New Enthusiast Purchase Mistake for $700 Randall Fixed Blade?

Douglas Wever

Douglas Wever

Joined
Mar 23, 2018
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66
So I ordered this used excellent condition Randall Model 14 (https://www.arizonacustomknives.com...ker/randall-made-knives/model-14-1000533.html) from Arizona Custom Knives only to see what appears to be a very similar Model 14 knife that is new at Gunbrokers for $572 (https://www.gunbroker.com/item/768442300).

The one I ordered seems to have a slightly fancier brass guard while the GBR guard appears to be nickel or SS, and they have different shaped grips, and mine is not drilled for a wrist thong. Gunbroker’s says 7.5” blade while mine says 7.25 although GBR may be rounding up.

Are these the same knife essentially? Is what I paid in the ballpark of fair? Either way I’ll be pleased with the knife, I’m just continuing the learning curve as I go.
 
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The one you bought is older by a few decades, you paid a reasonable, if very slightly high price. The JRB Sheath dates your knife 60's - 80's, with it being most probably late 70's - 80's. A heavier Randall collector could tighten the date up a bit.

They are both #14's, but yours is a Single Finger Groove handle (SFG), while the other is a Border Patrol grip.

Randall allows options - http://www.randallknives.com/extra-features/ . You're seeing two of the same knives, but with different handle and age quirks.

For what it's worth, I like the top one.
 
Arizona's knife is also a stainless blade, and has spacers. Arizona's is a nicer knife. Plain Jane carbon Model 14's go for $410 new if you look hard enough. Your Arizona has extras. You might have paid a little high, but that's a badass knife, and I would be proud to own it.
 
I have to agree with scottyj, a very nice purchase.

scottyj said:
Arizona's knife is also a stainless blade, and has spacers. Arizona's is a nicer knife. Plain Jane carbon Model 14's go for $410 new if you look hard enough. Your Arizona has extras. You might have paid a little high, but that's a badass knife, and I would be proud to own it.
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Randall prices, other than new from them, are hard to figure. I don't know squat about price, but I've seen enough to know yours is special, older and in great condition. 'Gonna use it:)?
 
Douglas Wever said:
I will absolutely use it.
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My first Randall I gave to my brother. I have one here at home and three on order. We don't use any of them. They are solid knives for what they are, nonetheless, I would not use a Randall unless I had a duplicate of the one I was using.
 
The folks in the Randall forum may be helpful also.
I think the one you bought is fairly priced considering it is a vintage knife in excellent condition. A lot of times the older knives fetch a better price than newly made ones.
 
Douglas Wever said:
Either way I’ll be pleased with the knife, I’m just continuing the learning curve as I go.
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And here you have it. If you are pleased with your purchase and learn something along the way, then Bravo, Sir.

You should be pleased with it, it's a damned fine add. Many an envious knife enthusiast you've made out here.

And it's great that you will use it. I'd consider it a damn shame to see it languish in a lead lined lock box someplace.
 
scottyj said:
Arizona's knife is also a stainless blade, and has spacers. Arizona's is a nicer knife. Plain Jane carbon Model 14's go for $410 new if you look hard enough. Your Arizona has extras. You might have paid a little high, but that's a badass knife, and I would be proud to own it.
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I don't know what Randall has with stainless, but any comparable Randall model in stainless will be hugely more expensive in stainless than in its Carbon equivalent model. About $100 more if not 200... And it is worth it, as Randall's stainless is just about the only forged stainless around, but boy do they make you pay for it.

Look for the S next to the name, that's your explanation.

Gaston
 
I think you did okay. If you were just looking for a "Randall #14", you could have done better on pricing, but as mentioned, this is an older one. I like the classic look of the Randall fighting knives. I think they pretty much define what a fighting knife should be. When I first became interested in a more expensive fixed blade, it had to be a Randall. I was heavily influenced by the Rambo movies at the time and just wanted one... Wanted is an understatement... lusted for one! I think they defined "survival knife" at the time (simple and effective). I have a #14 and #15, both with border patrol handles.
 
I learned from someone on here there’s a Randall sub-forum. I asked about the date there. A super mod/staff responded:

Melvin-Purvis said:
Doug, you did well on that knife at that price. It's actually a Model #14 Cut-Down Tang (CDT) with a Stainless steel blade, Model #1 brass double-guard (hilt), and single finger-groove (SFG) handle. Spacers tell the story of when the blade was built into a knife, and the looser sheath stitching helps narrow down the date of shipment. In the case of your knife, those spacers were seen on knives made between late 1977 (generally considered 1978 forward), into early 1984. The looser sheath stitching was seen from the late 1970's through the late 1980's, but is generally seen on most Johnson Roughback sheaths made after 1984. IMO, your knife was probably built and shipped in the early/mid 1980's, around the timeframe given. That's the mundane part; the exciting part is that it was finished and shipped during the time Randall Shop foreman Dave Griffin was finishing handles. Dave's signature handle touch is well-worth the price of admittance... :thumbsup:
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The one at Gunbroker is at auction so could very well come up with a final price of $700 or more. The price you paid is in the ballpark, probably $50-$100 high or low, depending on the phases of the moon. You got a great knife & yours will never go down in value. Good job :)
 
Melvin Purvis wrote the book on Randall knives (really * Randall Knives - A Reference Book) so his opinion is a proven one.

Great you're going to use it. What's your plans for it?
 
I’ve been carrying a Wilson Combat 7” blade A2 steel. The 7.25” SS Randall will be a nice replacement on the frequent wet days we have in Alaska.

I’ve also been looking at a large Randall Sasquatch, but I can’t think of any use for that massive blade other than to admire it.
 
Not sure why I've never thought to ask this before (sincere question, not smartassery) - For what does one use a knife like that? It is one category that has always mystified me.
 
Happy Daddy: Yeah, when I was in Rwanda, Togo, and then Tanzania, I would of / could of used the massive Sasquatch, but it still may not have been best option, I don’t know, I’ve never held one. Here in Alaska, not so much, and I passed on the SasQ.

Over at the big Randall FB group, a LOT of guys have the large Sasquatch, especially if they collect Randall’s.

While the Large Sasquatch is breathtaking, at the end of the day a knife is a tool not a jewel.
 
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