Experience with a Randall?

[Potatohead]

Hola senors,
I ordered a sweet knife from Randall a few years ago and still have a year or two before I actually get it, as their is a 5 year wait since they are hand made. I've only invested the initial 50$. If I understand correctly, they will call me when they are about to start on it, and if I still want it, the rest of the $ will be due..Since I've ordered it, I've discovered that I LOVE shooting and that 5 or 600$ will just about get me that shiny new PPQm2 that I'm dreaming about. I've loved knives since I was young, but my collection doesn't get much use to say the least.

The question:
Have you all seen one, and are they as nice as I've heard? -I'm kind of waffling on whether or not to go through with the purchase but if it is a phenomenal knife, I think I would like to go through with it.

 

[Sam1911]

So, basic question, what's the Randall knife FOR? Why are you getting it? I assume you're not waiting 5 years for a knife because you need to cut something.

So it's essentially an object of art, a collector's item for you. Will you be happier owning that knife, or owning something else like the gun you want? Or even better, putting that money toward practice and training so you have better skills?

As far as the knife goes, from what I understand they are very nice. (Some debate exists as to whether they are consistently as nice as they once were, but I've no idea about that.) You aren't getting a more useful blade than you could get for a lot cheaper, a lot faster, but that's not really the point with such things. You have to decide if you want a RANDALL knife. If you're buying the name, nothing else will do.

 

[Dave P]

Get the Randall - you have had years to save up for it. They are all wonderful handmade knives.

Next time, order from a dealer for much faster delivery (Capt Stanaback).

 

[Potatohead]

Some debate exists as to whether they are consistently as nice as they once were

Interesting..I hadn't heard that. Yes I do collect, but yes i could get much cheaper. I don't know...I'm just wondering if they are really a "conversation starter", displayed on your desk at work or something...or just another knife...I guess a knife can only be so great..

 

[Potatohead]

Thats good to hear Dave, thanks. I should have ordered from a dealer...the one bright spot of ordering from them was customizing. I got to pick out everything (you wouldn't believe how many things their are to choose from for a single knife)..

 

[Sam Cade]

...or just another knife.
.

In my experience, yes.

I've been fortunate to have several pristine secondary market Randalls go through my hands. Fit and finish was uniformly flawless. Really handsome knives.

I've also been fortunate enough to have found a screaming good deals on a couple stainless "shopworn" Randalls and used them.

They aren't anything special.

..I guess a knife can only be so great..

There are much better knives (by measure of performance) than any Randall for less money. Most won't be near so pretty.

 

[Zeeemu]

Randal & co. makes some fine quality knives. Question is, without the name and the recognition by others that comes with it would you really spend that much money for what is essentially a utility tool?

I bought a few Randall blades in the sixties. They were way less expensive then ($25 for a bird and trout knife), but more than what I'd of had to pay for a Buck at that time. I bought them because I could and the 'I Want's' ruled in my younger days. They've been safe Queens ever since.

People who know Randall's reputation and see my blades say, 'Oh, very nice'. But really, unless you want to actually use one what's it good for other than to look at, admire the workmanship - and bragging rights. And we all know what those are worth.

Also, as a work of art to "invest" in, there are plenty of much prettier blades out there to chose from. If you don't actually use the knife it'll eventually just wind up in some other bloke's hand after you're gone. Besides, he will likely toss it into his tackle box or tool drawer and beat it up through use or just let it rust away.

As a closing comment, all my 'useful' utility knives are just that. Nothing fancy - but they (collectively) get the jobs done for far less cash outlay than what I'd have to pay today for just one Randall blade.

Richard

 

[Potatohead]

Good info, thanks. That PPQm2 is looking better and better. Sam, what do you mean by the "shopworn" knives?

 

[Sam Cade]

Sam, what do you mean by the "shopworn" knives?

Wear from being handled and moved about, knocked into other knives but not from use.

The huntin' knife I had, A #4 I think, had lost its point from a drop but was otherwise new.

Score.

 

[Potatohead]

Thanks.

 

[lobo9er]

If you are planning on using the randall in my humble opinion there are knives made of same steel or better steel for less and no 5 year waiting period. From what I have learned here they use 440b stainless and 01 for carbon steel. As an investment they have held there value.

 

[Zeke/PA]

Randall knives are no better or no worse than any offered today. However, their craftsmanship is outstanding and a Randell knife is a good investment.
O-1 tool steel for a blade? In reality a blade made from O-1 is all the blade that anyone needs.

 

[Sam Cade]

O-1 tool steel for a blade?

The vast majority of Randalls are 440 stainless.
Less apt to get fingerprints that way.

In reality a blade made from O-1 is all the blade that anyone needs.

Cold Steel is spec'ing most of their Taiwanese fixed blades in O-1 now.

Just sayin'

 

[alaskanativeson]

Randalls continue to go up in value. If you ordered a Randall you pay $500 for, you can get it, put it on eBay, and you'll get 200-300 more than you paid for it. However, you'll be giving up a beautiful knife that has excellent construction.

I agree that there are many knives for less money that are as good or better in performance, but a Super Duty Ford can pull more, a Bently has a much smoother ride, and a Porsche is faster than my GMC Denali, but I got what I wanted for my needs and desires.

 

[hso]

Have you all seen one,

Yer kiddn, right? Some of us own them and have pics of them here.
You'll find whole threads on Randalls here if you do a simple search.

I'm just wondering if they are really a "conversation starter", displayed on your desk at work or something.

Yes, they are. Keep in mind, some people will wonder what the knife displayed on your desk is and that will start a conversation, but others will recognize it and that will start a conversation of a different sort.

The vast majority of Randalls are 440 stainless.

Ummmm, not in my experience. Many "just display" knives might be, but I'd think "vast" might be a tad of an overstatement.

 

[Sam Cade]

Ummmm, not in my experience. Many "just display" knives might be, but I'd think "vast" might be a tad of an overstatement.

As it was explained to me most Randalls are purchased as "collector" knives so are 440B to prevent corrosion and get good and shiny. Makes sense to me since you can practically hear O-1 rust.

This jives pretty well with the knives listed for sale by Stanaback.

Eleven carbon steel and forty-nine stainless.

http://www.captainchrisstanabackrandallknives.com/index.php?/main/show/sale/1

 

[Sam Cade]

It would be cool to know the actual production ratios.

 

[hso]

They've been known to answer questions like that so it might be handy to call and ask.

 

[hso]

BTW, A.G. Russell's site has more O-1 than stainless, but not in the vast majority. Nordick seems to offer every Randall in either. Michigan offers only stainless. I think we'd need to check a few more authorized dealer's sites to make any sort of blanket statement about stainless vs. O-1 production with any chance of being accurate.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

They are great knives with a great history which tend to hold their values.

I took one to Afghanistan since I could, should be a nice memento to my Sons. Yes, some other knives could have served as well. Personal taste and preference in the end.

I don't think the Benchmade which I carried for years in my career will hold it's value as well as the Randall which I also took to war.

 

[40-82]

I have a Randall No. 3, unused when I got it, paid $117 for it at auction along with two custom Dan Shelors. I almost lost it because I'd made a silent bid, and when my mother went down to pick it up, the person who put it up for bid who also included a ridiculous fantasy knife with every curve imaginable in the lot decided he was not going to let his good knife go for what I bid. His good knife being the fantasy knife. I had already told my mother that if I had been the one to make the trip to pick up the knives that I would trash can the fantasy knife on the way out the door. So when the auctioneer apologized to her for the rude behavior of the seller and offered to let her out of my bid, she graciously told him that it was just fine and she would take the three remaining knives for the $117.

I've skinned beef animals, deer, and even very small game with the Randall. It's an excellent knife, but because of its value, I don't use it so much now. I never take it on wilderness trips. Here's my problem with the Randall: suppose I was slipping down a steep slope toward a drop off, could I slam the Randall in a crevice between a couple of rocks thus damaging the blade, and probably cracking the Sambar stag handles? Nope, I'd grunt and go over the drop, twisting my body in such a way that I protected the Randall when I splatted against the rocks at the bottom.

If you can afford the Randall it's one of the great classic knives, but it sounds like you're too much like me--you can't afford it.

 

[Potatohead]

Wow. Thanks for the posts everyone. I had no idea this would get this many replies.

 

[Potatohead]

Hey thanks for your service Ohen Cepel

 

[Potatohead]

Here's my problem with the Randall: suppose I was slipping down a steep slope toward a drop off, could I slam the Randall in a crevice between a couple of rocks thus damaging the blade, and probably cracking the Sambar stag handles? Nope, I'd grunt and go over the drop, twisting my body in such a way that I protected the Randall when I splatted against the rocks at the bottom.

If you can afford the Randall it's one of the great classic knives, but it sounds like you're too much like me--you can't afford it.

Thats funny and a very good point, though mine are all safe queens anyway. And you're right, their are many other things my wife would rather me buy right now

That said, I'm kind of anxious to get the knife again now. I'll post pics if I'm still alive when I get it!

 

[Piraticalbob]

Having already waited more than half of the wait period to get your knife, you'd be a fool to cancel the order now. As has been said, it's always possible to buy the knives more quickly via a dealer - - at a stiff markup. As for using the knife, it depends on which model you picked - - one of the small hunting knives you might be willing to carry regularly, but very few are going to want the huge weight of the Smithsonian Bowie dragging their belt down and throwing their hip out of joint.

I have three Randalls - - a Model 1, a Smithsonian, and the small Saltwater Fisherman. I actually have carried the latter knife as an EDC, and it served that role well, althought it's too thick and short to be a good "fishing" knife. It's a great little hunter/utility knife, though.