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#194840 - 07/22/21 06:42 PM 3/16 vs 1/4 question, #4 & #15CDT
eLarry Offline
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Registered: 10/02/13
Posts: 126
Loc: East Texan residing in Georgia
Just received two older knives, a Model 4 blade measures 5 1/8 to the tip and a Model 15CDT. These are not vintage as you can tell by the sheaths. Everything I have read states they should be 1/4". Measured at the flat spot on the choil they both measure 3/16 exactly. I guess this could be a question or a statement. Just curious.


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#194841 - 07/22/21 07:50 PM Re: 3/16 vs 1/4 question, #4 & #15CDT [Re: eLarry]
Dirty_Water Offline
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Registered: 09/13/05
Posts: 2244
Loc: central fl.
We start with steel measured at a little over 1/4" stock...but after 3-4 shapings and just as many sandings and polishings it may be a touch under...
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#194843 - 07/22/21 08:18 PM Re: 3/16 vs 1/4 question, #4 & #15CDT [Re: Dirty_Water]
eLarry Offline
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Registered: 10/02/13
Posts: 126
Loc: East Texan residing in Georgia
1/16th seems excessive for these model examples promoted as 1/4". I would not want a 1/8" Model 4 1/2 as a comparison. Was just surprised to get two at the same time. Thought it may be a process change. Thanks for the response.


Edited by eLarry (07/22/21 08:21 PM)

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#194846 - 07/23/21 08:06 AM Re: 3/16 vs 1/4 question, #4 & #15CDT [Re: eLarry]
Dirty_Water Offline
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Hand forged, hand shaped, hands ground, hand final shaped, hand sanded, hand 1st polished, hand 2nd polished, hand 3rd polished and then bear-texed twice before shipped....doesn't seem that excessive to a steel that "may" arrive at 1/4" to begin with...

And they are "promoted" as 1/4" STOCK...
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Scott
RKS #014

HE IS RISEN!, HE IS RISEN INDEED!

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#194847 - 07/23/21 08:59 AM Re: 3/16 vs 1/4 question, #4 & #15CDT [Re: Dirty_Water]
eLarry Offline
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Registered: 10/02/13
Posts: 126
Loc: East Texan residing in Georgia
Not to be dis-respectful, but your end result should be what the catalog says your buying or say +/-. Using the Model 4 as an example the 4.5" is to be 3/16 and the 5" to be 1/4 with a price difference. So you would buy the size that fits the function you plan to perform. I am not trying to bash the product as I am amazed at the quality, fit and finish of the Randall knife. Just having a conversation. Please do not take it the wrong way!

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#194851 - 07/23/21 10:43 AM Re: 3/16 vs 1/4 question, #4 & #15CDT [Re: eLarry]
LarryWW1246 Offline
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Registered: 03/20/06
Posts: 1728
If you want to see really misleading marketing...try buying a "quart" or a "half gallon" of ice cream! Or similar products. I think there is one brand of ice cream that is true to the traditional measure of volume.

As for steel, the shop "could" send along some of the floor sweepings to make sure that the customer got the full value of the 1/4-inch stock that they started with to make the knife.

The finished product is what counts, not what is left on the shop floor.

Just my two cents...

Larry
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#194852 - 07/23/21 11:28 AM Re: 3/16 vs 1/4 question, #4 & #15CDT [Re: LarryWW1246]
pappy19 Online
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Registered: 10/31/07
Posts: 7367
Loc: Garden Valley, Idaho
Try buying a real 2X4, not out there anymore.

Pap
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#194853 - 07/23/21 12:00 PM Re: 3/16 vs 1/4 question, #4 & #15CDT [Re: pappy19]
LarryWW1246 Offline
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Registered: 03/20/06
Posts: 1728
Came across this article right after the above post here. It is happening "everywhere."

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...ting-costs.html
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#194855 - 07/23/21 12:58 PM Re: 3/16 vs 1/4 question, #4 & #15CDT [Re: LarryWW1246]
thevalueman Offline
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Registered: 02/04/08
Posts: 2828
Loc: Georgia
no "Shrinkflation" at Randall....been making them the same way since....you can fill in the blank here....
It came to me....if you want a thicker blade, try the Smithsonian!!
as for advertising....no misleading info from the shop...1/4" stock is just that...1/4" stock....nowhere has anyone been lead to believe that the blade is 1/4"....SO...in an effort to add nothing to this, I'd just say "I have no idea where or how anyone could get a 1/4" hand made blade from 1/4" inch stock"...I'm just say'n....
since it's ALL hand made there is no way to advertise an exact blade width....they are all different
:-)Rocky
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#194858 - 07/23/21 06:30 PM Re: 3/16 vs 1/4 question, #4 & #15CDT [Re: thevalueman]
eLarry Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 10/02/13
Posts: 126
Loc: East Texan residing in Georgia
How this came up in the first place: I was trying to buy the 15CDT and the seller whom I had bought from before, said he also had an older Model 4-5 he was thinking about selling at this price. The sheath said 4-5 and the knife picture was blurred. I made the deal based on a 4-5 afterwards hoping it was not a 4-4.5 in a 5 inch sheath because of price difference. Since my focus was on the 15CDT I did not ask any questions. I had no need for the Model 4, but I like the 1/4" blade weight. After making the deal I kept looking at the picture thinking the knife looks awful small. Opening the package I immediately measured the blade length, which was 5 1/8". However, it was not a 1/4" blade, but exactly 3/16". No finger pointing at anyone or regret. I love the knife, just not what I had expected. Same for the 15CDT. Life is good!


Edited by eLarry (07/23/21 07:02 PM)

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#194859 - 07/23/21 08:07 PM Re: 3/16 vs 1/4 question, #4 & #15CDT [Re: eLarry]
LarryWW1246 Offline
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Registered: 03/20/06
Posts: 1728
eLarry--

Not to speak for the shop, but consider how the exposed tang knives (14, 15, etc.) have to have a uniform thickness for the full length to get the tight fit in the channel in the Micarta.

Those knives are made in the "14 Room" and they must have to pay special attention to the flatness and thickness over the full length of the steel to make it all fit right.

I was confused for a moment about the length versus thickness in your posts. Hand forging and grinding and finishing can lead to individual blades varying in both length and thickness. Probably the only way to avoid that would be to make them using computer-driven production equipment like is done with the true factory-made knives.

Don't let any of us or our comments detract from enjoyment of the knives! We all are in it together, out of choice, and constantly learning.

Larry
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#194863 - 07/24/21 06:20 PM Re: 3/16 vs 1/4 question, #4 & #15CDT [Re: LarryWW1246]
eLarry Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 10/02/13
Posts: 126
Loc: East Texan residing in Georgia
Larry, The 15CDT I received has a 3/16" blade, so it would not fit the standard handle channel of a non CDT. The Model 4 4.5" blade is to be 3/16" (small game) and the the Model 4 5" (big game) is to be 1/4" as per web site. My Model 4 5" received is 3/16". Good news is I can use on both small and big game. Hope that make more sense.


Edited by eLarry (07/24/21 07:21 PM)

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#194864 - 07/24/21 07:51 PM Re: 3/16 vs 1/4 question, #4 & #15CDT [Re: eLarry]
Dirty_Water Offline
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Registered: 09/13/05
Posts: 2244
Loc: central fl.
Clear as mud my friend...the 15 and the 15 CDT are different knives, the CDT is not used in the channel handles...

Also, these two sheaths show knives quite possibly from different decades further evidence that this just has always happened no matter the era...

No biggie, just enjoy the Knives sir
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Scott
RKS #014

HE IS RISEN!, HE IS RISEN INDEED!

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#194865 - 07/24/21 08:50 PM Re: 3/16 vs 1/4 question, #4 & #15CDT [Re: Dirty_Water]
eLarry Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 10/02/13
Posts: 126
Loc: East Texan residing in Georgia
I agree they are two different blades. One fits a channel and one does not. That what I said. Just responding to what Larry said. I showed pictures of the sheaths and not the knives for the reason you stated about different era's. Case closed.


Edited by eLarry (07/24/21 08:53 PM)

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