Fair question Jim, and you may have missed it but I already mentioned somewhere that I DO already own several bushcraft specific knives, and they do work well for their intended use,......

Just a few that work great for woods work that I own (2) Blind Horse Knives "GNS" models in 01 steel, same maker/steel in smaller "Maverick Scout" model, same maker in Sandvic SS neat 3" bladed "Ranger" model,.a nice L.T.Wright "Genesis" model in A2 steel and black G10 scales, and a slew of Mora Heavy Duty MG Companions and the new 1/8" thick Bushcrafter models in both carbon and SS......

......but alas,....they don't have "Randall Made" on the side. Hope you understand now.......

I was raised with a dad who let me carry his Randall 18 (7 inch as I recall) when we went hunting. He carried a smaller skinner model,....maybe the model 20, for actual cleaning the game. But that 18 got me hooked on Randall,....at a formative time in a kids life (maybe 15 or so). He's been gone about 10 years now, but I think I'm not alone in that phenomenon.

When I EDC in the city,....it tends to be a Randall,...."programmed" that way by now maybe. But since the changes have been made, I'm not adverse to stopping in the woods with one of my Randall's, a good pair of binoculars,... and a can of baked beans to enjoy the birds and other wildlife for a quick meal.

I carry one of the old compact can openers ( marked USA made "Vaughans SafetyRoll Jr" patent No. 1617148 on 2-8-27), that I bought at Salvation army for $.50, and after breaking the seal of the can slightly,....put the whole can in a small fire for about 5-6 minutes.

These are handy and compact to carry in a pocket,...and regularly seen on ebay for $6 to $10 or so. Worth every penny if you're inclined. Here's a few pics of one on ebay now, and there are lots of them there currently.

Just search under "VINTAGE VAUGHAN'S SAFETY ROLL JR. CAN OPENER". I just did and there were 12 shown....

I couldn't believe such a small can opener could be so smooth and effortless to get the can open! I don't think they're still made,....certainly not made in the USA if they are?





I use a stick to drag the can out, and when cool enough to open enjoy a quick meal. I always leave some left overs for the other "folks" of the woods. (but take the can out with me)

As a side point, having so many dedicated bushcraft knives at hand to use and compare,.....it's easy to see WHY the features are put into the bushcrafting designed blades for their intended use, and why I have made the changes I did on a few Randall's to get closer to the others in bushcraft performance.

Got it! Thanks for the response.

Joe, I am not the smartest guy, but I think you like to ask questions you already know the answer to. There is always a better tool for every job. Pick one for your needs and stick with it. Proficiency on something is way more important in IMO. I would contact a knife maker that can custom build what you are looking for. My lack of being a college boy stunts my attempts to reply to online verbal combat. Randall makes what they make, love it or buy another product.

Jimmy, you are plenty smart enough in my book.

You build some fine knives too.

Joe, the comment where you say you EDC into the city (as in New York City I assume.....
Most larger cities frown on carrying a concealed weapon (gun) without a valid CCW permit for that state. In your case you are carrying a CCW (your knife and harness) and most LEOs would be very unhappy with you if you were ever stopped for any reason. Fergunson, Mo type behavior to follow shortly after. LEOs and military use the 30 ft rule. You let a "Knife Guy" get inside of the 30 ft circle and they shoot. I race with several state and federal LEOs at the race track and they all say the same thing.

Be careful out there Joe.

Tom V.

No Tom,...NY City is ridiculous, I could never live there!

Even my many high powered spring piston airguns are illegal there. (a Whiscombe JW-80 fixed barrel, many Air Arms silhouette rifles, A gaggle of the old Feinwerkbau model 124 rifles(several custom walnut stocked) and a FWB 127 rifle,...plus a dozen or so quality CO2 rifles and pistols).

I'm in the little more liberal knife carry location of "Upstate" New York. in the Capital region around Albany, New York. (check under my name to the upper far left)


Even here,....I had to slightly round off the top edge of my older Model 8-4 with JRB sheath, to stay legal with double edged blades illegal to "carry" laws, with some exceptions allowed for hunting and fishing with a valid license. It could easily be resharpened in the States where that is legal. I believe Randall will dull this off for delivery to a customer for the same reason in such States.

At near age 59, I'm more attune to be feeding the wildlife around my home than eating them,.....so I haven't hunted in 20 years or so. I DO have the fattest looking squirrels (both grey and red), chipmunks, and ground squirrels,.... and many types of birds look well fed also. I must go through $20 a week to keep them all happy. :-)



You're right of course,.....but as they say,...."If you don't ask,........you don't get"

It never hurts to get "the powers that be" to at least consider some new things......

cheers,
Joe T

Attitudes can be a lot different a few miles outside of a city vs say NYC. Still I used to buy a valid Hunting and Fishing license yearly (when they were cheaper in Michigan) if I traveled thru, say Detroit, with a knife in the car. LEOs typically like to have a reason to let you "be on your way, sir" most of the time.

I have my own flock of Fat Squirrels, Birds, and a Fat Tom Cat who likes to share his food with them. (;>)

Tom V.

Good luck with your modded Knives, Joe, and keep posting.

I meant to add a neat link to a free online reading of one of Bradford Angier's books entitled "How To Stay Alive In The Woods".

Some of his "ways" of doing things may have changed a bit to seasoned outdoors folks, but it worked for him so worth a read for sure. 285 Pages of free reading material a pleasant surprise in today's world.

https://archive.org/stream/HowToStayAliveInTheWoods/0020280505StayAliveWoods#page/n1/mode/2up

I doubt if 99% of the "seasoned outdoors folks" will ever kill a Bear or a Moose, or live in a personally built log cabin on the Peace River in the ACTUAL WILDERNESS Joe. Those days are long gone.

Tom V.

To bad that that's true.

Too many episodes of Grizzly Adams:-)