Blade Blasphemy: Are Randall Knives Users?

[Niddhogg]

I carried the same leatherman ever since a Gerber crapped out on me a few days into a particularly miserable field OP. And then there’s me taking bark rivers out to the field. I wouldn’t buy it if I wouldn’t use it but goddamn does it get so much attention. It’s cool to find the knife guys in your unit, all the Rambo and “do you carry that for protection” comments on a knife barely over 4 inches in blade length get old though. Every marine or soldier should have a decent knife and multi tool, but that’s my biased opinion, not everyone gives a crap enough to maintain either properly anyways.

Picked up a Leatherman MUT, and it was the best friend a machine gunner could have. That and my Spydie Military got used at least every day-- the fixed blades were only useful in the field or overseas IMO.

90% of the stuff I saw carried by other enlistedmen was what you could find at the PX, since a $20 knife will cut 550 as well as a $400 one, but I wouldn't try and pry open a hatch with a Ka-Bar lol. It doesn't help that most of the guys don't really care how good their knife is, just that they can buy another one when they break or dull the one they're carrying.

The Rambo comments were always funny, but they stopped (and a few guys bought Busse's) when my bored team started finding metal to poke holes in with my HG55 when we had downtime and nothing better to do.

 

[kobold]

Just how a good photographer can take a good photo with a crappy camera, someone good at using knives will bring the max out of most any knife steel available today. The most important variable is the user and his sharpening knife handling skills.
Also, the things we cut today are mostly the same things we cut yesterday..

 

[kafolarbear]

Picked up a Leatherman MUT, and it was the best friend a machine gunner could have. That and my Spydie Military got used at least every day-- the fixed blades were only useful in the field or overseas IMO.

90% of the stuff I saw carried by other enlistedmen was what you could find at the PX, since a $20 knife will cut 550 as well as a $400 one, but I wouldn't try and pry open a hatch with a Ka-Bar lol. It doesn't help that most of the guys don't really care how good their knife is, just that they can buy another one when they break or dull the one they're carrying.

The Rambo comments were always funny, but they stopped (and a few guys bought Busse's) when my bored team started finding metal to poke holes in with my HG55 when we had downtime and nothing better to do.

Yep I use the leatherman OHT and honestly those flathead screwdrivers come in such handy when I'm cleaning gas regulator plugs on 240's, it also has a little section I can actually screw cleaning rods into if for whatever reason I'm missing a T-handle in my a-bag. It's an absolute tank of a multi tool despite its initially rickety feeling construction. The one handed opening is also a godsend. I used to take an Esee 5 in my pack out to the field and a Benchmade mini-adamas but I didn't like how any dirt at all would just grind on the pivot system whenever I opened the thing, and I never actually used the Esee 5 except to chop some roots to clear a sleeping area. So I kind of figured a medium sized fixed blade was the way to go, so it's a rotation of BRK Gunny/Bravo 1 for me, which can slice and chop, while also handling the abuse that marines are bound to put on their tools (being used as prybars, screwdrivers etc). I actually had one guy tell me to use a knife to help him clear a brass over bolt by prying back the bolt on his rifle... yeah that wasn't gonna happen. Still, that CPM-3v is crazy tuff and doesn't rust nearly as quickly as 1095 or Cru-Wear.

 

[kafolarbear]

Yeah, it's strange the way you get people paying much attention to knives, when you're regularly handling assault rifles, machine guns, rocket launchers, and grenades. I don't remember a single conversation about knife steel but firearm caliber was something that came up regularly.

I watched this video before I even had plans of joining the military and before I collected knives as well, a few months in and I thought about this video, coming to the epiphany "shit, I am the knife guy". Funny enough, it was the military where I bought my first knives and began the downward spiral for me lmao.

 

[G. Scott H.]

You are incredibly dense if you believe bronze was the first metal used. Mankind was smelting metals long before bronze alloys were invented and tools made from beaten metals were used prior to smelting.

The Copper Age (Chalcolithic or Aeneolithic) is sadly forgotten or even unknown these days. Even back in school we jumped right from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age. I had to learn of the Copper Age on my own after leaving school. Copper tools date back to at least 7500 BC in Mesopotamia, and those are just the earliest that have been discovered at this point; who knows what we may discover over the coming decades, centuries, etc.? In any case, I'd say that comes pretty close to your assertion of 10,000 years.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming. ✌

 

[LMT66]

Works for me! From a 2013 outing.
The little dry stuff i got to inside these twigs along with a little chunk of fatwood from my tinder kit....

Got this going with a ferro rod. Was about 12F and that fire felt great!

 

[VorpelSword]

I appreciate the loyalty of the Randall collectors and supporters. The Randall knives. There is no doubt that a classic Randall in about any model has a great look and feel. Like a Rolex watch, you can get a better timepiece but its not a Rolex. Ther sasme goes for Randall knives.

However, in re-reading this thread, the main point I would like to make fore effectively is that Randall Made is/was not responsive to the needs and requirements of our service men and women who are actually engaged in combat. For them, SHTF every day and what used to be excellent may not now be good enough. Back in 2004, the USMC required that every effort be made to suppress glint or reflections of sunlight. Randall Made did not offer any of their combat-oriented blades with supressing reflection in mind from the shop. Worse in my mind is that when requested, they had no interest in making an OEM mod or authorizing any third party to do so. That my gunsmith could do it overnight says it all. Others have reported similar experiences where Randall Made lacked any sort of responsive customer service or product support.

That Randall Made has not updated or innovated their process or product line is another matter. For as expensive as these knives have become, I would think that offering high alloy steels could be a lucrative add-on option with a commensurate mark-up. But that is a business decision, not basic customer service. Introducing full length full width tang construction for their heavy-duty blades might be another pathway back to relevance.

 

[VorpelSword]

The Copper Age (Chalcolithic or Aeneolithic) is sadly forgotten or even unknown these days. Even back in school we jumped right from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age. I had to learn of the Copper Age on my own after leaving school. Copper tools date back to at least 7500 BC in Mesopotamia, and those are just the earliest that have been discovered at this point; who knows what we may discover over the coming decades, centuries, etc.? In any case, I'd say that comes pretty close to your assertion of 10,000 years.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming. ✌

Well said. For more reading: There is a good article on (Gasp!) Wikipedia that covers the Bronze Age. Related articles cover the availability of Copper and Tin in ancient times.

A book that discusses the Bronze Age and its passing is titled, "1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed" by Eric Cline. A bit tedious at times, but thoroughly explains the Bronze Age in the Eastern Mediteranian, and its ending.

 

[Niddhogg]

Yep I use the leatherman OHT and honestly those flathead screwdrivers come in such handy when I'm cleaning gas regulator plugs on 240's, it also has a little section I can actually screw cleaning rods into if for whatever reason I'm missing a T-handle in my a-bag. It's an absolute tank of a multi tool despite its initially rickety feeling construction. The one handed opening is also a godsend. I used to take an Esee 5 in my pack out to the field and a Benchmade mini-adamas but I didn't like how any dirt at all would just grind on the pivot system whenever I opened the thing, and I never actually used the Esee 5 except to chop some roots to clear a sleeping area. So I kind of figured a medium sized fixed blade was the way to go, so it's a rotation of BRK Gunny/Bravo 1 for me, which can slice and chop, while also handling the abuse that marines are bound to put on their tools (being used as prybars, screwdrivers etc). I actually had one guy tell me to use a knife to help him clear a brass over bolt by prying back the bolt on his rifle... yeah that wasn't gonna happen. Still, that CPM-3v is crazy tuff and doesn't rust nearly as quickly as 1095 or Cru-Wear.

The MUT has a little hook that catches an AR bolt that you can do that with-- my Busse HG55 got used to pry open my .50 bolt when the buffer spring assb'y broke locking the bolt in battery. I was more afraid of cutting my thumb off than anything else. Found out that afternoon why they tell you to sit beside your MG when you disassemble it... that buffer spring rod shot out of the back an stuck in a plywood wall about 1/4".


Had the same feelings about the Benchmades and sand, which is why I ended up going with a Spydie instead

 

[Niddhogg]

I appreciate the loyalty of the Randall collectors and supporters. The Randall knives. There is no doubt that a classic Randall in about any model has a great look and feel. Like a Rolex watch, you can get a better timepiece but its not a Rolex. Ther sasme goes for Randall knives.

However, in re-reading this thread, the main point I would like to make fore effectively is that Randall Made is/was not responsive to the needs and requirements of our service men and women who are actually engaged in combat. For them, SHTF every day and what used to be excellent may not now be good enough. Back in 2004, the USMC required that every effort be made to suppress glint or reflections of sunlight. Randall Made did not offer any of their combat-oriented blades with supressing reflection in mind from the shop. Worse in my mind is that when requested, they had no interest in making an OEM mod or authorizing any third party to do so. That my gunsmith could do it overnight says it all. Others have reported similar experiences where Randall Made lacked any sort of responsive customer service or product support.

That Randall Made has not updated or innovated their process or product line is another matter. For as expensive as these knives have become, I would think that offering high alloy steels could be a lucrative add-on option with a commensurate mark-up. But that is a business decision, not basic customer service. Introducing full length full width tang construction for their heavy-duty blades might be another pathway back to relevance.

I mean, they rushed me mine ASAP when I needed it and I had one with my name on it from the Randall Shop in about 8 months. I paid $389 with engraving and shipping included, which is about on par with other worthwhile tactical knives. ) It's probably a Time specific, unit specific thing RE: the blade glint, since I've never heard of that in the units I served with-- and don't really see the logic in it. My LRAS3 had a like 18" reflective lens that was on top of a 6' tall vehicle with a .50 cal on it. If my knife blade gave us away.... it's probably my fault and not the knife. Then again, Army and Marines do things differently and hold to different standards.


Randall is also not a custom knife maker, and doesn't make coated knives. They're pretty up front and open about making stuff the same way they made it in Vietnam. But if they were good enough to "nearly cut a mans head off in one swing" in WW2 and to skin Huey's in Vietnam... they're probably good enough already. Don't mean that to sound confrontational, just pointing out another perspective.

 

[deovolens]

First a Cold steel Randall like and then an USA custom made with better steel, a stainless guard (no green oxidation at the sheets like the original one )and a bronze pommel ( no electrolyte corrosion) like the aluminium one and a more realistic price. In Belgium you can get a custom knife for the Randall price.
I love Randalls but for a collector I would say yes, for daily hard use they are rather expensive.

 

[VorpelSword]

Randall is also not a custom knife maker, and doesn't make coated knives. They're pretty up front and open about making stuff the same way they made it in Vietnam. But if they were good enough to "nearly cut a mans head off in one swing" in WW2 and to skin Huey's in Vietnam... they're probably good enough already. Don't mean that to sound confrontational, just pointing out another perspective.

There is no doubt that Randall knives are as good today as they were in 945. The Randall reputation, cachet and mystique was founded on how they provided a superior knife to our fighting men in WW-II. They no longer do that. Better, tougher, knives are now available that also meet the widely recognized requirement for a blade to be dulled-down or non-reflective. Randall Made simply refuses to do that. They no longer offer a knife that meets the needs of warfighters in the modern battlefield.

OK, so high a;lloys or a dark coating with epoxy or titanium nitride is something they cannot easily do. Bead blasting is not an overly sophisticated technique. They will engrave your name on it. . . .bead blasting is not a stretch. Randall Made could do that.

 

[Niddhogg]

Better, tougher, knives are now available...

Correct. There are also better calibers than .223, but there's a point of diminishing returns.


None of that has anything to do with them not offering coated blades, coated blades being inherently better or worse than uncoated (my pref is towards uncoated), human necks somehow getting tougher in the last 80 years, or one unit not allowing covered shiny things to be worn when surrounded by brass cartridge casings and glinting optics. If we're just knife measuring over the toughest, biggest, and baddest..... Buy a Busse like I did (and convinced my team to). There's nothing stronger that I've seen, and most things as tough cost more. They'll even coat them for you! But from a literal Busse fanboy, the Randall will do everything practically needed from a combat knife-- except take abuse from bored scouts.

They no longer offer a knife that meets the needs of warfighters in the modern battlefield.

Guess I must have imagined Afghanistan...

 

[The Grendels]

Picked up a Leatherman MUT, and it was the best friend a machine gunner could have. That and my Spydie Military got used at least every day-- the fixed blades were only useful in the field or overseas IMO.

90% of the stuff I saw carried by other enlistedmen was what you could find at the PX, since a $20 knife will cut 550 as well as a $400 one, but I wouldn't try and pry open a hatch with a Ka-Bar lol. It doesn't help that most of the guys don't really care how good their knife is, just that they can buy another one when they break or dull the one they're carrying.

The Rambo comments were always funny, but they stopped (and a few guys bought Busse's) when my bored team started finding metal to poke holes in with my HG55 when we had downtime and nothing better to do.

Yep I use the leatherman OHT and honestly those flathead screwdrivers come in such handy when I'm cleaning gas regulator plugs on 240's, it also has a little section I can actually screw cleaning rods into if for whatever reason I'm missing a T-handle in my a-bag. It's an absolute tank of a multi tool despite its initially rickety feeling construction. The one handed opening is also a godsend. I used to take an Esee 5 in my pack out to the field and a Benchmade mini-adamas but I didn't like how any dirt at all would just grind on the pivot system whenever I opened the thing, and I never actually used the Esee 5 except to chop some roots to clear a sleeping area. So I kind of figured a medium sized fixed blade was the way to go, so it's a rotation of BRK Gunny/Bravo 1 for me, which can slice and chop, while also handling the abuse that marines are bound to put on their tools (being used as prybars, screwdrivers etc). I actually had one guy tell me to use a knife to help him clear a brass over bolt by prying back the bolt on his rifle... yeah that wasn't gonna happen. Still, that CPM-3v is crazy tuff and doesn't rust nearly as quickly as 1095 or Cru-Wear.

I'm not saying that I would have killed to have gotten my hands on some of the high speed kit that's been rolling around in the last few years, but it would have been nice to have 25 years ago. I wasn't into knives in the same way. I was brought up to always have a knife sharp and handy, but never gave much thought to knife steel or edge geometry back then. I ended up getting a half serrated Spyderco, because sometimes you needed to cut through things fast and you might not always get a lot of downtime to sharpen knives between uses. The salesman was trying to sell me on a $400 bushcraft knife and I'm thinking: "Do you know much beer that is?".

 

[VorpelSword]

There is no doubt that Randall knives are as good today as they were in 945.

OK, so high alloys or a dark coating with epoxy or titanium nitride is something they cannot easily do. Bead blasting is not an overly sophisticated technique. They will engrave your name on it. . . .bead blasting is not a stretch. Randall Made could do that.

 

[kafolarbear]

I'm not saying that I would have killed to have gotten my hands on some of the high speed kit that's been rolling around in the last few years, but it would have been nice to have 25 years ago. I wasn't into knives in the same way. I was brought up to always have a knife sharp and handy, but never gave much thought to knife steel or edge geometry back then. I ended up getting a half serrated Spyderco, because sometimes you needed to cut through things fast and you might not always get a lot of downtime to sharpen knives between uses. The salesman was trying to sell me on a $400 bushcraft knife and I'm thinking: "Do you know much beer that is?".

You're gonna lose it when I tell you about M27's, Suppressors, electronic ear pro and High Cuts then, old man. Real talk, I don't know if I could stomach paying $400 for a knife (as you said, that's a shit ton of beer), but I'll have no quams putting my $250 BRK through that abuse, so it's not like I'm too frugal to begin with.

 

[brownshoe]

This thread is about whether or not Randalls are user knives...they are.

Vorpal, outside of a name and catalog options (there are many) Randall stopped customizing knIves many many years ago. You seem pretty bent out of shape you couldn't get a service that is not offered. If you needed a nonreflective blade, you should have bought a different knife. Randalls are status symbols, I think that's why you wantede one.

Lots of Randall patterns are not for military use but are good knives and get used.

 

[G. Scott H.]

I've long wanted a Smithsonian Bowie, but I could never quite justify the price. Maybe one day.

 

[E40]

Here is my first Randall (top), bought in 1992-3. It has been through a many deer, including ribs and pelvis'. I think it has held an edge well and as many have said, sharpens easily. I recently bought the bottom one to gift to my son as this is the best all around knife for me and he used mine when he first started hunting. Like others, I love the patina on the blade AND the stag handle.

Yes, they are users.

 

[deovolens]