Finally got my Randall

the gimp

the gimp

Joined
Mar 19, 2003
Messages
524
After waiting 4+ years my Randall knife finally arrived. The knife was originally due a few months back but Randall sent me a letter stating they were behind schedule.

Anyway, I opened up my package and was a bit surprised to discover that two of the three custom features ordered on my knife were not done. :cool:

I contacted Randall today and and they were very appologetic and promised to make good on my order as soon as I return the knife. There are also a couple of minor fit/finish issues that I will also be asking to be fixed once I ship the knife back.

I understand that mistakes happen but I am a little dissipointed after so long a wait.
 
Yes, that would upset me also!

I don't have a lot of samples to look at (1 new one actually and 6 older ones). However, seems the fit and finish have gone down a bit in the last few years.

Please let us know how long it takes for them the make it right.

I'm curious since I'm beating up the micarta handle on the 15 I'm carrying here and am wondering the turn around time if I send it in for repair.
 
Sounds like they are trying to make it right quickly.

I would be bummed also. However, how a person/business reacts to situations like this means a lot to me! If they jerk you around and give you a poor product the 2nd time around then I have no slack for them.

Everyone makes mistakes. For me it's an issue of how they claim them and fix them.

I really love my Randalls, have one on my IBA now that goes everywhere with me.
 
4+ years!!! or is that a typo? That is ludicrous! You my friend are a very very patient one. i would have dropped them like a bad habit after a few months if that. I'm glad you got it man but.... I've never heard of such a thing and I hope they never do that to anyone else, thats brutal lol.
 
My 1st Randall is due in 3 months. Also got a letter stating it won't be ready in July + I'll have to wait till Oct. Hope they don't screw up my order too.

Have you checked them lately? The current wait time for orders placed, is now OVER 5 years!

Out of curiosity, what did you get? (Knife + custom features) Mine is a 7" #1 with no options (if memory serves) other than both right + left handed sheaths
 
The wait isn't really an issue for me.

I order one and wait, usually forget about it. It's not like I (or most of us here) don't have another knife to use :-)

Would anger me if it's not right when I get it but it's not a show stopper for me.
 
crazy wait time on those Randall's:thumbdn: but you get a sweet knife
 
I know that o-1 is a great steel, but what about the stainless randalls? Aren't they using 440A or 440B or something? How are they performance wise compared to o-1? Does anybody know if there is a big difference in the amount made of stainless vs. carbon steel ? Thanks, Joe
 
The Mastiff said:
I know that o-1 is a great steel, but what about the stainless randalls? Aren't they using 440A or 440B or something? How are they performance wise compared to o-1? Does anybody know if there is a big difference in the amount made of stainless vs. carbon steel ? Thanks, Joe
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They're 440B and hand forged. No idea how they compare as I don't own one each of the same model.

FWIW, Randall's literature just states the O1 version holds an edge 10% better and is easier to re-sharpen but is less stain resistant.
 
I have almost purchased a Randall knife for the last 20 years. By that I mean that just when I buy into the hype I actually hold one of these "Holy" artifacts and they never ooze quality like I expect and then I dont buy and after a couple years the cycle starts over again.

Yes they are good knives. Are they great knives? In a field of manufacturers that are constantly raising the bar I would say no. They are fairly pedestrian. You are paying of the name. Its like Gibson guitars. I have had several Les Pauls that were crap and promply sold them until I got a good one. They are like snowflakes. There are other manufacturers that make more consistant instruments that go for a fraction of the Gibson name.
 
why don't they just get more personell so they can give their customers a bit of service

and reduce the waiting times
 
Thank you for the info Tony A. I've always wondered about that as I've gotten some really lousy steel on Italian stilletos marked 440B . The stuff is way too soft, and doesn't sharpen like a well hardened steel ( even 440A is good when done by Kershaw).

I'd imagine the Randalls 440B isn't anything like the imported stuff. People wouldn't be buying if they didn't work even if they are Randalls. Joe
 
nephildevil said:
why don't they just get more personell so they can give their customers a bit of service

and reduce the waiting times
Click to expand...

I think the problem is probably two-fold.

1. There's the whole marketing angle to it---a long wait makes it artificially exclusive/desirable. If they really wanted to reduce the wait times, they could stop taking orders till they catch up---but the wait times are increasing, not decreasing, and they are still taking orders.

2. These are handmade, hand-forged knives. It's not easy to hire people with this knowledge. Most people who know how to forge knives from scratch want their name on knives they make, not Randall's. So hiring skilled craftsman could be a problem.
 
My order was for a model 23 with nickel silver hilt, name etching and wrist thong. My knife is missing both the lanyard hole and the nickel silver hilt.

And 4 years was not a typo, as someone already stated the wait was not to horrible since I have a ton of other knives to mess with.
 
nemesis27 said:
4+ years!!! or is that a typo? That is ludicrous! You my friend are a very very patient one. i would have dropped them like a bad habit after a few months if that. I'm glad you got it man but.... I've never heard of such a thing and I hope they never do that to anyone else, thats brutal lol.
Click to expand...

Actually they do that to everybody!:D
 
Tony_A said:
I think the problem is probably two-fold.

1. There's the whole marketing angle to it---a long wait makes it artificially exclusive/desirable. If they really wanted to reduce the wait times, they could stop taking orders till they catch up---but the wait times are increasing, not decreasing, and they are still taking orders.

2. These are handmade, hand-forged knives. It's not easy to hire people with this knowledge. Most people who know how to forge knives from scratch want their name on knives they make, not Randall's. So hiring skilled craftsman could be a problem.
Click to expand...

point one offcourse, artificially blowing up the price, works altho it is unethical imo
and they are bastards for doing so :D

point two, i think if they educate ppl their skills they'd have a lot of interested persons who want to learn it

and i am sure that the experience from Randall knives'd look good on a CV or it is good reference when they start on their own later on
 
I would be disappointed too. That is good that they are going to make it right, and quickly.

I am on the list for a Randall as well, mine with be ready in 2012. ( So will my DB Fraley for that matter.)
 
The world was a different place when the model #1 was king and the original owner of the Randall shop was still kicking. Things have changed radically from that time.

Four years? In that time period, I would have likely lost interest in the blade. I have three Randall knives and I don't use any of them anymore. They are just nice, well made blades that I will part with some day. And, if they are not delivering a high quality product today, they should consider reducing the asking price. I'd think long and hard about buying another unless I could find a clean bird/trout knife for a decent dollar.
 
nemesis27 said:
4+ years!!! or is that a typo? That is ludicrous! You my friend are a very very patient one. i would have dropped them like a bad habit after a few months if that. I'm glad you got it man but.... I've never heard of such a thing and I hope they never do that to anyone else, thats brutal lol.
Click to expand...

LOL, yep, they've been doing it to people for years and years and their following continues to grow. At least you know you can resell the knife in a day for $200+ once you do finally get delivery. This is a quote from the top line of Randall's current order form "*****Important--Please Read Before Ordering****** Current order deliveries are being scheduled for delivery in 58 MONTHS, year 2013."

Stubai, damn I opened the thread excited for you, what a let down! I hope they make it right...Will they have to make a whole new knife so you will have something that has received some special attention and is a real showpiece plus worker. What options did they miss?
 
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