Trying to nail down thinking and direction (never easy for me) in conceiving of our
“By-GOD serious hunting knife…..preferred” Randall model for this Build. This, to me anyway, eliminates one of my favorite hunting users, #28, as the “build” part is pretty much over as soon as ya’ start…. outstanding knife with zero/few options. A few other models are similar in that regard.
I’m thinking “hunting” as being different from “camp-chore” blades and would also eliminate the wonderful Randalls that do extremely well digging foxholes, chopping trees and splitting kindling. Even though I know that the #12-9, 14 grind can do all of these tasks very well and still field dress squirrels and skin out whitetail I’d eliminate a few other models similar to the 12-9 in size as not being in my “preferred” group of “By-GOD serious hunting” knives.
THE Randall that I’m certain that I’ve carried and used the most from the first Deer/Turkey fall season and Spring Gobbler season that I bought it from Perry Miller, AND every season since, is my #8, old style. It has been THE perfect (“preferred”?) knife to field dress, skin and completely process so many whitetails and gobblers every year since. Not to mention dove, ducks, salt and fresh water fish AND day-2-day chores between seasons and adventures as I just love the feel of this stag handled knife in my hand. AND the option of the top of the blade being sharp as hell. Plus carrying it day-2-day means I’m always carrying around a buncha’ campfire stories on my belt.
I even gifted an additional one of these to my then 12yr. old son to use (& IF) he used it to field dress his first buck. Carried it secretly in my pack for 2 years (3rd season) before the opportunity presented itself. Fifteen years ago now.
SOoooo, #8, Old Style, SS, nice, popcorny Stag, TN, Single Hilt, Thong would make my “preferred, by-God, serious hunting knife” to Build.