Anyone actually use a Randall Knife

[Hoosier45]

Figured I’d bump this thread. I recently picked up a qualifying used Randall. I don’t know if I want to keep it, sell it, or send back to Randall for a refurb. With the surface rust, I’m guessing they would have to re-grind and sharpen the blade. Anyways... here’s a 12-9 Sportsman Bowie with nicely aged Stag handle. I’m guessing late ‘70s era or early 80s. Has a smooth back sheath. Any help or guidance is appreciated.

Back from restoration at Randall:

 

[oneounceload]

I go by value. We have Randalls, and other knives, we don't use and guns we don't shoot and the decision is made according to value. I am not a rich man and can't afford to shoot thousands of dollars of value down range or scratch up thousand dollar knives. The strict we shoot 'em/use 'em or don't own them doesn't work around here.

User Randalls are not really that expensive, relatively speaking. The last users I bought were a gently used #10-5 off eBay for the kitchen and a #28 from the shop for general field use. Both were pretty reasonable.

Bob

So, if you're not going to use them for fear of losing value, than why not sell them and go do or buy something with the money you enjoy? I can understand if it is a family heirloom and a delicate item; otherwise, to just have it sit in a raw so your heirs will sell it after you're gone seems silly to me. JMO, YMMV.

 

[jeeps]

I use my Randal number 1 5" all the time. Just the right size. What you saving it for. You cannot use it or take it with you when your dead.

 

[Chief Wayne]

Glad to see this thread still alive and well. Just yesterday I picked off another Randalll. It was up at the OGCA show. There was a nice early 3-7 over on a chair beside the guy. Long experience has taught me the best stuff generally doesn't show up on the tables, but instead under them or behind the guys. I asked about it and it sure looked good. Its been well used and the Roughy sheath looks like more use than even the blade. But it wanted to come home with me. Someone did a poor job of cleaning up the blade, but didn't do much damage to my way of thinking. 7" blades are probably too long for serious business. But they look cool, which is important for the knifes future work as a safe queen. Its got a well worn stag handle from back when they tapered it drastically at the front. I'm not sure what that was supposed to accomplish, but it did provide a surface to practice their polishing skills.

I'm thinking about making a display using a belt. I'd like to get one cut for someone really fat and hanging it from the mantle, side to side. Probably 84" or so. then just installing all the knives or all my nasty old Heiser holsters. As long as I don't go overboard with a fire, it would be nice to look at.

If you are looking for a long belt try a boot makes shop or saddle makers shop eather should have a piece that will work. That is where I found mine.

 

[Onomea]

....With the surface rust, I’m guessing they would have to re-grind and sharpen the blade. Anyways... here’s a 12-9 Sportsman Bowie with nicely aged Stag handle. I’m guessing late ‘70s era or early 80s. Has a smooth back sheath. Any help or guidance is appreciated.

Not an expert here, at all, but I think your issue is rust removal, polishing the blade, and doubt a re-grind is necessary. I think the knife has just been stored improperly.

I also think maybe 70s or earlier, based on the aged stag. I have an early 80s model one, stag handle, that is no where near as aged looking.

Nice knife. Congrats!

 

[JayFramer]

It’s the classical dichotomy that all Randall users seems to think on. For me, I could never afford such a knife to actually go out in the bush to use. My $60 Mora Bushcraft, or $80 KA-BAR, are both bombproof and extremely efficient in task for a general field or emergency defensive option.

Clearly, Randalls are superior in every way I’m sure, but to me it would be diminishing returns to go out and thrash on a $600 blade that won’t work any better than those other two options. The cost of the Randalls come from their precise fit, exquisite finish, craftsmanship, and collector’s market interest. All of that is well and good and they are a tremendous example of the knifemaker’s art, but the OP asked about actual use, and to me none of that matters at all for a field knife. I just do not see any logic in off-roading with a Maserati.

 

[29aholic]

It’s the classical dichotomy that all Randall users seems to think on. For me, I could never afford such a knife to actually go out in the bush to use. My $60 Mora Bushcraft, or $80 KA-BAR, are both bombproof and extremely efficient in task for a general field or emergency defensive option.

Clearly, Randalls are superior in every way I’m sure, but to me it would be diminishing returns to go out and thrash on a $600 blade that won’t work any better than those other two options. The cost of the Randalls come from their precise fit, exquisite finish, craftsmanship, and collector’s market interest. All of that is well and good and they are a tremendous example of the knifemaker’s art, but the OP asked about actual use, and to me none of that matters at all for a field knife. I just do not see any logic in off-roading with a Maserati.

You make a valid point. Here lately I have been using an OKC-3S bayonet. Good length blade, decent thickness and heft, and a good edge.


BUT, I still use my Randall

 

[Trouthunter]

I'll Play

First is my Dad's original #8 bird and trout knife from late 50's or very early 60's.

The rest are some that I picked up. All of them but the new model 8 were made in 1970 and are stamped with that date except for the Raymond Thorpe, it's stamped 1961.

 

[Trouthunter]

The 1961 Raymond Thorpe

Nice knife.

 

[Onomea]

Trouthunter, you have a beautiful collection there!

Why are your knives stamped with dates, and how did it come to pass that you own four stamped 1970?

 

[Trouthunter]

Trouthunter, you have a beautiful collection there!

Why are your knives stamped with dates, and how did it come to pass that you own four stamped 1970?

Thank you.

I was at a gun show in Houston years ago at the old Astrohall and was looking at a Randall knife that some guy had for sale on his table. A fellow next to me asked me if I knew anything about Randall knives and I told him that I knew that I liked them.

He said that while cleaning out his recently deceased uncle's house he found boxes in a closet that were full of knives and sheaths made by Randall in Orlando, Florida.

I told him that I would like to take a look at them so he invited me over. He lived in Houston.

So my son and I followed this fellow to his home and in the garage on the concrete floor were several old boxes sitting on sweating concrete and inside those boxes were 27 Randall knives.

Some had been in the sheaths for decades and were green from corrosion others were still wrapped in the paper as they came from Randall's shop.

Seemed the old uncle decided he wanted to collect Randall knives so in 1961 he ordered the Raymond Thorpe and thought that it would be a nice touch to have the year stamped into the blade when it was made.

Military service interrupted his collecting but when he got out of the Army he ordered all the other 26 knives in 1970 and continued with the date stamping.

Anyway we went through all of the knives, I told him what I would pay for each one and he agreed to my offering prices. I gave him a personal check to hold the knives for me until the following Monday, took off from work, got the cash and went back and picked them up and took them all home.

I traded or sold some of them, had a #2 and a #17 Astro stolen from my truck, gave a bunch of them to my son and kept what you see in the pictures, well except for my Dad's #8.

The new #8 I actually traded an old Case Tested pocket knife and $40 bucks for.

 

[Onomea]

Thanks for the back story, Trouthunter. Very interesting! (I bet I am not the only one here who’d like to find a garage stash like that!)

 

[Old TexMex]

One of my best friends was just given the Randall knife by his dad. His dad bought it at the Astrodome show long time ago. It’s a well used, well taken care of knife. Jake quoted Guy Clark “ If a better blade was ever made it was probably forged in Hell.”

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I enjoy a good story as much as the next guy. I am also a two-tour Vietnam veteran, 1969-1971. There were a few dispensations allowed for some officers, senior NCO's, and Special Forces types, but the rest of us grunts were simply not allowed to have, to carry, to import, or to export any personal weapons at all.

During my processing for shipment to Vietnam in 1969 I was relieved of my old Cub Scout pocket knife. I thought it might be handy (bottle opener, can opener, awl, etc), but the US Army classified it as an unauthorized personal weapon prohibited for US troops.

Going home in 1970 I carefully packed a captured double-edged dagger with wire-wrapped tang grip (similar to the WW2 commando daggers). It was confiscated before I was allowed to board the "freedom bird".

Going back in 1970 I carried my issued Camillus rigger's knife (switchblade clip point blade and hooked blade for cutting parachute rigging lines). No problem going in, but no way to bring it home with me months later. Government property, don't you know, and they certainly weren't releasing GI's onto US streets with switchblade knives.

I knew a few guys who sported custom knives, including a Randall or two. Tolerated in some units, but not in all units. Out-processing at the end of your tour usually meant going out through Cam Ranh Bay or Long Binh, and outprocessing included P-testing, gear searches, and generally being treated like criminals on parole before allowed to board a flight home.

End of first tour I took home a Belgian FN P35 (aka: Browning Hi Power pistol), captured in combat action, duly registered as a "war trophy" with all paperwork completed and present. Twice in Vietnam, and once in Japan, I had to call for senior officers to intervene to prevent my pistol and papers from being confiscated during security shakedowns. Missed one flight connection while demanding that my property be secured and returned to me. Threatened with arrest and court-martial several times.

Undoubtedly there were knives, pistols, and other personal weapons taken to Vietnam by individual soldiers and marines. The point I am making here is that this was not a commonly accepted practice, and loss of the item in question was always a daily possibility. Taking a knife with you, carrying it throughout your tour, and returning home with that knife? Maybe, if you were a staff officer or very senior NCO; otherwise highly unlikely.

 

[Trouthunter]

Thanks for your service Lobo!

The only Vietnam knife story that I have is from a friend of mine who was MACV-SOG in Vietnam. His name was Roy Beneavidez who was a friend of my Dad's and a friend of mine. He lived in the same town here in Texas that I grew up in.

I got a Randall #2 when I was in high school a gift from my Dad and I was quite proud of it. I cleaned several deer with it but it wasn't really made for that type of work and made the job harder. Anyway...

When Roy was in town he could be found morning and afternoons running the track at one of our local parks. I was there one afternoon and had the #2 with me so when Roy was finished running I called him over to my truck and showed him the knife.

Roy looked it over and asked me what the hell I was going to do with a knife like that lol. He said it was a fighting knife and that I'd be a whole lot better off with a .45 than that knife because in a knife fight everyone gets cut. So he was not impressed and I was a little disappointed lol.

He told me one of his pals in Vietnam had a Randall and they wouldn't let him take it home. So his friend gave the knife to another friend who still had time left on his tour.

If for some reason you think that the guy's uncle in my narrative above took a Randall to Vietnam that wouldn't be the case since the Raymond Thorpe Bowie is as new and he ordered it before he was drafted.

 

[armenius]

These knives produce many interesting stories.My wife accuses me of being “tight” at times as I like to make everything last. I call it being frugal.
For my 40 th birthday I was “gifted” with my dream Browning Superlite Superposed 20 gauge.I treasured it and it stayed in the safe unused until the prohibition of lead shot for duck hunting.After seeing the steel shot cripple so many ducks I broke out the safe queen as 20ga lead was OK.I went back to one shot kills,loved the gun and it’s now worth 3 times the purchase price.Don’t leave your prizes for your heirs.
In the late 1960’s I believe Esquire magazine ran some articles of the war in ‘Nam and one told of a soldier who in hand to hand killed several enemy with a Randall (?) Bowie.Sounded like Ol’ Jim himself.
I love my Randall’s, use ‘em and when I can’t I will fondle them.

 

[BAM-BAM]

. There were a few dispensations allowed for some officers, senior NCO's, and Special Forces types, but the rest of us grunts were simply not allowed to have, to carry, to import, or to export any personal weapons at all.

Maybe, if you were a staff officer or very senior NCO; otherwise highly unlikely.

Worked with a guy back in the 80s who was a Capt.; Artillery IIRC, in Vietnam in the late 60s.......claimed to have had a Browning HP (he carried
concealed off base against regs.) and a Swedish K ....... bought/traded for them there and traded/sold them off on the way out.

 

[29aholic]

With regards to my friends use of this knife in SEA. At the time it was given to me he also gave me some other memorabilia from Vietnam. Amongst the stuff was a pamphlet put out by Corps that included pictures of guys in action. One of the pics was of Gary in the back of a helicopter. The knife is visible in the picture.


Everything but the knife has long been since lost.

 

[Texas Star]

These knives produce many interesting stories.My wife accuses me of being “tight” at times as I like to make everything last. I call it being frugal.
For my 40 th birthday I was “gifted” with my dream Browning Superlite Superposed 20 gauge.I treasured it and it stayed in the safe unused until the prohibition of lead shot for duck hunting.After seeing the steel shot cripple so many ducks I broke out the safe queen as 20ga lead was OK.I went back to one shot kills,loved the gun and it’s now worth 3 times the purchase price.Don’t leave your prizes for your heirs.
In the late 1960’s I believe Esquire magazine ran some articles of the war in ‘Nam and one told of a soldier who in hand to hand killed several enemy with a Randall (?) Bowie.Sounded like Ol’ Jim himself.
I love my Randall’s, use ‘em and when I can’t I will fondle them.

For some 30 years, I was one of the most prolific knife writers, and I did a profile on maker G.W. Stone. He had in his files a letter from a soldier in Vietnam who'd taken off the head of a Vietcong with one swipe from his Stone Model A knife. I think it had the eight-inch blade option.

It's pretty well known that many did carry Randall and other custom knives, and you can find photos of them worn in combat zones. One captain who earned the Medal of Honor carried a stag-handled Model 1 on his harness straps. He was Special Forces, training Montagnards.

I doubt seriously if Gen. Westmoreland had any problem in returning with his ivory handled Model 1...

 

[M14sRock]

I have a couple, but only use one. It's a Model 15 that lives on my rifle pack.

Great knives that deserve to get used.