I grew up in a household where nice knives were discussed. My dad was a member of the Knifemakers Guild. He was also a collector/user himself of many different types of knives. For these reasons, there were always knife magazines and catalogs arriving at the house every month. An image burned into my head is the AG Russell catalog, featuring an advertisement for a Randall Model 1 fighting knife with a stacked leather handle and a 01 tool steel blade.
My Journey with the Randall Model 1
Even in those days, the wait to order a new Randall knife was over 2 years. It’s around 6 years now. But you could pay a premium and order one in stock from a dealer. Dad always said that the Randall Model 1 was the one Randall he regretted never ordering.
To add to the serious “need” factor, my hunting mentor was a big Randall enthusiast. Mr. Wiley was a former US Army officer who, upon returning from Vietnam, decided being an attorney was boring and went to work for Air America.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
Air America was a front company for the CIA, running everything from guns and people to places all over the world. This work brought Wiley to Rhodesia, where he eventually volunteered to fight during the Bush War.
He would tell me of all of these adventures, and there were common themes. He had a Browning Hi Power pistol, a Rolex GMT, and a Randall fighting knife of some sort with him through all of it.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
I ended up getting a Hi Power pistol from Springfield. While I don’t own a Rolex GMT yet, my Breitling Repetition Minutes watch is great. He would tell me that a Randall Model 1 was the one knife he would take on a mission if he could only pick one.
A Proper Bachelor Party
Fast forward many years to 2021, and I had proposed to the love of my life. For the bachelor party, we decided to go to Texas and kill pigs with knives over hounds.
By this time, the wait from Randall was about 5 years, and I was having the bachelor party in 9 months. I found a dealer online who said he had a few slots open on rolling orders, and he could get me the Randall Model 1 with stacked leather and 01 tool steel. This is the standard catalog configuration burned into my mind, and I wanted to stick to the classic.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
Upon unwrapping the butcher paper these come wrapped in, I was awestruck. I finally had a Randall of my own, which I purchased myself. I killed three pigs with it at my bachelor party in Texas a few weeks later. After the hunt, I could already tell the patina was beginning to develop on the blade. The knife was no longer mint; it has character now.
I thought to myself, what’s next?
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
Cutting Cake and Hunting the World, the Model 1 Was There
Fast forward to the wedding, and my best man, Lucas Bernard, had the Randall tucked inside his waistband. When it came time to cut the cake, this is the knife I used. I decided from that moment forward, this would be the knife I use on special occasions to make memories with.
Since then, this knife has been at my side on hunts around the world. From Argentina, Namibia, and Australia, this knife has been there for special moments.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
In Namibia, the nut on the pommel that keeps the stacked leather tight on the tang came loose, so I used a Leatherman to tighten it. Ever since that trip, I have to tighten that nut down once a month or so during use.
The other thing I am not a fan of, when the leather handle gets wet, it is insanely slick. To remedy the slickness, I have recently wrapped the handle in green grip tape. This may look awful, but I use this knife a lot, and now it does not slip.
I went with the stacked leather because it is the standard catalog option. Looking back, I should have gone with a slim piece of stag. I may even have this knife rehandled in stag one day.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
The Randall Model 1 – A Fighter in the Field
Now, I need to make a point clear here. This is a fighting knife, and that is exactly what it was designed for. I don’t plan on getting into a knife fight anytime soon, but I love the classic design, and that is all the reason I need to own it.
The double guard does get in the way sometimes. It’s not enough to make me stop using it, but it is certainly there. A 7-inch blade is not my first pick when caping out a game animal, though it has done the job well in a pinch. It still makes a fantastic knife for cutting brush to clear shooting lanes, camp chores, and kindling prep.
You would honestly be surprised at the various tasks one needs a “big” knife for. I find myself in situations where a buffalo needs a head removed during processing, and I happen to be the only guy who didn’t bring just a pocketknife or whatever trendy lightweight backpacking caper some dude in a flat bill sold them on Instagram.
Do you realize how amazing it is to have a fantastic day in the field, dinner is served, and you step off the back patio to sabrage open a cheap bottle of champagne? As you get bubbles everywhere, you regale the dinner party with tales of the hunt and the significance of that knife and where it has been.
A Joy to Behold
My Randall Model 1 transcends practicality. It is an object that brings me joy every time I pick it up. In holding this knife, I remember loved ones, mentors, and wild times that it got to be a part of. I want all of you reading this to find a knife like that.
WHY OUR ARTICLES/REVIEWS DO NOT HAVE AFFILIATE LINKS
Affiliate links create a financial incentive for writers to promote certain products, which can lead to biased recommendations. This blurs the line between genuine advice and marketing, reducing trust in the content.
