo knives not UC junk chines garbage )

So for the guy who started this whole thing just go ahead and buy one! Just one piece of advice use it when u alone in the woods :-) because if you are going to pull it out in front of your buddies You may get some negative reactions :D
 
TAH said:
Thanks Sam. If only that knife could talk... :)
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I know. When I saw that pic, honestly, the first thing I thought was that whoever used that knife would sure make Bo Randall happy. The knife was used, for whatever purpose, and used hard, but it does not appear to be abused at all. Somebody got their mileage out of it. That's what makers want for their customers and the knives they make. Well done.

SENGVIN said:
Really man ? I was trying to take u seriously until now !



Wow, LOL ,whatever u say :-)

Like I said before majority of us can't afford the good quality HH , or HH Rambo knife . So to deal with it is to hate on it ! Mr. leghog is great example ! As he never ever owned or used Rambo knife :-) (And I'm talking about Rambo knives not UC junk chines garbage )

So for the guy who started this whole thing just go ahead and buy one! Just one piece of advice use it when u alone in the woods :-) because if you are going to pull it out in front of your buddies You may get some negative reactions :D
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Don't feel bad, SENGVIN. I probably fell for it a little bit, too. I believe the others are correct, he's just stirring the pot. I started taking him seriously, but he's lost all credibility. Let's have a chuckle, and get some more pics of hollow handle knives in here. :thumbup:

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Okay, Sam. That knife is just plain awesome! Great looking blade and small guard. Love it! :thumbup:
 
Everyone has an opinion on the Rambo knives. If the pot was just being stirred, they did a good job. This will be post #189. If only my threads would generate so much interest. :D
 
TAH said:
Okay, Sam. That knife is just plain awesome! Great looking blade and small guard. Love it! :thumbup:
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Thanks, TAH. That one is my Model 2 prototype with the micarta handle. Being a prototype, there are a few small fit and finish things to clean up, but overall I'm pleased with how it came out. I've got some similar ones on order from customers, so I should have some fresh pics in the next month or two.
 
Sam,

Please don't give away any trade secrets, but how is the micarta handle incorporated into the construction? Is it micarta tubing on top of steel tubing? I see the buttcap, then a steel section, and then the micarta, but I can't figure out how it's all assembled.
 
Thank you for your discretion, TAH. I have discussed it elsewhere online, so I would be happy to share it here. I take the same handle tube I use on my other knives, and machine two flat sections on it, near where your fingers wrap around it. This way, the micarta simply cannot turn, even if the epoxy bond failed. Then, I wrap the micarta around the handle and compress it with a jig. When it has cured, I shape it so that the handle is contoured, and feels much like a traditional handle shape. Then, the steel ring is fitted into place. That way the micarta cannot slide down the handle, either.

This opens up a lot of options. It allows me to make the handle larger for people with larger hands, it abosorbs heat/cold/shock, and when it gets wet, it's very grippy. I have also been putting a thinner layer of micarta on, and after it cures and I shape it, I put the standard cord wrap on the handle. You can't tell by looking that there is micarta under there, but you get the best of both worlds. The cord wrap for emergency cordage, and the heat/cold/shock absorbency of the micarta. This also alleviates the tendency of a round handle to roll in your hand during hard or prolonged use. And if you ever have to remove the cord for an emergency, you still have a very comfortable handle, instead of just metal. That option is standard on my HH knives.

I have posted this pic here before, but here it is again. This is basically what the profile of the handle is like.

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Sam :thumbup:
 
Got it! Thanks for the explanation, Sam. Back in the 80s, there was a maker named Tony Louis Jr., who made HH knives with wood handles. I suppose they were constructed similar to the Smith & Wesson knives - wood over steel or brass tubing. Not as tough as micarta, but pretty.
 
No problem. Many good people have shared freely with me, I'm glad to have something to share. I am unfamiliar with that maker, but you can bet I will be reading up on him now :D. That's one of the reasons I love these knives. There are so many possibilities. The micarta opens up having a single or multiple finger grooves, contouring, and it is just so durable and comfortable. I have been having a blast experimenting with it.
 
You can definitely do your research, that's for sure. Looks like he made some nice knives. I like the fact that he put his own spin on the "conventional" style, and tried something different. Not all experiments are a success, but if nobody tries something different, there is no innovation. Very cool.

ETA: I didn't want that to sound like I thought his design failed or fell flat, just that some experiments work, and some not as much. I definitely think he did a great job .
 
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leghog said:
many are little more than compromise tools trying to be knife, hatchet, ax, saw, machete, and shovel.
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leghog said:
It's still an impractical knife (the question in the OP) regardless of whether the handle is hollow or not.
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+1

For me, it's all about efficiency, blade geometry and handle ergonomics (and proper knife or machete techniques). I like relatively small knives with a blade 3-5 inches long (no choil, no guard, don't need jimping, an angle not more than 30-40 degrees inclusive, most of my knives have less than 30 degrees inclusive and are zero ground) and I'll carry and use one of my machetes when needed (about 11-12 inches blade length). So I don't like to use most "Rambo" type knives. But it has nothing to do with a hollow handle, it's toughness or the blade length in particular.. It's the whole package.

The Glock FM78 is a good example for a tough and inexpensive HH knife.. But the sawback on the Glock FM81 is just not very practical, imho. Don't have much use for them.. For me, they are just impractical. I just carry a good saw.. almost every cheap folding saw cuts better than the sawbacks on those Rambo/survival knives.. don't get me wrong, for notching those sawbacks are ok but... I can also carve those notches with almost every knife and if I use the proper technique with an efficient knife it can even replace a good folding saw or an axe for certain tasks.

The "Rambo" type knives just don't meet my needs/criteria.
 
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TAH said:
Got it! Back in the 80s, there was a maker named Tony Louis Jr., who made HH knives with wood handles.
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Tony was Gil Hibben's apprentice when he moved to KY and learned to make knives from Gil and worked for him for several years. He became a knife maker in his own right, and a darn good one, for only a few years before giving it up and making a new life. Tony hasn't made knives for the past 20 plus years as far as I know.

Sam Wilson
I love the bowie knife . I will be getting on from you in the future for sure if u don't mind . Do u think u could make one in CPM 154 ? Just asking :-)
I was watching your videos and was amazed !!!
 
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