posted 03-01-2021 03:53 PM
I had one of these made for me by Randall and received it in 2012. It is an awesome knife, and there is quite a history to go with it. If you've looked into it seriously, you already know that there is something like a five year wait time once you place your deposit and order. As I recall, mine was somewhat less than that when it showed up, perhaps four years. I've been to Randall's shop several times, and met Bo Randall's grandson who runs the business now. It still has a small "Mom and Pop" business feel to it, and the craftsmen there seem to be busy all the time. Of course, Gordo's flown Astro knife was displayed prominently in the showroom, a gift to Bo after MA-9. Today, they have opened a separate museum that I haven't seen yet, but I believe Gordo's knife is in there now.
Now, to your question. They are roughly similar to the originals in design but differ in many ways in execution. The originals were made of high carbon steel, and Randall currently uses stainless steel for its corrosion resistance. Honestly, a more modern and useful material for many environments.
The hilt (hand guard) to tang (handle) is now offset to allow a better grip, whereas the originals were roughly centered, and the hilt itself was much thinner than today's. The one other noticeable difference is the flared edge on the top of the blade. This is not a cutting edge, but intended for prying. No one seems to know when this feature was added or why, but while Mercury models didn't have it, vintage models going back to the 1970's use it. Also, brown micarda for the handle scales has some health/environmental issues from what I understand, so the standard for years now is black. The scales are still removable with the cutout cavity inside for small items like matches or fishing hooks.
I've also learned of one other issue with current models. My last visit there, I was told that the single craftsman who produced ALL of their military style knives had retired, and they were getting his replacement up to speed (this was 2016?). That's probably why the 15, 17, and others were hard to find for awhile, and why the prices rose. The new guy seems to increase the prominence of that prying edge quite a bit, giving his version sort of a "shark nose" look. Some like it, some don't.
If you're not willing to wait, or the new look doesn't appeal to you, you can find older versions online but at a premium. It really is a very top-quality knife, and being handmade, each one is slightly different. You will find it much thicker and heavier than photos might suggest... it's a real heirloom piece to be passed down. Plus you get to carry around some "space gear" when you go flying, which is always a plus.