OK, I've had enough 'politickin'" for one lifetime after the events of the last two years. So, instead of taking sides as I don't own either brand and therefore have no dog in this fight, I will play 'third party arbitrator', and offer what I see as the best possible solution.
Extrastout, you say that you have a Randall on order. It will be some time before you take possession, I assume. And you also say that you are/were considering purchasing the BJ 1-7. Why NOT buy the Blackjack? Now, HERE is where it gets interesting. When you get it, look it over OBJECTIVELY, and then USE the damn thing as a knife until your Randall comes in. I am not saying to run over it in the street, or hammer it one inch into a tree and try to use it as a step.(seen it done, it's a bloody mess, literally, if the knife fails, and most will). No, use it for cutting stuff. Observe the fit and finish for the price, rust resistance(O-1 is a rust magnet, and even Randall cannot change that, although a mirror polish can reduce this tendency), the overall strength, comfort in use, etc. All the things you would do if you were doing a review for a magazine. Then when your Randall arrives, you will be in a better than average position to make a detailed, informed, and most importantly, an OBJECTIVE, comparison.
I, for one, would be most interested in seeing the results.
Extrastout, you say that you have a Randall on order. It will be some time before you take possession, I assume. And you also say that you are/were considering purchasing the BJ 1-7. Why NOT buy the Blackjack? Now, HERE is where it gets interesting. When you get it, look it over OBJECTIVELY, and then USE the damn thing as a knife until your Randall comes in. I am not saying to run over it in the street, or hammer it one inch into a tree and try to use it as a step.(seen it done, it's a bloody mess, literally, if the knife fails, and most will). No, use it for cutting stuff. Observe the fit and finish for the price, rust resistance(O-1 is a rust magnet, and even Randall cannot change that, although a mirror polish can reduce this tendency), the overall strength, comfort in use, etc. All the things you would do if you were doing a review for a magazine. Then when your Randall arrives, you will be in a better than average position to make a detailed, informed, and most importantly, an OBJECTIVE, comparison.
I, for one, would be most interested in seeing the results.