Practical using Randall

B

barnaby

Joined
Jan 5, 1999
Messages
78
I noticed the most popular Randall style (at least in the buy & sell section) is the original fighter (#1) and its variations. I myself have a #16, and yes I've absolute confidence in it if I've to fight for my life with a knife. However I use my knife for camping only, and at 1/4" with a sabar grind, it does not slice well.

I used to chop firewood with my knife when I go camping, but lately I learnt from my neighbour and will do it the easy way. So for easy camping chore, I'm thinking of a thinner blade with a (close to) flat grind. I like the profile of #25, only if it were available in 3/16" stock. I'm now tempting to buy a #22, has anybody owned and used a #22 before? Is it too thin for camp chore, like opening a tin can? I'm open to all suggestions.
 
I have a 5" model 3 that I have owned for about 25 years, it's an excellent knife, but after having examined a model 7, I believe if I had it to do over again I would have chosen the 5" model 7, for it's thinner blade. The model 22 looks like a nice knife though.
 
If there's a knife made that's too thin to open a tin can it isn't made by Randall.

-Cougar :{)
 
barnaby, reconsider the #25. The one I had (#25-6) had a great flat grind on most of the knife and the thickest place on the finished knife was .22". Randall starts with .25 (¼) stock but through forging, grinding, and buffing, it is reduced. The thickest knife (measured at the ricasso) I owned was a model #14 at .23". My 25-6 really does look more like a 3/16" knife.

Bruce Woodbury
 
How about the #26 Pathfinder? 4" blade, 3/16 stock, kind of a shrunken #25. You can even have the #25 handle on it. Nice little knife.

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It's always darkest before the dawn. So if you plan to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
 
My stomach knots to read that you use your knife to open cans. Buy a handfull of p-38s, a four blade camper model pocket knife, your favorite swiss army or take the can opener from your kitchen but PLEASE do not use your knife to open cans. A small hatchet chops better, too.

Thank you for your time.
 
Barnaby....I own a 5" #25 and I think either a 5 or a 6 incher would suit you well. I think the 22 is fine, but I think the dropped point might suit you better. Like Bruce said, the forging process reduces the perceived thickness of the blade substantially without sacrificing the strength 1/4" stock affords, and the 25's grind slices really well. Yes, you COULD open a can with one no problem, but please, use something else if you have it.
smile.gif
 
Thanks for your suggestions, sounds like the #25 is a good choice. I'll see if I can arrange the whole family a trip to Disney, Florida. Just want to feel it in my hand before making the decision.

It seems to me that my way of using the #16 raised quite a few eyebrows. At first I was using it for cutting "easy" materials only, like rope, meat, vegetable etc, just because it is expensive and I waited a long time for it. But then I asked myself, why do I need a 1/4" thick pry bar with an edge that weights 14oz and claimed by Randall to be "as nearly indestructible as possible"? I've been using my Puma Deer Hunter for opening cans for many years, and I can tell you from experience that if you do it properly, you can do it with even thinner blades without causing any harm to your knife.
 
I have a 6" Hunter's Bowie, one of the myriad # 12s, that I have owned for near 40 years and I have used it for a hunting knife, a kitchen knife, a camp knife, a butcher knife, and, on rare occassions, a carving knife. It is a little too thick for the latter, but it will work. It does not make the best skinner, not enough belly, but it does nearly everything else well, including splitting small kindling.

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
 
If you've got a #16 already, why not consider the #10. The blade is thin enough to slice, comes in 3",5", and 7" with rosewood or Micarta handle and is about half the price of the heavier duty forged blades.

phantom4

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who dares, wins


 
Like Hugh, I use my knife to do everything. Yes small hatchet chops better than a knife, and a #10 definitely slices better. However I don't want to carry more than one knife. There are people who carry a 60+ lbs backpack all day, unfortunately I'm not one of them, so I'm willing to compromise on what I can carry.

So far the #16 can do almost anything, except it will not skin a fish for me, and that is important in the wilderness since I'm not a hunter.

[This message has been edited by barnaby (edited 07-21-2000).]
 
Couple of points. 1) If you go to Orlando to but your Randall, you pay Fla. Sales Tax on top of the price.
2) Last time I was in Orlando(Easter, 2000), Randall had NO knives in their showcases... None! They told me they were at 18 months order time.
Order it now and have it shipped next winter.

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Mark, Isiah 40:31 They that wait on the LORD shall mount up with wings as eagles...
 
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