Possible Model 26 purchase.

Keith Montgomery

Keith Montgomery

Joined
May 9, 2000
Messages
29,205
I am thinking of ordering a Model 26 and am wondering what experience you guys have with this newer model. It looks like a nice all around outdoor knife and I love the lines. Pretty darn reasonable price too.
 
Hello KWM, I had a model 26 with a black micarta handle with brass spacers. I used the knife on two elk hunts. My guide used it and cut his thumb on the "square" edge" of the back of the blade. It was pretty cold and snow on the ground. I took this knife to Switz when I was hiking in the Alps for a field knife. I used it primarly for food preparation, cutting line, and package stuff etc. I sold the knife upon my return. I like the model 8 or the GTR better. I can talk about how I use these knives, but I think you know what I'm saying. Like I said before in my other posts,the joy is not just owning Randalls, but using them and finding the one or three or four[haha] that work best for your hand and intended purpose. I enjoyed collecting, handling and looking at them but taking one in the field is the greatest joy. I did buy another 26 in stag but ended up selling that one too. All the best!
 
KWM, The mod. 26 is one of the most popular RMKs that we sell. It seems to be just the right size for an all around general purpose knife. Give me a call at my shop during the day and I'll give you some additional info on a couple of them that are in on consignment in my shop.
My wife an I personally own about 15 of that one model. My wife wants to get one with every different handle grind that is available. I think you will like the knife very much. Greg
 
Thanks, I really appreciate the advice. I am trying to decide between a #26 and a #5. I like both very much, it is just that the lines of the #26 really caught my eye. If the edges on the top of the blade of the #26 are quite sharp I do not think that I would be interested. I tend to push on the top of the blade with my thumb and don't want to get cuts.
 
Well if this is a user, just use the supplied stone to file the edge down a little bit, no big deal here. I just performed this "operation" on my other knife.

Barnaby
 
You're right of course, but I would rather have RMK do it than me. When I do it I am modifying the knife, when they do it, it becomes part of the design.

Sorry if I sound whiney, but I just think that it makes sense to round the edges of the top of the blade slightly on a user knife.
 
Hi once once again. I was impressed with the wisdom of your reply. I would like to make a couple more comments just so Mr. Melven-Purvis doesn't get after me for being quiet.[wink] IN regards to picking out a "USER" Randall, you will never realy know if you like it, until you USE the knife for your purpose. But since it IS a Randall, you will never LOOSE if you are not quite satisfied. I did grind the back of the blade round on my 26 after my hunt. But using the Pathfinder, it never felt quite right in MY hand. Yours might be completely different. I used to have [still do from what I hear from friends] a reputation in the elk camp about my sharpening ability and assortment of knives . I would always have 3 in the field, [ pocket knife, small Nesmuk knife, and a 5" or 6"]. In camp, I would have one or two more for skinning and butchering. My keepers for hunting if anyone really cares, are......
Model 3 5", Model 4 6", Model 5 5", Model 7 5"[my favorite], Model 23 4 1/2", Model 25 5", Model 21, [I'm sorry I sold my model 20] and of course a Model 10 for preping the meat. I own and use MANY other Randall's but those are my hunting users. I don't collect [or maybe I still do come to think of it] but I USE what I have. I love a Randall made knife and I know why theyr'e great because I found out by field testing them all! both in the military and in the field stateside, and in other countries as a "civilian type". Im still in the process of ridding myself of cutom made knives but all the Randalls that I didn't use, went like hotcakes!!!

My point is to buy what ever you think you might like, and if you change your mind, no problem move to the next one. I will tell you from exprience, that you will have more fun than ever, trying them all, as long as the money holds out! All the best and good luck on your choice!
 
My suggestion to you would be to find one of the mod. 26s somewhere and pick it up and hold it in your hand. I have used that kinfe to skin several deer and have never had a problem with cutting my thumb, and the one I used had not been stoned to round off the back edge. I have never heard any one else say that either and as I said we have sold a lot of them. Most likely it's the way the knife is being held. If it is a problem that is being experienced by others I'm sure that the shop will look into the problem and Correct it. As I said find someone who has one and try it out. Greg
 
Greg, I have spoke to you over the phone, so please don't be offended. I told Pete years ago about the problem with the new Randalls. He said to me, that the shop had to compete with the new customs with definite "lines" and crisp [paraphrashing]workmanship. I like the old knives,round edges, balanced, finished, smoother. The grind lines are different now,[sharp pronounced edges] bevels deeper, more in handle shapes. I let freinds who are not knife people handle my Randall's from the sixities and early seventies and eveyone comments they like the "FEEL" of those knives better. To each their own, but unbiased men are better at grading the worth. No insult intended. I hope you understand the new Randalls are different. "Some" think for the better. All the best.
 
;) Sams, As you said to each his own,and I will agree with that, and I will stick by what I said in my previous post. I suggest that the knife be handled by the person. We sell more mod 26s than any other RMK bar none and this is the first time I have heard this being said. We have a lot of customers who are old RMK fanatics and think that the new ones are no good and vice versa. Things change as do the times and usually for a reason. That is why the cars of today don't look or drive like the cars of 10 years ago. Not all will agree with the reasons for making those changes. However you can't argue with the success that RMK has had with the changes that they have made. They have gone from a 1 yr. wait for a knife to a current 3 year wait.
Please don't think that I am offended by an honest open discussion on a topic. It is always good to hear other opinions on a topic. If I find out that there is indeed a problem that needs to be addressed I will certainly bring it to the attention of the RMK shop. After all in we are a Randall dealer as well as the sheath maker, and want them to offer the best possibly product that they can. Greg
 
I really appreciate all the input I have gotten and still think that the #26 is a great looking knife. I wish there was some place fairly close that I could go and handle one. Unfortunately I don't think that there is a Randall dealer in my area.

I am waiting to get a brochure so that I will no what options I can get on this knife and what they will cost. Hopefully I will be headed down to Orlando with the family to go to Disney World. If so I really want to stop by RMK and get to handle as many knives as possible.
 
The Model 26 is also one of the one's on my list to buy. In fact it will probably be orded in the next month or so. If I have to brake the edges on the top so be it. It will be a user and a hand me down to one of the kids in 20 or 30 years (if all goes as I want it to). Nickel Silver hilt, name etch and the handle off the Model 25. That or Ivory Micarta.

Ted
 
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