recently found a usmc marked randall made in soligen

B

buckwheatsbowl

Joined
Dec 12, 2002
Messages
4
hey all been away but im back. i came across a randall kniife made in soligen stainless and its marked usmc name on it is j.a. raffer usmc. anyone up know about it .tia glad to be back/ will get pics as soon as i can tia buck
 
buckwheatsbowl said:
hey all been away but im back. i came across a randall kniife made in soligen stainless and its marked usmc name on it is j.a. raffer usmc. anyone up know about it .tia glad to be back/ will get pics as soon as i can tia buck
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3 posts in 16 years.
 
Welcome to BF! :) No, er, you've been here longer than me. :confused:

Read more, post less. o_O Uh no, that's definitely not it either. :eek:

I can't wait to hear what you have to say next! :D Just try not to make us wait for it another 16 years... ;)
 
Randall did use "solingen" blades for a period according to a quick interwebz search. Possibly even as a part of an expedited war effort during Vietnam. All that simply by typing Randall + knife + solingen into google and skimming a few pages quick, (incl. some BF archives).

If so, with no pic, my guess is the name and usmc was a personalized touch added...
 
A friend here in town has this one. It needs a new handle, but it was carried in Viet Nam by his father.
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And i thought my post count was low for same amount of time. I'm not worthy!!

Randall offered lower price Solingen bladed knives, and was a loser for them as so many required extensive regrind. They continued to put those knives out until well after Vietnam, and a few have turned up of nearly shocking newer vintage.

The engraving, if done opposite side of shop mark, was acid etched per original order, or even added later. I have a Model 1 with my various units listed on it. Having done so does not make it a Vietnam knife, WWII knife, or even owned by someone who has even served. The knife needs to be viewed in light of what handle, possible spacers, sheath, etc, for any possible dating.

The Solingens often bring more than forged Randall of same time frame, which is justice for you. Unless a "fighter", am guessing a #14 or #15.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Randall and USMC on a knife made in Germany ?
None of that sounds right, but an expert will confirm.
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Why would that not sound right? Please explain.

Randalls were and are carried by members of all branches of the military and, I'm no historian, bit I think, at some point, we had many members of your military in Germany.

So, explain.
 
I think his comment was just in ignorance of Solingen bladed Randalls, at all. As if someone had posted of a Hong Kong Randall.
 
I kind of remember the Solingen made Randalls. They were in the Randall catalog around 1960 to 1970 IIRC. (It could be earlier.) I think Bo Randall listed them for folks who didn't want to wait several years for a real Randall.

There was a Randall made in Springfield Mass. Some guy thought that he would help Randall by having #1 made. I had one for a short time and I wrote to Randall about it. He wrote back and told me that he didn't authorize the production of the knife. IIRC, the guy paid Randall a 50¢ royalty for each knife.

There are different stories about the Springfield Mass knives. I can only go by what Bo Randall wrote. I paid $25 for the knife and sold it several years later for $45. (Made a killing!) I saw it a few years after that at a gun show. The price then was $400. The letter was framed. I couldn't guess what it's worth today, but I have seen them offered for $2000 to $4000.
 
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