Do you actually use your Randall

Thunder47

Thunder47

Joined
Dec 16, 2007
Messages
166
This is my first post to this site. Be gentle with an old guy.

I have a Randall and am wanting to know if anyone actually carries and uses their Randall or other custom fixed blade knives or are they kept in your gun safe or other dry locations? Actually I have 2 and both are in very good condition with a couple of scratches on the blade. Just want to get some other opinions so I can form a good one myself.

Thanks.
 
Greetings from another old guy. Come on in. Most of us won't bite. :D

I used to have three Randalls. I even knew Bo Randall slightly. My mother would sometimes drive me over to his shop deep in some citrus groves in kind of the southwest part of Orlando when I was a teenager too young to drive. He was always nice to me.

I never felt good about using my Randalls. They were just too pretty for me to want to use them. I had his 7" salt water fishing knife, a model 3 (?) 6" stainless hunting knife, and a model 14 (?) with a 7" or 8" stainless blade. About 12 years ago I was becoming disabled and trying to cope with that, so I decided to sell my Randall knives to a dealer at a local gun and knife show here in Tallahassee. I thought I could use the money to buy some help from a professional in dealing with my health problem. I spent the money that way, but it turned out to be a dumb move.

I had already already begun buying and using some good Cold Steel knives with their excellent Carbon V blades by that time, so I bought and used more Cold Steel knives and I've never looked back. They couldn't hold a candle to a Randall in looks, but they are good, sturdy, sharp knives to use in the real world. Lots of folks here like to bad-mouth Cold Steel, mostly because of their flamboyant owner and his advertising style. It doesn't bother me. I buy knives, not personalities.
 
I used to have 4 Randalls back in the day, which is too say back when you could find one at a gun or pawn shop or actually buy one out of the case at the Randall shop. I used my gun shop special Model 15 and my Model 1, but i did not use the stag handled cut down tang Model 14 that i got at Randall. I ended up trading all four of the them for a pre-64 30-06 Winchester Model 70 around 1991 and it was not a Super Grade or Featherweights., In hindsight, that was probably a bad call. I have no idea what the stag Model 14 would be worth today, but suffice to say that the four would be worth more than the Winchester. I could probably get a Super Grade for them today.
 
I have used mine and don't regret a single scratch, it's earned them. I have used nearly all of my customs. I have to admit that some really don't have a practical use that I have been able to find. Most of what I collect is hunting knives and I have carried them on many hunts without thinking about it. That is what they are for. They gain in character with each mile and the scars of their use bring back memories like nothing else. If someone down the road is worried about the scratches, he can take a jump. I didn't buy them for someone else to enjoy later. I like a good knife with some honest use on it. I have an old Seguine and I would love to know the path it took getting to south Georgia. Since I make knives now, it is harder for me to want to carry a knife made by someone else, but my Randall 5" number 5 might go with me this afternoon. I have always had good luck carrying that knife. These knives are built to take the use, why not enjoy them?
 
Thunder47 - Here's a link to a very friendly, non-contentious Randall forum. There are others but this is my favorite: http://www.knifenetwork.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=90

And yes, I have a number of Randall knives - some I don't use but there are three that I do use and enjoy doing so. Click these thumbnail images to enlarge them to full size.

This one:

This one:

And this one:

I don't use the fighters, minis or vintage Randalls. To me though, a Randall Made knife just begs to be used!
 
I use this Model 1 whenever I go hiking or camping and carry it with me sometimes while just walking around the homestead.

I bought it many years ago when you could purchase knives from the display case at Randall. It had the most beautiful pieces of leather in the handle which are now all stained dark brown from use.

The knife is still in excellent condition and has served me well. I take good care of it and do not hesitate to use it for whatever needs to be done. I derive great pleasure in using such a fine tool.

The blade and handle have honest to goodness scratches and wear marks which do not show up well in the picture. It is shown here at my favorite spot for watching 'gators.

RandallM1hiking2small2.jpg


Cheers,
dan :)
 
Thanks to you all for your comments. I feel fortunate to be in good company including 1/2 of the Twinblade Matthews Brothers. I was one of hundreds who spoke to you at the 2006 Blade Show.

I got my first handmade knife back in 1976 by a guy named Peter Mumford, Red Canyon Knives. Paid $60 for it and it took me a while to get the money together for the knife. Since then I have been fortunate to get several more.

Of particular interest to me are knives from a deceased maker named Mark Brightwell in from Leander, TX. He and I share the same last name. If anyone has any info on Mark or where I might inquire about one of his knives, I would appreciate it.

I have a Randall Mod 8 Trout & Bird knife that I take out some, but am really hoping to get a Randall Mod 14. I have a 15 year old son who is a Boy Scout and can not think of a better gift for an Eagle Scout if he makes it that far.

Again, thanks to you all for your information. Merry Christmas.

Tom B.
 
Tom, stop by our table if you make it to the 2008 show. We'll be in the Guild section. Check out the Georgia Custom Knifemaker's Guild web site. We're having the winter meeting at our shop on the first weekend in February and would be glad for you to come. If you like knives, there will be a lot of interesting stuff going on.
 
Mr. Mathews,
I will definitely stop at your table in 08 and would enjoy coming to the winter meeting in Statesboro. I think my son would enjoy that as well. I have noticed looking at your site that you have some engraving by Jim Small. Is that the same Jim Small from Madison, GA who once was also and maybe still is a maker?

Thanks.
Tom
 
I used my 4" Model 5 for years, served me well. Mine was purchased when one could buy a knife "off the bench" at Randall.
 
I detect a certain bias on this forum against Randalls. They are not "safe queens" to alot of users. They are well made usable knives. My Model 12 was purchased in 1967 and carried and used. My Model 14 was purchased around 1980 and also carried and used. I now carry a Model 1 5 inch when out in the woods.

001.jpg
[/IMG]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top