Separate S?

Silly Rabbit

Silly Rabbit

Gold Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2010
Messages
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Seems to be, non uniform "s" etc., but I am no expert...does anyone know? If so does it give a clue to age? Am thinking is an early of the new blade style? Any insight appreciated, thanks388549361.564599.jpg
 
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Silly,

Looks like the logo was etched and not stamped (I don't like the look of the "S". It may be just the photo). Can you post photos of the entire knife and accompanying sheath?

Thanks,
 
Capt. Jeff, that shouldn't be a Separate S on an Astro of that vintage (specifically, with that blade grind) - as Ron suggested, more photos please...
 
I dont have the blade in my hands yet so I will post what I have...sheath appears to be Johnson roughback loose stitch
I am hoping it to be mid/late eighties but may be early 90s...I am just best guessing, I do not know if it even has the stone, blade won't be in my hands till probably mid next week, thanks for your expertise/ efforts388623611.207828.jpg388623641.074571.jpg388623641.074571.jpg388623678.460433.jpg388623737.483987.jpg
 
Thanks Jeff. Based on the blade grind (shape) and the loose stitched Johnny Johnson made Roughback sheath, I'd be comfortable placing the age of your knife as to being made/shipped sometime in the mid to late 1980's, give or take a few years. Hope that helps.

-S
 
Thanks for your input, it does help clear that up for me, thanks, I will try to get better pics of the stamp to post when it arrives, is separate s even a possibility during that time frame or were the stamps they used back then just set up a lot different?
 
It could have an etched logo as Ron suggested, and in that case the S would've been etched separately, but that wouldn't make it true late 1960's 'Separate S' knife - although, some stamped late 1960's Separate S blade were used during late 1970's production. I surmised in my book, that this being a time of runaway inflation (and steel prices), RMK simply dug deep into their blade bins, using older blade stock, as opposed to purchasing new steel - this for a short while only.

I once bought a collection of ~60 'new' RMK's that had been ordered and delivered in the late 1970's, and of those, 4 or 5 had true Separate S blades. Hope that helps.
 
Jeff

Just for comparison, here is a picture of a Separate S( I hope this works). There was a time, around 1969-70, when RMK was experimenting with incorporating the S into the stamp. I read where RMK tried brazing and/or wiring the S to the RMK stamp. As well when the first inclusive S was used in the stamp, it was a bit "removed" from the RMK stamp and it is difficult to tell if the knife is a Sep. S or an early inclusive stamp.
IMG_0110.jpg
 
388777830.487870.jpg388777724.083054.jpgOk guys it is here! I had to clean what looked like polish out of the stamp with a toothbrush, here are the 3 best pics I could get...again I'm not an expert but it looks stamped to me, am I wrong? is it "etched"? If not the distance from the logo isn't "separate"? I know it is not indicative of the time frame that is why I am beating a dead horse...either way I'm learning, thanks again. JL 388777521.689938.jpg
 
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Jeff

I am treading on thin ice when I compare my knowledge to that of Ron and Sheldon. Your knife was made mid 80's or later. I say this as the stamp is FL as opposed to FLA. I think the FL stamp was introduced in 1985ish.
The blade is stamped not etched.
 
388779210.876412.jpg388779057.758516.jpg388778958.570401.jpgI just found this one for sale on an unnamed auction site, it proports to be Vietnam era, does have older blade grind tight Johnson, and older stone color, look at the stamp...very similar, no?
 
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Jeff, Rod is correct. Again, I go with my initial observation. Which is also correct, FWIW...

Good catch Rod, I missed that altogether...back to the hot tub for me... ;)
 
Thanks for all the help and input...it's always nice to know what you have, I appreciate everyone's time and input and am glad to hear that the knife is as I expected...and oh yeah fwiw I really do like this model, its a keeper!
 
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