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

I don't care if they can't cut melted butter. I just want to wait five years on a knife and say I did it. :D
If I can off a Martian when it's all said it done, well then that just puts me in the BONUS. :p
440C with a good heat treatment is fine steel. Sharpens easily, holds an edge, and has good corrosion resistance.
Just because it's not "PolyChromeMagnumLookHowBigMyDingDongIs" steel doesn't mean it's not a good, working steel.
 
You guys are getting dangerously close to where the chiclets start getting dispensed here. Settle it down RIGHT NOW or deal with the consequences.

Jason, that's obviously not directed towards you.
 
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Professor said:
It is a well documented fact that the Randall Astro was designed for dispatching Martians. You guys are both wrong.

Prof.
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Martians are easy. Short little buggers. It's those Jupiterites you gotta worry about.

The Astro is a cool knife, but I doubt much for abuse compared to others. The tang is is pretty weak looking.
 
Samael said:
You guys are getting dangerously close to where the chiclets start getting dispensed here. Settle it down RIGHT NOW or deal with the consequences.

Jason, that's obviously not directed towards you.
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There is nothing that needs moderating here. You need to let the actual moderators of the site handle issues.
 
It's not my favorite knife, no. But in a pinch, I'll bet I'd be happy to have it.
 
tiogatires said:
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!!
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I'll admit I don't see many beat-up Randalls, probably because they have such inherent collector's value connected to condition.
Google Image "Randall knife," and you'll see what I mean.
Wouldn't it be a hoot if they stopped heat treating them years ago because no one ever uses them? :D :D
Now, before anyone gets hot under the collar, I don't believe that for a second.

Here's one that has seen some use: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/954592-Old-Randall-Fighting-Knife
 
That Martian crack WAS a little out of line. We may have a few Martians who post here. Especially in Prac Tac.
 
Randalls are amazingly tough knives. Gary Powers was carrying a model 8-4 on him when his U2 spy plane was shot down over Russia in the 60's and a soldier in Somalia in 93 was carrying a Airman 15 when a bullet from an AK47 hit it and saved his life. Lots of soldiers have carried them for decades because of their reputation. I have a model 8-4 I got on my 40th birthday and it has seen LOTS of use and never gave me reason to doubt it's toughness. Whether collecting or using, you can't go wrong with a Randall...Jim
 
tidefan said:
I have a model 8-4 I got on my 40th birthday and it has seen LOTS of use and never gave me reason to doubt it's toughness. Whether collecting or using, you can't go wrong with a Randall...Jim
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Jim, I'd love to see it if you have pictures. Like I said above, collector pics of new Randalls seem a lot more common than old users, but I really like to see the old ones. :thumbup:
 
I've always loved Randalls. Classic and tough. I had a model 5 in 01 that was the heat. Sold it likes dummy.

As far as Martians are concerned, though they may indeed frequent Prac Tac and the Bali subforums, I'm still wary. Ever really watched one at a bar? Methinks they're actually watching you.
 
I had a couple of Randall 14's years ago one with the standard blade and a spearpoint blade with the sawteeth. I carried the standard 14 deer hunting a couple of years and actually used it to hack open a 10 pointers ribcage after i harvested him.

It was in O-1steel and did a great job no nicks or dents but it was a little on the large side for field dressing deer. I just wish they would do away with swedges on some of their knives. I'd really like to have a 25-5 with just a leather handle. Just kind of plain and simple but with a nickle guard.

My brother-n-law was a Marine and had a 14 he carried in Nam when he shipped out back to the states he made it but his 14 was missing. I think he even may have had his name on the blade. I know he was pretty upset and rightfully so but who knows where it ended up.
 
I have had two Randalls, the model 1 with the commando style handle in 7 inches with 01 steel and the model 14 ( just over 7 inches ) with 440B steel and the black finger grooved handle.

The first thing I liked was the lightness and balance and feel of the blades. The Model one commando grip was particularly good. The Model 14 was good in a standard grip but a bit limiting because of the finger grooves.

Of the two steels the 01 tool steel was the most impressive in edge holding and ease of sharpening. I definately liked this one the best. Probably down to the grip which was superb but also the level of use it could take before needing to be topped up on the edge.

I owned these back in the 1980's ... we had a guy who was a gunsmith over here in the UK who was in to custom knives ... he would bring them back from shows ... or acquired them from other means ... they were my first "custom" knives I bought ... the model one I would rate very highly in that configuration.

They were famous back then and very expensive ... dollar prices were being asked for in pounds over here ... I had a khukri on my webbing back then and whilst I considered dropping it and using the model one I could'nt get my kit insured for the cost of the knife ... so it never got used as I wanted to and then I traded them both for a Lile Rambo II knife that Frank ( the gunsmith ) brought in. Whilst I regret losing that model one the deal was the best thing I have ever done in "deals". I sold that Rambo II some years later for such a profit it bought my first motorbike.

I would definately recommend a Model One in the configuration I had.
 
Here is one that has been a user for right at 30 years. Its my fathers. O1 and has been all you can ask for in a hunting knife, and worth much more than was paid for it 30 years ago.

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I got out of the Army in 1985.I got a model 8 in 1986.I have used every year since.I love.It does what a knife should do,CUT.If you need to chop concrete or steel,I would get something else.You can get them on ebay or AG Russel.No waiting.
 
Donald Clay said:
I got out of the Army in 1985.I got a model 8 in 1986.I have used every year since.I love.It does what a knife should do,CUT.If you need to chop concrete or steel,I would get something else.You can get them on ebay or AG Russel.No waiting.
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I wonder why people always add this. Who the heck "needs" to do that? Some people just want a bit tougher knife than some. And some are just asking.
 
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d762nato said:
It was in O-1steel and did a great job no nicks or dents but it was a little on the large side for field dressing deer. I just wish they would do away with swedges on some of their knives. I'd really like to have a 25-5 with just a leather handle. Just kind of plain and simple but with a nickle guard.

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If you are prepared to wait on an order from RMK then they will customise the blade grind to some degree. I ordered a 1-7 and a 5-6 from them a few years back with a dull top edge to avoid some importation and ownership issues re definitions of 'daggers'. There was no additional cost.
 
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