How and when did you first learn about RMK's

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willis

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Apr 14, 2002
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740
An older civilian employee who was ret from the USAF showed me a model 18 crutchtip that he got before deploying to Vietnam in 1968.His father was a machinist with the Sikorsky helicopter co and had threaded the handle and machined a threaded brass cap to replace the crutchtip it came with.This was in 1982 and five years later after switching service to the US Army my father gave me a Model 14 when i graduated from airborne school.A scene in a Dirty Harry movie where the described the wound being made by a Marine fighting knife or a Special Forces Randall may have been the first time i heard about a Randall.What's your Randall story?
 
It was in the late 1950's when a Native American friend of mine, a hunter, began wearing a spectacular knife when hunting. It was different from any knife I had seen before, it had a very broad blade, was perfectly made, and exactly suited its purpose. He told me, "It's a Randall, the finest knife made." Then he let me handle it, and I was convinced. It was a skinner, a knife I would recognize today as a Model 11, except that the thumb notch area was nowhere near as pronounced as today's version. The stacked leather handle fit my hand perfectly, and the sheath was perfect (and the only one I had seen, up to that time, with a stone and pocket). I WANTED THAT KNIFE! As it turns out, it was a few more years before I could afford one, and the one I did get was a fighter, since I was on my way to the Vietnam combat zone. I have quite a few Randalls, now. I never did get a Model 11 (But have an AG Russell Special, which has some similarities).
 
1985. Ramrod Gun & Knife Shop, New Castle, IN. Dealer friend showed me a RMK 1-8, stag, sawteeth. I ran my finger over the sawteeth and it cut me wide open. I said, "I'll take it!" :)
 
I first saw a Randall in the A.G. Russell catalog and bought I believe a trapper. Then I was introduced to Tom Clinton and now some years later I have about 35 Randall's. I am well on my way to having one of every model :-) except the Astro, I do not like the Astro
 
I first learned about Randalls in a magazine article in the 70's. The first one I handled was in '87 and it was a Model 5 the guys father bought for him as a 16th birthday present, it had been ordered when he was 12. He actually wanted a #1, but his dad would only get him a #5. It had a stag handle with aluminum butt cap as I remember it.
 
arden.ferris said:
I do not like the Astro
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Not even this Astro?

astro.jpg
 
To the OP - when a friend use to spend more on a knife than I did on a firearm. A good friend, he left me his Randall Made knives when he stepped over to the other side...

To Steve - well, maybe that one... ;)
 
I had a guy bring a 2-8 , and a 1-6 into my shop to trade for a guitar in 1976.… I picked up the 2-8 and had NEVER felt a knife that seemed to have a life of it's own! Bought them both, and been adding ever since ….Used the #1-6 to cut a sheep out of a briar tangle which blew everyones mind at how that knife cut… Also passed it to a guy who was cleaning a deer with a Kabar copy that wouldn't spread butter…. Opened that deer like it had a zipper….Fortunately I have never had to use the #2-8!!!!
 
For me, I was fascinated by a 1967 "Bow and Arrow" article about Bo and his archery exploits - both in MI and FL. It went on to detail his knife-making, and had a number of pics of Bo and Gary and their knives. [Fortunately, I saved and still have that issue, along with an "Archery World" that same month, which has an article detailing the very first test of an Allen compound bow by Tom Jennings - those were interesting times!]
 
I'm a little embarrassed to tell this story........
I grew up in the Orlando area. My father invested in property, orange groves, etc. He owned some land out on OBT ( Orange Blossom Trail). My uncle and family had moved to Orlando area after being disabled with the Chicago Fire Department..
My father and uncle came up with this idea to start a business raising hydroponic tomatoes and rabbits....yes rabbits. My Dad secured a contract with Winn-Dixie to buy the products produced. This was 1965 and I was twelve years old. That summer of 65 I worked this tomato/rabbit farm with my uncle.
Every day we drove down OBT to the farm and we would pass some orange groves with a very unassuming sign out at the end of of driveway (I remember it as a dirt road into an orange grove) and the sign said "Randall Made Knives". One day I talked my uncle into stopping. My friends and I loved to camp and build forts in the woods and I needed a knife. I left that day with a knife my uncle bought me.
Here's the embarrassing part......for the life of me I can not recall the model. All I remember was my mother was horrified when I showed her what Uncle Jerry had bought me.
I remember an incident with that knife.
I used to carry the knife in its sheath on my belt. It seemed like that sheath nearly reached my knee. I was running through the woods with my friends and for some reason I had the knife in my hand. I was running, swinging my arms and my dog, Tammy, was running along side. In that running motion, I accidentally struck my dog with the blade. All I remember is a lot of blood coming from above her eyebrow, a trip to the vet with Mom and friends and my knife being confiscated. I've never seen the knife since:(
I drop in at Randall Made Knives occasionally. The sign doesn't seem to have changed much and it brings back a lot of memories driving up that road.
I had no idea of the importance of Randall Made Knives until maybe ten years ago........still trying to find that knife:mad:
 
Buy a new Randall knife.
run with your dog.
but, LEAVE THE KNIFE IN ITS SHEATH,
or, LEAVE THE KNIFE AT HOME.
You won't regret it.
 
In 1961, it seemed there were only a few "star" brands: Morseth; Randall; Ruana; Scagel. I worked that Summer for a very wealthy man. When he learned I was interested in knives, he showed me his accumulation. That's when I first held a Randall and resolved to be an owner one day.
 
Thomas Linton said:
In 1961, it seemed there were only a few "star" brands: Morseth; Randall; Ruana; Scagel.
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I would add Seguine to this list. In the mid-1960's I had 2 Randalls, 1 Morseth, and 1 Seguine. Still have one of the 2 Randalls and the Seguine. The Seguine fits my hand better than any other knife I have held. (Gave the other Randall to a buddy when he left our outfit in the Vietnam combat zone for jungle combat training.)
 
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