Randall quality....

[Meerkat4848]

Was at a flea market yesterday and was discussing Randall Knives with a gentleman. He stated that Randall knives are "no longer what they used to be." He couldn't give me definitive answers as to why the ones made post 1960's are not as good. But in his humble opinion the ones made today don't match up to the ones made during the Vietnam era.

Any input folks? I would think a quality made knife "then" is a quality made knife "now."

 

[cut_n_run]

I would tend to agree with that gentleman to some degree. "Quality" can have different aspects: quality of design, quality of ruggedness, quality of looks, etc. ...

While I feel Randall knives of today have most of the "quality" aspects which they had in years past, and have even improved in some areas (consistency, for instance), I feel that the Model #1 which I bought in the early 1960's is the "best" and highest-"quality" of the Model #1's in my collection. (My other Model #1's are from the late-1980's and the mid-2000's.) The 1960's knife has a slightly tilted handle that looks just right, and feels just right in the hand. The blade has a gradual choil, and the blade has a softer and more rounded shape. The more modern knives are straighter, and somewhat "stiffer"-looking to my eye. Of course, this is only my view, and you (or the gentleman) might well look at and handle these same knives, and arrive at a different opinion.

(Note: if the gentleman was making his comment because he feels that Randall knives were not as good after Gary took over the business from Bo, I would totally disagree.)

-Steve

 

[sams]

The finishing is different now on the newer knives. Some don't like the precise grinds, and better polishing.

 

[willis]

Yesterdays silver soldering often had bubbles and was uneven.Todays knives have very neat silver soldering around blade at hilt.Back in 1965 the steels used were cutting edge, it never broke so RMK didn't fix it and the O-1 and 440 steels still combine good edge retention and ease of resharpening just like the ones back in the 60's.The grinds are more precise and sharply defined now unlike the softer more rounded countours on the vintage knives.Still a good knife to either hang on your belt and use or to stick in a safe and get more valuable every year.

 

[cut_n_run]

Yesterdays silver soldering often had bubbles and was uneven.Todays knives have very neat silver soldering.

Interesting point, Willis. After reading your post, I took out several knives to look more closely at the soldering. As you said, I found that all the more recent ones have very neat, even soldering. On some knives from the 1960's to 1980's, the soldering does show occasional small bubbles and in some cases is slightly uneven.

 

[bart1]

There is a lot of lore , and the most common is people telling you Bo made this, and now that he's gone , it's not made as well.... I think they are as good as they ever have been, as far as quantifiabilty goes, but I really like the looks of an older grind.... Bart