Lucky finds?

Many of us have at least one story about lucky circumstances that led us to one or more nice Randall knives at great prices, right?

I always try to be fair when I purchase knives or guns from those who aren’t familiar with them, but with Randall knives that only happened with me once – sort of; I don’t have a great garage sale story (but I’d love to hear one). I acquired nearly all my Randall knives from about half a dozen sources. There was a span of 5 years or so in the early to mid-2000s where my daily routine was to check Spaceport Cutlery and the Treeman website. Every morning—and again in the afternoon! The Behrings, in that period, were regularly getting their hands on some crazy nice Randalls, often older ones; and invariably selling them at more-than-fair prices. And Spaceport… well, Perry… was Perry: you never knew what you were going to see. (And I can still remember that prickling at the back of my neck when I clicked on an interesting new listing, the knife not yet showing “Sold Out!” (and relegated to the “Just fer lookin…” list)). Beyond that, in order, it was Randall direct, authorized dealers, and maybe one or two trades over the years.

But in early 2004, I was perusing the web, googling for Randalls. The first couple results pages were always the same—authorized dealers mixed in with the ubiquitous “mark-up” sites. eBay was pretty much look-but-never-buy, for me.

A few pages down, deep into the search, I found a freshly minted website for an upscale brick-and-mortar Sporting Goods store in Connecticut—like an Orvis store, but just the one location: Barbour coats, leather shell bags, over-under European shotguns, that sort of thing. They’d hadn’t been online for long.

The website was rudimentary: contact info, store pictures showing merchandise and a small, barely noticeable tab-link to “Knives.” On that page were small pictures, mostly fancy folders, lined up nicely. But there was also a little picture of a handful of what appeared to be very pretty Randall Made Knives.

No prices were listed, so I telephoned. It turned out that the owner’s father had purchased some Randall Made “Hunting” knives directly from Randall back in the 80s. At some point over the years, what remained was pulled from the showcase to make room for other things. The son found the remaining knives in the rear of the store, well-kept all these years, and decided to put them on their new website as New-Old-Stock knives. (He wasn’t wrong about condition).

He wanted $275 for what he was calling a #1-6 with a stag handle. It looked more like a Model 5 to me (the group pic wasn’t great) but I said, “I’ll take it.” I think he was pricing them from what he could find for current list prices.

The #1-6 turned out to be a Model 5 with stainless blade, thumb notches, stag handle, NS single hilt, dura crow’s beak butt cap and wrist thong and it had one of the prettiest pieces of stag I’ve ever seen on a Randall.

After receiving it, I called again and (in the most casual voice I could muster) told him I’d take the rest. I got a #7-5/6 in stag, a #7-4 ½ in stag, and another #5-6 in stag. For each he was asking about $10 over base model 2004 catalog prices, but it was significantly more than his dad had paid and he was “moving stock.” He was happy. And I felt like I was making out like a bandit because I was getting free options and immediate delivery – and they were truly NOS 80’s knives! I don’t know where they were stored over the years, but the conditions must have been perfect.

To this day, these are still some of the prettiest Randall Made Knives I have. The #5-6 with crow’s beak butt is exceptionally beautiful. But so is the #7-4 ½! They all are. (One model 5 I gave to my brother).

Any other good stories of great finds out there? Anyone here find the fabled garage sale vintage Randall in great condition?

Thanks, Gary

…

I've got some good deals, but I've also overpaid. I've sold plenty of Randall's for less than I paid for them. I've also sold Randall's for a pretty good profit. Buy sell trade is a fun hobby for me. Win some lose some. I rarely buy knives with intention of selling. I just get bored easy so I trade for something different. I've never found a Randall at a garage sale for 5 bucks, but if I did nobody would ever know!

I paid too much once... I bought a Randall from A.G. Russell. Ha! It was one of my first - saw it in his catalog with the wonderful description and pictures. I don't begrudge him too much - he's turned a lot of people on to Randall knives through his catalog.
But it seems like things have changed some since back in the mid/late-00s. Looks like the Randall market has taken a bit of knock at some point in the last decade. When I got those "Like New" 80's knives for near catalog prices, it was at a time when 80's knives were going for a pretty premium.
At the time, I was excited as heck. I still get excited thinking about it. But I guess it doesn't play so well today.

Gary

OK...

Since nobody else has stepped up, I will give you $10 each over your cost for the knives.

Bargaining has to start at some price point...so I thought I would throw that out there.

Larry

Shoot. Did I accidentally put this in the Buy and Sell forum?

Will you splurge for shipping?

Never had lucky finds with Randall's; however that has not always been the case.

"Shoot. Did I accidentally put this in the Buy and Sell forum?"


That's where I'm looking next!

Nice knives. We all admire them.

Larry

I'm not trying to show off, I swear! Heck, I know most of my knives don't compare with so many I've seen lately on the forums here.

But I am trying to learn how to take nice pictures of them with my smartphone. I have to unlearn much of what I used to do with my older digital camera. (The microprocessors in these smartphone cameras seem to make all the right decisions if left to their own devices - esp. when it comes to lighting).

Thanks, Gary

Gary--

I've found the same to be true for making photos.

I bought an new full body digital a few years ago, bought a large light tent, and made inventory photos of knives just for the record.

But all the photos came out "muddy" and not worthy of showing off. Probably/maybe not enough light, but the "smart" camera might have/should have been able to make adjustment.

I have found that for inventory purposes I can use a standup white carboard background that I think somebody bought at Wal-Mart, and white or other background, on a southern exposure roofed back porch, use a white reflector to get the desired view on the blade, and touch the button on the cell phone. Does a pretty good job--and large file photo results which can be reduced in mb's for other purposes.

Here is an example:

Agree 100% Larry.

With my (pretty nice) digital camera years ago, it was all about indirect, but bright sunlight.

I had one of those light-tent setups too, but nothing compared to taking pictures in indirect sunlight.

Taking pictures again recently, but this time with my Android phone, I was applying all the old rules but just not liking the results.

Those pictures above are taken in an almost dark room – a large room with just one shaded lamp turned on, about 4 ft away. No overhead lights, but just a bit of dusk light from a window. (With my digital camera, it would have been so underexposed/ dark that you’d hardly be able to see the knives).

It finally occurred to me: the cameras in these smartphones are so idiot proof, any setup work I do only serves to work against the camera’s mindboggling genius.

The top two are what I call “glamour” shots. Taken at a slight angle with a sort of light glare affect. But it can hide some imperfections when you take shots like that, so I also have more revealing, straight up-and-down shots of all my knives too for insurance purposes. (More like the third picture, but with even more light; taken not for beauty, but for compete detail).

But I do like taking and sharing pictures of my knives. Almost as much as looking at nice pictures of other great knives.

Thanks, Gary

Ps. Nice picture.

Gary--

I meant to post an RMK photo, but came across this one first as I was browsing for one that had few-enough megapixels.

This little knife is the only one of its kind that Steve has made.

I thought folks might like seeing it as an example of nice concept.

Larry

So, I'll pull this back on topic and correct my earlier statement that I didn't get a lucky find on a Randall. I forgot about this one that happened at least 10 years ago.
I won't divulge the seller; he still is out there today "but" he had a Randall 25 for sale on Ebay "BUY IT NOW" $60.
Had to think a bit but hit the BIN. It turned out to be a listing mistake on his part and I was entitled to the knife at that price. We settled on a fair price well under his cost. Mistakes happen.

I was at Blade in 2005. Angelo Solino (RIP) had a Low S Model 5 with a Brown Micarta handle. He gave me his price, I walked the knife to Perry, to get his opinion and he offered me $700.00 more than Angelo was asking. I said no thanks to Perry’s offer and went back and gave Angelo the cash. Of course I still have the knife.
The last year Perry attended Blade, we roomed together. We talked about that knife and what a good deal I got!

I turned you on to that knife if you remember Rod. I was gonna buy it, but I think you were sitting at Perry's table and I walked back and told you to go get it. I knew it was your thing. You questioned the price and I said "when is the last time you saw one?" I also remember what you paid for it.

Joe

I do remember you saying to go look at it. It is still one of my most “special” 5’s.

Larry
That's some Johnson you got there
Sharpie

I would love to see this knife.

Great story.

Gary

Gary

I am the worst photographer on this Forum. In the next few days, I will endeavour to take (what people may question) a pic or two.

You are not, stop it. You've posted plenty of great pics on many posts. Give yourself some credit. Nobody here is a professional. This is a hobby.
You're folder thread is case in point. All great work Rod. Keep it coming!

Gary,

Been doing more soul searching. If you'll permit me, I'd like to marry some current events with some from the past.
First let me say this is somewhat of a tribute to Mike Marshall recently passed, Perry Miller, and Capt Chris.
I bought a knife off an Ebay auction from Mike and asked him if he had any more Randall's for sale. He wrote back that Perry had Glades Hunters #1, & #2 and if I wanted them let him know. DONE!
We had other conversations from there including Blade from the next year. So yes, lucky find indeed and made a new friend in the process.

You have some seriously cool knives, Warren.

And that's a great keepsake in your newsletter.

Warren,

Great tribute and knives!

Tom Flynn

Found this Randall fixed blade at a yard sale for twenty bucks. At the time of purchase, neither me or the seller knew the value of Randall knives. After the purchase, i googled Randall knives. The best i can tell is its a Fireman Special. I never seen any other Randalls in person, so for all i know its a phony. I contacted Randall knives company in Florida and inquired about having an appraisal to confirm if the knife is the real deal or not but i was quoted a ridiculous amount. Until i find a local gun & knife show to take it to, the knife will remain in my tackle box. IMHO there's nothing very special about this knife but it does fine cutting worms...

Looks like a fireman to me.

Welcome to the forum,
Rob is right.You need to find the person you bought it from and buy him or her a cold drink of their choice.Plain Fireman comes with Black Micarta and high ride sheath.Catalog price $430.00

Now Billy, I was about to double his money and throw in a worm cutter as well.

Welcome to the Forum. Nice Fireman. And yes, it's legit.

Welcome. With regard to knife authentication, the Randall folks decided a number of years ago not to officially authenticate knives. I'm not sure of the reasons but I expect that there were many good ones -- like spending their time on what they do best, making knives. Anyway, there is an individual that has been "approved" by Randall to authenticate knives and the price he charges is entirely up to him and Randall gets no part of it. Based on what I understand to be the current charge, I believe it is quite reasonable for what you get in return but probably is higher than what you would want to pay to authenticate a regular, current production knife. If you happened to be in Orlando to see the Mouse or something, however, and stopped by the Randall shop, I am 99.9% sure that when you showed them that knife they would "unofficially" tell you that it is indeed a shop-made Fireman's Special. Congrats on the super deal you got and for sharing the story.

Actually, the Nickel Silver Hilt adds $30 and the shop will add shipping cost, so the bargain even looks more attractive.
And, the current wait from the Shop is about 5 years if you order today.

If you think that Fireman does a fine job cutting worms (which actually surprises me, with that massive bevel it has) do take it to the next Knife/ Gun show near you and trade it for a #7-4 1/2 (Fisherman - Hunter) or #10-5 (and maybe some cash in-hand to boot).

Very lucky find indeed.

Gary

stbob,
That may, or may not be the best deal...depends if you now get the "bug"...then, it's going to cost you much more in the long run....BUT it will be fun!!!
Welcome aboard!!
:-)Rocky

Here are two of my lucky finds. Both Old Brown Micarta. One a Low S and the other pinned.

Rod, I am loving that Brown Micarta low S!

Thank you Lori. Wish I could have found a couple more like that!

Rod, those are cool as shite! Thanks for sharing.

Gary