Randall Fireman's Knife

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Ranger288

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In the civilian world I work as a fire fighter. Does anyone have opinions or have used Randall's Fireman's knife?? How rugged is it? Worth the money? Thanks.
 
Any Randall will be fixed or replaced when used for the intended duty of the model and damaged.I don't think they would offer a knife that was unsuitable for the task at hand.
 
What would a firefighter have to do with a knife that's more abusive or harder than what any normal joe would have to do...
I mean, he would have other tools for those jobs that take more than a knife ie. hooligan tools, pickaxe, and that big stick with a hook on it...

The obvious is cutting seatbelts, clothing, rope and water hose...

I'm not a firefighter so I ask...
 
I think the knife would mainly be used for cutting doughnuts, cake, steak, etc....:D

No, I would probably carry it and use as a general usage knive for cutting cord, rope, fabric, etc..General Firehouse duties, etc...YEah there are other knives that would do the same and maybe even better. BUt it is a randall with the Firemans name so it got me really interested. Curious as to what the stories are behind it and if there are any firefighter out there who carry and use t on the job.
 
I'm not sure what the "powers that be" would think of your carrying a fixed blade knife with you, but I would think that the cost and wait for a Randall would 1) prevent you from wanting to use it too often, and 2) prevent you from walking into an inferno with it. Even if Randall would present you with a brand new knife should you lose or damage it in a fire, the mere damaging of such a knife would drive knife knuts like us batty. The wait for a new knife will also put us off somewhat.

What I would do in your situation, is buy a Randall Firefighter, and keep it in a nice place along with your trophies and memorabilia. Wear it around the firehouse if you wish, but if you need something to use with your turnout gear, try something that you won't mind abusing and won't let you down when you need it the most.

With that in mind, there's hundreds of different choices, but have you looked into the Buck-Strider collaborations... you have fixed blades and folders to choose from.
 
I have several busses that will take a beating and I will use for the fire dept. if need be. BUt the RMK fireman model intrigues me and the waiting period is only one year or sooner as there is red handled one for sale on ebay now. Want I wnat toknow is how this knife holds up?? Thanks. CHad
 
The knife itself will hold up as well as any of the higher quality name knives. What you do get, that you don't get with Busse's, Striders and Reeves, is the over 60 years of legendary performance and history you get with Randall. The only other knife company with a similar past is the Ek Knife company started by John Ek. Both brands of knives were highly sought after by servicemen in World War 2 and beyond. Randall Knives sat in the sheaths of Mercury Astronauts while Franklin D. Roosevelt kept an Ek knife in his desk in what I would like to romanticize was his last ditch weapon (but more probably as a letter opener). Ek knives still adorn the trophy awarded to the winners of the "Best Ranger" competition while people wait upwards of 3 years for their Randall knife. I like to think that when you buy either one of these knives, you're buying a piece of history.
 
Always carry a knife that is worthy of someday saving someone's life or our own ! Buy it use it . I'm about to order one for myself long wait but I hope it will be well worth it .
 
MelancholyMutt said:
What would a firefighter have to do with a knife that's more abusive or harder than what any normal joe would have to do...
I mean, he would have other tools for those jobs that take more than a knife ie. hooligan tools, pickaxe, and that big stick with a hook on it...

The obvious is cutting seatbelts, clothing, rope and water hose...

I'm not a firefighter so I ask...
Click to expand...

A lot would depend on the department and how busy of a company he or she rides on. My Engine runs anywhere from 325-425 calls a month. You would not believe all the silly things my knife gets called on to do.

The situations we find ourselves in are dynamic, and often what we find when we get to the scene does not match what the dispatch notes tell us. Yes, we do have specific tools for specific jobs, but you may not be near the truck when you realize the need for those specific tools. And time may be of the essence.

At a wreck with one-trapped last week, my Spyderco Citadel got plunged (then twisted :eek:) into 4 steel belted radials. My Klein's (dykes sometimes used to pull tire stems) were not in their usual home in my bunker coat, and we needed to lower the car onto step-chocks to stabilize it in preparation for the incoming ladder crew's extrication work.

The knife is the one thing that is ALWAYS on my person. So it often gets stuck doing all manner of things that most people would consider abuse. :)

In regards to the Randall, unless I'm missing something (quite possible), I'm not quite sure what about it makes it specifically a "fireman's knife" other than the name. Looks like your basic hunting knife or whatever. Seems like there are knives out there with more useful features specific to the work we do. But it is still a super cool knife, and that alone is reason enough for me. ;)
 
I just saw the above post. Too funny. I guess we like to think of ourselves as good at bringing things back from the dead :D
 
I am not sure I would carry this knife. There is nothing special about it except it is a Randall and the handle is orange. As a retired FF I would have to pass on this knife for use due to the cost and wait and I have tools better suited for cutting things needed in the job. A small serrated blade with a flat pry tip would be better for fire service if it had a guard. We call them first responder's knives. They look a bit like the cop tool but have a better guard to it.
 
I'm a FF and a Randall Made knife user and collector - I'd recommend an inexpensive quality, yet stout folder instead. Something by CRK&T or Kershaw, or something like broe suggested should do. Hanging a pound of extra gear off your turnouts doesn't make sense for a lot of reasons.
 
The knife would probably hold up fine. I purchased the airman it worked but not like I thought it would. the fireman is smaller but you can't get the sawteeth on the back of the blade. Stephen Lynn made me a knife with the smaller blade, teeth on the back and a spike on the butt for braking glass. Winkler ll makes a knife that would work great.
take it easy
 
It's only been 10 1/2 years...

I guess he could have ordered one, received it, then ordered another one and received that one too.


:rolleyes:
 
Ranger288 said:
In the civilian world I work as a fire fighter. Does anyone have opinions or have used Randall's Fireman's knife?? How rugged is it? Worth the money? Thanks.
Click to expand...
I get bad vibes when wielding this knife. As if the artisan was aiming for something much grander but didn't hit its mark, YMMV...
i-SGcCbSc-XL.jpg


IMHO, whether beating back flames in a towering inferno or feather sticking in the backyard, i recommend the Ray Mears Bushcrafter...
i-Wmcx7RS-XL.jpg
 
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