I did not mean for it to sound like anybody called me stupid. I was just saying that because in some of the post it sounded like that to me. I might be ordering a randall model 27 trailblazer this Christmas. It depends on how much birthday and Christmas money I get.
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Randall vs. SOG
- Thread starter texasboy
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2006
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- 274
Excellent choice !!
Hondo.3, from a "Knifemakers Guild" definition (where there are only "custom" knives and "production" knives, and custom means made by one guy - not made to the customer's specifications like the word means in most of the rest of the world) Randalls would be production.
However, since few but guild members care about that definition, and I certainly don't, I think Randalls are more custom than production. Certainly more than one person has a part in the process but the knives are more handmade than a lot of custom knives. If you've ever been to the Randall shop, you would see the attention to detail, the old style methods, and the quality that goes into a Randall. ...and from the standard definition of "custom" where an item can be made with the customers optional choices, Randall fits that definition exactly!
So if Randalls are not "customs" in the guild definition but that's important to you, then Randall's place as a "high end production" overlaps and exceeds a large number of guild custom knives.
texasboy, sometimes you have to have a bit of a thick skin on these forums since there is no eye contact in the discussion but you come off as quite a mature 13 year old. I was carrying a knife regularly by your age also and got to know knives and firearms well. It's part of what made me work toward a 23 year career as an Army Officer.
If you don't want to wait for the "factory" order to ship time, find one of the 26 or so Randall dealers. They order every three months and can get you one earlier than six years. I ordered another one from Greg Gutcher, the official Randall sheath maker and it will take only 2½ years. I don't think any of the dealers lock in the current Randall price for an order in the out years but some, Greg included, will sell it at the list price the day you receive it (read as no premium charges like some dealers). You stand to pay the increased costs from only 2 or 3 years to get the knife earlier than todays cost in 6 years. I'm not at my home computer so I don't have Greg's phone number but you can go to the Randall Forum on this site and someone will have it.
Good luck and way to go wading into a fast flowing stream with a bunch of highly opinionated but knowledgeable folks!
However, since few but guild members care about that definition, and I certainly don't, I think Randalls are more custom than production. Certainly more than one person has a part in the process but the knives are more handmade than a lot of custom knives. If you've ever been to the Randall shop, you would see the attention to detail, the old style methods, and the quality that goes into a Randall. ...and from the standard definition of "custom" where an item can be made with the customers optional choices, Randall fits that definition exactly!
So if Randalls are not "customs" in the guild definition but that's important to you, then Randall's place as a "high end production" overlaps and exceeds a large number of guild custom knives.
texasboy, sometimes you have to have a bit of a thick skin on these forums since there is no eye contact in the discussion but you come off as quite a mature 13 year old. I was carrying a knife regularly by your age also and got to know knives and firearms well. It's part of what made me work toward a 23 year career as an Army Officer.
If you don't want to wait for the "factory" order to ship time, find one of the 26 or so Randall dealers. They order every three months and can get you one earlier than six years. I ordered another one from Greg Gutcher, the official Randall sheath maker and it will take only 2½ years. I don't think any of the dealers lock in the current Randall price for an order in the out years but some, Greg included, will sell it at the list price the day you receive it (read as no premium charges like some dealers). You stand to pay the increased costs from only 2 or 3 years to get the knife earlier than todays cost in 6 years. I'm not at my home computer so I don't have Greg's phone number but you can go to the Randall Forum on this site and someone will have it.
Good luck and way to go wading into a fast flowing stream with a bunch of highly opinionated but knowledgeable folks!
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2005
- Messages
- 1,121
Bruce, I think your post is an valuable counterpoint to and elaboration on my post. I did mean to denigrate Randalls in any way. In fact, I hold Randall Made knives in higher esteem than many custom handmade knives. I'm not trying to be a snob.
I do want Texasboy to be aware of the differences between production and custom. If he has something very specific in mind, then he might be better off choosing a custom knifemaker.
For example, I really like Randall bowies. I don't like the double-lug guard, though. So, I asked a custom maker to make a bowie knife for me, inspired by the Randall Confederate Bowie, but with a single guard and a slightly different handle. With a little luck, I'll get a knife that is more precisely what I want.
I do want Texasboy to be aware of the differences between production and custom. If he has something very specific in mind, then he might be better off choosing a custom knifemaker.
For example, I really like Randall bowies. I don't like the double-lug guard, though. So, I asked a custom maker to make a bowie knife for me, inspired by the Randall Confederate Bowie, but with a single guard and a slightly different handle. With a little luck, I'll get a knife that is more precisely what I want.
Hondo.3, no problem, and I agree. I've just always had this thing about the Knifemaker's Guild and their definition of "custom". It doesn't fit the definition of the word in any other venue, and they're trying to foist it off on us. I don't buy it.
I've only had one Randall Bowie, the 9" version with the #14 grind. It looked like a #14 on steroids, black border patrol handle, #1 style hilt, etc. It was just too large for me. During my Army days (1976-1999) I preferred the #16, #14, and sometimes the #1. Now that I'm retired and working a civilian job, I prefer the #5 and #25.
The one thing about Randalls is their ability to be "customized" to your hearts content. I've seen some customers design some very nice knives, and also seem some that made me giggle a bit!
I agree that sometimes a "one man shop" is the way to go. I've had a few and still have one of the best hunting and skinning knives I've ever seen, made by Matt Harilstadt from Canada. I don't see his website anymore. ...and I can't say that a "custom" would be anymore expensive than a Randall, these days. I just think everyone ought to have at least on Randall. I have bought about 30 over the last ten years but only have one now, and one on the way. One is for my daughter's husband, when she chooses to have one. The other is for me. I let my two sons and one son-in-law pick a Randall from my collection before I sold the rest. They chose well.
I've only had one Randall Bowie, the 9" version with the #14 grind. It looked like a #14 on steroids, black border patrol handle, #1 style hilt, etc. It was just too large for me. During my Army days (1976-1999) I preferred the #16, #14, and sometimes the #1. Now that I'm retired and working a civilian job, I prefer the #5 and #25.
The one thing about Randalls is their ability to be "customized" to your hearts content. I've seen some customers design some very nice knives, and also seem some that made me giggle a bit!
I agree that sometimes a "one man shop" is the way to go. I've had a few and still have one of the best hunting and skinning knives I've ever seen, made by Matt Harilstadt from Canada. I don't see his website anymore. ...and I can't say that a "custom" would be anymore expensive than a Randall, these days. I just think everyone ought to have at least on Randall. I have bought about 30 over the last ten years but only have one now, and one on the way. One is for my daughter's husband, when she chooses to have one. The other is for me. I let my two sons and one son-in-law pick a Randall from my collection before I sold the rest. They chose well.
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2005
- Messages
- 1,121
I also have a daughter, but she's only 16 months old. Her name is Sakura (Cherry Blossom), and her mom is Japanese. In the Japanese tradition, a tanto is forged for newborn girls. It is meant to be the instrument of their suicide if they are raped. I like the idea of giving my little girl a knife, but I'd rather that she use it to protect herself...
I'm thinking about a forged W2 tanto with a stabilised cherry handle and a matching wooden scabbard. It might be more of a wall-hanger, though. She'll have lots of others to get dirty.
I'm thinking about a forged W2 tanto with a stabilised cherry handle and a matching wooden scabbard. It might be more of a wall-hanger, though. She'll have lots of others to get dirty.