Roland, you wrote:
I have been looking at the Randalls on the AGR website. I want more of a Hunter/General Utility style, not a Fighter.
For all practical purposes, the main difference between a hunting and fighting knife is the single versus double hilt. Knives that come with a double hilt can often be ordered with a single hilt, and vice versa. If you haven't done so already, request a copy of the current Randall Made Knives catalog and price list, which generally arrives within a week. See:
https://www.randallknives.com/catalogrequest.php
Both Model 8 and Model 5 look to have the same blade profile/grind to me.
Is there a difference?
The #8 has a slightly wider blade, and the top cutting edge is sharpened. The #5-4" has a narrower blade, and the top edge is not sharpened. The #8 is available with only one blade length, specifically four inches. The #5 is available in five blade lengths. The four-inch version has a 3/16" thick blade, and the other four (5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-inch) have 1/4" thick blades. The #8 has a 3/16" blade.
Models 3 & 7 also look similar to each other. Is there a difference?
They are quite similar, and differ mainly in size and blade thickness (1/4" versus 3/16").
All of these are in O-1 which AG says is hardened to Rc53-54. Is this correct? Seems rather soft to me.
A.G. Russell certainly seems to be fixated on ordering only carbon steel blades. Personally, I prefer stainless steel, if it can be specified. Some Randalls are available only in stainless steel, and some are available only in carbon steel.
And finally, is there another Model which those who have experience using, would recommend i also look at?
This is the "can of worms" part, because there is no one perfect knife. My definition of a close-to-perfect knife will differ from yours.
First, don't fixate on the A.G. Russell website. There are many more authorized Randall dealers through which to order. Some can get you a Randall that you choose, with the exact options that you specify, within six months, while others can take up to two years. If you order direct, the current wait is five years.
Second, there are some options that are not specified in the catalog nor price list, but can otherwise be specified for some models. Specifying a #6 Grind (available only on some knives, such as the #4-6" carbon or stainless), Squared Top Single Hilt (normally the top of the single hilt is rounded), or alternate Spacers (all one color, such as black, or black+aluminum or black+brass; the standard spacer colors are red, white, and blue) is possible. The first two, if possible for the model and blade length you selected, are no-charge options, meaning that they don't add to the price, and don't consume one of the five chargeable options to which you are limited. The last one is generally a $10 option.
Third, many authorized dealers have what are referred to as Dealer Specials. These are Randalls that are made specifically for that dealer, and can be ordered only through that dealer. Although not a complete list, here are some dealer specials:
Tom Clinton Special = Gary Clinton (aka, Clinton Knives)
Bowles Skinner = Rick Bowles
Large & Small Sasquatch = Doug Kenefick
Buxton Fighter = Wayne Buxton
Nordic Special = Nordic Knives
Fourth, you can find pre-made Randalls at various sources, such as authorized dealers, other dealers, and venues such as eBay. You generally pay a premium over current catalog price, but once in a while a gem turns up at the right price.
Fifth, there are two basic materials for the hilt: brass and nickel silver. Brass is generally the default, and specifying nickel silver is an option. Between the two, I prefer nickel silver. I prefer brass only with an Ironwood handle. You can also specify Pure Silver, but you need to contact Doug Cream to order the material (it's not cheap), and have it supplied to the dealer through whom you are ordering the knife. Brass is brass, and nickel silver has a very subtle yellow hue, but generally looks silver. Pure silver is, well, silver, with no yellow hue at all.
An excellent utility knife is their latest model, the #28, introduced this year. The options that you can specify are limited, but for a utility knife, simpler is better. If you want something similar, but a tad more beefy, #15 with a single hilt would be a good choice.
