Thinking about a Randall. Are they up to serious use?

tiogatires

tiogatires

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I've been carrying a Busse NMSFNO for quite some time. It's a beast! I can't get my mind off of a Randall 25-6 though and since I have no experience with the brand, am looking for input. Are Randall knives beyond simple beauty? Are they up to serious use? Has anyone ever put their's to the test? Pics!!
 
tio- Do you recall the Randall torture test from the Broh in Italy?
Get one!!
 
Randals are apparently epic. They didn't earn their reputation based on fluff

For "serious use" you kinda need to specify what kind of serious. If you're going to be abusing it and beating it with things, i personally would go with a Busse, but i'm sure a Randall is up to the task
 
You know of any other knives selected to be issued to Astronauts by NASA for the Space Missions?

Rather than some brands just having fanboys baton their knives or chop into concrete as "torture" tests, Randall Make Knives have been carried & used in every single war (and police action) that the USA has been in since WWII.
 
CWL said:
You know of any other knives selected to be issued to Astronauts by NASA for the Space Missions?
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Question is what did they do with them. Were they actually used? How long and for what? Just the fact that they went up there doesn't tell much.
 
Randalls are well made knives. I would have no hesitation beating on one other than it's a Randall. They are 01 which can take a beating.
 
Gator97 said:
Question is what did they do with them. Were they actually used? How long and for what? Just the fact that they went up there doesn't tell much.
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Maybe it's the schools nowadays, but you probably didn't get any education of what the US Space Program was like, it's not just the Astronauts that are rigorously tested before qualification.

NASA qualified tools and equipment are selected like everything used in Space Missions, they get beaten worse than some skoolkid with a wooden baton could ever do. They were issued so Astronauts can cut themselves out of a space capsule and then possibly survive in a hostile environment until help arrives. The testing is far worse than actual use could ever be.
 
TriviaMonster said:
Randalls are well made knives. I would have no hesitation beating on one other than it's a Randall. They are 01 which can take a beating.
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Randalls are old school. They are designed and made to be used and hold up to whatever you need to use them for. Beyond the use of O1, my understanding is that they use FORGED O1 which should take the toughness one step higher. I wouldn't have any qualms about relying on one, but they are relatively expensive these days. Nothing wrong with paying the price and using one for what it was intended for, just take care not to lose it. They are one thing that you can purchase, use, and intend to keep in the family as an heirloom.

Blackjack and others have copied the classic Randall style. My understanding is that some of the Blackjack knives are well made and make good users for much less price than the Randalls. (I have a couple of those too.)

I have 3 Randalls in my collection right now, 2 that were bought as users. I have not used them myself but I could and it would not affect their value.

DSC_7079b.jpg
 
As others have stated, Randall Made Knives are the real deal, just a bit expensive.


I prefer to beat on the similar but less expensive BlackJack Classic Blades series.





Big Mike
 
Randalls? Nah. They're pieces of junk.

Just don't mess with me while I've got this in my hand.:D

Randall12-9-14-25Lunde.jpg
 
Randalls are great knives and were THE knife to have for a very long time in the military. I think with the availability of custom knives like Busse, Winkler, Jay Fisher, etc. Randalls became just one of several options available. With the current 5 year waiting list, most people like us just can't wait that long for something we need to use at work.

The two Randalls I do own, a 1 and a 18 sit safely in my safe. They have too much sentimental value to use any longer and will be passed down to my children.
 
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I'm finally gonna' do it. I'm gonna' sign up for the five-year wait.
 
CWL said:
Maybe it's the schools nowadays, but you probably didn't get any education of what the US Space Program was like, it's not just the Astronauts that are rigorously tested before qualification.
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Thank you, my education is fine, and even though I have masters deg. in Math and comp science, I did get pretty good education on US Space program, mainly because I was interested in all things space related. Having said that, I have never seen any accounts of knife testing for space program, which would be very interesting.

CWL said:
NASA qualified tools and equipment are selected like everything used in Space Missions, they get beaten worse than some skoolkid with a wooden baton could ever do.
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Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Still, I'd rather know some facts vs. generic "rigorous tests". Especially that a knife is not astronauts primary working tool. At least in their "astronauty" work, they try to stay away from all things sharp, because the gloves on space suits are the most vulnerable parts, small tear could be potentially lethal.

CWL said:
They were issued so Astronauts can cut themselves out of a space capsule and then possibly survive in a hostile environment until help arrives. The testing is far worse than actual use could ever be.
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Cut themselves out of space capsule? As in through ceramic plates, titanium alloys and such? I doubt that :) As for the survival of the astronauts using aforementioned knife, that would be on earth, and probably in the conditions other knives and humans would face as well. O1 at 56GRC is still O1, in space or on earth, same for 440B.

Anyhow, point is it all was about 40-50 years ago, and Randall knives have not changed much since then, while tons of new alloys appeared. I don't buy an argument that because a knife was used in space program, it is a still top choice today, 50 years later. Yes they are part of history, and have considerable value for collectors, but other than that, from performance point of view, that're not the top choice.
 
Ive used my 28 on a few deer, and it worked admirably for lowly old 440 steel. I'll use it this year too. I like carrying a knife that cost more than my gun. :D

I was actually rather impressed.

It is ground to actually cut things, too. That seems to be turning into a rather rare trait.
 
It is a well documented fact that the Randall Astro was designed for dispatching Martians. You guys are both wrong.

Prof.
 
Guyon said:
I'm finally gonna' do it. I'm gonna' sign up for the five-year wait.
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Cool. I've seen your taste in knives and I bet you will option it out nicely.
 
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