Always wanted but never considered buying until now, I'm looking for a quality fixed blade knife.The Randall model 1 with 7 inch stainless blade seems to fit my needs.Are there any other quality knives by other makers I should consider? The more l research the more confusing it is.Are there others or just get the Randall?

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SWCA#2288
SWHF#407

I'm a Randall fan. I recently purchased a Battle Horse (formerly Blind Horse) Knives Bushcrafter. Jury is still out.

I'm a Randall fan. (did I already say that?) I don't believe you'll ever regret buying your Randall, but there are many custom makers out there. Go someplace where you can handle several before you decide.

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James L. "Jim" Rhiner

go with the Randall as you can always get your money out of it, and I make knives myself, hand forged and Damascus blades.

If you like the Randall Model 1 style but don't want to spend that kinda money look at the Cold Steel Military Classic. One of the nicest knives made for the money and they hold their value as well.

It all depends what you plan to do with it. Are you going to use it for a primary wilderness tool? Are you going to split wood with a baton or dig pits or pry resin knots or use it to open cans, etc? Will you use a knife that costs several hundred bucks to do that? Do you want something to admire and maybe open an envelope or slice an apple? It it going to be carried long distances on foot? It it going to be used constantly in a salty/humid environment? Do you need a knife to prep food in camp or a big chopper for the bush?...Knives are tools and as with any other tool, they are designed to do different jobs...Its rather like saying, "I want a rifle. What should I get?"...I would certainly do plenty of research before dropping substantial money on a knife. Perhaps, you may try some various less expensive versions of the major types and when you find one you like, then consider spending more on a semi or custom blade.

Good questions there.

A Randall 1 is a hell of a knife. I have an 8 inch model. But frankly with 1/4" thick blade stock it's not much of a slicer even though it takes a great edge. Randall doesn't call it a "general purpose fighter" for nothing. I suspect it works very well for that purpose though I hope I never have to find out! If a fighter is what you need look no further...but as an all around knife there are likely better choices.

I think Frizzman's idea of working backward from what you'd use the knife for is a good strategy. And there's nothing like getting your hands on a few to see how they feel to you.

I'd never try to talk anybody out of getting a Randall; they make several models that would serve as excellent all purpose sheath knives. I'm knife rich and don't really NEED another but someday I'll get a Model 5 or a 26.

But if you really want a Model 1, snag it.

The advice above to decide what you want/need the knife for is critical to your ultimate satisfaction.

I feel your pain. I went through this process last year when deciding on a general purpose knife for my "get home bag." Money was not much of an issue, but value and usefulness were. Like you, I looked at them all, from Randalls and other "custom" knives to off-the-shelf items with good reviews/reputations, all the way down to the mini K-Bar.

The arguments and opinions you will encounter regarding the steels used by the makers can drive you buggy. Stainless steel or carbon? What kind of stainless? Did so-and-so change their heat treating? Is there a shortage of such-and-such steel now? Hobbyists and theorists on the one hand versus real long-term owners and users on the other. And so on.

There is also the issue of personality/integrity of makers and hype in the marketing, with some folks very critical of the makers themselves. Suffice it to say that people can get a bit testy on those subjects, which can cloud the waters for someone trying to make a rational purchase decision.

Go to a good knife shop and handle their stuff. Look on line for pricing.

Ultimately I went with a Cold Steel SRK with San Mai steel for the GHB and have been happy with it. Good balance of cost, quality, size and practicality. I also bought a Benchmade Delux Mini Barrage folder for EDC. Also satisfactory.

Like guns, you will never find the perfect knife, and always find a reason to buy another one. Sigh.

By the way, there have been a couple of threads here lately about this. If you do a search in this sub forum you should find them and get a lot of info and opinions. And you know what they say about opinions...

Get the Randall...work of art, beautiful lines, georgeous grinds and craftsmanship . They haven't been in the knife business this long for nothing. I dreamed of owning a model 1 for years, seven inch blade, stainless steel, nickel silver hilt and stag grip... a few years ago I ordered one . Brings me pleasure just looking at it. Of course I had to get some other Randalls to actually use on an everyday basis like hunting, fishing, kitchen duty etc. The model 1 is my bar-b-que knife, that I show off.
Gary

I used to collect Randalls and they are great knives. But now the prices are outrageous and the waiting period from Randall is like 5 years or more. I also like the Cold steel. Another one is Blackjack knives. The old ones made in Ill. are good quality. They are still being made in WV. but I don't know about there quality. I think there are alot of excellent knives out there cheaper than Randall.

Randall is a great knife. But I won't pay the price. I like Kabar knives these days.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

Check out Bark River Knife & Tool. Much less expensive than the Randall, but superb working knives and virtually indestructible. No waiting, either, and they're made in Escanaba, Michigan, on the UP.

They are convex ground and fiendishly sharp out of the box. There's a wide choice of handle materials, but mine have all been canvas Micarta, very slightly but perceptibly textured, which I prefer for a good grip with wet hands.

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Oh well, what the hell.

I have a Randall number one with my name on it.
I also own several hundred other knives including customs, well-known factory knives and lesser-known makers.
The Bark River folks are the US company with the momentum. They have numerous great designs, the best of steels and almost every handle material known to man.
I own several of them. I gave one to my son-in-law at Christmas. Was it hard to do? Hell yes! I wanted to keep it. It's a loveless style long bolster drop blade hunter.
And as mentioned above, they are made in Escanada ,Michigan.
I have actually been to Escanada , Michigan. Went deer hunting.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Not a knife expert but having owned several Randalls, they are top-notch but for everyday use there are others I prefer simply because of the price. The Cold Steel military classic is nice as is the Blackjack brand of similar knives.

Another option in that size range...



IC

Look at Ontario, Cold Steel stuff seems to be hit or miss with me personally along with Ka-bar. Randall does nothing but quality for sure! But I do love my Becker BK2 beyond belief!!!!!!!!

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Still just a kid at heart

Grayman knives.

I bought this Randall at an auction a couple of years ago. I think I paid something like $300 for it. It has a 7 inch #1 blade with a #14 handle. I like Randalls. A Randall is like money in the bank.

The picture is from the auction catalog. Lot 312 is just a coincidence.

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If the size is legal where you live and the sharpened clip (false edge) is legal, the Model 1 is an outstanding knife. I was very happy with one that fortune forced me to sell.

When I replaced it, I got the same idea, but had them use a Model 5 blade, just because I dislike the dip in the blade spine on the Model 1 in front of the guard, which Randall calls the hilt. Apart from the dip and the Model 5 not normally having a sharpened clip, those blades are about identical.

The Model 14 is also very nice if you need a heavier construction, but few people really do; the Model 1 and Model 5 are tough knives.

I have a tendency these days to plug Fallkniven. www.fallkniven.com Their Models S-1 and A-1 should be looked at before you buy. The cost isn't cheap, but less than a Randall. They use superior steel in the blade (VG-10 cores in 420-J2 sides in a laminated construction) ; they have better quality control than Randall in the main, and they don't ding the logo into the blade so heavily that it leaves a trough around the name. That is often a problem with Randall. He needs to find a better way to mark blades, in my opinion.

Fallkniven handles are usually Kraton or Thermorun, checkered to give a firm gasp when wet or bloody. They do offer a higher priced Northern Lights line with Randall-like leather handles and aluminum butt caps/pommels. Guards are good stainless steel. Pricy, but nice. I have an NL-2 that is among my finest and most loved knives. I can carry it here only on private land, and it's too big for some smaller tasks, though a good chopper if you need to make some small kindling or make a shelter. Lacking a hatchet, which you should have, it'll get you by. Blade length is 20CM or eight inches.

If I had to fight an animal with a knife, that NL-2 would be my choice, although I know of an African lion and some bears being killed with smaller knives. My son did a very workmanlike job on a big coyote or coydog that jumped him. He used a lockblade Benchmade knife with a tanto point.

But overall, the A-1 and S-1 are better knives for most uses. If I was limited to a single sheath knife, it'd probably be a Fallkniven S-1. That's partly because the five-inch blade is legal here, and because it's such a handy knife. The blade looks a lot like a Randall Model 5.

I implore you to look at their line and work the buttons on their site to see these and other models. Don't panic at the prices of most models. They're expressed in Swedish kroner. US dealers charge maybe $225 or less for an A-1 and maybe $175 for a S-1, which is smaller. I think you can scout the Net and buy a new A-1 for $200. Some of their folders with exotic handle materials are pretty expensive, but are works of art. Some models of sheath knives can be ordered with Micarta handles.

Their F-1 model is the official survival knife issued to Swedish military pilots, and the firm holds the Royal Warrant as supplier of knives to His Majesty, the King of Sweden! Yes, the king hunts and fishes, as does the family that designs these knives. That's impressive. To hold a Royal Warrant from a monarch is quite prestigious in Europe and the UK and the products that have that award are usually excellent, as one might suppose. In the UK, James Purdey & Sons and Holland & Holland guns are an example, or Twining's tea. I believe the Range Rover and Rolls-Royce are the automotive choices. Surely, you get the idea... No junk there!

It might be best to start with a Buck Model 105 or Model 119, if the latter is legal where you live. They are very good values for money, and a fine place to begin with sheath knives. Even when you get more expensive knives, you'll probably keep and treasure and use your Buck(s)!
Their Model 120 is the knife in the four, "Scream" movies. It has also had other starring roles in Hollywood. But their smaller models will probably serve you better in normal camping, hiking, and hunting. Those mentioned are also very useful if you ever need one as a weapon.

Older Puma knives are getting pricy, but are fine knives. Some have remarkable stag in the handles, but it varies. Just this week, a New Zealander on one of the two Ruger boards showed his White Hunter, which he received at 14. He has used that knife a lot and loves it. Their Outdoor model is probably better for most of us. I own both and like them, but the White Hunter does remind me of a knife designed by a committee, which it was! An association of professional hunters in the old British East Africa was asked for input, and the WH was what resulted. With wooden handle, it was sometimes sold as the Auto Messer/automobile knife. It was seen as a heavy duty survival knife for a stranded motorist.

Look on YouTube for videos of all these knives. Seeing them up close and hearing the comments may help you reach a decision.

I have used a stainless Randall Model 8 Trout and Bird on small game and a Model 5 with a 6" blade, tool steel, as a big game hunting knife for over 30 years. They handle real well and take a good edge and are easy to touch up and resharpen.
For a hunting knife I prefer the model 5 as I do not want the top edge sharpened. For a fighter I prefer the No 1, mine has an 8" blade.

For a Survival/Combat knife I prefer my Model 14.

But if I could have only one it would be the 6" Model 5.

You cannot go wrong with a Randall.
Probably most of them are bought for collecting, and never really used, however I have used mine, especially the Model 5, to gut, skin, and butcher a lot of game, as well as a camp/utility knife.

Keep in mind that you can always sell a Randall pretty easily if you don't like it. Can probably make a profit. They're well known and widely sought.

I own a Cold Steel that's a very good knife. The quality is top notch.

The Blackjack knives, which are made by Bark River, and also great knives, and are modeled on the Randal Model 1. They're the successor to the Blackjack knives made in Effingham, IL.

If you want a good knife for hunting, it's difficult to beat the Buck Special Model 119.

Another good knife would be one made by De Leon. They're durable, well-built, and very sharp.

If your heart is set on a Randall, you may be able to find one at Nordic Knives, in Solvang, CA. They're a major Randall seller, and usually have some Model 1's in stock. The wait time on a custom Randall in about 42 months. Their prices ($500-$630) reflect the premium to skip the wait time. It takes them about four months to get a Randall for you.

Mike Stewart at Bark River makes a heckuva knife, and he has great experience in the business. Check out the Grasso Bolo I, an excellent design! Mike was also the head guy at Black Jack when they were in Effingham Ill. The reason I bring this up is because the Black Jack 1-7 Effingham knife can still be had on Ebay for less than half the cost of a Randall. They are fine, durable knives, and I'd put mine up next to a Randall any day. If you like, check them out. Make sure they are the Made in USA models though, as the name was purchased and some of the line are now made overseas (personally I'd stay away from those).

EDIT. Forgot to mention that Mike Grasso is a forum member.....

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Even older, even crankier....

I went to the Randal site...Model 1 is only $375.00, if you are not in a hurry....approximate time of delivery...4 years.
Man those guys forge some awesome blades...I've got 7 Randalls already , but I'm starting to feel the need for another....think I'll pop back over there and see whats new.
Gary

www.randallknives.com is redesigned since I last looked and is an awesome site, with revolving color pics of several models.

I think people make this knife thing way more complicated than it needs to be.

If you are buying some sort of "art" piece, then you are on your own.
I have no advice for art buyers.

Now that we have that out of the way, if you need a knife, the chances are, somebody else has needed a knife for a similar reason. The knife you need is right there on the shelf. You can buy it today. Buy a quality knife that is designed for the task at hand. A knife that is well-suited for hulling pecans will be of little use clearing briars - and vice-versa.

If you are spending more than $100 for a working knife, you're buying "art" or fanboy gullibility.

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WWSSD?
What would Skeeter do?

IMO you can't go wrong with a Randall. I used & carried them for years but now tote a Bagwell Bowie.
Beruisis

Many custom makers will make you what you want and will even discuss your needs and desires and craft one just for you. Check out the fore sale sections of Blade forums and Knife Dogs. Lots of good makers and you might not spend as much as something like a Randal, yet get something every bit as good or better suited to your desires.

Admittedly not a Randall but perhaps just as serviceable is a Buck 120 General, this one happens to have a coco bola grip.



As mentioned Bark River has some nice offerings. I like this particular Bravo 1 a lot.



Buck 124 Frontiersman



I'd also recommend Becker Knife and Tool, KaBar, and at a higer price point Busse

Are you collecting or buying one to use. You will never use your Randall if you buy a new one just as I never use mine (wait, I do use one which I was fortunate to buy in well used condition). For use your better of with a Cold Steel, Ontario (but not the Bill Bagwells - those command collector prices), or Gerber's or other well made knives (but please not by the ChiComs). You might get a few of the less expensive knives in various configurations, bowie clip, partial seriated blade, Tanto, etc. to see the configuration you prefer before investing several hundred dollars.

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Rush

Dave,
If you are just interested a a decent fixed blade, fighting-utility knife check out the good old Ka-Bar USMC fighting knife. Amazon has them right now for $61.00 free shipping.....I'm going to order one for myself to replace the one some creep stole from me. Been wanting to get another and they are good USA made knives.
Gary

Dave and Gary,
If you are serious about buying the Ka-Bar, I suggest you upgrade to the D-2 Extreme Fighting Knife.
Also, if you buy any of the full size Ka-Bars, I recommend that you go to your local hardware store / plumbing section, and buy five, size #15 O-Rings (1 x 3/4 x 1/8) and roll them over the handle grooves to fill them in. It will really improve your grip, especially when the handle is wet.
Great knives, I've been using them for 43 years.

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"Life is short, hunt hard"

Thanks for all the good advice.After all this decided to go for the Randall.It will be a knife l use but not abuse.I liked the cold steel but prices are still up there.Blackjack seems like a good buy but a copy of the Randall.l have a Buck 124 ,Case and Schrade belt knives. After thinking about it my whole life l always bought what l could afford not what l wanted.Finally buying what l want and decided l always wanted a Randall model 1 7 inch stainless blade,ordered one through a authorized dealer,now the wait begins.

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SWCA#2288
SWHF#407

Excellent choice!
Now, if you want to abuse a knife, get a Ka-Bar BK-2 for around $80.

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"Life is short, hunt hard"

Good choice, you won't regret it. And having a dream come true...how much is that worth? My dream knife was a Model 1 with 7 inch blade too. No regrets. If you order it from Randall you don't have to pay for it until its ready to be delivered ( just a deposit) During the wait you can save up additional money for custom features like nickle silver hilts, name engraving, special spacers, stag grip, compass in grip.....customize it just for you.
Gary

I'll be the odd man out here. If you're wanting to impress someone, I liken a Randall knife to a Rolex watch. Get it.

If you are simply wanting something sharp to use, get a $10 Mora.

The benchmade buschcrafter is a great knife at a fair price

Which handle material did you choose? I like black Micarta and like the butt cap, drilled for a wrist thong. Nickel silver guard/hilt.

Show us the knife when it arrives.

Your Buck Model 124 has a more concave grind to the false edge than usual. Did you regrind it? Or is part of the blade not showing well in the photo? I THINK I may see some there in the dark.

It's just the angle of the photo. I've seen a couple of 124's with the deeper clip point. IIRC a couple were factory and others were after market modifications.

I like KA-BAR and Gil Hibben knives...

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Jorge

Two words: Mora

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Not in jail.