Al Mar vs Randall

[hkcavalier]

I put a Randall #14 in my apocalyptic trilogy, though it's really for show since it never draws blood on any page. A Cold Steel tanto gets better pub and an orange-handled Spyderco folder even more so. The less expensive the knife, the more it gets used, at least in my experience.

Occasionally I search for Randalls in online estate auctions. Some are tempting, but it's tough for me to justify a few hundred dollars for a hunk of sharp steel. I just don't feel the collector vibe with them like I do with old revolvers.

In in the USMC I carried a Ka-Bar I bought with my own $ as the issued ones looked like they got more use cutting comm wire and other not-recommended tasks. Since I left that club and joined the Army, I was gifted a custom tanto made by a local vet-turned-knifemaker. I wish I could advertise for him, but he took down his site and is strictly word-of-mouth. Simple yet highly practical carbon steel blade that forces me to take good care of it. It's been to six foreign countries since 2019.

 

[jsfricks]

I have owned several Randall's and could not figure out the appeal. A friend had 2 Randalls that he used when hunting. On two occasions he chipped the blade of his larger bowie Randall. Had to send it back both times to have it reground. He got a personal letter from Bo himself saying if he damaged his knife one more time and sent it in for repair, Bo was going to keep it.

This is why I use Bark River. You can chip it as much as you want for the next 100 years and Mike Stewart will fix it and not complain. Plus Bark River are using the latest blade material so you have multiple options. I think after the third time I’d just tell ole “Bo” he could keep it and put it where the sun don’t shine with that attitude.

 

[CALREB]

Always wanted a Randall 18 just never got around to getting one. I have always loved BIG knives. Ever since "Iron Mistress" with Alan Ladd. Got a lot of knives over the years. wife bought me an Al Mar for Christmas many years ago and I got interested in them. I have tub/boxes full of knives many Ka-Bars, Case, Cold steel and others. Most gotten years ago when they were not so much.

On the wheel ,I no longer have the Al Mar Warrior, curved serrated blade. I have a close friend, and knife guy who passed. He collected Al Mars and others. His son also enjoyed knives with his dad, so I gave him the Warrior as he did not have one in his collection. still have all the others. crazy. the Smatchet is a Boker not the Al Mar, but I already owned it so didnt see the need to buy another. Now if I found the Al Mar serrated model!!!


For years I carried a Cold Steel Recon Scout when camping or hunting, great hard use knife. I just don't go on those kinds of trips anymore.

The last photo is what I usually carry, either the small Gerber, or the Dozier KaBar and traveling, some type of Victorinox. Wife is Swiss and used to get me a different one every time she went over there. In the shop there are a lot of older Benchmades and Cold steel knives from work. The Cold steel Tanto is on the sling pack medical kit I take camping and fishing or travel. Its razor sharp and heavy enough to cut limbs for splints or firewood if needed.
IN truth the black Buck lightweight and a same orange handled one are carried around the place everyday cutting sacks of feed, string, poking holes whatever. They stay sharp take a beating and weigh nothing, great work knife.

 

[SF VET]

I bought this Randall about 30 years ago at a Topeka gun show, never used it for anything, and since gave it to my son, along with some of my other blades. Here with the only full custom pistol I have, a 9mm made for me by Bill Laughridge long ago. I wore a Buck General in a custom sheath in my year in IV Corps as a MACV advisor, and rarely used it for anything. But by far the most useful kife I had and used in that war and later in Desert Storm was my Buck 110, for everything from cleaning spark plugs on my 1.5KW genereator every evening to meal times, and even tapping in pegs and pins on assorted things. Gave the General along with some Puma blades to my son, and now have the little 110 in my Shadow Box. SF VET
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[BAM-BAM]

Strange the Cold Steel SRK I have was over $100 when I got it 25 years ago.

Change the Steel change the price..... just went to Cold Steel.com the 3V SRK lists for $259.99. CPM3V steel...... another version SRK SK-5 is $69.99

25 years ago I traded a, long out of production, 9 1/2" stag handled Cold Steel Trail Master , w/ leather sheath,I'd had for about 15 years, even up for the 3v SKR above and a 3V Recon Scout.

Tend to carry a Kershaw Blur and/or a 5" Ka-bar when in Penns Woods!

 

[otis24]

#9 Report Post
Old 11-24-2024, 04:37 PM
Onomea's Avatar
Onomea Onomea is offline
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“In my opinion, one of the best you can get values in a combat knife is a Cattaraugus 225Q from WWII. Here is my father's:“

I would second the Cattaraugus 225Q. I purchased two of them on eBay; paying less than $100 each. I gave one to my wife’s cousin’s husband. He is an Iraq combat veteran and a knife collector. They hosted us for a week when we visited Tennessee. I would like to get its brother, the Case 337-6 Q.

 

[DRYHEAT]

Value + Useful

iPak Survival: $100

Randall 18 7.5": $etc.

Chris Reeve: $$$etc.

I'd really hate to lose #2 or #3. Especially #3.

 

[Frailer]

I have a deep affection for knives. Except for time spent on civilian aircraft post-9/11 there has been at least one in my pocket every waking moment for 55 years or so.

You won’t hear me say anything negative about expensive knives in general, or about Randall’s in particular. Most days will find me with a custom knife on my person.

With that caveat, once you get above the $150 mark or so “value” (at least in terms of objective utility) doesn’t really enter into the equation. And, to be blunt, the vast majority of us would be perfectly well-served with a $20 knife.

As far as “combat” goes, the only knife I carried in a combat zone was a SAK. Folks borrowed it frequently…because it was useful.

My advice is always to buy what you like.

 

[bph9]

Puma knives have a good reputation, the Skinner is sharp on the blade and also the spine. Another popular Puma is the White Hunter. The two mentioned used to be made of carbon steel but the newer models are all made of stainless.

 

[lihpster]

I was never really much for expensive knives. I admired them but I preferred less expensive, but still quality, knives. If you told me right now that we were going on an Indiana Jones adventure and to grab a knife, I would grab one of these that I have. Cost me less than $50 when I bought it, and they're no longer made. I have dressed and skinned deer with it, shaved tinder for the fire with it, prepared meals with it, fixed vehicles with it and even once cut the tops off some rubber boots for a co-worker with it. He was struggling with a utility knife and when I did each boot in one circular cutting motion, he backed up and looked at me like I was a suddenly dangerous man. I've been there and done that with it and used the T-shirt for musket wadding. It's never let me down.
Just a moment...

 

[smoothshooter]

First and foremost, a knife is a tool.
Two of my most expensive knives are a couple of Benchmade Mini-Griptillians.
I can justify the cost because I carry and use one of them 365 days a year to cut something. Usually several somethings.
Truth be known, a $50 to $75 knife will do everything a knife needs to do. Even an Old Hickory butcher knife will cut up a big animal, clean a fish, and cut tree branches to roast hotdogs and marshmallows just as good as a $700 + knife will.
AND, you will not feel bad about tossing it in a wash basin or bucket of water with some of your hunting/fishing buddies knives to clean the blood and whatever off of it when you are done.
Some cheaper knives do not hold an edge quite as well as knives with ultra-fine steel blades, but this is not really a problem if you have a whetstone or diamond hone with you and know how to use it. A blade’s edge can be touched up in about a minute or less. If you have to take a short break from cleaning a large animal of some kind to touch up the edge once before you are done, so what?
I would rather have 2 good knives that cost me $150 for the pair ( one would be a spare ) than 1 knife that cost that same $150.
I totally understand knife enthusiasts paying more for knives. I have done that myself.
But don’t be fooled into thinking you have to lay out hundreds of $$$ just to get a decent knife. And if you ever lose one for some reason ( it’s easier than you might think ) would you rather it be a $75 knife or a $700 knife ?

 

[smoothshooter]

I have a deep affection for knives. Except for time spent on civilian aircraft post-9/11 there has been at least one in my pocket every waking moment for 55 years or so.

You won’t hear me say anything negative about expensive knives in general, or about Randall’s in particular. Most days will find me with a custom knife on my person.

With that caveat, once you get above the $150 mark or so “value” (at least in terms of objective utility) doesn’t really enter into the equation. And, to be blunt, the vast majority of us would be perfectly well-served with a $20 knife.

As far as “combat” goes, the only knife I carried in a combat zone was a SAK. Folks borrowed it frequently…because it was useful.

My advice is always to buy what you like.

Fortunately, I never had to serve in a combat zone while I was in; but if I had to do so, I would carry my Huntsman Swiss Army knife and a 12” pry bar.

 

[Capt29]

In 1963 I went to Abercrombie & Fitch in Chicago and bought a Colt Python, a Browning HP and a Randall #14. Was just out of Army flight school at 19.
Paid $95.50 for the Python, $87.50 for the BHP and $103.50 for the Randall. Manager of the gun dept. gave me a no tax deal as I had my Army ID. Still got them all. Packed the knife and the Python for one tour in VN; the knife fared much better than the Colt. Colt refinished it for me in 1968 at no charge! Second tour was the BHP and the Randall. Both came through OK. BHP is now a little bare of finish but works fine. The Randall desperately needs to go back to FL for a refinishing and sharpening, also needs a new sheath. Used the knife for everything except fighting. I have procured more Randalls over the years and not used them for anything. If I can, I will post photos of the guns and knife.
And yes, in those days if you were 18 or over, you could walk into a gun store in Chicago and walk out with a gun(s). No LGS in Chicago any more.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Need a good replacement sheath check out Savagesheath.com out of Va.

Gotten a half dozen over the years to replace, IMO, cheap leather factory sheaths.

 

[CH4]

I have a Yarborough knife that will stay unused. As a graduate of the SFQC, I was allowed to buy one.

Buy one? I thought as a graduate of the SFQC you received a Yarborough Knife. As a graduate of the USAF BMT, I received a Lackland Laser.

On many occasions I’ve contemplated getting a Randall, but keep talking myself out of it. Seems Randall’s are the Rolex or Kardashians of the knife world; they don’t do much but look pretty. Bragging rights?

 

[dave1918a2]

I have owned Randall's for several decades. Carried one Elk hunting for close to 50 years. Also carried a Ruana. Too many Randall's are just eye candy. They are great users and many were involved during the wars We engaged in. Al Mar makes a great knife. Doesn't have the recognition of a Randall and that reflects in the price. I have several now along with Ruana, Gaston, Sigman, and R.W. loveless.

 

[Shark Bait]

Buy one? I thought as a graduate of the SFQC you received a Yarborough Knife.

I graduated the course long before they were issuing the knives. When I heard about them, I learned I could order one with the approval of JFKSWC. Once approved, I bought it from the SF museum at Fort Bragg.

 

[dave1918a2]

I carried a Randall elk hunting for 50 years. Sometimes a Ruana. Lots of Servicemen have Randalls and would never part with them. I have a few Randalls, Ruana, Gaston, Sigman, and Loveless. Al Mar are great knives. Don't have the recognition or appeal of a Randall, but they work well.

 

[smoothshooter]

According to an 86 year bud of mine who served in a Special Forces base, Phu Tuc Vietnam in the early 1960's, "at one time every Infantry Officer had a Randall".

These are mine, purchased them at Randall in Orlando

Back in the 1960's, we did not have as many choices in heavy duty knives as we do now. Compared with Western, Case, Boker, etc, a Randall was a heavy duty knife. Compared to military knives, a Randall was an advanced design. We also did not have the internet, you received your knife information word of mouth, or through ads in magazines.

this is earlier, but a typical ad. One model is being advertised.

If you wanted to know more, you sent money for a catalog.

Now we have many more, and good choices. At one time these were carried in PX's

These knives are relatively cheap. And they are good designs, and hold up. When you are talking enlisted, they don't make that much, and losing a $500 Randall Model 1, would be a large financial loss. A Afghan war bud of mine was looking for "throw away" knives. When he was blown up, not all his equipment made it back with him to base. He had Aladdin Thermos he missed as he carried it for a number of tours. It was beat to hell, had been run over by a MRAP, and yet held its vacuum. I had a picture of it, and he asked me to send that picture to him, so he could ask his buds in Afghan, if anyone had his thermos.

Bud also mentioned, he did not need super hard steels as he could not sharpen the knife in theater. He had sent one back to the manufacturer to get resharpened. This is what he could get out of supply as a sharpening stone:

Now really, what do you think you are going to do with a "combat knife" in a modern industrial war? You going to jump 3000 feet in the air and stab a drone? (that drone will see you before you see it, and give you a surprise present) Going to sneak up on someone who has night vision, and a fully automatic weapon, and cut their throat? That's movie stuff.

Why would your buddy not have been able to sharpen a knife “ in theater “ ?

 

[DTH]

If I was looking for a heavy duty working / fighting knife in the $400 to $600 range I would buy a Busse