How tough are Randall knives?

Leftytwogunz said:
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.
Randall3501402FEBf.jpg
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You know, if I order a Randall one day, this will be the exact configuration.

That's just sexy.
 
A few posts back I noticed a question about RMK's hidden tang dimensions. All the Randalls except for the #18 have full length tangs, less a little if a compass is installed. All the units ordered with a butt cap are threaded. The smaller knives have a 3/8 tang, cut down tang military models have a 1/2 inch tang. I came across a guy with a handleless 12-9, he measured the tang for me and said it was "about 5/8 inch". The thickness is the size of the stock, 3/16, 1/4, or 3/8. The models that require wider tangs evidently receive them. Hope this helps.
 
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I havent put my Randall knife through any destruction test and dont see any reason to. Randall knives will hold up to what ever use, they were intended to stand up to depending on the configuration of the various knife models.

Randall has made gorgeous knives for generations; they know what they are doing. IMO quality hasnt slipped over the years either. Others might know more about this side of the Randall story, as Ive only handled a limited amount of Randall knives from various decades.

marcinek said:
That's incorrect. Even Randall doesn't claim that.

http://www.randallknives.com/knives/model-12-smithsonian-bowie/

The Iron Mistress knife has nothing to do with actual recorded history of Bowie era knives, let alone the Sandbar knife.

Read this.

http://www.tamu.edu/faculty/ccbn/dewitt/adp/history/bios/bowie/knife_like_bowies.html

More Knife 101 to study.
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Marci, stop bringing facts into the discussion, its annoying:D:cool:

That aside, I still shake my head in wonder over some of the knives attributed to Bowie. Outrageous swept clips, blade catching strips along the spine, fancy guards, champagne cork popping swords look-a-likes.

A far cry from what Bowies knives looked like .....let alone the sandbar knife, as you say. That was most likely a butcher knife/skinner akin to a large kitchen knife in appearance.
 
Randalls are well made, of good materials. They are not magic blades though, and like every other knife out there, they can have issues.
I have been using a #11 for more than 25 years now, field dressing game, and processing the meat. Other than a slight roll on the edge, it has never let me down. O1 steel.
My Model 14 has seen duty as a camp knife, and as a woods bumming knife. It is also O1 steel, and after 10 years of rough use, it cleans up like new.
 
Not many knives have songs about them. Especially by a genius like Guy Clark.

/www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY5MOUO464Q
 
Same as Mannlicher, my #25- 6 trapper has processed a lot of game from Buffalo, Elephant, Hippo etc and always been a great performing knife. I use the knife myself and never loan it to skinners as they will "sharpen" the blade as a "favour" when they hand it back.
It is used for what it was designed to do- cutting, and that it does extremely well.
 
I am very interested in purchasing a Randall, so I went to their site and read up on the knives and all the materials they use...I really want to know about the steel Randall uses, it seems vague to me on their site, all it says is a 1.00% Carbon stainless steel? I want to know more about Randall's steel, what is it exactly what type of steel is it closest to?
 
JJaggar said:
I am very interested in purchasing a Randall, so I went to their site and read up on the knives and all the materials they use...I really want to know about the steel Randall uses, it seems vague to me on their site, all it says is a 1.00% Carbon stainless steel? I want to know more about Randall's steel, what is it exactly what type of steel is it closest to?
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I believe they use stainless 440B and carbon O1 tool steel...There was a word about steels in different topic and some guys considered 440C (which I believe is tougher steel than 440B) as a junk steel...when it comes to Randall, nobody would say they use junk steel,because of name and origin of company.Variety of 440s are used by some of very high end companies and knifemakers,what can not be undermined in any way.Legend companies such as Solingen and Puma in Germany use this grade of stainless steel and also many knifemakers such as Gil Hibben.

Despite this,steel grade is not all what matters,but heat treatment too play a major part in it...Even lesser quality, cheaper steel can show superior performance,due to better heat treatment...

From what I have read so far,I would have full confidence in Randall knives that they are made, to be used.Yes,the steels doesn't justify their prices,but I think,their fit and finish coupled what supposed to be great performance abilities and name after all somehow justify fact,that these knives are still in high demand and play key role in history of knives overall and also traditions related to US patriotism and heritage,which is less important fact for non US buyers.As one can see,resale value of these knives is very high, you will probably get for the knife more than you paid on the market.

I am also currently considering to place order for two of these models and that's why I am trying to find out something more about these knives.This is definitely one of the brands to be trusted, but I do think,there are plenty of tougher knives brands for lesser price on the current market.With Randalls, you are getting a lot of history and name instead and top finish too I think....
 
20151214_184510.jpgThis is a Randall that my dad carried in WWII. Made in Springfield, Ma. View attachment 600135[/ATTACH] We cleared trail, gutted hogs, cut fire wood. He gave it to me about 25 years ago. I was at a flea market and found a guy selling new Randall sheaths as seconds for a few bucks. I bought one but this knife just was better fitted to the original sheath.
 

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glassguy said:
View attachment 600138This is a Randall that my dad carried in WWII. Made in Springfield, Ma. View attachment 600135[/ATTACH] We cleared trail, gutted hogs, cut fire wood. He gave it to me about 25 years ago. I was at a flea market and found a guy selling new Randall sheaths as seconds for a few bucks. I bought one but this knife just was better fitted to the original sheath.
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Woow! That's about 70 years old blade, probably went through harsh use,still holding well judging by its photo! Great testimonial on Randalls, thank you man!
 
Seriousbladeno1 said:
I believe they use stainless 440B and carbon O1 tool steel...There was a word about steels in different topic and some guys considered 440C (which I believe is tougher steel than 440B) as a junk steel...when it comes to Randall, nobody would say they use junk steel,because of name and origin of company.......
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Whaaaaat......?

440 is vastly underrated.

Modern super steels offers significant advantages over various grades of 440 steel, but that does not change the fact, that generations of users had knives in 440 and they did just fine with them.

I guess because nobody was there to tell them, that they couldnt build anything let alone survive using their 'carp' steel knives.

I like modern 'super' steels as much as the next guy, but steel snobbery should not leave us blind to the facts (that an old type of steel can be used to good effect and perform well even if it isnt a modern super steel).
 
Randall knives are a big part of recent knife history and picking up a Randall is part of the hobby for many. The price keeps me away now, but Randall's were in fact one of my gateway knives (brand) that pushed me into the higher end knives back in the late 1980's. I thought they were expensive then too.

Randall knives were one of my choices for a "survival knife" back in the days of plentiful Rambo knives at gun and knife shows. Back in the 90's, a trip to Blade often resulted in acquisition of a new Randall knife for me. Now you seldom can find them at shows except for the older ones mostly on display. I attended Blade the first time and didn't even realize it was "the" Blade show. But it has grown since the early days.
 
22-rimfire said:
Randall knives are a big part of recent knife history and picking up a Randall is part of the hobby for many. The price keeps me away now, but Randall's were in fact one of my gateway knives (brand) that pushed me into the higher end knives back in the late 1980's. I thought they were expensive then too.

Randall knives were one of my choices for a "survival knife" back in the days of plentiful Rambo knives at gun and knife shows. Back in the 90's, a trip to Blade often resulted in acquisition of a new Randall knife for me. Now you seldom can find them at shows except for the older ones mostly on display. I attended Blade the first time and didn't even realize it was "the" Blade show. But it has grown since the early days.
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If you could share some pictures of Randalls would be great.I think, when it comes to price, - name,fact they are rare,waiting period and overall reputation and history, I was actually surprised, they don't cost more...
 
BladeScout said:
Whaaaaat......?

440 is vastly underrated.

Modern super steels offers significant advantages over various grades of 440 steel, but that does not change the fact, that generations of users had knives in 440 and they did just fine with them.

I guess because nobody was there to tell them, that they couldnt build anything let alone survive using their 'carp' steel knives.

I like modern 'super' steels as much as the next guy, but steel snobbery should not leave us blind to the facts (that an old type of steel can be used to good effect and perform well even if it isnt a modern super steel).
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I agree with you.What is however still confusing me is the way Randall factory is making blades.Some sources claim, these knives are handmade and forged....

So are Randall knives made by entirely forging method and hammer marks are grinded off, or are these knives made by stock removal method out of files of steel???

I find it somehow difficult to believe they are hand forged...as their price would be possibly higher, don't you think so? Maybe I am wrong, just my tought
 
Cool thread...I've often wondered similarly if Randall knives are actually intrinsically worth their long waits & price tags. For me personally, the answer is very respectfully no. But that really has much more to do with my love for the great custom makers of fixed blades here on BF. I can get the exact knife I want, pay & wait less, so it's an easy choice for me, esp. since I lack a personal affinity for or connection to the brand. It's such an interesting topic though...a knife company that has played an important role in helping to keep us free, one with a sterling reputation built by all of the men who've chosen to use one over the decades....but how do they really stack up in a knife world that has taken quantum leaps forward in the meantime? Again, very cool thread, & as I read thru all four pages, I enjoyed the moderators stepping in & setting things right before the thread was able to nose dive - great moderating!....if that's a thing.
 
Seriousbladeno1 said:
I agree with you.What is however still confusing me is the way Randall factory is making blades.Some sources claim, these knives are handmade and forged....

So are Randall knives made by entirely forging method and hammer marks are grinded off, or are these knives made by stock removal method out of files of steel???

I find it somehow difficult to believe they are hand forged...as their price would be possibly higher, don't you think so? Maybe I am wrong, just my tought
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Once again, here are how Randall knives are made:

http://www.randallknives.com/knife-construction/

Third time's a charm!
 
On some of my knives you can see and feel the ripple of the hammer strikes on the blade.
 
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