$3,495? Just trying to learn why

Douglas Wever said:
I’m calling horse crap on that. I own a Jason Knight. I’ve posted it on this forum. Awesome knife, but does not distinguish itself from the Randall in that way at all.

Sorry I asked guys.
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Yeah, a Randall might not be the "latest, greatest" but crude is not accurate at all--even by comparison (all due respect, Mr. Paranee). And while this point is contentious as well, the Brend is made by a custom maker but it is not (perhaps) necessarily a custom knife (a one of a kind made for a particular individual collaborating somehow in the specs, etc.)... though it is not "production." And Randalls are not quite "production" knives the way Bark River knives are (for example). So, I sympathize with the OP's question... though I too agree that it is a market driven by what collectors will pay.

I like my Randalls just fine... and my Lon Humphreys, and Barkies, Busses, and Winklers too... and in each case I know what I am ready and not ready to pay to have one.

The Brend is a good-looking knife, but I'd pass... and not just because of the price.
 
JParanee said:
Really
You want to compare a Randall to something like this
Come on a blind man could see the level of finish and quality compared to the Randall
One is a work a art in balance and quality the other is a factory made poorly finished prouduction knife
Sorry you asked
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No, I’m clearly not comparing them head-to-head; please re-read. I’m asking as clearly stated from my very first post, what is it that makes the Brend 350% better from the standpoint of price-that is a huge difference. Nor am I comparing Randall and Jason Knight, I’m confronting a vastly exaggerated comparison. I’m saying a Jason Knight does not by comparison reduce a Randall to a “crude comparison made by a beginner.” Again, I own both, and while there is a difference, it is hardly that. See post 22 by Aias.
 
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Aias said:
Yeah, a Randall might not be the "latest, greatest" but crude is not accurate at all--even by comparison (all due respect, Mr. Paranee). And while this point is contentious as well, the Brend is made by a custom maker but it is not (perhaps) necessarily a custom knife (a one of a kind made for a particular individual collaborating somehow in the specs, etc.)... though it is not "production." And Randalls are not quite "production" knives the way Bark River knives are (for example). So, I sympathize with the OP's question... though I too agree that it is a market driven by what collectors will pay.

I like my Randalls just fine... and my Lon Humphreys, and Barkies, Busses, and Winklers too... and in each case I know what I am ready and not ready to pay to have one.

The Brend is a good-looking knife, but I'd pass... and not just because of the price.
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I could of bought the brend at Blade like the dealer did so obviously it is not my cup of tea

Don’t be offended but I don’t need a lesson on what a custom knife is :)

But yes a Randall is crude compared to a well made custom from a top maker

I know well what a Randall is I was buying and selling them decades ago

They are a decent prouduction knife

They do not exhibit any of the qualities that I look for in a good knife ...especially a large one

They are crudely finished meaning rounded flats shabby blade finish

No distal taper

No differential heat treat

If you like them that’s great but please don’t compare them to top of the line customs

Bo Randall in his day made a good knife ......imho that day is long gone

Randall’s are great to buy and sell they hold their value well
 
Douglas Wever said:
No, I’m clearly not comparing them head-to-head; please re-read. I’m asking as clearly stated from my very first post, what is it that makes the Brend 350% better from the standpoint of price. Nor am I comparing Randall and Jason Knight, I’m confronting a vastly exaggerated comparison. I’m saying a Jason Knight does not by comparison reduce a Randall to a “crude comparison made by a beginner.” Again, I own both, and while there is a difference, it is hardly that. See post 22 by Aias.
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I disagree

If I ordered a fixed blade from a well known maker and a knife with the balance, fit & finish and feel of a Randall showed up I would be very disappointed

I’m not trying to piss on Randall

Like I said in their day they made a very good knife

I’ve owned Brends and to be honest while the finish is good I never really cared for them either

But the Brend will always have a certain status about it and this is why Brenda command the price they do
 
JParanee said:
I could of bought the brend at Blade like the dealer did so obviously it is not my cup of tea

Don’t be offended but I don’t need a lesson on what a custom knife is :)

But yes a Randall is crude compared to a well made custom from a top maker

I know well what a Randall is I was buying and selling them decades ago

They are a decent prouduction knife

They do not exhibit any of the qualities that I look for in a good knife ...especially a large one

They are crudely finished meaning rounded flats shabby blade finish

No distal taper

No differential heat treat

If you like them that’s great but please don’t compare them to top of the line customs

Bo Randall in his day made a good knife ......imho that day is long gone

Randall’s are great to buy and sell they hold their value well
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No offense taken, I know your work, your presence here, and respect your knowledge and experience. I also get what you are saying about the level of workmanship that goes into making the knives you've posted and mentioned. I do, and am willing to defer to you there as well.

I'm the kind of guy that gets pleasure out of the use, not the collection of such knives. So, the spirit of the OP's question made sense to me--when camping just how much better than my 12-9 will something like the Brend be? A few thousand dollars worth... likely not. Hell, I could get by with a Becker and have a grand time. From such a perspective the price seems absurd. However--many here do not look at the Brend (or other such blades) from such a perspective... the deadly, functional, work of art has its audience and market. I get that too.

You may call it crude, being the expert that you are. Again, I get that, but it does not hinder my appreciation for the the blades I mentioned and use... I derive all the pleasure out of them I'm willing to pay for. And in terms of my field of expertise, I too see the crude where others see refinement.

All good. Complex world. I still would pass on the Brend
 
Value is a term that is far too subjective for everyone here to come to an agreement on. If one cannot understand the subjectivity involved in this discussion, then the original question is better left unasked...
 
To the OP

If you want to understand what makes a knife go from feeling like a paperweight to a work of art research distal taper and other design characteristics that make a knife feel alive in the hand

I don’t mean to be argumentative I truly think you will get it after you handle something like this

Maker Bagwell



If I’m not mistaken you are in Alaska

Look up David Mirabile he is also in Alaska

He makes a blade that is incredible

Here is a piece he had at this years Blade show

It felt like it was alive

 
Douglas Wever said:
Right. Most of us don’t grip a knife with our pinki extended up here in Alaska, and maybe in earlier posts we were comparing apples to oranges from that perspective. Particularly since the military, I have seen knives as a tool not a jewel, and I carry a fixed blade virtually every day.
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This discussion has nothing to do with jewelry or raising your pinky finger in a snob manner. There are knives in the $1,000+ price range that I have no problem using. My interests draw me to knives in this price range no different than your interests draw you to knives in a different price range. There is nothing wrong with either side of the coin. You just need to understand that some people see things differently.
 
JParanee said:
Really

You want to compare a Randall to something like this





Or





Come on a blind man could see the level of finish and quality compared to the Randall

One is a work a art in balance and quality the other is a factory made poorly finished prouduction knife

Sorry you asked
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Personally these look more like $3500 knives to me with more elegance and class.

I can see the quality and hand work in the knife in question and I have absolutely zero doubt that he'll get his asking price, a lot goes into such a knife.
 
I always get a kick out of people that ask a question but don’t like the answer so they are offended

I’ve helped design and used more high quality knives than most and I’m sorry if what I’ve said offended you

Till you actually start doing cut testing etc you won’t get it

When it comes to fit and finish and quality of materials that should be obvious

The rest as in balance and feel never mind .... you don’t want to get it
 
Hickory n steel said:
Personally these look more like $3500 knives to me with more elegance and class.

I can see the quality and hand work in the knife in question and I have absolutely zero doubt that he'll get his asking price, a lot goes into such a knife.
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Funny thing is they were not

When we did those runs they sold for under 2 k if I remember correctly

They both balance and perform on another level

Will York tested one of the Founders Bowie’s and it out performed knives that were much bigger etc

Now you can’t get either of those models from either maker and for the Bowie Aficionados out there the Wheeler is known as the pinnacle in High Performance blades

If you go back to the picture I posted of the handle you can see the radical distal taper that is exhibited which is the core of the balance amd feel of the piece

Until you handle something that exhibits these kind of performance characteristics you just don’t know

Regretfully most people just don’t know or want to hear they think a Randall or a full tang Busse feels good in the hand and they do till you handle something better
 
Douglas Wever said:
No, I’m clearly not comparing them head-to-head; please re-read. I’m asking as clearly stated from my very first post, what is it that makes the Brend 350% better from the standpoint of price-that is a huge difference. Nor am I comparing Randall and Jason Knight, I’m confronting a vastly exaggerated comparison. I’m saying a Jason Knight does not by comparison reduce a Randall to a “crude comparison made by a beginner.” Again, I own both, and while there is a difference, it is hardly that. See post 22 by Aias.
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There’s a long wait list to buy Randall’s knives, though buying them from resellers adds only a few hundred to the price.
 
Compare a Gold class Benchmade to a Rockstead. If a production puts out 500 knives it is unlikely that the attention is given to them in the same way. A custom maker can push out 12-24 knives a year all made by hand. A midtech version can make a few hundred. Maybe it will be clear using the art world as an example A painting by Picasso is worth millions because their is only one of that piece that makes it a custom. If you want something more affordable you can buy a lithograph or signed print and you are now dealing with a midtech. Small production and still made by the knifemakers shop. then you have unsigned reproductions and because the amount printed is based on how many are sold, if they sell out they can do another run that is equivalent to a production model. I can buy a nice chef's knive for about $100-120 and it will last a lifetime, that knife is one of thousands or I can buy a knife from Bob Kramer who is famous for his skills and quality and a custom knife from him is $3000-10,000. They both cut the same but you will never seea Shun knife go to auction for $20,000-30,000. I hope that this long and stretched out explanation has clarified and answered your question.
 
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