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Old December 26, 1999, 08:08 AM   #1
Randall Shaw
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I own 3 Randalls , 2 govt. and a commander
I can not find any history on the company that built them . I know they went out of production in 85 or 86 , but other than that ? There is a web page for them but it is under const.
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Old December 26, 1999, 09:12 AM   #2
Harley Nolden
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RANDAL SHAW:
My records indicate that Randall Firearms Company previously mfg'd in Sun Valley CA, Mfg'd between June 7 1983 and December 1984 with the final plant closing in Jun 15 1985.

Before mfg ceased in May of 1985, 24 models with 12 variations in 3 different calibers had been produced. In some instances, production on certain models was very limited and premiums for these low volume niches are starting to develop. Between Jun of 1983 and May of 1984 9,968 handguns were made with 75% of all 9mm cal. being exported to Europe and 35% of 9mm production employing a 10 groove barrel. Models mfg'd after 1984 came equipped with an extended slide stop, long trigger and beavertail grip safety. Production ser no's started at 02000 for right hand models and 02100 for left hand models. All but the first 200 (approx) serial numbers started with "RF" and ended with "C" OR "W". A few rate mis-marks are in circulation. Total mfg for all models and variations was 9,968.

Randall prototype serialization starts with "T"-----less than 45 were mfg'd. In addition, 78 serial numbers under 2,000 were mfg'd by special order.

Hope this helps

HJN
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Old December 26, 1999, 09:47 AM   #3
Randall Shaw
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Thanks for the info , the one that has me
wondering now is my commander , it is marked as follows .. service model-C #RF0006793c
it has no beaver tail , short trigger and is in 45 acp , also in unfired condition with papers and box.
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Old December 26, 1999, 10:24 AM   #4
Harley Nolden
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Randall Shaw:
Commander Size .45ACP Pistols:
My records indicate that Randall expanded its line of pistols to include the Service Model-C configuration. The "C" stood for compact. Initially these handguns were roll-marked Service Model "C", However, in the begining of 1984, the company decided to give the guns a new identity and dubbed this configuration as the "Raider." named for General Randall's unit, which had been known as Randall's Raiders.

Introduced in Aug, 31, 1983, the first in Service Model "C" series was the A211, which featured a round-top slide and fixed sights. Barrel length was 4.25", making the overall length .75" less than the Standard A111. Magazine capacity (seven) and height remaned the same. After 992 of the Model A211 pistols were made, production of that model ceased on Sept 6 1984. The serial number range went from RF02001C through RF05808C.

Mext came the model A231, which differed from the A211 in that it had a flet-top slide and Millet Model 100 Gold Cup type adjustable rear sight. The model A231 was introduced on Nov. 7 1983. Only 574 of these postiols were mfg'd with a serial number range of RF02009C through RF03814C. The last of this model wad mfg'd on Oct 6 1984.

Hope this will help.

HJN
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Old December 26, 1999, 10:27 AM   #5
fal308
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According to an older edition of the Blue Book and an excellent four page article in the 6th edition of The Standard Catalog of Firearms;
Randall pistols are denoted by a four-characher model notation, starting with an aplhabetical prefix followed by three digits. The alphabetical prefix will be either A,B or C - A designates right-hand configuration only, B designates left-hand configuration only, and C denotes right-hand lightweight model. The first digit will be 1, 2 or 3 - 1 designates Service or Combat Model, 2 denotes Service Model or Raider, 3 represents the C.E.LeMay model. The second digit again will be either 1, 2 or 3 - 1 designates fixed sights with a round top slide, 2 denotes fixed sight with a flat top slide and 3 represents adj. sights (Millet Model 100 Gold Cup style) with a flat top slide. The third digit once again is either 1, 2 or 3 - 1 denotes .45ACP, 2 denotes 9mm Para and 3 denotes .38 Super. Note though that these model codes are not listed on the weapon.
There are some variations that are extremely rare (some variations had only 1 factory made) and several weapons were made from parts after the company folded.
Are there any rollmarkings on this weapon? There were apparantly quite a few name changes to different models in the company's lfespan.
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Old December 26, 1999, 10:57 PM   #6
4V50 Gary
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You can get letters of authenticity from the Randall Historian at [email protected]. He's busy working on the website right now (deleted as it is obsolete) and it should be up some time next year.

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Old December 26, 1999, 11:15 PM   #7
James K
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Hi, guys,

My turn to ask a question. Was there any connection between Randall Firearms and Randall knives? I seem to recall that there was.

Jim
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Old December 27, 1999, 09:32 AM   #8
fal308
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Jim
I don't think so but I'm not sure. Randall firearms was started as a diversification of a small aircraft instrument repair company by the name of KEN-AIR Inc, out of the San Fernando Valley area of Kail. Owned by Ken Lau. Lau and Brigadier General Russell Randall (of Randall's Raiders of WWII fame) were friends and Randall was on the board of directors of Lau's company. They named the weapons after Randall for name recognition. Randall Firearms was started up for a Korean Army contract to make 1911s , but the deal was cancelled and Lau decided to sell 1911 pattern weapons commercially.
The knife company is run out of Florida and is a family operation. Go to www.randallknives.com for more info on the knife company.
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Old December 27, 1999, 05:21 PM   #9
James K
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Hi, fal308,

Thanks. That had been bugging me some and I thought I would finally ask.

Jim

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Old May 29, 2010, 02:30 AM   #10
ilike45s
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wondering if the historian may have a new webpage,as the one above is no longer working....just have a couple of questions...what was the correct grips for the first run of the original full size service models...mine has a serial number of 0212x c....from what ive gathered the first 200 firearms did not have the rf...so im guessing mine was part of those 200...it doesnt have the beaver tail grip safety...which i think the first ones didnt...but later on they added that feature as standard....but mine does have wrap around pachmayr grips...ive had the pistol since 1986,and have gotten lots of flawless use from it...just wondering about the grips,and if it was one of the first 200,or maybe one of the last ones made with the surplus parts...and thats why no rf in the serial number
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Old May 29, 2010, 07:22 AM   #11
Steven Mace
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ilike45s, this is who I know as the Randall historian:

Rick Kennerknecht
Box 903
Casper, WY 82602-0903
307-234-9476

Hope this helps!

Steve Mace
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Old June 12, 2010, 01:06 PM   #12
4V50 Gary
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BTW, I found out that Randall's tooling was sold to MS-Safari Arms (Olympic Arms). They had a very limited run of southpaw guns before they shut down production because it was unprofitable. I managed to buy two of their guns and paid to have letters of authenticity made. Unfortunately, their records were destroyed in a fire and I never got those letters. They did refund my money (but I'd rather have letters). It is unknown to me if Olympic Arms still has the tooling for left handed guns.
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Old June 12, 2010, 03:13 PM   #13
RJay
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Randall knifes have no business connection with Randall firearms. Bo Randall made his first knife from a file in 1937/1938. Later he was to use automotive leaf springs for the steel. Now, of course the steel is custom ordered in billets. Bo Randall passed away in 1989 and the business is run by his son,
Gary. I longed for but could never afford a Randall knife most of my adult life, now I'm fortuate enought to have several
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Old June 12, 2010, 03:54 PM   #14
Bill DeShivs
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Most of Randall's knife blades were made in Germany.
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Old June 12, 2010, 04:48 PM   #15
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That could very well be now, in the past he used a variety of sources for his steel
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Old June 12, 2010, 06:37 PM   #16
Bill DeShivs
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No, Randall imported ready made blades from Germany from the start. They just never were too up front about it.
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Old June 12, 2010, 11:12 PM   #17
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I'll go with your information, seems I need to do more homework
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Old June 21, 2020, 08:54 PM   #18
DMoon
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I’m trying to find out more about my Randall .45. It has an odd serial number 02718B and I haven’t seen anything like it. I’ve tried to contact Rick K since 2016 and no response. Can anyone help me. I’ll be happy to send pictures. Thank you.
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