Info On Randal Gilbreath

B

BH

Joined
Jan 6, 1999
Messages
1,117
What does anyone know about Randal Gilbreath. I just traded for one and am eagerly awaiting it. How is his work as far as fit and finish. I have seen a few of his knives and I think that they look quite good. Any comments would help.

Thanks,
Brian
 
I have known Randal Gilbreath for a while and his knives longer. He has been making fine knives for a while. His work is exceptional and I am willing to bet that you will like the knife very much.
He makes a liner lock even Jim would approve of.
 
I just received the knife in the mail, I am pleased overall, but the liner does not engage far enough to the right to provide a secure lockup. There is some blade play unless I take my fingernail and move the liner over with some force. Has anyone experienced this before. It's not somethin that I would expect from a $400 custom knife.

Brian
 
Yes, I have experienced this quite frequently. You might want to work the knife in with a couple hundred openings to see if the liner will seat correctly though. Quite often makers will build the knife with the lock bar at maximum reach so that when it seats after a few hundred openings, it is in just the right place.

Give the knife a few (couple hundred) openings and see if the lock bar seats over (just about guaranteed that it will), then give the lock the standard liner-lock checks outlined by Joe Talmage, A.T. Barr, and Darrel Ralph in Joe's liner lock FAQ.

If it fails the checks, as an amazing percentage of liner locks will, it will have to go back to the maker for adjustment.

Harv
 
Greetings BH and Joe. I' d like to add that I' ve personally handled some high quality custom folders where the lockup was the same as you' ve described. I' ve not tried it personally but I ' ve been told to "snap" the folder out smartly in addition to thumbing it during the breakin period. The liner then should engage at about lower mid tang after some time. Depending on the steels used it may or may not accelerate stop pin wear. Something to think about.

L8r,
Nakano
 
Thanks all for the replies,
I found that the screws in the bolster were loose and when I tightened them, the problem was fixed.

Thanks,
Brian
 
I have found that tightening the screws were not the answer as originally thought. After speaking with Randall, he advised me to send the knife to him for repair. He said that it probably needs a new stop pin, that it was probably bent from "flicking" it open too hard. A very good guy, said he would fix it at no charge, even though I bought it used. I will post on the outcome when I get it back, Probably in 2-3 weeks. (I hate to wait that long!)

Brian
 
Ive only talked to Randall once, but he was very kind and really enjoyed talking about knives.

I bought one of his fixed blade fighters from Les. It is too bad Randall dont make more of these fixed fighters, as in my opinion, they are among the best buys out there in the fixed fighter/combat area.

I am glad to hear that he is taking care of your folder, he struck me as that kind of maker.

 
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