Blade Blasphemy: Are Randall Knives Users?

Status
Not open for further replies.
There is a thread here asking for knife recommendations for a Go-Bag or Bug-Out-Bag.

I am watching that thread to see if anyone suggests a Randall Made knife.
 
deovolens said:
Click to expand...


Very nice! When first looking at getting our son a Randall, I really liked the idea of a #1 with a stag handle and finger grooves. I wanted him to have a heirloom to pass on etc . . .. Then I got to seriously looking at what it meant to be a Marine in a combat zone. His function, Light Armored Reconnaissance, meant that he would spend a lot of time in the field and not that much time in a firm base. I revised my thinking to emphasize functionality and durability. The Randall #16-1 is based on the heavier blade stock of the Diver's knife having a heavy tang bonded into a black Micarta handle but has the blade profile of the standard #1. The carbon steel may have a better edge, but the stainless steel would remove knife maintenance from his daily punch list.

In the end, Today the Rqndall mMade knife is safely stored away in a closet, while the Chris Reeve "Green Beret" sits with other ready to go emergency items in a Go-Bag.
 
Last edited:
VorpelSword said:
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.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure I agree with your assessment that asking Randall to modify your knives based on some needs the Marines had counts as being "unresponsive to the needs of our service men and women", and in fact, that sounds rather condescending, since if we're being honest (and judging by the comments of the majority of those in this thread), a Randall would suit these folks' needs just fine. Hand to hand combat is exceedingly rare, and in any case, that's why our forces are issued sidearms, no? The fact that they did not want to do a modification to your knife doesn't count as bad customer service, in my eyes. Plenty of custom makers out there refuse to do so for their products, and people are ok with it, soooo....?

I'm curious about the above bold. What do they need to update or innovate? They have a wait list miles long, and people are still buying all of their knives they can get their hands on, sooooo....? Again, plenty of big name custom makers continue to make knives in what you would consider pedestrian steels, and the fans of those makers still scoop them up. For example, if somebody told Bob Dozier to his face that he needed to start using steels other than D2, he'd pat you on your head, call you adorable, and shoo you off so he could get back to work.

Randalls continue to be highly relevant to a vast number of collectors and enthusiasts. It's ok that you don't like them, but the tone you set in this comment makes it seem like you feel your comments are an objective statement, which is false. For the record, I don't own any Randalls, and don't have a strong desire to, but let's not pretend that there aren't many reasons why they still have a huge wait list and a fanbase who has zero issues spending what these cost, despite the fact that they're made in a steel that steel snobbos don't like.
 
VorpelSword said:
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.
Click to expand...

Can you point out any specific Army regulation (AR) or Marine equivalent that speaks directly to this need for a knife to be "dulled-down or non-reflective"? You've mentioned it multiple times now, and other soldiers here have mentioned never having heard of it, so I'd appreciate you setting us all straight. :D

Secondly, again, you're trying to slam Randall for not doing something they don't do. And if we're being honest, if a big fighting knife was what met "the needs of warfighters in the modern battlefield", they'd be issued. Last I checked, they aren't. Sooo...?
 
eisman said:
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.
Click to expand...
Google says the first metal blades were made of copper over 4000 years ago...
 
VorpelSword said:
Are Randall knives EDC users? Will they stand up to daily field use? Tough enough for a professional guide or his helper who does all the field dressing?

Will a Randall #1 fighter be durable enough for a deployed warfighter?

Are they as tough as any of the newer generation of premium knives made from S35VN or one of the other premium high alloy steels?
Click to expand...
Do you want a Randall? Are you either a "professional guide" or a "deployed warfighter" these are important questions that must be answered completely and honestly to help you find the right model and brand of knife.
 
VorpelSword said:
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.
Click to expand...
Seems to me last I looked Randall was doing a booming business and has wait times that you need a calendar to measure. Why the need to change? Not everybody is a steel snob, and a lot people out there know that a knife is just a knife, it doesn't need to be the latest bestest thing out there. There is something to be said about sticking with what works. If Randall doesn't have something that you want just move on and go someplace else instead of complaining about it....
Maybe you should call them and suggest that they sell out to GSM in order to expand their product line-up.....
bYVdkN6.gif
 
I don't use my 1-6 often but like it a lot. Here it is with a modern military design.

vPcv3Jbl.jpg


If deployed, I would prefer the Carothers as a well-rounded knife...and partly because the sheath is easier to mount on gear. But...my two top knives to bring would be my Swamp Rat Bandicoot and Scrap Yard War Dog. They are a bit smaller and lighter than the other two and plenty rugged.

The balance on the Randall is amazing though...it handles like a dream and with the sharpened swedge it's a well designed combat knife.
 
Quiet said:
Can you point out any specific Army regulation (AR) or Marine equivalent that speaks directly to this need for a knife to be "dulled-down or non-reflective"? You've mentioned it multiple times now, and other soldiers here have mentioned never having heard of it, so I'd appreciate you setting us all straight. :D

Secondly, again, you're trying to slam Randall for not doing something they don't do. And if we're being honest, if a big fighting knife was what met "the needs of warfighters in the modern battlefield", they'd be issued. Last I checked, they aren't. Sooo...?
Click to expand...
No, indeed; I cannot. My experience is merely anecdotal. I only know that in Feb-March of 2004, the powers that be, whoever they were then at 3rd LAR Bn in 29 Palms down-checked the Randall for field use as too shiny. That was enough. I was deeply disappointed (and other things) to find that Randall Made wouldn't work with me on that. In the end, the fix was a simple thing that a home-garage gunsmith did overnight, pro bono. I bought and sent off a CRK "Green Beret" ASAP, and {they" allowed that knife into the field, in as-bought condition.


"Secondly:" USMC issues a bayonet with an 8-inch blade, replacing the M-7 and M-9 bayonets with the OKC-3S; a little bigger than either the Randall or CRK knives.
 
What is it with this OP?! Looking back at his older posts in the forum, it’s just a perpetual repeat of this thread’s subject. Same story, same questions, same knock against Randall.

Check this one out from 2016.

V VorpelSword are you expecting some sort of explanation from Randall or why do you keep posting this same story over and over again about them not dulling the blade finish?
 
rpn said:
I don't use my 1-6 often but like it a lot. Here it is with a modern military design.

vPcv3Jbl.jpg


If deployed, I would prefer the Carothers as a well-rounded knife...and partly because the sheath is easier to mount on gear. But...my two top knives to bring would be my Swamp Rat Bandicoot and Scrap Yard War Dog. They are a bit smaller and lighter than the other two and plenty rugged.

The balance on the Randall is amazing though...it handles like a dream and with the sharpened swedge it's a well designed combat knife.
Click to expand...
For someone needing a knife of that size, I would think that those 2 knives would be 90% interchangeable.
I've handled a few Randalls but never a Carothers. I would guess that the Carothers grip would be more comfortable and would give better orientation of where the edge is, maybe even slightly better retention, but the Randall seems to have a more robust guard. Just based on the profile obvious in the photo I would think that the 2 blades would function reasonably close to the same. What isn't visible in the photo is how thick the edge is which would be important for some users. People have mentioned Busse- the only one of those that I've handled was very thick behind the edge which would make it more durable but would hamper its cutting ability in some materials, again this would depend on the user.
I thought I needed a Randall in my collection and I ended up with 3, 2 of which I've since sold. I have a #1 left, with 5" blade. I received it in used condition for a good price, and could certainly use it, I just haven't had an opportunity to. I can't see anything wrong with the knife I own for anything I would use that size knife for.
 
DMG said:
I believe innovation stopped some time a for Randall. If you would be satisfied with a Buck, Marble, Kabar etc from 50 years ago you would be satisfied with a Randall. An Esee is far better for knife stuff, based on handling and very lightly using a Randall.
Click to expand...
Does your comment imply Esee is better than a Kabar or Buck?
 
VorpelSword said:
No, indeed; I cannot. My experience is merely anecdotal. I only know that in Feb-March of 2004, the powers that be, whoever they were then at 3rd LAR Bn in 29 Palms down-checked the Randall for field use as too shiny. That was enough. I was deeply disappointed (and other things) to find that Randall Made wouldn't work with me on that. In the end, the fix was a simple thing that a home-garage gunsmith did overnight, pro bono. I bought and sent off a CRK "Green Beret" ASAP, and {they" allowed that knife into the field, in as-bought condition.


"Secondly:" USMC issues a bayonet with an 8-inch blade, replacing the M-7 and M-9 bayonets with the OKC-3S; a little bigger than either the Randall or CRK knives.
Click to expand...

Ok, so again, what I'm seeing here is that you're angry that a company wouldn't perform a service that they didn't offer. It's like going to McDonalds and being mad that they won't prepare filet mignon for you. So, it doesn't really matter who performed the work that you wanted, because pro bono or not, it's not the knock on Randall that you seem to want everyone to think it is. I'm glad that your son was able to find a knife that served his particular purposes in the CRK Green Beret. It's not any sort of criticism of Randall however, that they don't make a knife that looks like a CRK Green Beret. Also, whatever your son's leadership allowed or didn't allow, any number of additional factors could be in play there.

None of which, logically, should be considered criticism of RMK, as I'm sure you'll now agree.

Also, that's interesting that USMC issues a bayonet, because that was news to a couple of my friends who both got out around four years ago (both of whom were in a combat MOS) and neither of them were issued a bayonet. Perhaps that's a new thing. That's neither here nor there, of course.
 
Jsega51 said:
What is it with this OP?! Looking back at his older posts in the forum, it’s just a perpetual repeat of this thread’s subject. Same story, same questions, same knock against Randall.

Check this one out from 2016.

V VorpelSword are you expecting some sort of explanation from Randall or why do you keep posting this same story over and over again about them not dulling the blade finish?
Click to expand...
Randall Knives R Big Meanies!!!!
 
Quiet said:
Also, that's interesting that USMC issues a bayonet, because that was news to a couple of my friends who both got out around four years ago (both of whom were in a combat MOS) and neither of them were issued a bayonet. Perhaps that's a new thing. That's neither here nor there, of course.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that: Good to have more current info.

My information comes from the perspective of a Marine who separated in 2012 or so. The USMC is making significant changes in what they do and how they do it. That bayonets are not a regular issue item is probably one of them.

Some of the anecdotes I got indicated that the presence of a "Big Knife" was often intimidating to insurgents in Iraq in the early 2000s. One issue was packs Ferrel dogs following them on foot patrol, and at times being aggressive. A mounted bayonet gave a no-discharge option for that.
 
Apologies to all Randall supporters. Your passion and brand loyalty is admirable. Yes, I guess I am still pissed-off that Randall Made wouldn't make it right at the time. It is now some eighteen years ago, and I should move on. If I were to look for an heirloom quality knife as a gift to mark a milestone birthday for someone, I will again consider a Randall Made knife, this time with stag, engraved initials and so on.

If I am ever again faced with supporting a loved one about to ship out to an active war zone (Heven forbid), I'll have a better idea what to do.
 
VorpelSword said:
Apologies to all Randall supporters. Your passion and brand loyalty is admirable. Yes, I guess I am still pissed-off that Randall Made wouldn't make it right at the time. It is now some eighteen years ago, and I should move on.
Click to expand...

Good grief, ya think you should move on? Still pissed about that flat tire you had back in the 80’s also? Damn you Goodyear!!


Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated or emotionally invested with Randall knives or Goodyear Tires.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top