I carried a model 14 in the Army. I gift from my Dad when I graduated Infantry school. I still love that knife. One day I'll buy my son a Randall and pin wings on his chest.
The Man From Florida. When I was in the Marines, late 1970's, I visited the shop 4 or 5 times. Once, I even saw Mr. Randall walk thru the shop - didn't meet him, but was asked in hushed tones by the guy working the counter, if I knew who it was that just walked by me. I said, "no", and he said it was Mr. Randall - great memory!
In the eighties I was a kid and sent away for one of his catalogs.i was so impressed I started making knives at nine or ten years old.oh yes I sucked at it but I kept trying.and eventually by trial and many errors I finally got it.if it wasn't for bo Randall that I read about I probably would have gave it up.thinks too reading about him I stuck with it.forging blades was my world and still is.
Bo Randall the man the myth the legend. He wasn't the first to custom make handmade knives but he was the best . Every custom knife maker since the second world war owes a debt of gratitude to Mr Randall, his legacy will live forever.
I got my first custom made knife after I got home from Nam,( about 1969 or 1970) I kept seeing them with the distinct sheath on chopper pilots, ( a lot of them were WW2 pilots, warrant officers) that would pick us up in the jungle for a Air Assault mission. Finally once in the rear after getting out of hospital , I saw a pilot at the air field and got to look at one and hold it, 1967. It took 9 months and cost over $100 back then and that was over a weeks pay check. Would be interesting to know how many employee's he had back then.
I met Mr. RANDALL years ago, I really feel like he wanted to be in that shop working, You can tell he had a love for knives. And he spent time with a 17 year old with a passion for creating KNIVES. You have to know what design I copied for my knives when they were done.
I had one of these early Randall fighting knives that the back of the sheath was signed by Bo Randall years ago. Sold it for hardly anything. One of life many regrets.
Randall knife Co. is the best. Sent a request & some money to them from Viet Nam. Three weeks later got my knife wasn't what I asked for. Hell it was better. Still have it and it has gone thru shit. Held together when Marine K-Bar failed.
Nothing wrong with a Randall, they’re iconic. But “finest steel”? No, he was already behind the times by the seventies. But “one man operation”? No, he had 15-20 guys working for him by the seventies. His parents were wealthy from OH and bought thousands of acres of citrus farmland in FL. Making knives was a luxury afforded to him. Americans love to buy and carry what our soldiers use and this military provenance is a sales pitch.
I love my Randall but you are right about the steel, especially when it comes to the stainless 440B. Like, not even 440C? And their wait times are criminal. Nothing should take 6 years.
I carried a model 14 in the Army. I gift from my Dad when I graduated Infantry school. I still love that knife. One day I'll buy my son a Randall and pin wings on his chest.
Thank you for your service!🙏🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
The Man From Florida. When I was in the Marines, late 1970's, I visited the shop 4 or 5 times. Once, I even saw Mr. Randall walk thru the shop - didn't meet him, but was asked in hushed tones by the guy working the counter, if I knew who it was that just walked by me. I said, "no", and he said it was Mr. Randall - great memory!
In the eighties I was a kid and sent away for one of his catalogs.i was so impressed I started making knives at nine or ten years old.oh yes I sucked at it but I kept trying.and eventually by trial and many errors I finally got it.if it wasn't for bo Randall that I read about I probably would have gave it up.thinks too reading about him I stuck with it.forging blades was my world and still is.
Bo Randall the man the myth the legend. He wasn't the first to custom make handmade knives but he was the best . Every custom knife maker since the second world war owes a debt of gratitude to Mr Randall, his legacy will live forever.
Im on Randall's waiting list, I only have to wait six years.
It was fascinating to watch Bo Randall himself making these iconic knives.
You can always order from a dealer and it's about a 10 month waiting period
5 now...
I got my first custom made knife after I got home from Nam,( about 1969 or 1970) I kept seeing them with the distinct sheath on chopper pilots, ( a lot of them were WW2 pilots, warrant officers) that would pick us up in the jungle for a Air Assault mission.
Finally once in the rear after getting out of hospital , I saw a pilot at the air field and got to look at one and hold it, 1967.
It took 9 months and cost over $100 back then and that was over a weeks pay check. Would be interesting to know how many employee's he had back then.
Definitely my favorite brand of knives. I’ve used my 3-6 and 12-8 many years field dressing large game.
I love the narrator. I always wanted to speak like that. Same cadence and turn of phrase...
That’s the old mid Atlantic accent that was primarily used just for film and TV. People rarely spoke like that.
Excellent history on Randall knives in WWII! Thanks!
Wow factor off the charts for this one of a kind knife maker/bladesmith. Sure wish I had a Randall knife.
“Bringing silent death to the unsuspecting enemy....”
I met Mr. RANDALL years ago, I really feel like he wanted to be in that shop working, You can tell he had a love for knives. And he spent time with a 17 year old with a passion for creating KNIVES. You have to know what design I copied for my knives when they were done.
I had one of these early Randall fighting knives that the back of the sheath was signed by Bo Randall years ago. Sold it for hardly anything. One of life many regrets.
I've got the Model1-7, what a beauty!
Fuckin’ legendary knives from an all-time great maker.
"Made from the finest steel, forged by hand, sharped on natural stones, by masters."
great quote from a good movie.
'...and I'll take the Kious for my friend...'
5-6 year wait for a new hand made Randall Fighting Knife. Unless you are a US service member, then you get first dibs.
Is there a longer version
Cool!
Great smile!
Randall knife Co. is the best. Sent a request & some money to them from Viet Nam. Three weeks later got my knife wasn't what I asked for. Hell it was better. Still have it and it has gone thru shit. Held together when Marine K-Bar failed.
Nothing wrong with a Randall, they’re iconic. But “finest steel”? No, he was already behind the times by the seventies. But “one man operation”? No, he had 15-20 guys working for him by the seventies. His parents were wealthy from OH and bought thousands of acres of citrus farmland in FL. Making knives was a luxury afforded to him. Americans love to buy and carry what our soldiers use and this military provenance is a sales pitch.
I love my Randall but you are right about the steel, especially when it comes to the stainless 440B. Like, not even 440C? And their wait times are criminal. Nothing should take 6 years.
What year was this filmed?
wow. This is awesome. I wish we could a knife today in less than a year and less than 500 bucks that's not from china