My First Randall

RatDrall - Randall is the original. Blackjack are copies.

Randall are handforged, handmade knives made by Americans - they can (or could) be custom ordered. Blackjack are mass-market products made somewhere else.

Blackjack may be good knives. I don't know. Randall are good knives. People I know have used them in hard, dangerous places.


Jim - congrats!

What is the difference between a Randall and something from Blackjack?

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People call the Black Jack knives "the poor man's Randalls". That said, Bark River Knife & Tool is making the Black Jack fixed blades mostly in A2 steel which I generally prefer to 440B (or C?) from Randall. These are entirely USA made. But I still like the Randalls. I have a couple Black Jacks (the 125 and the 1-7). There is not a broad selection of Black Jack knives available new. I really like the 125 and it is in fact is more than likely the one I would grab if I had to head for the hills. That used to be the Randall Model 15 Airman.

There are some folders from Black Jack. I suspect they are made in China, but I don't know. I mostly was looking at the price.

Jim, glad you are happy with the Randall. I don't like the alternative.

Congratulations, Jim - hope you enjoy it.

A. G. Russell has some Randalls in stock most all the time. Prices vary, but anyone interested in a 'buy it now' brand new Randall at least has this as an option. Any number of old line Randall dealers do this sort of thing...

Doesn't seem like an out-of-line price to me, but what do I know...

http://www.agrussell.com/knives-by-maker-randall-made-knives/c/2537/

Aside from many Blackjacks patterns appearing similar to Randalls I don't get the assertion that they are copies. Blackjacks utilize a convex grind whereas it looks to me like Randall knives use a bevel grind. And yes the US made Blackjacks (from Mike Stewart's Bark River Knife and Tool) are A2.

Also, any concern about using these hard due to the stick tang construction?

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I think stick tangs have gotten a bad rap because of bad manufacturing practices more than anything else. The vast majority of swords, historically, used surprisingly thin stick tangs - and swords take a lot of punishment.

A well made stick tang is usually radiused into the base of the blade, rather than being a sharp angle. It should be softer than the blade (because it only needs stiffness - there's no edge to sharpen). An ample cross section is certainly going to help. Preferably it is made from the same piece of steel as the blade, but a really good welding job is tough.

A lot of knives today are way stronger (heavier, harder to slice with, more likely to blister the hand...) than they need to be.

RatDrall - Randall is the original. Blackjack are copies.

Randall are handforged, handmade knives made by Americans - they can (or could) be custom ordered. Blackjack are mass-market products made somewhere else.

Blackjack may be good knives. I don't know. Randall are good knives. People I know have used them in hard, dangerous places.

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I own a Blackjack 14 and it is my primary fixed blade, however I have never handled a Randall. As far as I can tell the Differences between the #14's are:

The Blackjack has A2 steel with a great heat treat. Widely regarded as superior to Randalls stainless and O1 as far as toughness and edge retention go.

Blackjack knives have hand ground convex edges, stronger and better than a hollow or flat grind for hard use. It requires different sharpening techniques though.

BJ 14 micarta handle is bolted and epoxied to the tang. I wouldn't trust a knife handle with nothing but glue holding it on like Randall's Attack knife.

The only other difference I can see is that the Randall 14 might have a slightly wider blade which could effect performance.

Overall I think the blackjack 14 is an improvement. Not just in price and availability but also performance. For the price of a Randall, you could get a similar looking knife from a custom maker exactly to your specs.

I couldn't resist. I enjoy my Randalls as much as time allows and take care of them like they were my children. I bought my first in Columbus Ga in 1978 and have been hooked ever since. It is also nice to have a mother-in-law who lives in Orlando and is a close friend of the Randalls

Last Randall I have left: 12-11 Smitsonian Bowie , French Walnut exhibition grade handle from 1980, aluminum coolie cap and nickle silver guard . This is one big knife ; has 3/8" stock on the 2,5" wide blade a hand axe!

Here's the #14 I just sold. Was time to let it go. The buyer got a great knife and my #1 will be ready next year, lol. Been doing the five year wait on it. I bought the knife in 98, the second of many.

You need to do more fishing.

Randalls are not in my league (at least prices),
--- though maybe Blackjacks are ---
but this thread is a learning experience, regardless.

Tag.

Nem, you won't regret getting a Blackjack. I would suggest the 125 to start with.

You probably won't use it as hard as you might the SOG, but such is life. I do like the SOG Seal Pup Elite (SPE), but with a plain edge. As I recall, I recommended the SPE to you when you were shopping for a user fixed blade that didn't break the bank. I still use mine.

22, was that you that suggested the SPE? Well, darn, thanks. Good rec. Love it. My favorite camp knife. Gets the call for so many chores in camp.

I took a look at the Blackjack 125 a minute ago. Beautiful knife, but I don't feel a need for it. Doesn't fit a niche in my kit right now.

Keep thinking about it... the niche will develop, or is it an itch?