Thoughts? Am buying a Randall model 12 - 13" Thorpe Bowie

[UrQuattro]

Hey all,

So I've bought only one other Randall before, a Stanaback Special w/ black ironwood handle, nickel silver fittings and duralumin butt cap, it also has a black woven sheath.

This other one I'm getting is in the title. I don't know much about Randall knives, to be honest, but this one seems really interesting to me, but the price is high at $2500.

Here's a picture of it:

It's a Model 12 w/ 13" blade, sharpened upper edge, bronze backing on the blade, bronze hilt, real ivory handle, scalloped bronze spacer and nut on the butt of the handle.

The thing is that the upper part of the Randall stamp has worn off, which I can only imagine happening after years of use. The sheath is supposed to be in good shape with not very much wear shown. It's a Johnson Smoothback sheath.

What really caught my interest is that I couldn't find many Randall knives with ivory handles, and this one appears to have some vintage to it, though I don't know how long ago it was made.

I guess if anyone can help me figure out if I should stick with the purchase, or if you think that I am paying way too much for it.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give. I really appreciate it.

Sincerely,
Michael

 

[sams]

I think $2500 is a tad high but I know they sell for that much. I can't tell for sure from the picture but it looks to be an older Randall Made Knife which can and does bring a premium.
If you are adding to a collection go ahead and buy it. I'm sure if you keep it long enough it will appreciate past $2500.

 

[ron_m80]

Can you get close up's of the stamp and the guard soldering please? (EDIT: I saw the image's URL, thanks anyway)

I have never seen the guard spaced that way on a blade without choil. (EDIT, this doesn't mean anything more than I have never seen one like that. )

 

[Lorien]

that Raymond Thorp, in more modern terms, would come with a 13" blade, brass fittings and an ivorite handle. And no brass inlay on the spine. The catalog I have is from the eighties, (28th printing) and that's where I got that info.

 

[UrQuattro]

Lorien,

You're right, actually. I typed that it has bronze fittings when everything is brass. I apologize about that everyone.

And thank for the responses. I should get it on Wednesday, so when I do I'll try to take some pics and get 'em up to show more detail. I still have second thoughts, but I have a feeling the first poster is correct, that it might be overpriced right now, but I plan on keeping it for the Long haul, which are my plans for all of the knives I've purchased. Ultimately I'd like to be able to leave the collection to my kid(s) if/when I have them, and they grow up.

Over the $1000-$1500 mark on a knife, I get nervous, not to mention $2500, but it IS a rate, older Randall that is in pretty good shape overall, has some patina, which I love, and a real ivory handle. I can't wait to unsheath this guy.

How do you guys display your knives? I need to get a case for them, preferrably one that I can display my collection, which has about 20 knives. But for my larger knives like this one or my ivory bob sky sub hilt fighter, I should probably get a different case made for the big ones.

Thanks again everyone. And keep it coming if you can. I appreciate it.

Sincerely,
Michael

 

[ron_m80]

And thank for the responses. I should get it on Wednesday, so when I do I'll try to take some pics and get 'em up to show more detail.

I will look forward to those pictures. I wouldn't have bought this knife, not having checked any of it's characteristics, something strikes me as off. As did your initial concern apparently.

How do you guys display your knives?

Sincerely,
Michael

My Randall collection is small, but all of it is carbon steel. I plan on building a peg board that will hold the blades on a level plane, with green felt backing and mounting that to my wall. Do not store collected blades in the leather sheath.

 

[Melvin-Purvis]

Looks to be a mid 1970's to (maybe) early 80's vintage knife and is probably in a roughback, not smoothback sheath - you'll know once you get it. It's also referred to as a 'Brass back' Bowie with the brass parrying strip on the blade spine. As brass back, ivory handled knife, in what looks to be original condition, you didn't do terribly bad on the price - closer to the high-end of fair market value. Also the RMK blade logo was initially just a light strike that lost some definition in the finishing process; common for the time, not worn down from use. Good score, if I was going to buy that model, yours would be the exact knife I'd want. They don't make 'em that way anymore - Congrats! :thumbup:

 

[ron_m80]

Looks to be a mid 1970's to (maybe) early 80's vintage........

How many could there be where the guard was installed not symmetrically configured? I am use to seeing the longer front guard section to be symmetrical from the edge like on knives with choil's. This knife looks like the guard favors the edge side by about 1/4".

 

[Melvin-Purvis]

That the knives are all handmade may be one explaination, and photos can be deceiving as well - I'm sure the OP will post better photos once he has the knife in hand...

 

[Samael]

Just got around to reading this now. I agree with Sheldon/Melvin - it's a classic knife in good shape, and the price isn't crazy out-of-line. You couldn't get that knife made by the shop in that configuration at any price today, but even if you tried, have you priced ivory lately? A piece that size would cost you $5-600.

Given the sluggishness of the market right now, you have a bit of leverage to try to wheedle the price down a bit, and I'd sure try that. Otherwise, if it's something you really want (and it sounds like it is), go for it.

 

[UrQuattro]

Thanks everyone for the feedback and reassurance. I was so close to cancelling my order, but I do think that it will prove to be a good buy in the long term, and that it is one which simply can't be made today is pretty cool as well.

The ivory on this knife is definitely the biggest chunk I've seen on a knife. That it is one single piece of ivory instead of split pieces is truly amazing. It is hard enough to find ivory scales that are 4" long that have any real thicknes and depth let alone a single, intact piece that can be the full handle like this one must be incredibly hard to come by.

I checked online and looked at the prices for ivory handled randalls, and the price premium is surprisingly substantial.

Does Randall use ivory at all anymore or did the stop? If so, when did they stop?

Thanks again, and I really appreciate the help, everyone.

Michael

 

[Samael]

Ivory used to be an option from the shop, but they stopped doing that many, many years ago. They'll still do it (and, according to GTR, they still do a fair amount of it) as long as you supply the ivory.