Eisman: I thank you for and respect your 35 years of service.
I sent our son off to Iraq in 2004 with both a Randall #16-1 "Special Fighter' and a Chris Reeve "Green Beret". During their [Pre-deployment work=up at 29 Palms, "THEY" wouldn't let him bring the Randall into the field because it was
too shiny for the desert. I contacted Randall Made several times by -mail and over the phone about coating the blade or dulling the finish. I was looking for an OEM modification or even just a maker approved third party fix. They had no interest in any of that.
That is when I went out and bought the CRK at a premium retail price.
Got the Randall back and took it to a local gunsmith who carefully bead blasted the metal parts down to an even dull grey finish. He refused my money.
At different times, both knives were carried for weeks at a time outside the wire. The "after-action debrief "was that the CRK seemed to be a more rugged tool than the seemingly more delicate Randall; both of them then at a comparable price point. Regarding the CRK: "I think I could dig a quick fighting position with it.". There is plenty he won't talk about, so he may have.
I be,ieve innovation stopped some time a fo for Randall. If you would be satisfied with a Buck, Marble, Kabar etc from 50 years agomyou would be satisfied with a Randall. An Esee is far better for knife stuff, based on handling and very lightly using a Randall.
That is my current opinion too.
Historically, the Randall repudiation is based in real world events., But, just as the M-1 Garand was the world's best battle rifle in 1945 as described by Gen. Patton, so the Randall #1 was a world class combat knife. Both have been superseded by weapons of modern design produced with superior materials.
Randall Made is resting on past glories, not innovating for the present or future.