Randall Knives vs. Others

[Flattop5]

First, see this quote I found on another forum about Randall knives (it's an old quote):

"Being a knife nut before I became a gun nut, I was fortunate enough to have aquired some of these. I keep them in a bank vault and would never use them since sharpening one would cause the value to drop about 50%.
Randall was one of the first serious custom knife makers and it's a good thing if you can get one of these.
If you order one, the waiting list is several years out."

This is my dilemma: I want to get a Randall. Never had one. But, first, they are expensive. Second, what this guy said: I would be afraid to take it out into the boonies and use it -- it might get scratched.

Heck, I have some good knives already that work fine: a Puma, Boker (Germany), Anza. Should I get a Randall just to have it sit around as a "safe queen"? You know? I've got an old Carl Schlieper Eye Brand hunting knife (German, carbon steel) that will not only shave your arm hair but it'll take some skin off, too! So why should I buy a Randall? I guess I'm hoping that somebody will talk me out of it...

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[ContinentalOp]

 

[lihpster]

First, see this quote I found on another forum about Randall knives (it's an old quote):



This is my dilemma: I want to get a Randall. Never had one. But, first, they are expensive. Second, what this guy said: I would be afraid to take it out into the boonies and use it -- it might get scratched.

Heck, I have some good knives already that work fine: a Puma, Boker (Germany), Anza. Should I get a Randall just to have it sit around as a "safe queen"? You know? I've got an old Carl Schlieper Eye Brand hunting knife (German, carbon steel) that will not only shave your arm hair but it'll take some skin off, too! So why should I buy a Randall? I guess I'm hoping that somebody will talk me out of it...

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I would love a Randall. Wanted one since I first saw one. I'm not gonna spend the stupid prices they command though. Why? Because at the end of the day it's a knife. A tool. And I can get one as good or better for much less money. As far as a safe queen? I wouldn't buy an Unobtanium, carved and engraved, comes in a velvet bag, serial numbered hammer and put it in a safe. If I buy a hammer, I'm gonna pound some nails with it. If i have a knife, I'm gonna cut something with it.

 

[Ray1970]

You won’t get the same pride of ownership but there are some pretty awesome knives for less than half the price that will perform as well or better.

That’s how I justify not owning one.

 

[ContinentalOp]

FWIW, there's nothing wrong with getting a knife as a collectible, rather than a tool. Knives can be beautiful works of art, in my opinion. If you want a Randall knife, I say there's nothing wrong with getting one just to have one. And if you want to actually use it, I see nothing wrong that, either, though as others have said there are high quality knives out there for less money and less collectability.

Just my opinion.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I use mine. It’s like having a gun you won’t shoot. Don’t see the purpose . . .

 

[dougb1946]

If you don't intend to use it, quality means nothing. A photo will suffice-and not cost as much.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

My wife wanted to get me a nice 25th anniversary present and asked me what I'd like. I told her I'd like a Randall knife, and found a model 23 Gamemaster NIB on ebay. She got it for me (that was 17 years ago now). I use it. I don't have safe queen guns, or knives. When I'm gone, it will still be a great knife my son can have and pass along. I think he'd rather inherit one I'd used as it was intended than unused with no memories attached. This one has dressed a bull elk, a barbary sheep, hogs, and deer. It's no worse for wear though not new in the box anymore.

 

[Thomas M. Black]

About 5 years ago I was in Maine on a bear hunt. We stopped at the Kittery Trading Post and they had more Randall’s there than I had ever seen in one place. I had wanted a Randall since the first time I saw an advertisement for one an I bought a Model 25 with beautiful stag grips...they even went so far as to pull several of them out of storage and let me pick the one I wanted. IIRC I gave $600. I’ve dressed a ton of deer with it. It’s sharpened when needed, used, never abused and loved. Expensive yes but I have never once regretted buying it.
Tom

 

[30-30remchester]

Being a knife nut myself, I have 3 to 4 hundred knives hanging around most times. I have had several Randall's over the years and just cant see the appeal. Their handle construction is 3 rate at best. Cant attest to the blade quality, but a friend had several that he used and chipped the blade on two separate occasions requiring a return trip to Randal to have reground. The second time it came back for repairs a nasty letter from Bo himself said if it came back in again, he was going to keep it as my friend was abusing one of his knives and Bo wasn't going to have any of that. I tried to like them but just couldn't. Lots of quality blades out there.

 

[YkcorCal]

RANDALL HISTORY

Randall Made Knives >> Randall History


Randall's were popular during Vietnam; for good reasons.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Have owned several Randall’s.
Still have my Special Order No.1 with my name on it.
I ordered Finger Grooves in the Micarta handle.
Forgot to tell Orlando that I’m Left Handed!
Also have several hundred knives ranging from WWII Military to Chinese Bubble warp. Including a number of Handmade Blades.
Do I regret selling any Knives?
Yes. The two Stone knives , don’t even want to talk about it!
If you want a Randall, by all means get one.
If the direct sales too slow, go for a resale from any number of online venders.
Here’s my Bark River Smokejumper on the bottom..
Randall No. 1 in middle.
Omega , Loveless Dixon Fighter Pattern on top.
The Omega was made by Extraordinarily Skilled Craftsman Hank Kubaiko.

 

[Cooter Brown]

In real dollars the depreciation of a Randall knife is all but insignificant compared to say, an automobile.

So you pay $600 for a Randall and use it for the rest of your life. The value goes down to $350 when you shuffle off the mortal coil. You've cost your heirs $250--IF they want to sell it and not keep it to remind them of you and your adventures with it.

Now when they go to sell that last car you bought, they're gonna take a lot bigger hit than that.

Not an exact analogy of course, but in real dollars over the course of a lifetime of use it's a relatively small amount.

 

[TheHobbyist]

I've, personally, never understood the notion that you can't buy them...tons right now available on 'popular auction sites'.

It's a decent spend for a knife but a lot of value for what you get. People spend $100s on folders, etc. If you want to buy it and use it, go for it. If you want to buy it and keep it tucked away somewhere never to see the light, that is ok too; it's your property.

I could be wrong, but I don't foresee this going up like stocks, real estate, etc. Nothing wrong with that at all.

 

[jdlii]

I am fortunate to own a couple of really nice sheath knives. One is a Randall Mod. 28 that gets carried and used.

I hunt with and use a quality knife for the same reason that I hunt with quality firearms including my pre 64' Mod. 70 in 30.06 and my Mod. 629 Classic DX. They have never let me down.

The Mod. 28 is on the left, followed by a Buck 110 folder that my Dad gave me with I was 16, a Roe #3 with stag handles and my daily carry, a Benchmade.

I used to own a Randall #1 but, a friend of mine wanted it worse than I did.

 

[Homie]

First, buy one then worry yourself silly deciding if you should use it- at least you'll satisfy the owning craving.
Kind of like new guns-same process in some cases!!!

 

[dave1918a2]

I have owned and carried a Randall since the mid 70's. Not the same one of course. I gutted, skinned and cut up at least 34 Elk and maybe 10 Antelope, and 8 or 9 deer in the last 51 years. I also carried a Ruana, a Morseth, and a Corbet Sigman. All are custom knives and all are expensive. And all worked perfect. If You are going to carry a Weatherby, I hope You don't put a Bushnell sportview on it. I believe in quality and I use every knife I own except 2 Randall safe queens, and some others that are just too valuable to carry. And none have lost value and most used Randalls' won't go below retail. They are the worlds most recognized knife and a decent investment if You are willing to wait.

 

[KalamazooKid]

I have 7 or 8 Randalls and use a couple of them extensively. This #27 mini is a favorite for packing into the deer woods or trout streams. Pic was taken when it was new but it still cleans up perfectly. It’s like collecting anything, no one’s business what you do with it. [emoji4]

 

[crsides]

I've got a couple, all safe queens at the moment. I lik'em. that's enough for me.

 

[Golphin]

There is a local Randall dealer near where I live. Well they are made not far from me but closer is a dealer with a lot of them. Every time I go by there to gun shop I look at them. They look cheaper these days with guns being so high but owning a lot of knives I think I can just check them out when I stop by Jerry Gun and Pawn for free.