History of Randall Made Knives (2024)

Two Randall Made Knives (Model #203 50th Anniversary and Model #12 Bear Bowie). Courtesy CTFA.

There are a few brands that are distinctly American. You can probably name a few right off the top of your head. Coca-Cola, Winchester, Ford. These are companies with products that could only be made in the United States, and, what’s more, have meaning here. One of those names should be Randall Made Knives. These are knives with a uniquely American history, tied to the U.S. Armed Forces, and forged in a tradition stretching back hundreds of years, making them not just tools but symbols of survival and heritage.

Since World War II, Randall Made Knives have been carried by United States servicemen and women of every branch and in every conflict. This began with the Models 1, 2, and 3, all of which are still made, during World War II.

The Model #1 “All-Purpose Fighting Knife” is the original Randall Made knife produced for action in World War II. Based on Randall’s earlier hunting knife designs, the Model #1 was designed to be a workhorse of the U.S. war effort. When materials grew in short supply, Randall used whatever they could come up with to make the knives work. Thus, Randall Made moved from a stag handle to the well-known leather spacers with decorative felt spacers, improving the grip and experience of using their handmade knives. In an example of wartime making-do, the leather spacers were originally made from rejected soles from a leather shoe factory.

The Model #2 “Fighting Stiletto” was the next design to come out of the Second World War. This knife was a double edged knife, designed for stabbing and close-quarters combat. The Model #3 “Hunter” was an adapted form of the Model #1, with a straighter tip and a slight bump on the bottom of the knife, just before the guard.

Randall Made has produced specific models of knives for the military branches, as well as a knife for NASA. In addition, Randall Made Knives are just as relied upon today as they were in 1941. For any front, and any theater of war, a Randall Made Knife is the right tool for the job. From the jungles of Vietnam to the mountains of Afghanistan, Randall Made Knives have proven their worth a thousand times over (and a thousand times over again).

Randall Made Knives, of course, are not only for the military.From the original three models, Randall Made has created a number of other designs, expanding their catalog of handmade knives significantly. Inspired by knives made in earlier generations, such as the Bowie knife, Randall Made Knives has made a knife to suit almost every purpose. Wherever there is use for a good knife, there’s use for a Randall.

There are Randall Made Knives for hunting, designed for use in the field or for skinning your game after it’s caught. There are Randall Knives for fishing, adapted for cutting line and cleaning your catch, all while fitting into your tackle box. There are Randall Knives for yachtsmen, pilots, sailors, and divers. There is even a carving set for weekend warriors, and a letter opener version of the Model 2 – the Fighting Stiletto! So, quite literally, there is a Randall Made Knife for every occasion and every person.

Bowles’s image of Wolf Robe is simply masterful, with the famed chief wearing his Peace Medal and looking directly at the viewer. Bowles has chosen to show Wolf Robe in older age, but the intensity of the man’s eyes and stern facial expression demonstrate the unbowed power of Wolf Robe even into his older years. The portrait, likewise, is set within an arrowhead-shaped cartouche, and has the chief’s name and tribe described below him. This masterpiece was estimated for $1,000 to $2,000, and sold well above its estimate, for over $6,000.

Both of these knives demonstrate just how well Randall Made knives sell at auction. They are, by no means, just tools, but functional works of art that connect with the U.S. Military, American culture, and even the heritage of the Western United States. As a result, Randall Made Knives can sell for incredible prices at auction, and have a wide and dedicated collector base.