If Not Randall, Then What?

I have been going down the rabbit hole of knives for the past several months. Reading, researching, etc. - not purchasing. Naturally I came across Randall knives and read all about them. My initial interest waned quickly. I just don’t like their styles and general size. Once I found the Loveless style drop point hunter I fell in love. That has now led to researching knife makers who produce quality work faithful to that design style. Pretty sure I have the maker decided, working on handle material selection currently. I want exhibition grade something, not mycarta or g10. I am hopng a business trip will take me to Texas in the next month so I can visit face to face and make final decisions.
 
as a MACV advisor deep in the delta, I wore a Buck General in a custom sheath on my web gear, and a Buck 110 folder on my belt. I rarely had any need or use for my big Buck, but used my lttle 110 all the time, from cleaning spark plugs on my hootch generator, to cutting duck meat apart when at a ceremonial dinner, and everything in between. Used it daily twenty years later in Desert Storm. I wore the bigger Buck "...just in case" but in reality, it was just too big for any daily use. Here I intentionally stuck it into the ground specifically to have it in the Kodachrome picture. I don't recall even using it to wack open the coconut. Me on the left, the right Major came just before I DROS'd home, taking over my position as a District Senior Advisor. Plus he wore a stupid issue beanie cap, not a proper field cap. I had been on my own for a year, and didn't like working under anyone any more. It was time for me to come home. SF VET
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I've handled a number of Randall knives and have always been impressed. Same for A.G. Russell, which is in Lowell, Arkansas. Fortunately, though, there are quite a few local knife makers in the Ozarks that'll make a quality custom knife at decent prices and I typically go the local knife maker route.

I have a pair of custom made 3/4 sized Old Hickory style skinning knives that are favorites of mine.

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My older brother passed away from 20yrs of Parkinson's. He was a big time custom knife collector and traveled to shows all over the country while he still could. He and his wife sold off many high dollar knives before his death but he left me the rest of his collection from some of the top makers in the country. I was left 7 Randall's along with many high grade custom folders and a few straight knives from other makers. I think that Randall has the name but that there are many other custom makers that make comparable if not better knives and in many cases for less money
 
I'm a Randall fan. Have a couple for the collection and two I actually use for many outdoor tasks including dressing game.

Other higher end blades to look at for hard use are offerings from Half Face Blades, Alaska Blade Works and Winkler knives. Some hold them collectible, many use them as daily working knives...... I'm also a fan of the older Buck's in a variety of models.....
 
My brother ordered a Randall about three years ago, I believe that he expects delivery late this year.

I have never had a requirement for any knife that is any better than one of the WWII service knives. If anyone has ever made a better knife than one of the Case or Cattaraugus "Q" knives, they would have to prove it to me. I am a big fan of carbon steel that a mortal man can sharpen to a razor's edge with a simple wet stone. As far as I am concerned all of the "super steel" knives are just so much marketing hoopla.

A hundred bucks (or less) will buy a very nice Cattaraugus and add another fifty bucks for the Case. (Quartermaster knives) If taken reasonable care of the 80 year old knives will still be in use when your GG grandchildren are hankering for a blade. Barring the Q knives, a Navy Mk I or Mk II will also give great service and do not require a mortgage to purchase.
 
Busse Combat for me.
Jerry Busse has a fully transferable lifetime warranty & his blades are so beautiful too.
Not to mention Jerry is one the finest human beings you could ever meet.
His blades are pretty legendary too.
The Walking Dead - so many knives on that show are Busse Combat
Like Darryls Team Gemini or Carol's Argonne Assault
Jerry makes very tough, very, very beautiful blades
Here's a Custom Shop Nano Team Gemini I have - I absolutely LOVE this blade - Nano means its a smaller version of the Original Team Gemini like Darryl had on the Walking Dead
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My brother ordered a Randall about three years ago, I believe that he expects delivery late this year.

I have never had a requirement for any knife that is any better than one of the WWII service knives. If anyone has ever made a better knife than one of the Case or Cattaraugus "Q" knives, they would have to prove it to me. I am a big fan of carbon steel that a mortal man can sharpen to a razor's edge with a simple wet stone. As far as I am concerned all of the "super steel" knives are just so much marketing hoopla.

A hundred bucks (or less) will buy a very nice Cattaraugus and add another fifty bucks for the Case. (Quartermaster knives) If taken reasonable care of the 80 year old knives will still be in use when your GG grandchildren are hankering for a blade. Barring the Q knives, a Navy Mk I or Mk II will also give great service and do not require a mortgage to purchase.
I hear ya brother - i really do
You would LOVE Busse Combat INFI Steel
Its incredible tough, ive yet to see any rust & the real kicker is, its so dangbeasy to sharpen!
I totally understand about super steels being hard to sharpen- they really can be
But, INFI is super easy to sharpen
 
I have owned several custom and commercial knives. I like Martin knives, but he no longer takes orders, he just makes some and puts them on his site to sell. I had good luck with a couple of Greg Wall knives, but he has turned into a ghost. Website up, but never answers emails, calls, texts, even snail mail. There has been a lot of discussion on knife forums that he is not delivering as promised, some going on 2 years past promised time. Depending on what you are going to use it for, I really like a Kabar. Been using the same one since 1973. Bark River are nice, but they do short runs of their models and then they are gone. Don't own one yet, but have heard good things about ESEE. Older Cold Steel are great knives, but once company was sold, they, IMO, have gone down hill both in quality and especially customer service. Ruana are great knives and I think superior to Randalls. The main issue being, is that they have not, nor appear to be, taking new orders for knives. I called 3 or so years ago and asked for the time frame of one of their bowie designs. Whoever I spoke to told me they will not be making any of their "classic" styles until they get caught up with orders that were already in. Like Bark River, they do make a few every once in awhile and post them for sale, but it is on a first come, first serve basis. There are a lot of great commercial knives out there, and some really good custom knives. If you are looking for a custom, you might try Arizona Custom Knives. They usually have a great selection of used customs.
 
I have always wanted a Randall something or other, but if you use them, they are not worth much. I like the Ka-Bar USN standard issue GI series, stacked leather and blued. They are powder coated now, but still great. The sheath is junk. I have a sheath made that looks like the Randall. That knife has been protecting GI's since 1941.

A beauty that I picked up off the forum here is a Cold steel R1 that is a copy of the Randall NO.1 fighting knife. A beauty for sure with a beautiful sheath. Look for 1 of those
 
I've been pretty close to pulling the trigger on a Randall or two on estate auction sites. But, like guns, guitars, and other adult male collectibles, it's very difficult to find a great deal on one.

But I'll stick with this custom Hayhurst tanto made locally. Carbon steel.

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I also like Cold Steel tantos. One of these and a Randall 14 figure in my 3 books, though not starring roles. More damage is done with an orange handled Spyderco folder than with either of the "big" blades.
 
The top looks like a Randle? A dear friend who pasted away years ago gave me three knives, a Camillus, Collins No. 18 this unmarked beautiful knife, is it a Randle or a lookalike?
I have to say a few words about my friend, he served many years in the Army. In Vietnam and other countries, he was a training instructor for many governments elite combat troops. I have seen and read a portfolio of news clippings magazine articles and photos of his accomplishments over many years. He died from complicates from Agent Orange. He was remarkable individual and I will always remember him as a cheerful giving individual.
 

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I had a Bark River “Lil Canadian” but it was stolen from my truck. Nice knife, but never got to clean a deer with it.
I have Buck and Benchmade and honestly more knives than I will ever need including 8 I’ve made myself in Adult Ed knife making class. I just picked up a nice Benchmade fixed blade at a gun show.
I always look at the Randall’s that pop up in the classifieds and tell my wife when we go to Orlando that I want to visit the store, but it never happens. Honestly they are priced out of my range.
 

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