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- Aug 9, 2000
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If you guys would join the Randall Knife Society at www.randallknifesociety.com you would know all this stuff. But here goes, from May 1994 RKS newsletter #22.
THE RANDALL STARFLITE - STIDHAM:
The first one of these throwing stars I ever saw a fellow member in the Northeast was hoarding it. Yeah! That's you Harry. Try as I might I could not talk him into pricing this awful looking piece of metal. I ran it down. That didn't work. I bragged about it and told him how he could take advantage of my weakness for this oddity, and that did not work. So I could only conclude that he was hoarding it, since I am an avid (or is it rabid) hoarder myself.
Anyway if you are lucky enough to own a Randall Starflite you have a real Randall oddity and an enviable possession.
Bo Randall personally designed the Starflite in 1972. The following is from Bob Gaddis's book. "Bo termed this his 'guaranteed-to-stick throwing knife'. He originally came up with this design because 'a number of people were writing for a knife that could be thrown and guaranteed to stick. And also, I liked the idea there might be such a knife, and I thought this would be it'.
The Starflite was sold by catalog insert and was listed at $85.00 in 1972. I have a 21st catalog that is dated August 25, 1972 with a delivery of August 1973. Since Bo Randall designed the Starflite September 28, 1972 this insert was
probably included with that same catalog later on that year.
That insert reads as follows: An efficient six pointed throwing device that will pierce its target on every good throw. The collapsible feature permits deeper penetration of the striking blade: also enables complete folding for carrying. It is also an effective instrument for hand held protection.
Dimensions are: -- 1. 3/16" X 1" X 11" double pointed blade: 2. 3/16" X 1" X 11" double pointed blades, affixed with a flat headed stainless steel bolt, silver soldered in place and wing nut. Weight 1-1/4 lbs. Fully polished. Comes with a special belt carrying case of oil tanned leather. Price $85.00".
I have the 23rd catalog dated January 20, 1976 and the insert lists the Starflite at $185.00 and a 24th catalog dated 1977 that the insert still lists the Starflite at $185.00
The Starflite did not sell well and when the inserts ran out they were not reprinted and the 1978 catalog (still using 24th printing) was probably the last offering. Only 36 Starflites were sold to the public. Somewhere between 5 and 10 were made for Bo since he loved to throw a knife and this was one of his favorites.
This was Bo Randall's last design of a throwing knife. He had been interested in knife throwing for many years. Bo made throwing knives as early as 1938 and 1939. /////Rhett Stidham
Below is a copy of the insert placed in the Randall catalogs advertising this oddity.
<img src=http://www.randallknifesociety.com/images/Starflite.jpg>
THE RANDALL STARFLITE - STIDHAM:
The first one of these throwing stars I ever saw a fellow member in the Northeast was hoarding it. Yeah! That's you Harry. Try as I might I could not talk him into pricing this awful looking piece of metal. I ran it down. That didn't work. I bragged about it and told him how he could take advantage of my weakness for this oddity, and that did not work. So I could only conclude that he was hoarding it, since I am an avid (or is it rabid) hoarder myself.
Anyway if you are lucky enough to own a Randall Starflite you have a real Randall oddity and an enviable possession.
Bo Randall personally designed the Starflite in 1972. The following is from Bob Gaddis's book. "Bo termed this his 'guaranteed-to-stick throwing knife'. He originally came up with this design because 'a number of people were writing for a knife that could be thrown and guaranteed to stick. And also, I liked the idea there might be such a knife, and I thought this would be it'.
The Starflite was sold by catalog insert and was listed at $85.00 in 1972. I have a 21st catalog that is dated August 25, 1972 with a delivery of August 1973. Since Bo Randall designed the Starflite September 28, 1972 this insert was
probably included with that same catalog later on that year.
That insert reads as follows: An efficient six pointed throwing device that will pierce its target on every good throw. The collapsible feature permits deeper penetration of the striking blade: also enables complete folding for carrying. It is also an effective instrument for hand held protection.
Dimensions are: -- 1. 3/16" X 1" X 11" double pointed blade: 2. 3/16" X 1" X 11" double pointed blades, affixed with a flat headed stainless steel bolt, silver soldered in place and wing nut. Weight 1-1/4 lbs. Fully polished. Comes with a special belt carrying case of oil tanned leather. Price $85.00".
I have the 23rd catalog dated January 20, 1976 and the insert lists the Starflite at $185.00 and a 24th catalog dated 1977 that the insert still lists the Starflite at $185.00
The Starflite did not sell well and when the inserts ran out they were not reprinted and the 1978 catalog (still using 24th printing) was probably the last offering. Only 36 Starflites were sold to the public. Somewhere between 5 and 10 were made for Bo since he loved to throw a knife and this was one of his favorites.
This was Bo Randall's last design of a throwing knife. He had been interested in knife throwing for many years. Bo made throwing knives as early as 1938 and 1939. /////Rhett Stidham
Below is a copy of the insert placed in the Randall catalogs advertising this oddity.
<img src=http://www.randallknifesociety.com/images/Starflite.jpg>