If Not Randall, Then What?

[Marshwheeling]

On a side note, if not Busse Combat for me then Nathan "The Machinist" Carrothers 3V blades

Jerry Busse has a couple of subsidiary lines as well, known as “ bussekin”, Scrap Yard Knives (SYKCO), and Swamp Rat knives. I was put off at first until I tried a couple of SYKCO knives. What drew me to SYKCO was the handles made of Reseprine C, a rubber or synthetic material that fully encloses the tang. The reseprine handles are some of the most comfortable handles I have tried. That led me to try the Busse Combat and Swamp Rat knives. I found an EDC-sized knife from the Busse custom shop for under $200, so sharp it cut through the side of the very sturdy sheath in just a few insertions. Busse replaced the sheath immediately, no questions asked, even though I probably contributed to the damage.
I have found what I consider to be bargains, and haven’t yet spent over $350, including sheath. Prices on many of his larger knives run well past that, to $500-1000. I have picked up several of the less-expensive Bussekin as well. They all come with the same guarantee, which almost invites abuse, although I don’t think too many owners can bring themselves to treat a knife really badly.

 

[Dgwarren]

Randall Model 14 Combat!

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Arkansas was once known as the Bowie knife state, not to get into that never ending argument about where the original Bowie knife was made.It has been and is home to some notable names in the Knife world.
A. G . Russell (rest in peace Ol Friend) , Jimmy Lile, also gone. Jerry Fisk and Jim Crowell and are just two of the Master Smiths in Arkansas. Bob Dozier, Pat & Wes Crawford are also popular makers.
One article not too long ago pegs Arkansas as home to 10% of the MSs
in the country.
Google Arkansas Knife makers.
.

Don't forget Bob Loveless.............May not have been from ARK.

 

[66fan]

I fell into the Randall rabbit hole awhile ago and apparentlly haven't hit bottom yet...
View attachment 779221

What’s the total cost of all of them. Ballpark guess?

 

[66fan]

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.

Nice collection. Thanks S&W forum.

 

[66fan]

Randall’s look great just too expensive for me. I’ll just use my Buck 124 full tang if my hatchet goes missing. Also will use my Linder Stag short Bowie or one of my Anza fixed blades. Too many choices to make along with many many knives. Great article on big time knives. Afraid I won’t live long enough to order a Randall.

 

[66fan]

Thanks S&W forum.

 

[Onomea]

I've had a half dozen Randalls. All very nice knives indeed, but I have now sold them off except one, a stag handled, five inch Model 3 Camper. I kept that one because I read somewhere that Bo Randall thought it the most practical design and length among his knives.



It's a very nice knife.

But, I, too, am very fond of the WWII Cattaraugus 225Q, and have the one my father carried as a Marine in the Pacific in that war:



It means a lot to me. I remember my father, who passed in 1995, using it when I was growing up, and my thinking, "Now THAT is a knife! When I become a man, I will get a knife like that!"

A couple of years ago, thinking about what a fine knife the Cattaraugus is, and how you could buy broken handled ones, or blades only, on eBay relatively inexpensively if you kept an eye out, I bought a couple and had them re-handled:





I think they came out pretty well.

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

The Buck 110 Folding Hunter is the finest GP knife yet.

It still pisses all over Chris Reeves and any of that commie Chinamen crap from overseas.

I have carried one for 55 years and don’t see no reason to change.

 

[DixieRanger]

Knives like firearms can be addictive but y'all know that. Have Barlow carried as a kid. Buck 110 in 1970. Got on ebay several yrs back and bid on WWII Mark 1 & 2s. Got a bunch. Then was Puma White Hunter & Bowie. Won one White Hunter in original box from 60's with price tag $40 from Kmart. Get what catches your eye. Dosen't have to be pricey. Doubt many carry sheath knives often but you gotta love'em. Takes me back to when outdoorsman carried and used'em.

 

[llowry61]

I have a few Randalls, I do not use them. I bought them primarily because my uncle had one, he got when he was in the military stationed in Alaska. He used it as a tool on many hunting fishing and camping trips and believed it was the finest knife a man could own. It was cared for but heavily used. I never knew where it went after his death, but I always had it in the back of my mind I would own one someday.

A few members have mentioned Busse knives. They are made here in Ohio where I live. A friend of mine somehow was able to offer Busse knives at numerous gun shows for many years. Mike was a real connoisseur of knives and showed me some of the Busse knives and they are really nice high-quality items. Mike passed away a few years back and I always wondered where his collection went. He had some exquisite Busse' as well as hatchets and a machete made by Busse. Those seemed to be rare items.

I have a nice buck 110 auto opener but have gutted most my deer with a small gerber folder I bought years ago. I don't really have a need for a larger knife. It has a high carbon steel blade that will hold a razors edge. Probably spent 50 bucks on it.

 

[bdGreen]

My first two Randall knives, the Model 25 and Model 26.
Have owned them for a number of years.

The last three I chose to let them go. Didn't own them all that long. Chose not to be a 'Randall Collector'.
I will keep the first two and call my collection complete.

enjoy,

bdGreen

 

[Jerry in SC]

My son and I have several Randalls we bought quite a few years ago when I could buy them off the bench at the shop. They’re nice knives and I love the history. Not what I carry or use though.

The original Gerber Folding Sportsman was one of the best knives I’ve owned, it was my EDC in the 70’s.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

Left side - three Bark Rivers.
Snoddy on the bottom.
Right side- Bark River version of the Loveless City Knife.
Then a Bark River Canadian.
Two Blind Horses on the bottom.

Several years ago A G Russel sold Bark River Knives. I bought a Randall #1 look a like in 2002 that was made out of 154cm steel. I never used it but kept it. I took this photo 5 min ago.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

I own one Randall, the 12-9.