Show us your Randalls

[Steven65]

There is a small photo of a 50's 3-7 with double hilt and finger grooved leather handle on the front cover of the RKS newsletters.

Ron, that is a beauty.
Is it just me or do the older knives seem to have more shaping and subtlety than the current production Randall's? Anyway thanks for sharing.

Steven

 

[ron mathews]

Thanks, Steven. That's a good question. I like the older grind lines as you do, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. My favorite grinds were those in the 40's where the edge grind did not intersect with the false edge grind such that there was a "flat" running the length of the blade. Here's an example of another finger grooved leather handled 3-7 from 1948 with that flat:

If you have Sheldon's book, there is a better photo on page 38.

The other feature of older grinds that I think makes a big difference in esthetics is the depth of the choil. Here's a 3-6 from the late 50's with a choil as deep as you will ever see (I call it a "wasp neck"):

Bottom line is it's whatever grabs you, and the old ones have a pretty firm grasp on me.

 

[ron_m80]

I love the older styling better. There is no question about it, I knew from the first time I started to see the difference.

 

[Melvin-Purvis]

The other thing often looked on the oilder models is the slight drop to the handles; IMO, it's more ergonomic and results in less fatigue during use. I was happy to see this handle drop revived on the new #4-6 'Fighter' non-catalog model...

 

[ron_m80]

Handle drop, if it isn't there, make it!

It was a black Micarta full tang model prior to this work.

I have undertaken to do a second one of these with a different pattern handle. I know its not the most acceptable thing to do with a Randall but I like them better when I am done. Same style, just an attempt to incorporate the highlights that the shop CANNOT do!, under any circumstances!, for anyone!, anymore!

 

[Melvin-Purvis]

Well played Mr. Stillskin, well played!

 

[spatumba]

#18 Attack Survival 7 1/2"

 

[drshame]

Model 18-5.5" Carbon Steel, Custom Sheath

 

[D R E]

Here are my 14's and one Model 16.

 

[ron_m80]

Oh a long guard on that #14 in riveted sheath. I bet that handle feels lile a whole different #14 than anything I own too. Nice knife.

 

[D R E]

Thanks Ron!

 

[Motey]

Newly added to my collection;

It also has a wee compass in the handle.

 

[shimrod]

Just re-started knife-collecting a year ago, after a lay-off of ten years, and had to start over from zero, so it'll be a while before things get built back up again. But, here are the Randalls I've gotten my paws on so far:

- A cool toothpick from some time ago, nice ironwood?, from when I'm not quite sure yet - have to become more Randall-saavy. Someone's name factory-stamped on the back, still cool though.
- a 12-9 14-grind in boring black micarta, heh.
- Gambler with a cool guard and nice burl.
- a 10-3 in orange G-10.

And that's it for now! Next up: either a 19 or a monster bowie like a RT or a Smithsonian.

 

[ron mathews]

Welcome back to Randalls, Shimrod. That's a great restart you have. I believe the toothpick is pre '73. A pic of the sheath might help narrow it down further. I love the 12-9 with thumb notches and 22 style handle. What a great camp knife that would make!

Best,

 

[shimrod]

Thanks, Ron! It's good to be back!

Here's the sheath for the 13, and the stone which looks early, too:

I love the handle on this toothpick - I've had commando wood before, like on a Raymond Thorpe I used to have, but for some reason this one feels waaaay better - aging, maybe?

Oh, and on that 12-9, funny you should say that - a camp knife is exactly what I've thought of using it as. Something about that one makes me want to put it into camp-knife service...

 

[ron mathews]

Thanks for posting pics of the 13 sheath. IMO the package is 1970 give or take few. I think Sheldon's better versed in this era than I am, so hopefully he'll comment as well.

If you ever do use that 12-9 as a camp knife, I'd sure like to know your thoughts about how it performed. That idea of that knife for that application jumped out at me when I first saw this 12-9 in Rhett's Green Catalog (on page 45):

I love finger grooved leather handles and this one really rang my chimes. If I wasn't so anal about collecting Model 3's, I would try to get my hands on something like that.

Best,

 

[shimrod]

Ron, thanks again! That's good to know.

And, I just saw one of those 12-9s with the fingergroove leather for sale somewhere! I mean, just. I forget where, though. It might have just been ebay.

Oh, and I said either a 19 or a bowie is next on the Randall list, but I forgot one more: A Squatch. Preferably a big 'un!

 

[Melvin-Purvis]

Shimrod, does your (gorgeous!) #13-12 have an exposed tang nut?

That stone was used from late 1969 into the mid 1970's - the recessed nut on non-leather handled was introduced by early 1971. Keep in mind, as far as parts usage goes, the Bowie variants, assembled in a separate room at the shop, and as slower sellers, would often have componants used long after they had been superseded on standard/smaller RMK knife models...

Hope that helps,

Shel

 

[shimrod]

Thanks for the info! I didn't know you could narrow a stone like that down to such a short time frame...


Here's the the tang nut:

So, I guess this would be before the recessed nut changeover that happened some time in '71? I guess between that and the stone, you can really narrow it down to the late '69 through '70 period, huh? It'd be cool to think it's '69, my birth year!

Oh, here's a link to all my pics of this toothpick:
http://s1176.photobucket.com/albums/x325/shimrod69/Knives/Production/Randalls/Randall Model 13-12/

Thanks for helping me properly id this 13!

 

[Melvin-Purvis]

Welcome, gorgeous knife, glad I could help. Yes, it was likely made between the very late 1960's and the very early 1970's. Someone should write a book on this stuff...