Randall Knife Steel

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mes228

Joined
Feb 9, 2004
Messages
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This post was prompted by the earlier thread on Randall knives and are they worth the money. One of the things I really like about the Randalls I've had is the steel. It's not a whiz bang new steel but it takes an extremely sharp edge in a "heart beat" and hold it quite well. It seems, in my opinion, a really balanced combination of qualities for a "using" knife. I've had several knives in
D-2, 01 (not just Randall's 01), 154cm, 440C, Puma stainless, Buck stainless, Queen stainless, and a vast array of unknown carbon steels. Doziers D-2 is good and his sheaths are great (love the slim profile of his knives) but in the end I still feel the Randalls are better "balanced" in the combination of edge retention, ease of sharpening, and taking a really sharp edge. I think Randall's steel is a simple 01 Swedish Tool Steel. Maybe it's in the heat treating but they simply perform well in the real world. Many of the advances in steel are a lot of ink on paper, or so it seems to me. Just my opinion but it is based on actually using the knives I've owned. Best regards and have a great day.
 
mes228 said:
This post was prompted by the earlier thread on Randall knives and are they worth the money. One of the things I really like about the Randalls I've had is the steel. It's not a whiz bang new steel but it takes an extremely sharp edge in a "heart beat" and hold it quite well. It seems, in my opinion, a really balanced combination of qualities for a "using" knife. I've had several knives in
D-2, 01 (not just Randall's 01), 154cm, 440C, PumaI stainless, Buck stainless,
Queen stainless, and a vast array of unknown caIrbon steels. Doziers D-2 is good and his sheaths are great (love the slim profile of his knives) but in the end I still feel the Randalls are better "balanced" in the combination of edge retention, ease of sharpening, and taking a really sharp edge. I think Randall's

steel is a simple 01 Swedish Tool Steel. Maybe it's in the heat treating but they simply perform well in the real world. Many of the advances in steel are a lot of ink on paper, or so it seems to me. Just my opinion but it is based on actually using the knives I've owned. Best regards and have a great day.
Click to expand...

I have had Randals also. A #1. And some may laugh, but the CS R1 holds and takes abetter edge. IMO.
 
I have always liked Randall knives. I grew up in Kissimmee FL, and my family knew the Randalls. I often visited the shop with my Dad.

My modest few Randall made knives are all well used, and all are made with the O1 steel. I sure wish Gary would expand their material selection, and start using some newer steel though. I can only imagine how well a Model One would work, in S3V.
Certainly, they could bring in a better, more modern stainless. 440B is SO yesterday. :o
 
Sam, since most Randall knives are forged (Model 10 excepted), could 3V be forged? It is a great steel.
 
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