Trends, collections, and options...

Melvin-Purvis

Melvin-Purvis

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Throwing out a catch-all topic here for anyone that has something to say or contribute; knives to share, and comments on where you think the current RMK market is going. Your collection aspirations, any trends you're watching, or what you'd like to see...in other words, a RMK discussion free-for-all. Keep it factual, keep it real, and have fun.

I'll start...over the years I've bought Randall Made knives as a collection, at one point having all the catalog and non-catalog models in various configurations, all the current miniatures, dealer specials, and club knives...to mention a few. While collecting, I tried to encompass a solid mix of Randall knives made over the last seventy-five years; rare knives, optioned knives, unusual knives, etc.

Having owned large number of Randall Made knives to date, I think I've done a pretty fair job of having owned, or at least handled, a pretty fair representation of what's out there or available...IMO, the trend is swaying away from new production knives, and back to older Randall Made knives in good condition - which kinda sucks for me, as most of what I currently own now are newer knives. Your thoughts?

Photos are always nice... :)
 
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I started collecting RMK about 1999. I wanted a knife to carry when I was outdoors. The bug consumed me and I got all the catalog knives, that had the option, of a Black Micarta handle.

After that was done, I floundered around not knowing what to do or where to go. A revelation hit me and I am into Model 5's and have been for the past 7 years or so. I, like Sheldon, am getting back to older RMK, specifically Low S and Separate S 5's. With such a narrow field, I don't see/find many that I want. But thankfully I have good friends who are always keeping their eyes open for my Model 5 wants. I go to the Blade Show every year, where you would think I could find just about any knife going, not so. But I keep searching.

I have attached a picture of Model 5's I took a few years ago. The "family" has grown since then, much to my wifes chagrin!!. IMG_3860.jpg
 
Very impressive Rod! Nice collection of Randall Model #5's, thanks for the share. :thumbup:
 
I only started collecting Randall knives in 2007, so I'm still new to the game. I do have some nice older knives, to me, they are from the mid 1960's. The only trend I'm seeing in knife sales is that everyone wants to pay next to nothing for them, whether or not they are new, old or used. I've been told that even a user in good condition is worth at least what a new one would cost, still people try to offer me as much as $100 less that what a new one would cost. I just hope the economy picks up so I can sell some of the Randalls I have so I can start collecting the models I've decided to concentrate my collection on: #2's, 13's and the Clinton models.

Dan
 
First of all, my apologies for my double post. Once I get me index finger moving it is hard to get it to stop!!

I agree with Dan, the resale market is very soft. I have spent the past 2 1/2 months in Florida, talking to dealers, the shop, after market sellers, collectors, etc. and everyone agrees, it is a buyers market. I think that unique RMK knives or old collectibles still have value, albeit not what they were 3-5 years ago. That aspect of the market does not seem to be as soft, but still down a long ways.

Will it come back, we can only hope. Last year at Blade things were slow and this year I think it will be worse. The good news, RMK is still churning out new knives and long may that trend continue.
 
Rod, thanks for your insight and sharing what you've discovered down there in FLA - you can edit your double tap, or I can remove it, if you'd like...

Now, about that Fountain of Youth you were looking for, any word? ;)
 
As a new Randall collector I have forced myself to only have the ones that I would use...regularly. I currently have a fireman and a 16. Had a 10 and donated it to benefit 2 young people with leukemia and a 15 that I couldn't justify keeping because it would take away carry time from my 16. The 16 was a grail that I didn't think I would acquire as quickly as I did. But thanks to a very generous friend I have an awesome one. The 25 is my current target but my bank account doesn't want to cooperate at the moment so I'm stuck drooling over pics posted here. Not sure if that's the type comment Shel is looking for but it may be a look into an "average" Randall collectors way of thinking. That is if any of us can be considered average since owning such fine cutlery puts us in a class all our own.
 
I'm probably not qualified to give an opinion on this matter, but that has never stopped me before.... :D

I have never owned a Randall, and in all honesty was never really drawn to them. My weakness has always been Loveless knives. That said, after seeing pictures Sheldon has posted in other sub forums, I began to appreciate them. Being a hunter, and mainly using only drop point blades, that limits the models I really like, but non the less, I understand the affection some have for them...

As far as people being drawn to the older models, I think I can relate and understand.

When I was collecting Winchesters and Colts, I only had older versions. The new ones did nothing for me.
The old ones were what I consider the originals, and were made by guys that were craftsman, and took pride in what they did. Not that the new guns were bad, they aren't, but they didn't have the same character and feel,and there was no history to them. There probably never will be either, because most spend their time in a closet or gun safe.

For me, a big part of the older guns was being able to trace back the history on most of them. I could see where guns went, even in the late 1800's, who bought them, and if they were attached to any military history, or had other historical significance.

Perhaps people are trying to recapture some of the old history with the Randalls. From what I have read, many were used by military members, as well as hunters, and were made by the original maker. While the knives are great, I have to think that part of the appeal is the original maker, as well as many of the knives having a history.

Not to take away from the knives made today, or the people that make them, but sometimes there is something lost as time goes by, and people want to recapture that.

Then again, I could be totally clueless :D
 
Excellent post Mike, thanks! DC, I'm glad to hear you're using yours! You'll find that special #25 some day; I'd recommend the 5" blade though. The 6" version is, to me, so different (massive) that it really should be a different model...
 
Oh the 5" is the only 25 as far as I'm concerned. The sheath is as alluring as the knife. You don't get that with the 6"
 
CLK, that's an awesome collection! There's a few in there's I'd like to see up close and personal.

Sheldon, I can't really speak for the trends because my exposure beyond these forums is almost non-existant. The only dealer I saw that had Randalls I could pick up and hold in person had a lot of the bowie style ones in his case, and just a few smaller ones like I prefer. His 25-5 is the one that followed me home. As I've mentioned before, my preference is blades 5" or less. My next 'want' is a nice 11-3. Of course, another 26-4 wouldn't be turned away, either.....
 
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