Anyone actually use a Randall Knife

[bk43]

Been in Orlando 17 years.. live about 15 miles from the Randall Shop.. keep saying "I gotta go, just to see it.." maybe this thread will get me motivated.....

If I may, let me suggest you wait a few months. They are just about done remodeling the old Bo Randall home and will be moving the knife museum over there. Right now it's crammed into a couple rooms in the shop and it will be a lot more enjoyable in new quarters. BTW, it is a stunning collection of cultery and in fact the Scagel's there just take your breath away.

The shop itself will shock you. You take a one lane road a couple hundred yards off of SOBT, through an old orange grove, and around a bend is this old block BD house(BD is Before Disney for you non-Floridians). That little place is where some of the finest knives ever made are produced.

BTW, sure is a cute grandson ya' got there.

Bob

 

[29aholic]

cool thread to keep going

 

[29aholic]

any more stories???

 

[imjin138]

I came back from Korea in 83 and ordered one and 3 years to the day it arrived I carried it in the field until 92 and now it is in my dresser drawer. Mine is a model 14

 

[NE450No2]

I have 2 Randalls that I have used quite a bit.

The first is a 6" No5. I have used it on deer, wild pigs, black bear, caribou, and elk.

The second is a Trout and Bird. It has the SS steel blade. I have used it on a lot of small game, several different birds, duck, dove quail, grouse, and deer and pigs.

You have to be careful when gutting a deer or pig with the Trout and Bird, as the sharpened back clip will cut the guts. But the sharpened back clip is great for disjointing bones on small game.

I find the Randall steel to be very good. I can tell little difference between the tool and the stainless steel as far as edge holding and ease of sharpening.

While Randalls do have a lot of Collector appeal, they are great using knives as well.

I have some others I have carried, but I have not actually cut any thing with them. ie a No 14, bought for "survival" and an 8" No1, bought as a Fighter.

I find all the Randalls to be very well balanced and they handle very good when you have to gut and butcher several animals in a single day.

 

[BrainOnSigs]

I have used this one (picture when it was new) several times:

Along with other high end knives that I own:
From Horsehead Creek Knives: Fire-blued Damascus skinner with dyed, stabilized burl handle:

From Bob Ham: Bird and trout knife with stag handle...gifted to me by my hunting partner's dad:

Horsehead Creek Knives: The 3 Amigos! I commissioned these three for myself, my hunting partner and his dad. Teardrop Damascus with ram's horn handle:

These were too well made for their intended purpose to languish as safe queens.

 

[rburg]

Wow, this thread went dormant for a long time. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since we worked it last. I just do what I always do, walk gun shows and see what there is that I feel is grossly underpriced or so rare I may never see it again. Often its a knife or two.

A while back I picked up another carving set (6-10) I think. Its different from the real modern ones and even has a little plate on the stag so it can be inscribed. A buddy dates it to 1971, give or take. That from the way its put together. About 20 years ago a knife purveyor (slickster who resells knives) had a pair of carving sets. I had 2 boys and figured that would be a really good wedding present for them some day. But then I gave away one of them to another guy as a wedding present. One day watching my youngest fumble at trying to clean strawberries, I just gave up. So a neighbor who I like was getting married a year ago. They had a list of things they needed and a carving set was on the list. I already had it so I "saved" money on a wedding present and gave it to them. Guess it took his new FIL to explain just how good it was.

And one day I was walking (stumbling really) through a big gun show and in a glass case was not just a Randall, but one in a H H Heiser sheath. Too good to pass, I bought it. Its a 1947 vintage 4-6. It'll do. Yes, its well worn, but I don't care at all. And I found a long #10 Saltwater fisherman with its sheath. There was another priced the same without a sheath. Go figure. If you can only have one, it needs to have a place to be stored! We'll wait for the cringes.... No, it hasn't rusted yet.

Somewhere in the bowels of my collection is a Solingen Fighter. Should have bought the Vietnam Vets model the same day, long ago.

I've separated the set of 4 individual steak knives. Two of them travel with us on vacations. We threw in with a bunch of scoundrels who have taken to cookin' steaks out in the hills. Guess it won't happen this year in Colorado since they even banned cook fires. But two of the knives along with full place settings of Momma's sterling ride along. If you've got to eat, you might as well eat in style. I always enjoy watching other people try to eat with a plastic knife and fork while we're dining with sterling and a Randall.

The idea that any use of a Randall hurts its price can work for or against you. If you're buying it with some use already, it doesn't hurt you one bit. A decent quality knife should out last you by a good margin. My dad bought a Marbles back in 1925 when he was 14. It cleaned literally thousands of bunnies, tree rats, quail and pheasants, and who knows how many crappie and blue gills, plus a few bass. He used it until he died in 1980. I got custody of it for a while, but then passed it along to my oldest son a while back. Too much responsibility for someone like me. Let him tend to it. Same thing happened to his guns.

The guy who sold me the steak knives included 4 sheaths for 7-4s. I have no idea what to do with them, but I'm sure not going to put steak knives in them. Guess I can put my trout and bird knife in one of them.

So a while back I was reading some Kentucky laws. Its OK to carry a pocket knife or an ordinary hunting knife. Ya think the 1949 Randall in its Heiser sheath is "ordinary" enough? Guess if I get busted, I'd better hope there are no knife collectors on my jury.

 

[chief38]

I would state that MOST expensive Sheath Knives, (not just Randall's) that I have seen in my life are rarely if ever used. Most spend their lives in their original box or hanging on the wall for display. I own a few Marbles (Gladstone made) knives and can count on one hand how many times they've been used.

Unless you make your living in the woods or outdoors, most of us just don't have the need for a large knife like that.

I find that the Marble's Large Stockman Folding Pocket Knife (Gladstone) that is in my pocket each and every day gets used almost each and every day. It's small, handy, sharp and is unobtrusive. In fact, when I go into the woods these days, that is usually the only knife I have with me. The sheath knives I own usually get left at home in their box. Just my experience of course, YMMV.......

Chief38

 

[BearBio]

I just sold an unused safe queen. Had it up at a pretty good price for several weeks on several forums and ended selling it for what I paid.

My others (#1, #23, #8 and my wife's Little Beaver) are all used=camping, Several elk and deer and many wild hogs.

For those "end of the world as we know it" fantasy threads and other serious social encounters:

 

[Duke426]

Given the lack of mass production techniques and 5 year wait time for a new Randall from the maker, how does a certain seller on ebay have literally hundreds of brand new Randalls for sale? Are these knives legit?

 

[jag312]

Earlier this year I met a Hells Angel who was carrying a Randall on his belt. I'm not sure of the model. Under different circumstances it would be interesting to sit down and talk with him about Randalls. I hope he never does anything stupid with it.

 

[rburg]

Given the lack of mass production techniques and 5 year wait time for a new Randall from the maker, how does a certain seller on ebay have literally hundreds of brand new Randalls for sale? Are these knives legit?

Randall has a dealer network. The dealers have regions, and are allocated a set number of knives. Most of these guys have been at it for decades. They do have knives on order, but the shop allows them to change the order when the time comes to build the knife. So if they've got a hot one on the line, they just change the order that goes into production next to what the customer wants, then charge him a premium.

But the other way it works is simple. They know what buyers want and just order it. Its pretty easy to guess what knives are in the greatest demand, and if tastes change they can just change the order. So the shop makes what they ordered a few years ago and ships it to them. They inspect it, then take a picture and stick it on their web site. Its the only practical way to get a knife quick. You pay a modest premium but don't wait any time at all. Everyone is happy.

Those vendors are probably legit. If you have any doubt, call the Randall Shop and ask. You can probably buy the knife you want for within $100 of the stated list price today. Or if you want to wait the 58 months, save the guy the profit. You get the added satisfaction of locking in the price at today's level (but paying half now for something you won't see until 2017. Your choice.

The advantage of buying at a gun show is its a compromise. If you now just what you want for options, you can probably find it at a major knife or gun show. No reason to wait for a standard configuration knife. But knives made with stag handles vary all over the place. Some look much nicer than others. Paying on the spot and carting it off is much better than waiting. I don't even have much confidence I'll be alive in 5 or 10 years. So if I up and croak, call my widow to get pix of my collection. She might even have some spectacular guns you'd want.

 

[boykinlp]

Here is the only one I own. I have not used it yet......maybe someday:

 

[Duke426]

Randall has a dealer network. The dealers have regions, and are allocated a set number of knives. Most of these guys have been at it for decades. They do have knives on order, but the shop allows them to change the order when the time comes to build the knife. So if they've got a hot one on the line, they just change the order that goes into production next to what the customer wants, then charge him a premium.

But the other way it works is simple. They know what buyers want and just order it. Its pretty easy to guess what knives are in the greatest demand, and if tastes change they can just change the order. So the shop makes what they ordered a few years ago and ships it to them. They inspect it, then take a picture and stick it on their web site. Its the only practical way to get a knife quick. You pay a modest premium but don't wait any time at all. Everyone is happy.

Those vendors are probably legit. If you have any doubt, call the Randall Shop and ask. You can probably buy the knife you want for within $100 of the stated list price today. Or if you want to wait the 58 months, save the guy the profit. You get the added satisfaction of locking in the price at today's level (but paying half now for something you won't see until 2017. Your choice.

The advantage of buying at a gun show is its a compromise. If you now just what you want for options, you can probably find it at a major knife or gun show. No reason to wait for a standard configuration knife. But knives made with stag handles vary all over the place. Some look much nicer than others. Paying on the spot and carting it off is much better than waiting. I don't even have much confidence I'll be alive in 5 or 10 years. So if I up and croak, call my widow to get pix of my collection. She might even have some spectacular guns you'd want.

Thank you for the insight, sir.

 

[TheHobbyist]

Bk43 knows what he is talking about.

My opinion is, use em' for what they're intended.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

I picked this 12-9 up last year. I believe that it is 80's vintage. Obviously not used.

 

[pilgrim6a]

To answer the original post. Yes.
Model 5, 4". carried most days.

 

[crsides]

12-9 Randall Bowie

Note: told this story recently, and if I posted it here, just skip on down to the next one.

I have a hard copy pic of this knife, a 12-9 Randall Sportsman Bowie, but can't find a digit copy. Bought it at a local estate auction in upstate SC. One of those first Fri night in the month things. There were two bowies, one marked Randall made and the other not marked. There was knife making equipment in the auction too, so I figure the guy liked his Randall so much he decided to make his own. The unmarked Randall was in a Randall sheath, the Randall was in a homemade sheath. The only thing I knew about Randall's is that they were way too expensive for me and you had to wait 2 yrs to get one (early 90's .. the good ole days).

Decided that any bowie was worth $150 or so, so that was my max. At $95 the bidding stopped, I owned the real Randall. Then I had to buy the other one to get the sheath and it cost $105. Carried it to gunshow experts, they had never seen one with that hilt.... what do you want for it? Its a fake, what do you want for it? Carried it to the custom blade show in Vegas, wrong show. They only wanted to talk home made stuff.

Finally sent the knife to Randall and Gary Randall sent me a nice letter back with the knife. It was one of four ever made back in 1959-60 with an S curve nickel hilt, ranger handle and skull crusher cap. Handle was Manila or Phillipino ??? ebony.

So Joined the Randall knife Society, went to the next meeting in Atlanta at the Blade show. Met Pete Hamilton the shop foreman and he introduced me to Tom Clinton, one of the top collectors in the day. I could tell from the letter and Pete's reaction that it was a special knife. Tom saw it, said how much, I said I think its a $3000 knife. He turned to his wife and said "Honey, hand me my money".

We had quite a crowd by then, and a guy behind me asked if I had any other Randalls. told him I had a fake one, and he paid me $200 for it.

This covered a lot of bad deals I made in my day.

Charlie

 

[JJ_BPK]

I have had three Randalls. I purchased all at the factory. My 1st was a model 14 (1968). Then a model 2 (1969) and model 10 for the wife.

I used then pretty hard. The M-14 was stolen but I still have the M-2..

These days I carry one of Bill Harsey's D2's.

 

[ditrina]

Been in Orlando 17 years.. live about 15 miles from the Randall Shop.. keep saying "I gotta go, just to see it.." maybe this thread will get me motivated.....

One of these days I'm gonna bite the bullet and buy one..Just because.. They are fairly easy to come by in this town.. but the prices are as steep as anywhere

Well this thread popped up.. I had forgotten about it.. it's about two years later..

I had just finished a deal for another 5" 27.. ( Go figure) Last January
When I turned down another aisle.. and this RANDALL stopped me in my tracks..

It took 4 trips back to the table for some serious
" Hunkerin' " as Iggy calls it.. but it ended up following me home..

RANDALL #1-7 with Ivory.. ( oh yeah and the 27 too)