Well I could not disagree more!
The issue as I see it is supply and demand. Without either one their would be neither. I also said I am a seller AND collector and of course I am looking at some sort of profit. RMK gets it, dealers get it, why am I not suppose to get it. I would expect the guy that I sell the knife to, also to get some profit. This is what drives us. Nothing gives me more joy to come home from MY REAL JOB, and spend time with my knives. I enjoy providing the public with quality knives at knife shows. Would you suggest that all Randall knives sold be limited to just the dealers. Like I said before, this is America land of opportunity, if people are willing to by Randall knives I am willing to deal in them because I like them and darnit it's fun. I never said I sell on Ebay to make a buck. I think in the history of my Randall knife collecting I have sold one new Randall on ebay and that was a high end #12-8 bear bowie with elephant ivory and fine silver from Doug at precious metals fabrication. And let me see. Oh yea! The customer had no problem bidding on the knife and paying what he decided to pay. He liked it, I liked it, It's America and darnit it's FUN. It's what drives the world, Buying and selling. I don't feel the basics of economics should be discussed any further.
I do not think one has to be an authorized RMK dealer to sell a Randall knife if he is a knife dealer or not. That is where I started. I was not and now I am, thanks RMK. I sold one knife and made some money. Met some fine people, did it again and met some more fine people. I agree, YOU do not expect to pay more for a Randall than what you could get it for from RMK but there is a whole world of people who love to do it. As far as the backyard type sellers I do not know what you mean. If you mean the guys who charge $100 to $150 over current catalog price well then you got me. I guess I am a backyard seller, and you know what so is the guy at the knife show with the table full of Randalls right next to me, Oh, I almost forgot those guys on ebay that sell those Randalls everyday. Oh, and I almost forgot the RMK Dealer that charges me $75 to $95 over current catalog price. You know what? I will gladly pay that fee, one a week if I could. I will tell you why, DEMAND. I have customers waiting for the next knife I have on order from my Randall dealer. I am not going to stop ordering knives and reduce the DEMAND so you can buy your Randall at your reasonable price.
You said " If you are a collector and out for the one-of-a-kind rare knife then get ready to pay. However if you are looking to purchase new production knives you should be able to purchase them at a reasonable price!" I agree, Get ready to pay, because that guy invested a bunch of money himself and the customer is willing to pay extra for that extra special knife. Both parties are happy. As for purchasing Randalls at a reasonable price. What is reasonable? People are happy everyday to pay $100 to $150 over current. If they were not I guess I would not be selling a thing and they would not keep coming back. They Are, there is a demand and I am selling at a reasonable price. You know what? I think you are a closet Randall collector because why would you care so much and take the time to reply with such effort if you allready have your Randall that you got at a reasonable price.
Look all I am saying is that I would not change a thing. Randall has a good thing going and I could only dream of having a company as successful as Randall made. God bless them for making knives that everyone loves and everyone buys almost reguardless of the price and what they did to get there. Also if the price were to go up again I would still buy the knives and so would my customers because they are in demand and it would still be a reasonable price because everyone would still buy them. People who know Randalls, know they are expensive and guys and gals at the shows who see my Randalls, when I have them, maintain a certain respect for the knives and it is easy and comfortable for me to say " That's a Randall Made Knife and there is a 4 to 5 year wait on those right from the factory". As I put it in their hand they say "wow that's a knife". When they ask the price and I tell them, I have just planted the seed, The seed of respect for the Randall knife. As they walk away, the next time they see a Randall they know it's a good investment to get involved in. If it were not then know one would be doing it. BOHICA, I still respect your opinion and thanks for the reply but I am done here. Well except the guys that are going to ask me about the Randall model 1-8's I just got in stock, you know the ones with more than 5 options.

Man! I knew that this was going to happen when I made that post. WHEW! Thanks for your time.

P.S. Selling knives is just what I do for fun. I have a REAL JOB. Plastic Fabrication and CNC Engraving. Stay Cool
Dave Samolis
RKS# 4314