Randall Made Knives

[Rule 303]

I bought a Randall #1 to carry in Vietnam. I bought it at the Book Store on Smoke Bomb Hill while I was in Training Group.
It was one of the three knives I carried for my two years of ground combat in Vietnam. I gave my Gerber Mk II to my best friend when I left Vietnam. I brought my Randall home.
Its still in an old foot locker that I have all of my old military stuff in. My son will get it when I buy the farm.

Rule 303

 

[fat tom]

i ordered my one randall in 2006 got it in the mail when we were in pendleton for the rodeo last year, mother came walking out of the koa office with a box and i figured it was the knife, we had made arrangements with koa and randall for delivery. when i opened up the box i looked the knife over and both of us thought this was well worth the wait, i haven't had this knife (model 25) out camping yet but i use it around the place a fair bit and i think it was well worth the almost five bucks i paid for it.

I remember when you told us you ordered it Jake. Time do fly,huh?
Take care,
f.t.

 

[dasnake]

oooohhhh ya got dat rite

I remember when you told us you ordered it Jake. Time do fly,huh?
Take care,
f.t.

hey ft, howya doin, sorry i have been remiss with my e-mail, i'll get to you soon, take care bud.

 

[Rapidray]

having lived in Orlando...

I have been to the shop more than a couple of times. If you are visiting the Mouse, you have to stop and visit. The "Museum" is the must see. Ronald Regan-then an LT. was a pusher of their knives. He truly had great taste. Has to be thousands of letters from customers, soldiers. And you might pick up a knife while you are there. See some knives being made. You will have a great time.

 

[feralmerril]

Dick, I just dug mine out. It`s a model #22 with a 4 1/2" blade.

 

[boykinlp]

I have seen where folks talk about special options that are available. Do these add alot to the cost of a knife? Also, if you are buying one to use, do you prefer the stainless or tool steel and why?

 

[peyton]

Somehow I have not gotten an Randall. One of the soldiers with 3ID Inf Div while at Camp Victory, Iraq, carried one everyday. I finally asked about it, he told me it was a model 15 that his dad had in Vietnam. We were all stuck in the HQ Building doing the REMF stuff but the young CPT was ready and prepared for combat!! His son was already to carry it next!!

 

[Texas Star]

I have seen where folks talk about special options that are available. Do these add alot to the cost of a knife? Also, if you are buying one to use, do you prefer the stainless or tool steel and why?

The options almost all do cost more. Sometimes, the shape of a handle can vary, etc. for the basic fee.

I prefer the stainless blades because I think they (overall) take (or get) a better polish and because I hate rust on blades. I think the Model 16 Diver's knife and a few others come standard with stainless. It costs maybe $25-35 more on most other models. Haven't seen the latest price list. I don't think this is a place to save money.

Keep in mind that Randall charges more for some features that some makers offer as standard, but their list prices may be more. For instance, Loveless used to offer green canvas Micarta handles as usual, and advanced stainless blades. BTW, he died a couple of years ago, and his knives, already too expensive to use thanks to collectors just cost more now. Thankfully, other men offer comparable knives for reasonable money.

 

[rburg]

I don't think this is a place to save money.

Thankfully, other men offer comparable knives for reasonable money.

Kind of a contradiction. Even the best knife may not be good enough if your life depends on it.

Its fun to watch the equipment others carry afield. Deer camps, or diners where hunters go to eat are prime turf. Those folks you know are even more instructive. One of the most amusing are people who carry a different knife every year. I particularly enjoy the guys who need a bowie to skin a bunny or a quail. And its one way to identify a newbie right off the bat. Listen carefully when an old coot wearing a very worn looking sheath with about a 4" blade starts to speak. Chances are he's the one who put the wear on the sheath and knife.

One of my buddies bought a brand spanking/stinking new hunting jacket a few years back. He very carefully removed all the stickers and tags, then he put it out on is porch, hung over a chair for a couple of months. Under the roof so it was kind of out of the rain, but when he got around to trying it, it looked experienced!

Theres an upscale shop across the river where the Yankees and Yuppies hang out. Its a hunting and fishing shop (no guns, oh the horror). I'd be embarrassed to wear one of their high dollar coats out in the field. Those cost more than most new guns! But they sure look stylish in the overpriced coffee houses. We know the diners down near the national forest are filled with guys around 5:00 in the morning during hunting season. I'm betting the guys wearing the high-buck coats make it to Starbucks around ten-ish or so.

Fashion is in the eyes of the beer holder. A ratty old coat with a few repairs is infinitely more desirable than a brand new name brand item.

Bo Randall used to get upset when buyers of his knives mostly just salted them away, never to be used. He preferred his masterpieces be treated with respect, but that they get used regularly.

 

[Texas Star]

Kind of a contradiction. Even the best knife may not be good enough if your life depends on it.

Its fun to watch the equipment others carry afield. Deer camps, or diners where hunters go to eat are prime turf. Those folks you know are even more instructive. One of the most amusing are people who carry a different knife every year. I particularly enjoy the guys who need a bowie to skin a bunny or a quail. And its one way to identify a newbie right off the bat. Listen carefully when an old coot wearing a very worn looking sheath with about a 4" blade starts to speak. Chances are he's the one who put the wear on the sheath and knife.

One of my buddies bought a brand spanking/stinking new hunting jacket a few years back. He very carefully removed all the stickers and tags, then he put it out on is porch, hung over a chair for a couple of months. Under the roof so it was kind of out of the rain, but when he got around to trying it, it looked experienced!

Theres an upscale shop across the river where the Yankees and Yuppies hang out. Its a hunting and fishing shop (no guns, oh the horror). I'd be embarrassed to wear one of their high dollar coats out in the field. Those cost more than most new guns! But they sure look stylish in the overpriced coffee houses. We know the diners down near the national forest are filled with guys around 5:00 in the morning during hunting season. I'm betting the guys wearing the high-buck coats make it to Starbucks around ten-ish or so.

Fashion is in the eyes of the beer holder. A ratty old coat with a few repairs is infinitely more desirable than a brand new name brand item.

Bo Randall used to get upset when buyers of his knives mostly just salted them away, never to be used. He preferred his masterpieces be treated with respect, but that they get used regularly.

I knew Bo for years, and have many of his letters and some older catalogs. I often promoted his knives in my magazine articles.

Yes, he wanted his knives used. He felt they would perform as advertised. But he was certainly happy to sell to collectors, too, and was proud that many wealthy collectors wanted his knives.

I don't think my post was contradictory. I just said that I prefer high quality stainless blades.

BTW, Bo recommended Minute Maid orange juice, and liked selling his oranges to their buyer. I think they hunted together, too. It is good, but today, I prefer Florida's Natural orange juice, with the high pulp option. It seems less "processed." But that's just my opinion.