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Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Randall Model #10 - 3

 I like this Model 10 with 3 inch blade because it's so small...perfect EDC. And if you're into fishing, it's the perfect tackle box knife.



From Randall Made Knives: The History of the Man and the Blades pp. 118-119

Quote:

The Salt Fisherman and Household Utility made its appearance in the 1948 catalog and was the first standard model Randall made without a forged blade. It was made by what is called the stock-removal process, i.e., hand-ground from a piece of flat steel.... The postwar lineup of new knives had been lacking a replacement for the old one-piece, stainless steel fish knife, or Fish and Bar if there was a bottle opener ground into the back. Florida's many saltwater anglers liked the idea of a rustproof knife in their tackle box. 

...Like all Randall designs, this knife had to be able to accomplish the intended tasks while holding up well under severe use. This included the handle as well as the blade. Leather doesn't last well when constantly soaked in saltwater, and for this knife, the handle should be two slabs riveted to a full-width tang. The grip also had to be as slip-proof as possible, even when held in wet, slimy hands. The final answer was to rivet duralumin pieces to the tang, grind them to shape, and then sandblast only the handle. 

This left a rough, nonslip surface, which has worked fine ever since. Even modern dishwashers can't hurt this handle a bit. Just when the design jelled and became a standard isn't known, but the St. Petersburg man's fillet knife was shipped to him on 11 May 1948. With a shorter blade this became an excellent bait cutter and all-around tackle box knife. To answer both demands, the 1948 catalog listed it as available with either a 5- or 7-inch blade. 
Some photos and info from http://www.knifetalkforums.com/

Randall knives have such an amazing history and quality, even songs were made after it.
Here's Guy Clark's:

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