DISCOVER The Randall 1 Combat Bowie Knife

[@rttakezo2000]

I carried a Randall 1 and CR Aviator into Kuwait in '91. Still have both. Fantastic knives.

[@spaceman61]

Thank you for your service

[@Stoney_AKA_James]

The RMK Model 1 was originally called the "All-Purpose Fighting Knife", but Mr. Randall was convinced that the name needed to be shortened, so he called it the Fighter. The model 1 was carried by several of us back in the day, and "performed as advertised". Mine has a lot of patina and is worn, but I will never sell it! The model 1 and the model 16 SP 1 fighter are my two favorite RMK fighters.

[@RolandoEstocada]

🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🫡

[@plynch113]

Pretty sure I'm gonna order up one of these in 7" for my collection! Also fyi the Busse combat team Gemini has that same finger cut out you mention.

[@RolandoEstocada]

Very nice!

[@stevekatz4372]

The Randall 1 isa great Fighting knife but I already have my Bagwell Bowie, which is also a Great Fighting knife!

[@ArizonaTengu]

The base of the blade where the finger goes is called a ricasso. It looks like a carry over feature from sword fighting styles that used a rapier basket hilt to protect the hand, or something like the Albion sword “The Condottiere” to protect the finger. Which would make sense seeing that WWI ended in 1918, and where sword fighting was still practiced until WWII (Benito Mussolini participated in duels for example). Placing the finger over the guard also makes it easier to thrust. It’s really interesting how much European swordsmanship contributed to these knife designs you are showcasing. Unfortunately, a lot of the purpose built designs in combat knives got lost when the higher ranks in the military stopped maintaining martial discipline. Alfred Hutton writes in his 1889 book, “COLD STEEL: The Art of Fencing with the Sabre” to quote a sentence from the section of short sword, bayonet, or dagger: The ancients we’re accustomed to pass the forefinger over the cross-guard in order to obtain a firmer grip.

[@robertlehnert4148]

More likely the fingering the ricasso in modern knife use is for the withdraw of the knife if it gets stuck in a body. Seriously, IF you get into a knife vs knife affair (bloody unlikely) you do NOT put your index finger on what would amount to a little anvil and if your opponent's blade slides your blade, its goodbye finger. Fingering swords in the late Middle Ages lead to the development of all sorts of fingering and side rings, to protect your piddies for that very reason.

[@ArizonaTengu]

@robertlehnert4148 I’ll contend that to many people set the standard of performance to low. There’s plenty of schools of thought on how edge weapons should be engaged or not engaged. Some Japanese sword fighting system refuse to enter the bind, since they lack a large guard, and that results in their fingers getting cut off like in the battle of Osaka. Personally, just about every knife lacks a sophisticated guard to protect the hands. Why people insist on entering the bind with such a short weapon with little to no hand protection is beyond me. Just avoid the bind as much as possible. That’s why you use a larger edged weapon or a shield/buckler to engage the opponent’s weapon. As far the knife getting stuck. It’s a double edged weapon with no serrations. The chances are very low of it getting stuck inside the opponent’s body. You can test this out yourself while hunting animals. I’ve stabbed enough of living animals to know it’s not likely to get stuck. The only exception is something like a karambit that hooks onto bones, or a serrated edge that gets lodged on bones. There’s also no historical evidence showing that fingering the guard was to gain leverage to pull the weapon out. It has always been to gain more control of the weapon, and in particular the control of the tip. Hundreds of years of people using this technique shows that is exactly what it is used for. The reason I used that book was to demonstrate that this is a knife technique, from a professional soldier in the 1800s, because I knew somebody was going to argue the points that you just did. Alfred Hutton traces the lineage of knife fighting in his book back to the Tudors (1485-1625), along with Achille Marozzo (1500s), and Salvator Fabris (1500s). That’s three different fencing masters who we can look too. Remember that bowie knives are a European/American invention. The school of thought traces back to various fencing schools of European origins that used a knife/dagger in a particular way. Modern interpretations are new and were not historically considered in original designs.

[@robertlehnert4148]

@@ArizonaTengu Mostly, I agree. But in the context of knife vs knife, one or both sides will try to "defang the snake" (Which is not unique to FMA, both Biddle and Styers emphasized the hand cut) and blade to blade engagement occurs if you intended it or not, If on the other hand, the knife user is going against an unarmed or ,long arm user, the finger around the coil makes sense for both increased direction and power.

[@ArizonaTengu]

@robertlehnert4148 You actually lose cutting power with the index finger over the guard. While gaining control of the tip for maneuverability, and gain power in the thrust. So it is a good point to mention disabling the weapon hand. This particular grip is not used for that purpose. It’s used to maneuver around the opponents weapon, and enter in with a thrust. It’s a matter of strategy honestly. A thrust is already a dangerous technique that leaves you open to attack. So a little risk to your hand to gain the agility for evasion is the modus operandi. As a side note, I’ve noticed that many modern practitioners have tunnel vision. This may vary on the practitioners in question, but there is a hyper fixation on the weapon arm. Where historically, or experienced combative experts maintain full situational awareness. Taking every opportunity given. Like attack the lead leg to drop their guard to set up for a higher attack later. This is a common tactic in European fencing. In my personal opinion, I think the influence of Filipino fighting systems emphasizes upper body attacks, and grappling because of the close in jungle fighting they are coming from. While European fencing had more open spaces to maneuver so the maintaining of measure is different. So Filipino descendants have a tendency to misinterpret intended designs on western weapons. Just an opinion.

[@brandyhouston2105]

Thanks for the lesson 😎

[@RolandoEstocada]

🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@robertpka7228]

A classic! I wonder if Mr. Randall designed mod. 1 himself or if others had input? Seems like someone knew their stuff.

[@robertlehnert4148]

If I remember the story, a Lt. Zacharias requested a big ass Bowie, but Randall, thinking that it would need to be a tool as well as a weapon, should be more compact, and always on the belt, and not left behind in one's bunk.

[@kermitthorson9719]

ive come around, i like the white fedora

[@RolandoEstocada]

😂😂😂😂

[@BongDonkySecret77]

@@RolandoEstocada Beauty of a knife. That model is great as an offensive tool. The model 14 Randall is what I have. Its good for both offence and defense. In my opinion. I just found your channel. Grazie!

[@chrisnewport7826]

Took my #1 to the war with an #18. Now I feel the need for the blade to have greater mass for edge and point, more than a #1 but less than a #14. Not sure how to proceed but now use a #14, having more knife that you need is better than not enough.

[@RolandoEstocada]

I think the new generation of blade enthusiasts need more opportunities to understand just how important a role Randall played in knife combatives and how his work is revered in the military. Thank you for your service. 🫡

[@brandensutton2324]

Randall model 5 is more of a utility style model 1 and hopefully you check out a model 2 at some point. Randall Model 16 SP1 is a full tang model 1

[@NSW15355]

What are your thoughts on subhilts? The added bit for the index seems to have some advantages. The cold steel marauder has one. This reminded me of that.

[@RolandoEstocada]

I think they are excellent. They feel a bit weird for me when I hold them in icepick grip.

[@vyr01]

Also - grip with point up edge in and index finger goes over the back guard - was, from what I have read, another way of using the knife

[@kurts4867]

Nice Panerai !!!!

[@RolandoEstocada]

Nice of you to notice! 🙏🏽🔥👊🏽

[@vyr01]

I had to get my 14 swedge sharpened, it came to a flat edge - not an actual edge

[@UncleSam-bu9gz]

KBar