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

In 1970 I was alerted that I was going back to Vietnam in Jan 1971 (the 4th time) and wanted a heavier knife than the Ben Hibben Jungle Fighter I had been carrying. Wrote to Van Sickle (?) in Texas for his list of available Randall's and bought a Model 14 from him for I think $80. He order years in advance and you paid about a 25% mark up but no waiting time. Got back to the states in March of 1972 and we had man in the company who had worked for Randall, and you could get a knife pretty quickly thru him. I got a Model 2, also for about $80, in less than a month.Still have the Model 14, but had Custom Knife maker Wayne Goddard, put a different handle on it in 1988, and sold the Model 2 to a man in my unit for exactly what I paid for it about 1990. John
 
John A. Larsen said:
In 1970 I was alerted that I was going back to Vietnam in Jan 1971 (the 4th time) and wanted a heavier knife than the Ben Hibben Jungle Fighter I had been carrying. Wrote to Van Sickle (?) in Texas for his list of available Randall's and bought a Model 14 from him for I think $80. He order years in advance and you paid about a 25% mark up but no waiting time. Got back to the states in March of 1972 and we had man in the company who had worked for Randall, and you could get a knife pretty quickly thru him. I got a Model 2, also for about $80, in less than a month.Still have the Model 14, but had Custom Knife maker Wayne Goddard, put a different handle on it in 1988, and sold the Model 2 to a man in my unit for exactly what I paid for it about 1990. John
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Great story, once again. Thanks.

While not in any way definitive, I suppose (not an economist, just been around for a while and know first hand what things used to cost back then vs. today)...compared with gasoline prices 1970 vs today as an inflation guide (increased by a factor of 10+), the current list price of an RMK is actually a bargain. Extrapolating from your numbers it should today be $800+ from the shop.

My reckoning is: Things don't really get more expensive, it's just that money is worth so much less. (And yes, Captain Obvious alerted me to this secret in a clandestine meeting some time ago, at an undisclosed location. Please do not ask for details, thank you.) 😀
 
ra-m1di7.jpg

Well, I'm in trouble now... some may recognize the site photo. This is a number 1-7 with desert ironwood handle. Brass guard with brass end plate. This isn't exactly what I wanted [that's still on order, and I will keep that order as well] but this showed up 'in stock' and I thought it looked really beautiful too... so shortly I'll be able to post a direct "randall to blackjack" post.
 
The Randall i bought arrived [my order is still in for my "dream" model]. I've played with it some.

It's absolutely beautiful and exceptionally well crafted. I'm still looking forward to my ordered version which I think will ultimately be better. I have two VERY minor quibbles with this one;
1 - the desert ironwood handle is actually a little slick. OK for everyday use, but if your hands were sweaty, wet, muddy, etc. Then a good grip could be an issue. I suppose someone who didn't care about resale could cut some checking into it and solve this. With the value of Randall knives, and being such a beautiful piece that's almost a shame to do.

2 - this is super minor.... the edge was slightly uneven in it's final sharpen and polish, showing some lines and movement in the angle. I stropped the blade about 30 times per side and not only corrected this, but brought the edge to a mirror polish. Easy fix.

All in all I'm very happy with it, and it's absolutely beautiful! I think I'll continue to use the Blackjack [which no-one will worry about the resale value of] while i wait for my custom Order Randall.
 
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eveled said:
Randall handles do tend to be very smooth and slippery when wet. Even their leather washers are polished smoother than other leather washer handles.

snow and steel snow and steel Is your upper guard smaller than the lower guard?
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Yes, the upper guard is just a hair smaller than the lower guard.

I'll try to get some better pictures in the daylight tomorrow... this is the best that artificial light would allow.

If you click on the picture you can enlarge this way up if you really want to see some details, if you're so inclined.

20241203-014730.jpg
 
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I'm down to just one old Model 11 these days. Sold my other Randall knives. Somewhere along the line I just lost interest. The Model 11 has not been used on game for years now. There are simply better knives out there.
Growing up in Kissimmee, and with my Dad being friends with Bo Randall, I was in and out of the shop back in the late fifties, early sixties. Sure was an interesting place for a kid to hang out.
 
In the picture it looked the same. I believe top guards are all a little smaller
 
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