2026: Hopefully, it will prove to be good year for all. How 'bout this? We build a Model #26 for 2026? Different from previous build, which failed in the final "tally"...this one won't. The reason? No raffle or up-front-money will be involved.
Here's the deal: WE (the forum members) will design the Pathfinder the way we have always done in the past. I will help pilot the ship through the do's and don'ts...cans and cant's, etc.
I get the knife built and then I will offer it up for sale on this very thread. Not interested in buying it? No problemo: I'll sell it on my website or elsewhere..."but"...you members will have 1st refusal.
Ya' can't lose...and, perhaps, some of you will learn a bit more about the Randall knife, ordering process, etc...
Let me hear from you.
Happy New Year!
Capt. Chris

Great!
Thank you for doing this.
Starting the ball rolling with a vote for Stainless Blade.

Capt., that is a great idea, let us do it!

+1 for Stainless


The handle #25 is not compatible with the coolie cap?

No Coolie. Duralumin or brass or nickel silver butt caps but be careful not to build a "but-heavy" #26.
Hope this helps,
Capt. Chris

Let's get it done
Great idea Cap

Love the idea, I'm a big fan of the pathfinder.

It doesn't "have" to have a pouch sheath. Pictured here is one in Cocobola...(just sayin')
Capt. Chris

Getter Done. I'm with David on the stainless blade.

SS

SS is good.

How about ironwood for the handle?

Alan

I'm in.

Stainless sounds good to me.

Stainless Steel.

So far I count 9 wanting to do the build.Other members need to
get off their Donkey and lets make it happen so Capt can get it
built.

Here for the school.

STAINLESS STEEL

OK....Not as many piping in, thus far, as I had hoped "BUT"...whatever happens, it's gonna' be in Stainless, that's for sure! Remember: 5 options total.
The Pathfinder comes standard with a stag handle...so...if we all prefer stag, that'll save an option...(Just sayin'...not "even suggesting"). There are plenty of ways to go with this great drop point blade design so please: Bring on some of your ideas!
More to come,
Capt. Chris
PS: Questions? We have answers...CCS

I'm in for a build - looking forward to it!

Nickel silver hilt-- Ivorite

NS1

bradb,
I'm kinda' looking forward to it as well. Ivorite was shown...just to show micarta as an option. I will say, however, red, white & blue spacers "never" looked better than they do against the shop's new ivorite!
Stay Sharp,
Capt. Chris

Make it a Reduced Hilt with a 25-26 Handle.

I vote for NS1 as well.

I'm not quite sold on the new shop ivorite for this build, but it certainly looks good.

Nickel 25 handle would look good but then limits further discussion to "what center material?" and "WT yes/no?"

Since it comes standard with stag, if we use Micarta it doesn't count towards the 5 chargeable limit beceause its less expensive?

Nickel silver hilt

Stainless, Nickel Silver please!

Nickel Silver

This new white Ivorite looks great! I also saw this material; it seems to imitate the grid pattern inside an elephant tusk. Is there a photo of it next to the new Ivorite?

That looks like Warhters resin ivory, it's not a shop material.

Here's 4 of the 6 that Cap has made me over the years.

Great knives for inspiration

The only 26 I have on display
Sandra Brady scrim, Engraved by Nick Palencsar, EI handle.
It was in her safe since 2010 and she and Nick did the work for the 2025 Blade Show.

NS1. Regular hilt, #25 handle.

David
That 26 is awesome

David, this is great knife!

Billy, magnificent collection =)

I wonder if the #25 handle can have red spacers instead of black ones?

The polished stag handle seems to be available now only in the #25 as central spacer

Red spacers are not an option...
Capt. Chris
PS: Happy New Year!

So...It's a new year (In case you haven't heard) and we should continue on with this build. So far...we have decided upon a stainless blade. Let's work our way back and decide upon:
A) Thumb notches
B) NO to thumb notches
C) Hilt material.
Let's hear from ya'...
Best,
Capt. Chris

Thumb notches and NS1

Cheers,

Alan

agreed, TN and NS1

TN and NS1

TN, NS1

Thumb notches and NS this is beautiful

TN and NS1

I think there is agreement on TN and NS1.
Aye, Thumb Notches and Nickel Silver Single Hilt.

here is one of mine
ss, tn, brass hilt, brass and black spacers, maroon micarta teardrop handle, wrist thong

Agree with TN and NS1

Another vote for TN and NS1. Anybody want to square the hilt?

OK Crew:
So far we have used up "3" options:
1) Stainless
2) Thumb notches
3) Nickel silver single hilt (not reduced)
.....Moving forward we need to move backwards! Working our way back that is: Thoughts on spacer stack, nickel silver collar, handle material, with or without a butt cap (or plate)...etc...
....to be continued.
Capt. Chris
PS: Keep in mind that we only have "2" chargeable options left...CCS

I say all black spacers to save an option.

Ivorite #25 Handle

Thoughts on:
spacer stack -- black & silver is elegant
nickel silver collar -- would be uncommon
handle material -- ivorite
butt cap -- too heavy for a small knife
(or plate) -- might be OK

Butt cap is not too heavy if it's aluminum & thin & rounded...
FYI,
Capt. Chris

I'd like to see a WT (wrist thong hole, future decision), which leaves one option for this step.

So if we reserve a spot for WT, it would either be "leave as stag and do something with spacers", or "leave RWB spacers and go with a different handle material".

Another possibility would be standard RWB spacers, standard stag handle, WT and compass -- although I imagine a compass could be a hot mess if you're reaching up in a deer/elk body cavity.

Or, leave it RWB and stag and stop at 4 options after WT.

WT a good idea. I recently lost a emotionally valuable flashlight; it fell out of my pocket. I was lucky enough to find it a day later in the same place in the freeze mud. Now it is always on the strap and will not go anywhere

Thumb notches
Nickel silver hilt
Aluminum/Black spacers
Stag #25 handle

Now, I have a question.
If you order a #25 Handle, do you have a choice of spacers?
I don't think I have ordered spacers with a 25 handle.
The Randall Knives website is down while they update for 2026.

I'm fairly certain your only choices on the #25 handle is "nickel" vs. "brass" dressing with no input on the spacers.

That said, N25 already comes with aluminum/black spacers.

Wowza to all those beauties.

Pap

1 - SS
2 - TN
3 - NS1
4 -
5 -

Yeah, I now read the thread about #25, it seems like we can use some store material for the central part of the handle. That is, if we choose handle #25 as option #4, then we can choose #5 - WT OR central part/spacer of the handle, for example, store ironwood, micarta, thuya, etc.. or maybe the Capt. Chris can offer something (westinghouse micarta, yellow, g10..)

Well, N25 and NS1 aren't compatible -- if you pick N25, you automatically get NS1.

That would free up option 3.

If we go with the N25 handle, can we get the wrist thong option?
Maybe that will make a good looking combination
1. SS
2. TN
3. N25
4. Choice of handle material
5. WT
These builds are really helpful to learn what we can do and can not do.

That makes sense! (I was thinking nickel silver to match hilt.)

I did not know that, cool

...A couple of notes. With an "N-25" handle and a nickel silver hilt you're "NEVER" going to have these imaginary "true-matching'metals everyone is talking about. The reason? RMK does not offer nickel silver spacers...period! Ain't-a-gonna' happen.
A "B-25 handle" gives you all matching hardware...FYI. If we "were" to order a B-25 handle (not saying we are...just trying to fend off future questions) we could request a "thin & rounded" brass butt cap to reduce end cap weight!
Lastly: Rob: Both my "each-n-everyday whitetail knives (A Model #3-5 and a Model 5-5) have compasses....no problem with then getting messy. The whole knife gets messy and gets washed, throughout the skinning, gutting and butchering process.
OK: I'm done.
Stay Sharp,
Capt. Chris

please with stag

The "Copper" hardware was only offered at one of RMK's "shop sales". One time only deal and not available.
Sorry,
Capt. Chris

Should we have a vote to continue down the 25 Style Handle or to go a different direction?

Brad,
I was thinking the "exact" same thing this morning. Of course, I had to meet a good friend and customer for breakfast and, just now, got back to my desk!
How 'bout this: Advantages, verses disadvantages of either/or? OK: This is "just my" opinion and thoughts. PLEASE keep that in mind as you decide which "Path" for make our "Path"finder!
N-25 handle: Some of the advantages are as follows:
* Ya' get a full tang knife
* Ya' get a butt cap at no additional option being used
* Ya' can choose from brass hardware or nickel silver hilt with aluminum spacers and a duralumin butt cap at no extra option
Traditional handle build
* Stag would be at no charge, therefore eliminating a handle option..."if" so chosen
* More handle material, bringing out more: Grain..Texture..Figuring, etc..
* More handle choices to choose from. (i.e. CW, etc.) which would be an additional option with N-25 handle choice
* A compass could be added
* More handle shape options
....There's, most probably, a slew of minutia I have not mentioned but this should give you a general, basic idea of "what's what".

Stay Sharp,
Capt. Chris

I vote to continue down the "not 25 handle" path.

With that in mind, I like the idea of keeping stag for the handle material.

Here is the other 2 of the 26's Cap has built for me.Brown Canvas and
Nasa Black.I like #25 handle with aluminum spacers& butt cap.I like all
Randalls

what about a 25 handle with a piece of NASA micarta or the whole handle NASA micarta

sorry NASA g10

I vote no on 25 style handle

Here we go: Please..."all" members who want to take part in this, vote for one of the 2 options below:
A) Standard style handle
B) Model #25 style handle
Thanks,
Capt. Chris

A) Standard

A) Standard style handle

A) A larger piece of beautiful material would look great



The copper #25 handle with a reduced hilt looks great. A reduced hilt on a #25 handle is possible, right? I think I'll order that separately later. I used Billy's photo as a basis. Did I understand the system correctly? The only thing is, the butt cap seems rounded on photo and there thumb notches

B) Model #25 style handle

I'm pretty sure it is, yes. Just not copper.



Going by the text of your photo, if you order brass hilt (B25), you're going to get brass spacers and brass buttcap.

Similarly, as Capt pointed above, if you order N25, you're going to get aluminum spacers and aluminum buttcap.

I asked this (awhile back) in the "Ordering Questions" thread, Scott answered.

As for rounded butt and thumb notches, those are still available as options on the N25/B25 handle request.

B] Model # 25 handle

Yeah, I got it, thank you

B) Model #25 style handle

B) #25

A) Standard style handle
Walker

A) Standard style handle

Looks as though we have a "tie" but only 8 entries. "Because" this is not a "raffle-build", I'll continue with it..."BUT"...we need a tie-breaker. Anyone? How-bout that Desert Snake?
Best,
Capt. Chris

A) Standard style handle

A) Standard style handle

standard

A standard handle it is! We have...to this point:
1) Stainless
2) Thumb notches
3) Nickel silver single hilt
...2 more available options to chose from, next in line would be "spacers"...
Up-To-Date, we are...(Sounds like Yota)
Stay Sharp,
Capt. Chris

BLK/ALUM

The spacers - black and aluminum



Ah, well, I wrote option A), that is, a standard handle, but apparently, as usual, I expressed myself too confusingly =)

standard rwb spacers

Black and aluminum spacers

standard rwb spacers Sounds great.

All black (no cost)

either all black or black/aluminum, depending on handle color

All Black...leaves option room for WT and Compass...

I remembered this example, although spacers are not completely black, but it is still beautiful

All Black

This

Black/Aluminum

OK Crew:
Nickel silver collar has been eliminated. It's time for a "ROLL CALL VOTE"! Please vote for one of the following:

A) Red, white & blue
B) All black
C) Aluminum & black

Thanks, Capt. Chris

Great examples of each of the Spacers choices.
Maybe, we should pick the handle material first and then match the Spacers to that choice?
Thank you for all of the work and effort in making this happen.

C-Blk/Alum

A) Red, white & blue

good idea

Black and aluminum

A) Red, white & blue

All Black

С - black and aluminum

Pick a handle material and match the spacers..."OR"...pick the spacers and match a handle material to it..??
Stay Sharp,
Capt. Chris

Handle and match spacers.

Pick handle then choose spacers spacers

Model 25 handle. Ironwood insert. Black and aluminum spacers.

I vote for picking the handle material and then matching the spacers.

Same, let's pick the handle and then back into the spacers

Crew:
1st off: Alan...The #25 handle design is off the table.
2nd: We already have over a dozen votes for spacers. If that doesn't please use...just let me know...and I'll move on to other projects.
Thanks,
Capt. Chris

Sorry Capt.
I misunderstood your post.
I thought you were asking for a vote on whether we wanted to delay picking spacer set up until we picked the handle material or not.
Please do not move on.

Captain,

How about an ironwood handle. Ironwood is always nice.

C-Blk/Alum / Ironwood handle

Dennis

I agree with Dennis !!!!!
We're burning daylight!!!!!!

C) Aluminum & black

What about Ironwood handle with all black spacers? How would that look?

I need somebody to go back to what I had "originally" started as "spacers choices" and get me a count..."Then" we'll choose handles.
Thanks,
Capt. Chris
PS: I'm not lazy...rather "on the road" to Sullivans Holster Shop, etc...CCS

Blk/Alum 5
RWB 2
All Blk 3
Somebody else do a recheck also

Looks like we have a winner.

So...by my count, we have used four chargable options so far.

Here's where we stand:...& yes, 4 options to date.
* Model #26-4 inch, Pathfinder
* Stainless steel blade (Option #1)
* Thumb notches (Option #2)
* Nickel silver single hilt (Option #3)
* Aluminum & black spacers (Option #4)
...........NOW..........Let's talk about this handle. Stag is standard and would save an option for a possible: Butt Cap...Wrist thong...Compass...Butt plate...Etching...etc.
Let's hear your thoughts and preferences.

Thanks, Capt. Chris

stag and WT

Black Micarta

I really like Ironwood!

Stag

WT and stag

Stag/ NS Butt Plate

is non shop micarta an option?

Yes

It is my understanding, based upon the Randall catalog, that the "pathfinder" is considered to be a "small knife" requiring a 1"x1"4.5" handle....I have 4 pieces that fit the specifications. I would be more than happy to provide any one of these, at no charge, shipped free to the Capt, if found to be worthy. The dark piece is a deep green, the others are fairly easy to see.
:-)Rocky

Rocky, that's a really cool suggestion! Either one looks great with al/black spacers

Deep green is nice!

VERY nice

Steve it sure is.

I like the orange !!!!!!!

what are the 2 middle ones called?

well....the yellow one is AGM.....the other...I have no idea, it's been too long

:-)Rocky

That is a very generous offer Rocky.
Thank you!

Kelly
I believe that the other one you were asking about is lime green

thanks ROCKY and KEN.....the AGM would make the knife more unique

I appreciate Rocky's offer and agree with Kelly, lets make it a unique knife. Thinking either yellow or green would do the trick.

The agm does not come up much.

There are some folks that will say "some AMG" will turn a different color in time.
I have had this material for over 10 years, and it has not changed, here are a few knives that this same material has been used....from the shop....I have NO reason to think that this material will not keep it's color...
Good luck with your build, which ever route ya'll choose

:-)Rocky

Very beautiful color!

I had one in yellow micarta, it changed the color of one side to a darker color due to being in the sun for a long time on the previous owner (hung on the wall near the window), but I'm not sure what kind of micarta it was, and I think any material would change color from such treatment

J wish Westinghouse still produced the AGM! That was some beautiful material! Expensive!, but well worth it!

AGM looks good to me.

I will switch my vote from ironwood to AGM if that is OK.