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My fifth Randall
- Thread starter makandr
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2003
- Messages
- 1,500
Nice Model 16! Congrats!
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2001
- Messages
- 18,959
Very cool indeed! The etching was (most likely) added after the fact, but IMNSHO doesn't detract from the knife one iota...a nice score!
On a side note, the 'Pancake Flipper' sheath is the rare part of the package; it's been estimated that only 300 or so were ever made, a sheath type that was only sold for a short time in the very late 1970's...
Curiously, few if any are ever seen complete with shop supplied rubber leg straps and handle O-Ring. For the longest time I (and others) had assumed that over time the straps had simply become separated from the sheath...
Then, two years ago we purchased a Randall knife collection that included five similarly configured Model #16 'Divers Knife' versions, new, unused, and sans straps. Each had a RMK Shop supplied hand-typed note stating that they were no longer able to supply the rubber leg straps, and recommended that the new owner purchase them at the local dive shop - or, return the sheath for a standard model...
A year later, we purchased another one from its original owner, this one with the straps in place. He had purchased the knife from the Randall Shop in early 1978, and the DACOR straps and O-Ring were original to the knife. Mentioning that the brand name DACOR sounded familiar, he told us that they had been a large seller of diving equipment in the 1970's & '80's.
Discussing this with several other owners of Pancake Flipper sheathed RMK #16's, one mentioned that the Randall supplied straps were 1970's vintage DACOR straps (as is the O-Ring), and that these old dive knives were 'a dime a dozen on eBay'...
So, I took the plunge and bought a new/mint old-stock DACOR dive knive off eBay for $20, and sure as shiite, the straps are the same. Not a bad deal really, with 'Original RMK Dive Knife Straps' sometimes selling for as much as $300 on eBay... (ebay item 160076520462 has the right type of older metal buckle straps, but I would hold out for a 'mint' version)
Besides, I picked up a nice stainless dive knife as part of the bargain - I gave to moms, and have been told that recently she has been using it to go diving for weeds out in the back flowerbed...lol
You've got a nice Randall knife there, a good score :thumbup:
On a side note, the 'Pancake Flipper' sheath is the rare part of the package; it's been estimated that only 300 or so were ever made, a sheath type that was only sold for a short time in the very late 1970's...
Curiously, few if any are ever seen complete with shop supplied rubber leg straps and handle O-Ring. For the longest time I (and others) had assumed that over time the straps had simply become separated from the sheath...
Then, two years ago we purchased a Randall knife collection that included five similarly configured Model #16 'Divers Knife' versions, new, unused, and sans straps. Each had a RMK Shop supplied hand-typed note stating that they were no longer able to supply the rubber leg straps, and recommended that the new owner purchase them at the local dive shop - or, return the sheath for a standard model...
A year later, we purchased another one from its original owner, this one with the straps in place. He had purchased the knife from the Randall Shop in early 1978, and the DACOR straps and O-Ring were original to the knife. Mentioning that the brand name DACOR sounded familiar, he told us that they had been a large seller of diving equipment in the 1970's & '80's.
Discussing this with several other owners of Pancake Flipper sheathed RMK #16's, one mentioned that the Randall supplied straps were 1970's vintage DACOR straps (as is the O-Ring), and that these old dive knives were 'a dime a dozen on eBay'...
So, I took the plunge and bought a new/mint old-stock DACOR dive knive off eBay for $20, and sure as shiite, the straps are the same. Not a bad deal really, with 'Original RMK Dive Knife Straps' sometimes selling for as much as $300 on eBay... (ebay item 160076520462 has the right type of older metal buckle straps, but I would hold out for a 'mint' version)
Besides, I picked up a nice stainless dive knife as part of the bargain - I gave to moms, and have been told that recently she has been using it to go diving for weeds out in the back flowerbed...lol
You've got a nice Randall knife there, a good score :thumbup:
Very nice! Can you add a little more info on the source, where you ran across this knife?
I am a ex- Navy diver, the Mk 5 hard hat, and the Miller hard-hat, [ I can't recall the USN designation,mk 10?] original design by Swendell made commercially by DIVEX [they lost the contract to Miller]. The Navy did not use the breast plate to my recollection, but a rubber neck dam was adopted.
I dove the civilian version for about 20 yrs.
My model 16 is still in by dive bag, along with the moths.
I have the wax sheath for mine and latter picked up a nylon sheath from the shop and had a model C made too. It is a very usefull outdoor / dive knife. Enjoy!!!
I am a ex- Navy diver, the Mk 5 hard hat, and the Miller hard-hat, [ I can't recall the USN designation,mk 10?] original design by Swendell made commercially by DIVEX [they lost the contract to Miller]. The Navy did not use the breast plate to my recollection, but a rubber neck dam was adopted.
I dove the civilian version for about 20 yrs.
My model 16 is still in by dive bag, along with the moths.
I have the wax sheath for mine and latter picked up a nylon sheath from the shop and had a model C made too. It is a very usefull outdoor / dive knife. Enjoy!!!
