Why are Randle knives highly praised?

I have 4 Randall knives and they are very nice knives,however, I also have many non-Randall knives that are just as well made, look just as good, and I don't have to wait 5+ years to get them.
I don't think that any of my Randalls would stand up to the usage that my Fehrman, or Trident/Crusader forge knives can stand up to.

FWIW

Ciao
Ron
:eek:
RKS# 4572
 
I have a bunch of randalls including an old model 1 passed down to me. I really like the Sasquatch and the model 5 myself. I think its just a thing you get into or you dont, no big deal. Kinda like Busse's or Sebenza's you either get "into" them or you dont.
 
I ordered a Model 14 on the time pay plan in the late '80s. I knew I would get exactly what I wanted, as I could afford it, from a maker who's reputation was already legendary.

Much said about Randall could be said about Loveless - are his knives really great $3,200 users, or is something else involved? It's collector demand, and I would hope to have as good success if I was making knives.
 
When I first started buying Randall knives in the mid '90's, their stainless was 440B. They made a transition sometime in the late '90's to 440C for most knives with the smaller ones in ATS34. By now, if you buy a #14 or #1, it will probably be 440C.
 
myplea said:
Hi

What do people see in them? and why do people wait for so long to get one?

There are cheaper and more available knives that are made with equal quality , can be as heavy duty or even more than Randle.

Is it the brand and status symbolism of the name?

Or do they really have something extra.
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Of course it is the brand, the brand is over 60 years old and was an icon from mid World War II. Makers like Loveless and Tony Bose are icons of such magnitude that a hundred people will swarm their table at Blade show.

You do not explain this you either recognize that they are or you do not. They enjoy this status for reasons that are not always the same, it is enough that they earned it and those who recognize it will pay as much as they can afford and sometimes more than they can afford. There are thousands of people, many of whom will read this message that said in the 1970s that $100 was too much to pay for a Loveless knife, that there were lots just as good for much less money, in the 1980s they said that $2-300 was much too much to pay and now they would say, if I had not long ago given up trying to help, that $4-5,000 is much too much.

You see it or you do not, you waste your time wondering why you do not.

Enjoy the knives you like
 
Doctorbowie said:
FWIW, All four of my Randall knives show much better fit and finish that those pictures.
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Hi Doc,

Those picturess are of knives that were made in the 40's and most of those "flaws" were exceptions even during those times. The finished product consistancy has improved over the years such that it's hard to tell they are being made by hand(s) now.

Regards,
 
I look forward to the arrival of my Randall!! I ordered a Model #16 Dive Knife.
 
I just sold a knife and now have the funds to trade on my Randall order due in Nov 2008. I've had quite a few Randalls in the last ten years and am not sure what to get for my last Randall knife. ...but you can bet I'll figure it out!
 
I've got a Randall #12 Confederate made of 01 tool steel. I bought it to hold onto and resale but when I got it and felt it in my hand I just can't follow through with my plan. It is extreamly well ballance to be so big. Of course I'll never use it since I've got a couple of Cold Steel's bowie knives which are very price themselves but they have now where near the attention to detail. That's my opinion least ways.
 
I have an old Randall Model 11 that I got from my father. I don't know how old it is but my guess is that he picked it up in the late 1950's. It is the only knife that I keep housed in my gun safe.

I don't know how many deer I have taken apart with it but it is by far the best skinning knife I have ever used. Now that I have a son I have given more than passing consideration to ordering a pair of Model 26's. One day I look forward to passing my Alaskan Skinner on to him as well ... although he may have to wait for quite a few years yet. =)

Reputation … History … Quality … I can see why they are so highly prized.
 
I bought a 6.5" model 25 a couple months ago ... stag handle, nickel guard and pommel. Fit and finish are amazing.

Bought mine as a user for camp and trail use.

Sheaths are custom fit to each blade since each blade is handmade and unique.

Have really grown to like the O1 carbon steel; takes an amazing edge and holds it a very long time.

I wanted quality stag for a very long time and finally found it in this knife.

It's a shame more people don't actually use these amazing knives. They deserve to be used.

BTW, They will recondition a knife to like new for a small charge.

NJ
 
There is more to a knife than the steel used. History, Craftsmanship, Value and design are among some of the factors people buy Randall Knives. In terms of the "well, they dont use insert latest steel of the month here" well many people weigh the other qualities I mentioned higher than steel.
 
My model 23 will be arriving in March of 08 and will be worth the long wait once it's riding on my hip the following deer season :)
 
longbeachguy said:
I imagine the same could be said of Harley Davidson Motorcycles and Colt single action pistols, but same concept I guess. Are they exrtremely high quality? Definitely. Does that explain or justify the phenomenal demand for them relative to other similar products of comparable quality? Definitely not.
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Hmm... Harley Davidson high quality... eh, maybe for a minority but not the majority. :D
 
I'm not sure what it is about them. But the model 1 is one i wanted ever since i was a kid and now that i finally have one, i consider it the best knife in my collection
 
I think the Harley Davidson comparison is quite valid.

My nephew has two Randalls, made of O-1 steel. They are truly nice knives, but in my opinion, AND IN HIS, thay are nowhere near the quality of a Bob Dozier knife.

But there is a certain "mystique" to Randall Knives that make many people willing to pay exorbitant prices for them. Just as they pay exorbitant prices for Harley Davidsons.

I really like Randall knives, but I'd never dream of paying the prices they command, or waiting for one. But then, I'm not a collector.
 
Ben Dover said:
I think the Harley Davidson comparison is quite valid.

My nephew has two Randalls, made of O-1 steel. They are truly nice knives, but in my opinion, AND IN HIS, thay are nowhere near the quality of a Bob Dozier knife.

But there is a certain "mystique" to Randall Knives that make many people willing to pay exorbitant prices for them. Just as they pay exorbitant prices for Harley Davidsons.

I really like Randall knives, but I'd never dream of paying the prices they command, or waiting for one. But then, I'm not a collector.
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I'm not a collector anymore either but I think everyone ought to have at least one Randall to feel complete. I have had many but the one that keeps coming back to mind is the Model #1 I carried as an Army Officer. It was 01 steel with a brass hilt and Border Patrol leather handle. I used "cold blue" to darken the blade some (boy does that stuff stink!) and mute the shine. I also got some brass blackener that took the shine off the hilt. I had to wrap a layer of electricians tape on the duralumin butt cap. In my assignment as a Logistics Officer, reflectance wasn't really much of an issue (we were quite "prime mover" heavy - with lots of glass!) but the knife sure looked good in it's subdued form!

Anyone who buys from the factory and waits the "wait", is missing the greatest opportunity ever. That is to buy from one of the 20+ dealers who order on a quarterly basis and have lots of knives in the pipeline. The dealer I use (Greg Gutcher) got my last order in about two years, not six! I'm currently waiting on a Randall due in November 2008.
 
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