I was afforded the opportunity to acquire this gem right here on the Forum.

Thank you etexas.

Great transaction.

This is the 'MODEL 1 – ALL PURPOSE FIGHTING KNIFE' sporting the 7" blade.

I have had my eye out for this model for quite some time.

Bam!

Here it is in all it's original beauty.

Enjoy,

bdGreen

Tap on image to enlarge.

The 1-7 was always my favorite Randall. I'm a stag man but that leather looks good. Nice 'sticker.

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The best I can with what I got

Here’s mine.
Hanging with a Bark River Smoke Jumper and an Omega Dixon Fighter.
Should mention-
I ordered mine from The Factory.
Got the features I wanted.
Including Finger Grip Grooves in the Micarta Handle.
Tilt! Forgot to tell them I’m a Lefty!
They were ground for you Right Handers!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I like your taste. Here's mine. I was told it's from the late 1970's.
Below it is a recently acquired trailblazer.

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You can’t go wrong with a Randall!

Randall knives have always made me drool! The problem I have always had with them and has prevented me from buying one is that the wait times are in years! I should have just ordered one 30 - 40 years ago and I'd have had it a long time now. At 70, I think the time to wait 5-6 years has now past - lol.

I have several (made in Gladstone MI, not the Chinese junk they make these days) Marbles Custom Shop knives and while they are not quite Randall's, they have served me extremely well over the many years I have owned them. Two have Sambar Stag handles, one has a custom wood handle (from the custom shop) and one has a stacked leather handle and as far as taking & holding a super sharp edge, they are second to none. Again, the Randall's are a step above and I am not saying the Marble's knives are in the same category, but they were available way sooner and at way less money.

Stupidly, I should have just purchased an in-stock Randall from one of the knife shops that stocked them. I always wanted exactly the configuration I wanted and foolishly never really looked closely at the in-stock models in knife shops. Oh well.....

When ever I have run into local Randall owners it's rare that I see they have been used for more than just demonstrating their sharpness on a piece of paper. Not saying no one uses them, but many rarely take them out of the box other than to look at. I know it's tough to treat such a beautiful and expensive knife like a field knife, but IMHO that is what it is really for. I have always used top quality firearms and equipment in the field as I'd be damned to spend that kind of money to leave home and sit in a case.

I do get mine out in the field from time to time:

I can't think of a better use for a Bowie knife. That rib roast is cooked to perfection!
What time do we eat?

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"I also cook."

If you contact an authorized Randall dealer you can 'usually' get one in about nine months. The loooong wait times are those ordered direct from the factory!🤢

Yes, I have learned that a little too late.

I have a few Randalls...and they are users. Oh, I suppose if I had some elegant scrimshaw models from Rick Bowles I might relegate them to being safe queens, but knowing me, I doubt it.

Here are a couple of mine.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

I've always thought the 1-7 and 18 were the archetypical Randall. I don't own any, but have been tempted. They hold their value well, as do other premium knives and some customs (Matt Martin and Pete Winkler come to mind). I honestly would have a hard time paying for a Randall when I could have a custom Vehement, Cross, or Tope for the same money. Probably the reason I don't own one at this point. I have been told by serious collectors that no collection is complete without at least one Randall.

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Even older, even crankier....

Have a few Randalls...

Some beautiful knives in this thread.

One of the nice things about a Randall is that they hold their value very well. Another is that you can send them back to Randall to be refurbished for $80 or so, and they come back looking new. So if at some point you acquire a used Randall and want to spiff it up, or turn that favorite user of many years into a display piece, $80 will do it.

Randall will also sell you a new sheath but they want you to send them the knife when you order so as to prevent facilitating counterfeiting.

I've dabbled in Randalls. Was up to about a half dozen at one point and am currently down to two, a carving set from the early fifties and a 5" model 3. I keep the 5" Hunter because I read somewhere that Bo Randall thought it the most practical of his knives in part because he could sit comfortably in his truck with it on his belt.

I do think 5" is a practical, handy length for a knife.





I hope everyone who longs for one gets one at some point. Sure, they're expensive, but they do tend to make a fellow well pleased with his knife...

Here are some Randall authorized dealers:

BUXTON FIGHTER: Wayne Buxton, Silver Dollar Gun and Pawn Shop, 2608-10 W. Walnut St., Garland, TX 75042. ph. 214-272-7215

CLINTON SPECIAL: Tom Clinton, POB 2545, Love's Park, IL 61132. ph. 815-885-3396


NORDIC SPECIAL: Nordic Knives,

SASQUATCH: Doug Kenefick, 29 Leander St., Danielson, CT 06239 ph: 203-774-8929

STANABACK SPECIAL: Capt. Chris Stanaback, P.O. Box 100, Kenansville, Fl, 34739 ph. 407-436-1113, FAX 1115

Gordy & Sons Outfitters in Houston, TX A relatively new dealer!
(713)-333-3474

AG Russell is another source.

Many of these dealers have their own proprietary designs this list was a copy/paste of those with their own design] but it gives you some names. Nordic was in California but relocated. A Google search will give you his current info.
There are a few more but these are the bigger players.

Rick Bowles passed away several months ago so there is no current authorized scrimschander for Randall that I am aware of.

Some of them are not very practical to carry around with you but I enjoy them anyway.

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I can offer no sane reason why I have these Randalls. It might be the potato chip theory. After the first one they multiply. The first one on the top left was a gift from a very good friend, it has a Thuya wood grip. The second one on the top is a Capt. Stanaback non catalog that has a steel instead of a stone.
Trying to collect Randalls is sort of like collecting M1 carbines, I'll not live long enough to know them.



This is the Thuya grip knife.

I have a few:

A couple of my beauties.

enjoy,

bdGreen

This is some of Rick Bowles' work of a red wolf - enjoy! It's their triathlete model + ivory.

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Ha!
I was just pondering, only moments ago, 'where's Tim?'.

Voila.

The BlackAgnes collection.

Right on cue old chap.

It's a nice collection.

bdGreen

My only Randall-a gift from ordnanceguy.

Regards,

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turnerriver

I've never seen that done before, adding scales (?), a handle, to the Triathlete model. Great idea! And Rick's work, as always, is exquisite.

PS: I think BlackAgnes done cornered the market!

You are probably the only on here who has REALLY used a Randall..........All those above have never saw a whetstone or ever been bloodied. Which is a sad fact.

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S&W Accumulator

I do not own any Randalls (yet). Maybe that's just for the best, since I'd be reluctant to use it in the field. It might get scratched, or worse, lost (I lost a Buck knife once, at a lake circa 1985). Better to take a "user" knife and leave the Randall at home.

Sure, I have some good user knives (e.g., Puma, Case, Buck, Boker [Germany]), but granted, they aren't Randalls. I'm still "on the fence" about getting a Randall. Sometimes I think, "yes, I'll get one" and other times I think, "no, don't bother."

(I swear the best knife I've ever owned (so far) was a Schrade Sharpfinger, made circa 1979; it had 1095 carbon steel. I used that knife daily and only sharpened it maybe 3 times. I'm not kidding. It held an edge FOREVER. Mine was made in the USA. Today's Sharpfingers are made, I think, in China).
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com..._51_1236_1.jpg


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So very Politically Incorrect

I was contemplating purchasing the Randall carving set, but when I saw that Randall had a build date of approx. 5 years I stopped thinking of the purchase. As I'm 80 years old, I wasn't sure I would be around to get the set.

Bgrafsr, grab your phone and see post 16 above. Time's a-wasting!

I have a few and actually use a couple that are not in this pic ….

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Pass it on.
Mark

Great Randall's pictured in this thread. Most do tend to hold their value, especially if stored and displayed for their lives. I challenge owners of multiples, to pick just one and actually get it out and use it. I'd say less than 10% of Randall owners actually use them.

They won't do anything much better than less expensive knives but, they do bring a smile to your face when doing so.

I've got a Sergeant model that I bought from Rick Bowles years back and it's boned out a couple Caribou and Black Bear. It doesn't look any different today, then it did new.

I recently got my Combat Companion, made to my specs (brutal but mostly forgotten about 5 year wait than turned into almost 6). I wanted to make sure I used it often while out and about, so to end the "value" debate, I also had my name engraved on the blade. I figure it's only real worth will be as a hand me down to my daughter at some point. Having that on their really knocks the resell value if it were offered up, so it was my way of making it a full time use knife...

(wish I could figure out how to post pics on this site again...I miss the drag and drop way other forums allow..)

As much as I like Stag and Thuya Burl handles on my Randall, the ones with Musk Ox horn really stand out.

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I am the care taker of a Mod. 28-2, shown with a Randall Mod. 28 and yes, it has field dressed a few. To keep Ed Brown company is this Mod. 18 Randall.

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There should be plenty of them around.

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Ya know. Stuff is made you be used......No matter who made it......If you buy stuff just for bragging rights and future inflation.......You're paddling the wrong canoe.

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S&W Accumulator

Oh, I dunno. Ya pay your money, get your stuff, and enjoy it as you wish. It's the same discussion we have about safe queen handguns.

Nothing wrong with keeping your Randalls pristine. Nothing wrong with using the heck out of 'em.

Your stuff, your call. Only thing that matters about what you do with your stuff is your opinion about what you want to do with your stuff.

That's why it's called, "your stuff."

Yep. Your stuff is your stuff to do with as you please. (Anybody tells you different is ... wrong.)

Carry on.

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No longer mine, but to ensure this post remains relevant:

Arlo—I will get a toot for my snoot and decide our lazy, worthless house cats need some exercise. So I will get my Randall Bowie, wave it over my head, then give my best Rebel Yell and say it’s time to turn them into Manx cats! Then the chase is on, much to the delight of my son and our dog (who thinks the cats need to be taken down a peg or two).

Fortunately, the only thing I ever need to catch is my breath after a loop or two around the house! I figure this is as good a use as any for a Randall Bowie!

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No school like the old school.

Well, John, seeing that pic of the vicious feline cowering in fear in her lair, I'd say you and the Randall bowie sure showed the beast who's king of the kingdom!

Well done!

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More no longer owned relevance:





Arf!

Here's a couple of their largest offerings. Impressive in size but other than going to war they really aren't very practical. The first is a 'Confederate bowie' while the second is a Smithsonian model.

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The Randall factory is an hour from me, I took my son there years ago to the factory and the museum, that thread is detailed here from the Single Actions forum.
Took Lucas on a summer field trip | Single-Actions

Nice write up, Squawberryman. Thanks for the link.

And I own a few

Has anyone heard of "J.W. Stone"?

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Clem

Now that is collection of Randalls that anyone would be proud to own. Thank you for showing them.

They do make a nice knife.

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A nice cut-down tang Model 14 with Number 1 guard and brass furniture

A pair of fighters, the 8" being particularly intimidating!

A Model 14 that I carried on deployments. A Colombian NCO offered to trade his hat for it. Um, no.

I have a few more...

I recall seeing a few in Vietnam, usually with Special Forces guys or the occasional senior officer. Randall concentrated heavily on service members for a long time (I have read of examples dating to WW2) but I'm not aware of any military contracts.

Way too expensive for most of us to consider. My base pay as a Sergeant E5 was $248.75 per month in 1970. I have heard of some Special Forces units providing each member with personal weapons such as pistols (Browning Hi Power was popular at the time) and combat knives.

For most US Army soldiers during Vietnam policies prohibited personal weapons. Our gear was subject to search before going over and before returning. Privately owned weapons such as pistols or knives required specific orders allowing the soldier to possess them, something seldom done for ordinary grunts. I was allowed to keep my pocket knife, but that was it.

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Life of the party until 8:00PM

Gorgeous! Tried to order one from the factory for my son when he deployed to Afghanistan with the 101st - 40-some month delivery! Thanks for nothing. Probably just as well. He ran into a blue-on-green deal as it was, they'd have murdered him for sure for one of these.

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Ralphie Boy

My first Randall was a Model 14. My son has it now:



I had a Model 5-5 that I gave to my daughter:



I had a Model 16 that I gave to my son-in-law:



This Model 15 went to my son-in-law’s dad in a trade:



I had a Model 5 Miniature for a short while, but as I like to use my knives, it was too small for any practical use. I traded it to Clinton Knives for a Model 8:

That would be a real howl to see!