How tough are Randall knives?

Their tough

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...n-to-others-I-ve-used?p=14739397#post14739397

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ess-field-test-review?p=15286067#post15286067

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When I get my beautiful fighter its not getting abused. It might live in a drawer to be admired sometimes.
The small dagger might even get carried, but if I wanted a knife simply to abuse id have kept some of my many busses.
Seriously drooling over this one. Love that guard.
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Yes, Randalls are tough as nails, but that being said they aren't made to be abused in the careless manner that some treat their knives.

shinyedges said:
Dude has a history of making things up (lying) and starting threads to argue over knives he doesn't even own. If you researched a little you would find that out rather easily.
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Actually, dude has a history of starting threads to ask questions and participate in the site. It only turns into arguments when you and your troll friends harass him just like youre all doing here.
 
I know nothing of the OP but I don't see anything wrong with the question he asked in this specific thread.

OP sometimes knives start as one thing and turn into another. Maybe at one time Randall knives were the greatest and now they're not but still highly collectable because of where the name's been. I don't own one so I can't speak about them. What I CAN say is that the quality of knives and steel has improved tremendously since Randall knives were in their prime back in 1970. If Randall kept up, great. Last I heard they were using 440B and O1 i think. If those are steels that can do anything "the best" or if they're even good all around steels, it'll be the first I've heard of it in many years. There are steels out right now that surpass both of those in all respects except price. But they made their bones with those steels and it'd piss off some collectors if they updated anything about their knives so they continue doing the same thing and selling out quickly. If you don't see anything good about them, it's easy to find other knives.
 
On the forged tool steel Randall Made Knives they use a Swedish 01, on forged stainless steel blades they use domestic 440B or 440C depending on the carbon content of the stock. Randall uses Hitachi ATS-34 on their stock removal units. I posted a couple of links where I described my experience with an O1 and a SS Randall Bowie a few posts back. To my shock and surprise the Randalls seemed to hold their own among the contemporary makers and their respective choices for blade steel. I the end, contemporary blade steel or not, they are well designed and tough.
 
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I've found that at thinner edge angles, like below 15 degrees per side on a 0.020" edge bevel (that edge bevel thickness is almost unique to Randalls among large fixed blades), their 440B holds together better than any other steel chopping Maple, save my hand-applied Jimmy Lile D-2 edges that are similar in angle, but 0.030" in thickness.

Randalls have a reserve of wear, so the geometry stays the same as the edge wears up: Most other big knives grow duller due to the lack of hollow grind, and/or lack of wear "reserve" height.

Randall's 440B clearly outperformed in chopping endurance a large RJ Martin knife I had in S30V (and also other custom makers in 440C like Neeley and Andrew Clifford), despite the S30V being more open in angle and thicker at 0.040". The Randall O-1 also did very well chopping while thin, but at lesser energy due to the smaller blade. Didn't like the 0-1's propensity to rust, so I Cerakoated the thing...

I think this superior durability by Randall edges may be in part due to establishing the -not very sharp- bevel by hand, which at least keeps the edge cold, and prevents affecting the temper at the edge: Other knives that performed poorly seemed to be getting better by strenuous hand sharpening up into unaffected edge material: Power tool-applied bevels are the bane of good edge endurance I suspect...

I would say ignore the stigma of old fashioned 440B steel, as it is just as good, and in fact I would choose it over the newer steels. Randalls are tough, but avoid the Model 18 style blades that are more unevenly made in my experience than the Model 12 and Clinton, unless you don't mind very loose tolerances. My 18 style blades were initially so blunt-pointed they could be used for sheathless sparring training, including my Model 14 with 18 style blade...

Gaston
 
This is a good thread with intelligent responses. And even here we have crude personal insults. I'm not closing the thread but some of these posts are headed for oblivion.
 
Karda said:
Yes, Randalls are tough as nails, but that being said they aren't made to be abused in the careless manner that some treat their knives.



Actually, dude has a history of starting threads to ask questions and participate in the site. It only turns into arguments when you and your troll friends harass him just like youre all doing here.
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Karda,I would like to thank you very much for your response-i appreciate your words!

I think, this is great forum and there are lot of people with great knowledge or experience when it comes to our mutual interest in knives.Non of us can say "I know it all",that's why we ask each other stuff we would like to know better.Randall knives is something that comes into my attention lately,despite I knew something about them allready but after checking their history and website I wanted to find out a bit more from guys who actually have first hand experience and a lot of knowledge about them.I think these knives belong to special category and my guess is maybe 90% of their owners are just keeping them as Grail knives (not only due to their price,but also due 4-5 years waiting period) without any real and tough use outdoors.....That makes me curious to ask about these legendary blades, if there is actually somebody, who put them under significant work test in the field and what was the outcome.....
 
Seriousbladeno1 said:
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if there is actually somebody, who put them under significant work test in the field and what was the outcome.....
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There are a lot of people in the military that own and use RMK. The history of the company, plus the backlog and wait times should be significant. If you truly are interested in the knives, and more than whatever this thread can give you; I would advise you to speak with someone that is either a collector, historian, or dealer of Randall Knives. I know of one person off the top of my head that can answer just about any question you can think of when it comes to this company, so much so that he wrote a book about it. I'm sure there are a ton of people out in the world that have used these knives for camping, hunting, combat, etc. These knives have a history going back decades, you can count on one hand the companies that have done what RMK has done on a historical and business level.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
This is a good thread with intelligent responses. And even here we have crude personal insults. I'm not closing the thread but some of these posts are headed for oblivion.
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Thank you very much Esav Benjamin! Please don't mind any these "rare" comments, I don't really mind, I got used to these and don't feel offended anymore anyhow.There are lot of great people here,for whom is this site and every single thread worth it.If you decide to close this thread for few "bored" guys,than that's your job and ok with me.But it would be great and nice to have further conversation about Randall knives,most of responses are very useful for all interested in this unique brand I think.

Thank you
 
RevDevil said:
There are a lot of people in the military that own and use RMK. The history of the company, plus the backlog and wait times should be significant. If you truly are interested in the knives, and more than whatever this thread can give you; I would advise you to speak with someone that is either a collector, historian, or dealer of Randall Knives. I know of one person off the top of my head that can answer just about any question you can think of when it comes to this company, so much so that he wrote a book about it. I'm sure there are a ton of people out in the world that have used these knives for camping, hunting, combat, etc. These knives have a history going back decades, you can count on one hand the companies that have done what RMK has done on a historical and business level.
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Thank you Revdevil! Please what's the name of the book and name of the author? Is he also on bladeforums?
 
Seriousbladeno1 said:
Any experience using these blades hard way? How about differences between steels Randall factory use and process they are through from start to finish?
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I have owned many Randals and all were solid well put together knives. My #14's were the most beautiful knives. Randal made their name in a time when the best you could get was a kabar. Randal still makes a fine knife although the waiting time to get a new one is probably much worse than when I got mine. I am sure their production has not changed and so I am sure their knives are still excellent. I never abused mine to the extreme. I had both 440b and O1 steel. Oh and they all retain their value very well. I have always wanted to get their giant bowie, a la Iron Mistress. I probably will some day
 
Personally I am developing an opinion that people who want "knife you can beat to hell" are usually what a lot of hobbyists around different hobbies call "casuals". Why not just use the knife for knife stuff eh?
 
Cobalt said:
I have owned many Randals and all were solid well put together knives. My #14's were the most beautiful knives. Randal made their name in a time when the best you could get was a kabar. Randal still makes a fine knife although the waiting time to get a new one is probably much worse than when I got mine. I am sure their production has not changed and so I am sure their knives are still excellent. I never abused mine to the extreme. I had both 440b and O1 steel. Oh and they all retain their value very well. I have always wanted to get their giant bowie, a la Iron Mistress. I probably will some day
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I have same taste, i like very much too, this large Smithsonian Bowie (supposedly replica of Jim Bowie's original knife,also in exposition of Smithsonian Museum)..also them 13 inch bladed bowies are super classic design,it's hard to tell what variation (combination) of extras would one get,especially when there is so many choices to be made...according few videos, their edges are extraordinary fine finished.sure is money well spend, this sort of knife will always keep its value... If I'd had one,I would never ever sell it,but give it to my young son, who is teenager now,just to remember that man should never ever give up his knife.
 
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