<a href="http://www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/knives/randall/randall26.jpg"><img src="http://www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/knives/randall/_randall26.jpg" align="right"></a><strong>Why I bought it</strong> (even though I couldn't handle it first):
Randall has a good reputation, all other Randalls I've seen have given a good impression, I wanted a high performance + good looking knife to actually use.
I choose <em>this</em> model instead of the Small Camp and Trail model which also seemed useful for my purposes, and is very similar in size, as this one has the point a bit less dropped and thus more belly to the edge and the grind seems a bit higher up towards the spine making for a smaller angle.
<strong>My first thoughts on unpacking it</strong>:
No, I didn't pay too much. <small>(Which considering what it costs to get it here, our not so very good exchange rate and generally lower incomes certainly is a <em>lot</em> more subjectively than the list price is to an American.)</small>
And: It wants to be used, so let's do it.
Fits my hand very well; No surprise there - the handle is actually assymetrical, practically spot on as I'd've done it. Very good balance and geometry.
I like the packaging; The knife, wrapped in paper, the sharpening stone, the sheath and the manual comes wrapped in a paper with a rubber band around.
The instruction leaflet is clear on what the knife is suitable for and not, and how to care for it.
<strong>Fit and finish</strong>:
Very well made. It's clear it's hand made, as not all angles and surfaces are perfect, which you'll see if you inspect it, but it's in no way in a lower class than custom knives in the same price range. I can't find a fault with either blade, handle nor sheath.
<img src="http://www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/knives/randall/_randall26-sheath.jpg" align="right"><strong>Design</strong>:
Excellent. Whatever you do with it, however you hold it, it feels just right. With one exception - if you place the thumb on the spine when cutting, it will also lie over the edge of the guard. I'm not sure you ever need to hold it like this, as it seem to work just find placing the thumb on the guard itself.
I like the sheath which lets half the handle ride over the belt.
<strong>Performance</strong>:
Well, this is just the initial impressions, so it's a bit early to say especially regarding edge holding, but so far I've put it to a lot of different work which it has done well at. And no, I'm not planning any comparative tests to see exactly how much better carbon steel is than stainless, but perhaps I'll have a subjective opinion in the next installment.
<strong>Basic data</strong>:
<pre>
Steel: Carbon
Blade length: 100 mm
Blade thickness: 4.0 mm
hollow ground with a large radius
Total length: 210 mm
Mass, knife: 0.128 kg
Balance point: 15 mm from the front of the handle
</pre>
Randall has a good reputation, all other Randalls I've seen have given a good impression, I wanted a high performance + good looking knife to actually use.
I choose <em>this</em> model instead of the Small Camp and Trail model which also seemed useful for my purposes, and is very similar in size, as this one has the point a bit less dropped and thus more belly to the edge and the grind seems a bit higher up towards the spine making for a smaller angle.
<strong>My first thoughts on unpacking it</strong>:
No, I didn't pay too much. <small>(Which considering what it costs to get it here, our not so very good exchange rate and generally lower incomes certainly is a <em>lot</em> more subjectively than the list price is to an American.)</small>
And: It wants to be used, so let's do it.
Fits my hand very well; No surprise there - the handle is actually assymetrical, practically spot on as I'd've done it. Very good balance and geometry.
I like the packaging; The knife, wrapped in paper, the sharpening stone, the sheath and the manual comes wrapped in a paper with a rubber band around.
The instruction leaflet is clear on what the knife is suitable for and not, and how to care for it.
<strong>Fit and finish</strong>:
Very well made. It's clear it's hand made, as not all angles and surfaces are perfect, which you'll see if you inspect it, but it's in no way in a lower class than custom knives in the same price range. I can't find a fault with either blade, handle nor sheath.
<img src="http://www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/knives/randall/_randall26-sheath.jpg" align="right"><strong>Design</strong>:
Excellent. Whatever you do with it, however you hold it, it feels just right. With one exception - if you place the thumb on the spine when cutting, it will also lie over the edge of the guard. I'm not sure you ever need to hold it like this, as it seem to work just find placing the thumb on the guard itself.
I like the sheath which lets half the handle ride over the belt.
<strong>Performance</strong>:
Well, this is just the initial impressions, so it's a bit early to say especially regarding edge holding, but so far I've put it to a lot of different work which it has done well at. And no, I'm not planning any comparative tests to see exactly how much better carbon steel is than stainless, but perhaps I'll have a subjective opinion in the next installment.
<strong>Basic data</strong>:
<pre>
Steel: Carbon
Blade length: 100 mm
Blade thickness: 4.0 mm
hollow ground with a large radius
Total length: 210 mm
Mass, knife: 0.128 kg
Balance point: 15 mm from the front of the handle
</pre>
