Parkerized finish test - VST Randall knife

**R.E.Schoening** · 12-26-10, 22:18

Hi all -
I wanted to share the results of a little test I conducted a couple days back. It is by no means conducted to the same level as the tests that the guy at the Blade conducts, but I was only trying to see how the parkerized finish would hold up to some abuse.

That said, the test was designed more or less mimic normal activites that a military knife might see. Throughout my time in the in the military it seems that most uses my knives saw was cutting MRE packages, boxes of some sort, plastics, rope/cord, and on occassion some wood for a fire.

I'll keep this short and to the point.

The details:
Knife - Model 14, parkerized finish.
Test(s):
-1: Stabbed, slashed, chopped a 5 gallon bucket with 300+ cuts.
-2: Used 200+ cuts to chop a 1X4 piece of Pine in half.
-3: Made 100+ cuts to several heavy carboard boxes.
-4: Drew the knife from the sheath 200+ times.

Outcome: The finish held up GREAT! There were no spots were the finish was worn through to the metal from the tests. It looked as though all the cutting only polished up certain areas of the finish.

Following the tests and some pics, I cleaned the knife up, resharpened it, and then snapped some more pics.

- Rob

**R.E.Schoening** · 12-26-10, 22:22

**CLHC** · 12-26-10, 22:25

Cool! Any shots of the blade itself up close?

**Whootsinator** · 12-26-10, 22:26

Originally Posted by CLHC

Cool! Any shots of the blade itself up close?

I would definitely like to see what the blade looks like after you've cleaned it up a little. (wiped it down with some oil and then wiped clean)

**R.E.Schoening** · 12-26-10, 22:27

The knife after testing.

The knife after being cleaned, sharpened, oiled.

A couple close ups of the "polished" areas that resulted from the bucket test.

- Rob

**Whootsinator** · 12-26-10, 22:52

Excellent.

**CLHC** · 12-26-10, 23:11

Too nice! Thanks for the show and tell.

**wesprt** · 12-27-10, 01:06

Parkerizing was the original "wonder finish".

Unfortunately people seem to eschew it more now for the latest and greatest in cera-whatever or evaporated diamond unobtanium. That Randall will always be equal parts class and fine tool.

**Victor** · 12-28-10, 22:58

Originally Posted by wesprt

Parkerizing was the original "wonder finish".

Unfortunately people seem to eschew it more now for the latest and greatest in cera-whatever or evaporated diamond unobtanium. That Randall will always be equal parts class and fine tool.

Indeed, I have a pretty large collection of Randall's from over the years. I cannot say enough good things about their knives. I am VERY pleased.