We live in wonderful times, so many choices. It was not always that way. Knife companies in the 60’s were sticking to old designs, the scabbards were thin, the blades were thin, if you wanted a quality knife you had to go to a custom knife maker. There were not that many and they were not easy to find.
Randall made excellent patterns with heavy duty sheaths. The Randall #1 and #14 is such a sound basic design that you can find many copies or many variations.
While the blade shape is excellent for combat/utility knives, it is too wedgie when reduced to camp knife size. My trout and bird is not a good slicing or piercing knife.
I got to talk to one of the Randall sons the last I was down there, the steels have varied over the years. I am not interested in carbon steels, because they rust. It is my recollection the stainless used to be 440 (B or C I don’t remember) and Randall was trying other stainless steels.
I think the overall designs are excellent, the construction excellent, but , after beating up the handle and sheath on my trout and bird against rocks, trees, I don’t think it is smart to put that much money in one if you plan to use it.
Unlike 40 years ago we have lots of outstanding factory knives made out of the best stainless steels ever. If I lose my VG-1 Pendleton in the woods, I am not out much money, and I can get another. Same for the Hattori knives I have, excellent little sheath knives.
So, keep your Randall, play with it, it is still American made, the blades are still hand forged, and that is getting to be a lot harder find every year.