In early 2013 I ordered a Randall model 1 apfk with 7 inch carbon steel blade, black micarta handel, and double nickle guard. Delivery was to be this July but I received a letter from them stating that delivery would be this October. I dont mind the extra wait as I have waited this long. Wonder now if Irma will affect it as well. Anyone else waiting for their Randall Made Knife.

I ordered my first Randall in the late 80's and had to wait 2 1/2 years.
For your next order, try Nordic Knives. Website. And store.
They always have a great selection ready to ship. AND they can order one to your spec's and you will have it in about 6 mos.
They charge a bit more, but they are excellent to deal with.
For your next Randall. Heehee. Can never have just one.

ALL of my RMK's have been procured on the secondary market, aka USED/NEW, USED/USED. The last set of four Randall Knives I bought were all USED/NEW and included a 3-5, 7-5, 11-45 & 19-45. All are carbon steel with the exception being the 7-5 made with a SS blade. All have a brass single hilt with a stag handle with the exception being the 3-5 which has a brass single hilt and stacked leather handle with Duraluminum grip cap. I still have the 3-5 and the 7-5. I gave the 19-45 to one of my brothers and sold the 11-45. I bought all four RMK's, a Buck 110, a Schrade UHLB5 and a 1983 Camillus Jet Pilot Survival Knife for a "Stupid if you don't buy it RIGHT now ridiculously low price" two years ago.


Class III

I am waiting for one ordered through Clinton Knives, an authorized Randall dealer that sells at catalog prices (i.e. no upcharge). Gary Clinton is great guy to deal with. New Randall Made Knives – Clinton Knives

As has already been mentioned, you have a lot less of a wait time when going through one of the few authorized dealers. I waited over 5 years on the only one that I ordered direct from the shop.

I am waiting on a a 14 Cut Down Tang with an ivorite handle.

I have had about 8 or 9=currently around 5-6. Never bought from the factory. A couple from E-Bay but most from dealers.

WOW - 4 years for a knife! My Son is getting married soon and I guess I should order one now for a Grandson that has not even been conceived yet!

Seems like many of the high end knife makers have more work than they can handle. Google Stan Wilson Knives. Not only years waiting but the prices start at $4,500!

Good for them I suppose.

With a 4-5 year wait time, I decided not to buy direct from Randall. You've been patient, I hope it is everything you dreamed come October!

I believe that Randall still has a policy of 90 day delivery to deployed military.. that's how I got my first in Iraq in 2008. I have a great deal of respect for them for that policy. If you are ever in Orlando be sure to visit their shop.

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Old paratrooper in NC

Randall knives are great! When I was younger and spent days and days in the Woods I could not afford a Randall. Now that I can afford one I spend a lot less time in the Woods.

I can't imagine waiting that long for a knife so they must be like finding gold. I saw quite a few on ebay ranging from a few hundred bucks to one ad was for a set of 3 for $4200. WOW! For three knife pack of used knives? I guess some people really like knives to shell out big bucks for them. I am not one of them. Back in early 80's I thought $60 for a Buck knife was insanely expensive.

I ordered one to my specs and am waiting patiently. I've bought a couple from Buxton knives, but I wanted to have a number 1 made for me, I don't mind waiting.

I also ordered one for my son (to his specs) when he turned 13, as an 18th birthday present. I told him if he doesn't stay on the straight and narrow it would be sold on eBay.

Got a sportsman's Bowie last month, and should be getting a Smithsonian bowie in November. Shown here with my #14 grind sportsman's bowie and my Raymond Thorpe bowie.

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I've got two, of which one see's frequent use. What good is something you don't use? Ok, never mind..I've got guns I don't, or at least haven't as of yet, shot. Regardless, Randall's are superb blades. I normally wouldn't wait 5 years for one. If I find one I want, for a price I can tolerate, I'd rather buy it then.

That said, just yesterday in fact, I decided I was going to surprise myself for my 50th, which happens to be 5 years out. So I actually ordered myself a Randall from them, with engraving, that will arrive in 5 years. By then, I'll have forgotten about it and it'll be quite the surprise.

Here is one I doubt gets used much.
Model one with ivory...


Two that will...

I have many Randalls. A #1 mini on my side everyday, like right now.
Mr. Clinton has gotten me several knives built exactly to my specs for straight MSRP. Longest wait time 5 months. He IS the man!!

Just checked mine is still 3 years away.

Of the better known dealers, A.G. Russell sometimes has Randall knives.

I ordered one through Gary Clinton and was very happy with his service and delivery time.

I'm very worried about what Hurricane Irma may have done to the Randall shop. Anyone heard from them?

Thanks for all the responses. You are correct, there are many good sellers out there. In the past I have bought from Clinton, Nordic, A.G. Russell, Mileswelze, etc, All have been superb as far as customer relations. I know that I could have one close to what I ordered but I wanted one made exactly how I want it. I know the wait is pretty long but it gave me time to save up for it when they let me know that it is ready. It may seem silly but you have to hold one to appreciate it.

While I am not comparing this knife to a Randall, the USA made Marbles Gladstone below is a superb knife that you can shave with. I've had it since 1999 and have used it many times in the Hunting Fields, Camp Sites, and for general Woods use. They used excellent Steel and some nice Sambar on this one. The top sheath is one I had custom made for it because I thought it deserved better than the original it came with. It is not too large a knife so it can get into some small places. I have some other larger knives but they are for more robust woods work and not so great for Field Dressing Game.

PS: The new modern generation of Marbles knives coming out of China is nothing more than good looking junk IMHO.

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This comes from Chris Stanaback on another forum on 9/13:

Thanks for that Rio Laxas I should have checked the Captains site first. I may have to wait longer than October for delivery but I am glad that everyone made it through OK at Randall and that is way more important.

Keep in mind that of all the sellers mentioned, Clinton is the ONLY one that sells for Randall Retail. All others charge more. Also, Clinton can get you what you want like you want it ASAP. Months not years.

My Randalls came from GS dealers! When I was a young man I saw a Model 2 leather handle in a jewelry shop in "OLD TOWN"Fl.Asked if I couid see it & saked how much?Salesman said $80!! I couldn't believe a knife could cost that much! LOL! Now RMK's cost in the hundreds!I have 2 model 1"s one carb.,one stain.both are 7" with stag handles!Never will sell them.
Jim

Did that Model 2 impress you as having more than a passing resemblance to the iron-bladed dagger found in King Tut's tomb?

Randall meant it as a beefed-up form of the Fairbairn dagger, but the basic design is far older.

Mind you, I'm speaking of the iron dagger, not the gold one, which doesn't have that stepped down blade shape.

Tex,
At that time there were "few"custom makers & to us youngsters Randalls,were customs,yeah...similar to a Fairbain...only better.Just to be able to hold it was a thrill! At that time $80 was a fortune!!Long time in future I was in the knife business & was able to hold an original V-2 Devils Brigade fighting knife with the original sheath.Wondered what stories it could tell!!
Jim
Jim

Yes you need to hold one.

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Riding, Shooting, and Truth

I have 12 Randal knives . Every one was a custom order from the Randall shop except a pre numbered non cataloged knife that eventually became the "Pathfinder" it was an over run on a special order, sitting in the display case and I knew it was something special .
All the rest I paid my dues and waited....the wait just added to the excitement of the day the box arrived.

Now when I was a small boy my mother, a good God fearing Christian woman, taught me that Patience is a Virtue, it is one of the seven Heavenly Virtues that God wanted us to learn, so I learned to be patient . Mom also taught me that " good things come to those who wait".
Spartan 2 , take my mom's words of wisdom, muster up a little patience and before you know it that box will show up and that custom made work of art will be in your hands.

Believe me it's worth the wait . I ordered one and at that time the wait was a little over 5 years , and was it worth the wait.....heck yes, every second...just be patient.

If you've never experienced a direct hit of a hurricane, and Orlando did, it messes everything up for at least 3-4 weeks. Trees take down power lines , roads are impassable , buildings get damaged , finding gas, food and water. Not much you can do until the electricity gets restored. My daddy was a lineman for Gulf States Utilities Co. for 45 years and I know how long these things can take to clear up. So cut them a little hurricane slack and hang in there...it won't be long.

Gary

If you thought an $80 knife was expensive...

Buster Warenski accepted a commission to replicate the gold Tut dagger. He got $100,000, plus maybe cost of the gold and other materials. I forgot what that cost.

He said it was a devil to build, with all the small gold decoration, the precise engraving, lapis lazuli handle art, etc. and that he'd probably never build another.

What must that Warenski dagger be worth today? The Egyptian original? The gold aside, its cultural/historic value is inestimable!

Tex,
I remember reading about BW & the dagger! What a job....or challenge....think what it would cost today!!
Jim

The money wouldn't be that bad for a truly great knife but waiting 5 years is out of the question. I have a great knife I waited 3 days to get after I ordered it. If the steel is tougher than the steel on my knife it must really be something. This isn't 1944. Steel making has come a long way since then. S30V is some pretty good stuff.

Just received a letter from Randall, my model 1 will be delivered late this November.

I just received the Randall catalog (80th Anniversary catalog) I ordered about two weeks ago and think it is quite impressive to say the least. The dates they stamped on the rear say, "if ordered in Sep 2017 order will be shipped Jan 2023". WOW - over 5 years for a knife! I am very happy to see them doing well but by the time I got it I'd be 70!

I can certainly understand why there is such a following for the Randall's and I also see why the ebay and secondary market is so hot. There are a bunch on ebay and it almost makes perfect sense to buy one off them as opposed to order directly unless your in your 20's or 30's - LOL!!

I would wonder about fraud buying one from eBay. If I was sure I could trust the seller I might well spring for one.

There are several well known, reliable Randall dealers.

Texas Star is correct, there are reliable sellers Nordic, Russell, and my favorite would be Clinton, He usually has a good stock of new Randalls at reasonable prices. If he does not have what you want he get it for you within a reasonable time frame.Several Randalls that I have came from him and he is top notch with customer service. Ebay like everything they have is to me a **** shoot unless you really know the seller. I have never seen a fake Randall but that does not mean that they are out there.

I can't recall all of the bigger dealers BUT Wayne Buxton & Gary Clinton charge catalog price. Nordic Knives usually has about a $100 mark up over catalog price.
Others such as Capt. Chris Stanaback and Rick Bowles[a contributor here] also are dealers but I don't know if they charge catalog or not. I think the Capt. does but I'm not sure.

Here is a picture of the one I ordered for a milestone birthday coming up in 3 years. Model 1 blade with a model 2 handle. It's really not a bad deal if you can time it right. It's already gone up in price, when you order you lock in the price.

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Here is the one my son's waiting for.

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Be advised...there are FAKE RANDALLS out there!I was offered a RANDALL FOLDER at a Gun Show! I said no thanks,he proceeded to point out the RANDALL MARKING on the blade.I got tired of being nice & informed him....RANDALL didn't make folders & IF he did it was "ONE"time only & it would be in the RANDALL MUSEUM .He dfcided to leave.Later had a new collector I knew stopped me all excited,couldn't wait to show me what he just bought...at a great price.A one of a kind folder!!
Jim

On a whim, I placed an order for a Randall Confederate Bowie in September of 2013. The original estimated date of delivery was October 2017, but I got a letter from them a few weeks ago telling me that it would probably be delivered in March 2018.

It's fine; I'm not in dire need of a bowie knife and I got it mostly because I wanted to have one in my collection. But I do wonder if these are still hard working tools. I do plan to put mine in the sheath and carry it occasionally.

Mike

I own a model 14 for several years now(more than I care to admit) a model 4 with stag handle, a model 5 with stag handle and have a model 18 on order scheduled to be delivered Feb. 2018. All top quality work! Bought my first from the father in the 1960s, now the younger runs things.
Steve

That's been my concern about buying online. I don't know enough about the knives to know if I got a fake or not so I'm not likely to buy one. I'd order one from the source but I'm pretty old as it is. I'd never get my money's worth of use and my kids may not appreciate the quality without me telling them until it sticks. And I may not get the chance to do that.

Again, if you folks are really serious????? Mr. Clinton can get you your dream knife, for MSRP, in about 6 months.
Why wait, why pay more, why buy a knife that is not what you want, and WHY WAIT?
I have about? 30 , all just like I wanted made {will not own a knife without a double hilt}, Mr. Clinton will deliver.
Also, if you need to wait 5 or 6 years to save for a knife, you probably should put that money to better use. Just sayin'

I can't speak for others, but I can say for myself that it's not about the money. And when an order is placed with Randall, they only ask for a $50 downpayment. The rest is due just before the knife is delivered.

I don't mind waiting ... I ordered it knowing that it would take a few years, and I hoped that it would be something of a pleasant and unexpected surprise to get told that my knife was nearly complete.

Mike

Don't be so quick to judge.

I ordered mine 5 years before significant birthdays. From Mr. Randall. Pay $50, and lock in the price. I'm already saving money. Because every year there is a price increase.

Would you rather me wait till the last minute, order from Mr Clinton and pay retail at the time?

I have other Randall knives to use in the meantime, but they are not what the OP was asking about.

And there really are Randall folders out and about. No, none of them were "made" by the Randall shop. But the shop did produce and distribute a small number of blades to established knife makers to see what they could produce. Some are very well made. One rule of thumb is the asking price. If under $2500, I'd guess its a fake.

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Dick Burg

No one seems to have posted a link to
Guy Clark's song I was always fond of the song though a Randall knife never fit my budget.

Used to be a dealer at gun show near Chicago(Wheaton) that carried most models on his table for retail price, also.
Steve