If Not Randall, Then What?

[dave1918a2]

You don't state the purpose of the knife. Hunting, fishing, fire fighter, smoke jumper. Do You want a working knife or a display piece? Skinner type, caping type, or gutting type? A good general hunting type is a Randall model 5 camp and trail. I have carried one for 50+ years along with a Ruana for close to 40 years. Can't go wrong with either one. If You desire a display purtty type then it becomes a matter of dollars. You can invest in a nice custom Randall for 1K to 2K. Or a Ron Lake for 20K, or a RW Loveless for 10K. Good luck with whichever You decide on.

 

[series guy]

I’m a big fan of L T Wright knives. They are relatively close to me, all handmade out of US materials and really a lot of knife for the money.

 

[Marshwheeling]

There are a couple of makes for which I will go to some time or effort to acquire, and spend more money than I have any business spending on a knife: Carothers Performance Knives, and the Busse family of knives. Both makers’ knives are known for their durability and edge retention in hard use.
I see these knives as exceptions from my ordinarily cheapskate ways: “Mora and Opinel. All else is vanity.” My daily carries are a small Opinel and a Swiss Army knife, which have proven to be way more knife than I need. So why spend three or four hundred dollars on a knife I have no use for? Well, they have this addictive quality.

 

[wundudnee]

I have fallen to the addiction of Randall knives, however I was impressed with this Dawson knife. Dawson had a table at Tulsa one year and I talked to the builder of this knife. It is a rugged using knife that feels solid in my hand. Dawson makes many styles of knives and swords and seem to be sold out pretty regularly. They are worth a look.

 

[Onomea]

I like knives, too, and have more than I need, for sure. But.... Hey, I like 'em!

Re a new knife, here's what I am doing. One of my favorite knives is the Cattaraugus 225Q. One of the best all around knives ever, in my view. I have one that I inherited from my father that he carried as a Marine in the Pacific. I've posted here about it before.

I see them on eBay, when I look, occasionally, and think of buying another. Then I think I really don't need another... But then a month or two ago, I saw one, all rusted up and with it's pommel broken off — there's a proper technique to removing the pommel — and its blade ground kinda roughly. But, it was pretty cheap...

I bought it.

My idea is to refurbish it, but make it into a slightly different knife. Don't have the skills myself, unfortunately. I hired a guy who repairs and refurbishes knives for a living. (The same guy who I hired a few years ago to refurbish the sheath of my father's Cattaraugus 225Q.)

I've asked him to put on a brass hilt and stag handle with a lanyard hole, and fix up the blade. Sent it off to him and expect it back this summer sometime.

For what I will have in it when it's done, I could've bought a new reproduction or an old one in great condition. But, I like the idea of having a unique knife. (I may also just give it to my youngest son as a Christmas or birthday present — he likes knives, too, or at least more than my two older boys do.)

 

[Greyman50]

If this knife could talk one could write a book on its WWII owner. 82nd Airborne soldier, bought it from his family at a flea market years ago.

 

[CH4]

Randall knives are sure pretty, but I believe the vast majority of them are used for bragging rights, safe queens. I’ve never seen one in deer camp.

 

[Flattop5]

Randall knives are sure pretty, but I believe the vast majority of them are used for bragging rights, safe queens. I’ve never seen one in deer camp.

Yes. I've got a Microtech. It cost maybe $450.00 (12 years ago). Safe queen. Never have used it. Likely never will.


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[ISCS Yoda]

Randall Knives are lovely machines and very expensive. It seems to me most of the time they are safe queens. I have so many knives that qualify as safe queens I sure don't need more.....and yet.....in the past 6 months I have acquired at least 8. But they're not Randall-class so I'll post them separately.

As for buying a knife that is not a Randall, I would have said Al Mar knives except they do not make them in the Randall style any longer as far as I can tell. Gone are the days of giraffe bone handles, etc.

I'm not sure what I would use a large, Randall-style knife for, but I have a sufficient quantity of high quality fixed blade knives that have a variety of uses IF I needed to use them, which I do not = SAFE QUEENS! Or even dresser drawer queens!!!!

 

[alwslate]

What brand do the vast majority of deer hunters buy for knives they intend to use hard? Buck.

 

[Chubbs103]

What brand do the vast majority of deer hunters buy for knives they intend to use hard? Buck.

Funny thing, I recently bought my first Randall (that I absolutely plan on using), and my wife bought me a gorgeous Arno Bernard for my Navy retirement (with which I am cleaning my next deer), the knife I have that has cleaned the most game is my Buck 118 (Personal).

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I misspoke - or mis-wrote as the case may be. I wasn't thinking about the correct company when I said AL Mar above. I meant Arno bernard and I am shocked to see no fixed blades on their website:

Arno Bernard Knives

© 2024, Arno Bernard Knives

However, their fixed blade knives are available from retail sources and are easily the equivalent of Randall knives and they DO have exotic handles, as I recalled:

Exclusive Dagga Boy Collection: African Sporting Creations

2024 © AFRICAN SPORTING CREATIONS

They are not inexpensive but they're not 4 figures, either, and they are top notch knives. I never replaced the only one I had, lost in the 2018 fire, but there are so many knives floating around here it's okay!

 

[smoothshooter]

Having been a knife collector for 60 plus years, I have owned a few Randals. I can't see what the fuss is all about. Never felt the affection and sold all that I had.

I never got it either. A lot of much cheaper knives will perform just as well, and losing one of them or having it stolen will not give you a heart attack. Nice knives, though.

 

[wuluf]

I've got about 10 or 12 Benchmades. Oldest one I bought in the mid 80s. Well made knives, made in Oregon. Assisted openers, automatics, and a few fixed blades. All are users, but they they have a new one called the Narrows. Titanium frame and magnacut steel but it's $500! I've never lost a knife but I'd be afraid to carry that one..

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

 

[Ray]

A Blackjack 1 -7 may be a possible answer. Kind of copy of the Randall, but very well made.I have one from Effingham,Illinois.

Regards Ray

 

[chief38]

The original Marbles knives made in Gladstone are great knives! I own 5 or 6 fixed blades and one genuine Stag pocket folder. While not quite a Randal, they will do pretty much the same job. My Marbles knives are all carbon steel and have excellent sharpening and edge holding abilities. As far as general cutting tasks are concerned, I’d put an original Marbles knife up against a Randal but the Randal would win in the looks dept. anytime. The Randal’s are also built a bit more stout and in general came with better sheaths too.

BTW the Marbles knives made today are just Chinese knockoffs of the old company that sold out about 12 or 13 years ago. I believe the original company was called The Marbles Axe Company and they did make excellent knives and axes.

 

[gwpercle]

Life's too danged short to settle for second best in a knife ...

Buy yourself a real Randall and enjoy it while you can .

I use two in the kitchen every day and carry one while hunting or fishing . It's just one of life's small pleasures ... Do it while you can !
Gary

 

[chief38]

Life's too danged short to settle for second best in a knife ...

Buy yourself a real Randall and enjoy it while you can .

I use two in the kitchen every day and carry one while hunting or fishing . It's just one of life's small pleasures ... Do it while you can !
Gary

I would, but at 70 my camping days are pretty much over. I gave my kids our tent, stove, mess kits, etc. for them to enjoy. At this point I need another knife like I need a hernia! lol!! I've got at least 50 pocket knives and plenty of fixed blades as well. In fact I gave my son a brand new (vintage) Marble's Gladstone sheath knife a few years back. I am still active and in good health but I have lost my desire for camping. I still hunt but again, I've got enough knives for 3 lifetimes.

 

[elgatodeacero]

I would pass on a Randall and definitely pass on Bark River (do a search on Bladeforums.com for a reality check on Barkriver). Randall makes a decent knife but no where near the quality or metallurgy to justify the price or wait times.

If you want a top tier user pick a model from Carothers Performance Knives and be happy. It will take some effort to get one but they are very good knives.

Currently Available – Carothers Performance Knives

If you want an old school looking custom get a Behring made knife.

Behring Made - Custom Handmade Knives, Hunting Knives, Cutlery, Knives

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Knife story! Off topic!
I was attending the Jungle Survival School at Clark AB, Philippines.
And we was headed for the Jungle!
We were paired up and I had a partner I had just been introduced to.
We got acquainted as we rode out a number of miles in a truck.
He showed me his new knife that his Girlfriend gave him.
It was a Gerber Bent Hilt.
Finally we were Helo lifted up into the mountains.
Then we moved to our bivouac location and set up camp.
As we built our shelters, he kept coming over to borrow a knife.
I was knifed up with a Buck 110, Buck 119 and a SAK.
Finally I asked him, why don’t you use your Gerber?
He sheepishly admitted, my Gerber don’t seem to be a very good cutter!
That Gerber is a Pig Sticking Dagger.
Pretty much useless as general purpose camp-survival knife.