RBH Randall Style Custom Knives

metlman1

metlman1

Joined
Oct 5, 2006
Messages
697
Anyone own or handled a RBH Custom Randall style knife? In a disscussion with some local knife collectors, it was suggested this maker may be "importing" these knives from Asia.
His Randall look-alikes are remarkably similar to each other, and look more like factory production.
I have seen very high quality "custom" folders that came from eBay, but found out that some of these were imports from Asia.
Some knife and gun dealers in Florida are buying these Asian "custom folders" and offering them for sale at Gun/Knife/ shows as "genuine custom made knives".
I have not personally handled an RBH custom, --just curious if any one else had looked one over.
I am considering buying an RBH Smithsonian Bowie knife in the future.
 
He imports them but sometimes does the handles on them but not all of them. I asked him via email what the deal was cause I was gonna scarf one but decided in instead to go with a Black Jack 1-7 in A2. keepem sharp
 
Thanks for the reply. You are the 3rd person that confirmed these are imported. I'll probably hold out for a real Randall or other custom.
 
Lamont Coombs is a very talented, accomplished knifemaker who makes "Randall Inspired" knives on occasion. While not direct copies, they are very 'Randallesque'. I have 2 Randalls and 3 'Randall Inspired' Coombs. The Coombs are better made and i think better looking, knives. The Randalls are more 'collectible' and more likely to hold their value over time.
Search "Coombs Handmade" in the FB's For Sale by Maker subforum for examples of Lamonts work.
roland
 
My testimonial:

I have been buying and selling RBH Custom Knives For four years now. I have also been installing burglar and fire alarms for over twenty five years. In my business you have to be perfect on a 100% scale and if you are not a false alarm will occur and anybody that owns a burglar alarm knows this is very bad police are dispatched fines are levied and customers pissed. Because of this anything under perfect is unacceptable. So this brings me back to RBH Custom Knives. The quality and beauty is amazing I have purchased over 60 of his knives and the only problem i have ever had was with a couple of sheaths the snap button that holds the knife did not work proper and one came apart but I found no reason to bother rich with such a minor issue and i just put a new snap on from hobby lobby. but every knife was perfect the workmanship is always outstanding and solid nothing has ever been of variable grade as I researched I found a few of old and misleading threads on different Knife and sword Forums so i went ahead and asked the man himself That is Richard b Henn and here are our corresponding emails and his response:



>>>> Good afternoon Rich.
>>>>
>>>> I am inquiring about some facts about your knives I am pretty
>>>> committed now so need to know what i should or should not advertise.
>>>> Do the knives have full tang or just a welded on screw. Are the
>>>> blades made in america or as my early research has insinuated are
>>>> they from pakistan or asia or ? Do you personally make the handles
>>>> or your staff or are they done overseas? Not that it matters to me
>>>> but some time ago I was selling a confederate bowie and a gentleman
>>>> emailed me bashing you and your products telling me my advertisement
>>>> was misleading. As i did more research these facts are not clear on
>>>> many knife forums that i would like to clear up. Also are they heat
>>>> treated. Once again I find your knives a real work of art and find
>>>> them to be of the finest grade. I have used and sold many with no
>>>> complaints all I ever hear from my customers is to quote the great
>>>> crocodile dundee NOW THAT'S A KNIFE and they love them. If you have
>>>> any photos of production Before the handles are attached it would be
>>>> very helpful to set things straight. If they are over sea produced
>>>> no sweet I still love every one but i need to know if the rumors are
>>>> true or not so I can advertise accurately. All I will do is remove
>>>> made in the usa and not address the point unless asked.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks again for the great service
>>>>
>>>> Brian Kissick
>>>>
>>>> P.S. I have been considering doing a destruction test but they're so
>>>> pretty and I would rather not but if i need to I will. But it will
>>>> be so painful



>>> Brian,

>>>
>>> Thank you for your email and you want information to sell RBH Knives.
>>> Yes Knives are full tang same as Randall's and made in the US. I
>>> personally make knives with few of my staff here in the US. These are
>>> just rumors and nothing truth to that. I've tried several times to
>>> register on knife forums to talk those people who never seen any of my
>>> knife but every time they don't get me registered over there.( a few
>>> years ago). I've thousands of satisfied customers who love my knives,
>>> many of them are Randall's collectors and they say not a big
>>> difference between Randall and RBH some said RBH higher.I've attached
>>> some photos to show how tangs are. My next production will astonish
>>> every one! Frankly it is a lie started by people who are envious of my
>>> talent.
>>>
>>> I appreciate your business and understanding in this regards! Any
>>> questions please always feel free to ask. Thank you again, Rich



>>> Rich,

>>>
>>> Thanks for the quick response. I am a registered on a few and would
>>> like to post your answer and pics to start to use as proof of your
>>> high quality and craftsmanship and made in the USA if that's ok with
>>> you. also the question has been raised of your location of
>>> production as Florida, Rhode Island, oklahoma or pennsylvania this
>>> would be helpful too.
>>>
>>> Thanks again
>>>
>>> Brian Kissick
>>>
>>> P.S thanks for the pics now i don't have to destroy one. I think i'm
>>> approaching 40 of your Knives Ready for market and don't want to
>>> sell any of them there just so beautiful.



>> Brian,
>>
>> Thanks for your quick reply and understanding. You can post your
>> comments on a few you are registered in. Location of production always
>> same in Block Island,RI so I've some dealers from different states who
>> invest and work with me. Thanks again for your trust and doing
>> business.Rich



>> Rich,


>> Thanks for all the answers. You are the man. Brian
 
Well, that's a nice infomercial boys. But we know it is just not the truth, don't we? At least I do. Besides having handled a few RBH knives and sheaths and judging for myself that they are a joke compared to genuine USA made knives, I am the guy who had two of Richard's knives sent to me directly from Pakistan. I left negative feedback on eBay. When Richard called me and offered to return my money if I removed the feedback, he claimed that he could claim "Made In America" because he sent material to Pakistan for the manufacture. Later admitting that the only thing he sent was the design.
Unlike Brian, I have no financial interest in this discussion. If I had bought 40 or 60 knives I would want to believe they are made in USA also. My only interest is the truth. As a retired Air Force officer I believe in the value of integrity. And I fully support the American knife makers who deserve the credit and monetary reward that comes with actually making their own knives or who employ American labor. And I feel sorry for the buyers who spend hard earned money believing they are buying a more valuable American made product.
By the way, when I refused to change my feedback, he soon changed his user name. I continued to follow his sales, noting that almost all went to a handful of people who in turn resold the knives. Although hard to prove, I saw what I believed to be patterns of shill bidding. Looking at his Web Site, even it is a rip off of RHMK.
 
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