Say hello to my little friend

[larry44]

I just received today my third RMK - a Model #12-13 Raymond Thorpe Bowie, and I am tickled pink! Still grinning hours after opening the box. I bought it from a poster on BladeForums (see this thread) and couldn't be more pleased!

I bought my first Randall direct from the factory in 1980; it's a Model #8-4 with a carbon blade, stag handle with compass and a single hilt brass guard with my name engraved on the reverse side. I still have it. The second blade was a standard Model 15 Airman which, regrettably, I sold two years ago. Now, "Ray" is in the building <g>! This bowie, I understand, was made in the late '60's - early '70's. If this is correct (please let me know if anyone can narrow it down a little better after seeing the pix from the thread), that was the same period I spent in college. Cool.

This purchase has revived my interest in Randalls. I've recently been into Busse's and Bark River's but I've sold all but one each of those and want to concentrate back on Randall's. My reading of all the online posts from the two major sites where Randall folks seem to gather I now have a bunch of questions that I hope you guys can answer:

1. Do people buy the miniature blades as users, or are they strictly collectibles?
2. Is there a complete list of factory options available?
3. Is there a list online showing factory coding abbreviations and their meanings?
4. What is a sawteeth/no sawteeth grind?
5. Should the sheath be stored in the Randall Knife case along with the blade?
6. What are the differences between the Model #1 and the Model #16 SPF?
7. If I could only have one, what would be a fitting 5"-7" fighter-style model to fill the gap between the two of them?

 

[Melvin-Purvis]

Nice score, Alan is a cool dude and that's a cool knife!

As to your questions:
1. Some are useable based on handle shape, others are not, thus most are collectibles
2. No
3. No
4. This is one version of the ST/NST blade grind...

The Model #1's have a different, non-spear point style blade grind...
5. No
6. The #16-7 is a full tang design like the knife shown above
7. A knife like the smaller of the two above. I've sold those but may order more someday as they were pretty cool!

Hope that helps.

 

[larry44]

Your answers are a great help...thank you!

I'm a little confused about the knives in the photo you added. Is the larger knife a #16-7 with an optional ST/NST grind that gives it the spear point style? And what is the model designation of the smaller knife that you recommend?

 

[Melvin-Purvis]

Hi Larry, wrong photo - I was thinking that was a Model #14 with the ST/NST blade grind, 7.5" long 1/4" thick stainless steel blade, nickel-silver (NS) forward-curved hilt (FCH) , and black C model sheath - with a Model #15 configured the same way. It's not, the lower knife is a non-catalog Combat Companion (CC) model with a 5" long 3/16" thick blade and the same options - but, this set could be done with the 5.5" long 1/4" thick blade Model #15. The Model #15 would weigh ~10 oz; the CC weighs in at ~7.5 oz.

You're allowed up to five options per knife, not counting sheaths, and these each have five. The NS FCH's are two options, as are the SS-ST/SNT blade grinds. The only change here would be to use green Micarta or supply your own handle material. The sheaths can be brown leather or 'no hone pocket' at no additional cost, but black or waxed is a $25 upgrade, and to make the CC sheath a 'C' model, that was another $20. Waxed black sheaths are not available.

Some knives, especially the larger Bowies like yours can't be ordered in stainless steel, and some of the smaller knives, particularly many of the non-catalog variants, can't be ordered in tool steel. Also, not all options, like metal spacers (+$15) aren't shown in the catalog. Still, you should get a free catalog from RMK at www.randallknives.com just to bring yourself up to speed on most options...

Hope that helps

 

[ron_m80]

My new favorite in your desired range is the 4-6" fighter. The non catalog knife. Amazing grind.

 

[Mack]

My new favorite in your desired range is the 4-6" fighter. The non catalog knife. Amazing grind.

You have great taste Ron.

By the way, I've been eyeballing that Thorp for a while now. Congrats on getting it. It's nice to see it appreciated.

 

[ron_m80]

Mack,

Thank you. But it's not hard to see why I like it. If you ever make it out my way sometime around lunch let me know. I can bring a few of them with me and we can get some eats. There's even truck friendly parking nearby.

I got to handle the Zacharias Club knife, it was suposed(?) to be a similar grind but on a 7" something blade. The 6" version is a marked improvement to the lines and really caused me to take a strong liking to.