I finally ordered a Randall... now the wait...

[eveled]

I don't believe they offer a duralumin guard, or a nickel silver cap,

They do not offer a duralumin guard, but a Nickel Silver butt cap is available for a $90 up charge.

The nickel silver guard and duralumin cap go well together, and will balance nicely. I think you chose well.

Both brass and nickel silver will tarnish, especially if stored in the sheaths they will both get green verdigris. I wish Randall would offer Stainless for all the guards like on the Astro.

 

[eveled]

the fun part of this thread is it will get buried and six years later be dug up and someone's gonna say.....old thread

it is a great knife. it does have a nice balance and feel to it. course all Randall's have balance and Ergos that are just right. hard to explain but once in your hand you get it.

anyways its still in my collection and will be til I'm dead, most likely.......

The funny part was how far it traveled to end up back in FLA! .

I’m glad you still have it. No regrets selling it to you.

It will be fun to see the thread get resurrected when snow and steel or RickHuf gets his knife.

Some of us will say “see it wasn’t that long”. Others will say “I should have ordered one when the wait was only six years.”

 

[jbmonkey]

The funny part was how far it traveled to end up back in FLA! .

I’m glad you still have it. No regrets selling it to you.

It will be fun to see the thread get resurrected when snow and steel or RickHuf gets his knife.

Some of us will say “see it wasn’t that long”. Others will say “I should have ordered one when the wait was only six years.”

it traveled...if im remembering right.......orlando to i think Texas up to Mass area and then back to central florida. quite a trip over the years.

if I ever let it go, it'd only be back to you.

ya ain't wrong at my age few years flies by like nothing anymore. every year seems faster than the last. if I was young again itd feel like a lifetime......

 

[snow and steel]

They do not offer a duralumin guard, but a Nickel Silver butt cap is available for a $90 up charge.

The nickel silver guard and duralumin cap go well together, and will balance nicely. I think you chose well.

Both brass and nickel silver will tarnish, especially if stored in the sheaths they will both get green verdigris. I wish Randall would offer Stainless for all the guards like on the Astro.

Thanks!

I have a dresser with a cotton cloth lining the bottom of each drawer that I keep my knives in, all outside of thier sheath with a light wipe of CLP on the metal. I keep my house humidity and temp controlled too, so it should be well protected untill I'm actually carrying it.

If I ever ran into one for sale at website price in good shape, I'd almost be tempted to get it, but I've never had the luck!

 

[TC]

I don't believe they offer a duralumin guard, or a nickel silver cap, and I don't care for the look of no cap or all brass [or the look of brass when it gets oxidized].

I checked their extras - https://randallknives.com/pages/extra-features - and the nickel silver butt cap option is "hidden" as an alternative under the "brass butt cap" entry. Go figure.



And yes, the brass needs some attention at intervals - though where I am it does not tarnish too quickly.

 

[VorpelSword]

I committed to buying a Randall #16-1 "Special Fighter" back in 1999, in anticipation of our son entering the Marine Corps after graduating from Texas A&M in 2002.

Ite delivery date was four years off. this worked out well. I made an initial payment on a credit csrd and made additional payments every year or six months . . .$50 at a time as I remember it. Nearly painless in a way.

He took the Randall to Iraq in 2004 along with a CRK Green Beret.

When yours comes you will have an heirloom.

 

[pvicenzi]

Owning a Randall was always a "dream knife" for me. I could never bring myself to pay the outrageous second hand market prices, and the wait felt ridiculous. I've come to terms with;
A - things aren't getting any cheaper
B - the wait isn't really getting any shorter
C - even if I found someone foolishly selling for cost, it still wouldn't likely be my ideal dream piece.

So I put in my order, and now the wait begins. 6 years I'm told... feels like forever though, but at least this way I get exactly what I want.

I'm hoping to make small payments every couple months so by the time of delivery it's paid for.

Serenity now! [J/C]

It will go quick. I actually bought my first Randall at a gas station. A number 3 with stag handle. I love it.

 

[snow and steel]

It will go quick. I actually bought my first Randall at a gas station. A number 3 with stag handle. I love it.

A gas station ??!? Wow!

 

[2edgesword]

I don't believe they offer a duralumin guard, or a nickel silver cap, and I don't care for the look of no cap or all brass [or the look of brass when it gets oxidized].

None on eBay or from a dealer were the configuration I liked though. The maroon micarta itself seems pretty rare.

So it not just any Randall but a very specific Randall. Any idea how many of these have been made?

 

[RickHuf]

My model 1 has the Commando grip. I like it a lot. My son had free reign to order anything he wanted. He ordered a knife identical to mine but stainless. View attachment 2709573

That is a great looking knife! Wow

This knife is the reason I wanted a new one with a commando grip. An oldie.

 

[snow and steel]

So it not just any Randall but a very specific Randall. Any idea how many of these have been made?

Model 1's? Probably thousands. That specific one that I ordered? No idea - I've had no luck finding one for sale.

 

[eveled]

wThat is a great looking knife! Wow

This knife is the reason I wanted a new one with a commando grip. An oldie.
View attachment 2710751View attachment 2710752

Thanks for the compliment. It is a joy to own it. I usually carry it in a KA-BAR sheath.

Very nice old knife. Your Grandpap chose well.

The flaired pommel is an often overlooked advantage with the Commando handle shape. IMHO. It just feels more secure in your grip.

The disadvantage to the Commando shape is the lack of indexing. If you picked up the knife in the dark you would not know where the edge was. The shorter upper guard on that one would give you a reference you could feel with your thumb.

 

[eveled]

Model 1's? Probably thousands. That specific one that I ordered? No idea - I've had no luck finding one for sale.

You were smart to order one exactly how you wanted it. You won’t regret it.

The wait stinks, but it shows Randalls are still in demand. Time keeps ticking away you’ve been a member here since 2011, doesn’t seem like it’s been that long does it?

If you change your mind on anything you have the option to change the order one time.

 

[snow and steel]

I have a Blackjack Model 7 to use in the Meantime till it arrives.

You were smart to order one exactly how you wanted it. You won’t regret it.

The wait stinks, but it shows Randalls are still in demand. Time keeps ticking away you’ve been a member here since 2011, doesn’t seem like it’s been that long does it?

If you change your mind on anything you have the option to change the order one time.

I'm pretty happy with what I ordered - if I change anything it would be to go to a nickel silver butt cap instead if the duralumin, for matching the guard - but I really don't think the duralumin will be a mismatch so I bit inclined to even change that really. I think the duralumin would also make a better balance.

 

[eveled]

I will be interested to hear your thoughts on the Blackjack/ Randall comparison after you’ve used them both. I will wait patiently. Lol.

I would stick with the duralumin. Nickel silver will tarnish, the balance will be off, and it is a $90 option.

 

[snow and steel]

I will be interested to hear your thoughts on the Blackjack/ Randall comparison after you’ve used them both. I will wait patiently. Lol.

I would stick with the duralumin. Nickel silver will tarnish, the balance will be off, and it is a $90 option.

I know the blackjack doesn't have a false edge, and I understand the guard is slightly off. It's A2 steel and has a convex grind [Randall is 01 steel and convex iirc]. Blackjack is mass produced vs Randall being handmade from stem to stern.

I too will be interested in what's the real world difference when using it. "Rubber meets the road" so to say.

So far I CAN say I'm not unhappy with the blackjack for the $249 I gave for it. I anticipate the Randall to be better though.

 

[DocJD]

According to the SSA, at 74, I've only got a remaining life expectancy of 11.2 yrs & I have a 3.7% chance of dying w/in a year.

See: Social Security Administration - Actuarial Life Tables

So, I'm buying EVERYTHING That I want to buy RIGHT NOW now & I'm not waiting for NOTHING!!!! LOL!

Same here !

 

[TC]

Randall is 01 steel and convex iirc

O1 steel (O for "oil hardening", not zero - like A2 with A for air hardening) if you chose non-stainless, and hollow ground (probably what you meant anyway), for the most part. But there is an ever so subtle transition from the hollow grind to almost slightly convex for the last inch or so towards the tip, I suppose to strengthen the tip portion. At least on my specimen. I cannot capture this in a photo, a parallel line lighting set up like they use in body shops to check for panel straightness might work to show it.

It is mostly tactile as you draw the blade back to front between your fingers. But at that point you will start to really appreciate the level of thought and craftsmanship that goes into each blade they make. It is sublime. No clone I have ever seen comes even close. And that is why they are worth every cent you pay.

 

[VorpelSword]

I committed to buying a Randall #16-1 "Special Fighter" back in 1999, in anticipation of our son entering the Marine Corps after graduating from Texas A&M in 2002.

Ite delivery date was four years off. this worked out well. I made an initial payment on a credit csrd and made additional payments every year or six months . . .$50 at a time as I remember it. Nearly painless in a way.

He took the Randall to Iraq in 2004 along with a CRK Green Beret.

When yours comes you will have an heirloom.

REgarding the familuy heirloom thing:

Our son brought a Randall #16-1 "Special Fighter" to Iraq in 2004. He also brought a Chris Reeve "Green Beret" knife. He carried each of them (separately) while outside the wire for extended periods of weeks at a time. These knives were either worn on a drop leg rig or strapped to his plate carrie. He saw action at both Fallujah and Ramadi.

When he deployed again, the Randall stayed home in a display case in his home office. The CRK went back on his plate carrier.

Both are considered to be weapons of war. One is a family heirloom in a shadow box. The other is a trusted tool in his go-bag.

 

[Terry M.]

REgarding the familuy heirloom thing:

Our son brought a Randall #16-1 "Special Fighter" to Iraq in 2004. He also brought a Chris Reeve "Green Beret" knife. He carried each of them (separately) while outside the wire for extended periods of weeks at a time. These knives were either worn on a drop leg rig or strapped to his plate carrie. He saw action at both Fallujah and Ramadi.

When he deployed again, the Randall stayed home in a display case in his home office. The CRK went back on his plate carrier.

Both are considered to be weapons of war. One is a family heirloom in a shadow box. The other is a trusted tool in his go-bag.

That’s quite the endorsement of CRK.