Solingen stamp?

W

wveah

Joined
Jun 30, 2007
Messages
103
I just inherited a #18 stamped Randall "Solingen"

Is this a real Randall - black plastic cap instead or bronze- and a thinner edge than my Sportsman Bowie [only other Randall I own]

Thanks in advance.

All the best.
 
I had a Randall 18 "crutch tip" many years ago. (It was stolen in 1968.) The rubber cover on mine was black, similar to the picture. Some other rubber covers were white.

-Steve

crutch%20tip.jpg
 
Yes, it's likely real (photos help) - only the earliest, circa 1963/'64 had white end caps. It should have a 20 over a 1 showing on cap face...
 
Thank you ^ I've been here for years and posted pics a few times, yet never remember how to post pics. I'll try to post this weekend

Thanks again you have made me happy!
 
Sheldon. On another site I am examining the chronology of model 14 Solingen blades with teeth. A question has come up when the older cross-ricosso Solingen stamp was discontinued and the newer familiar Randall-Made over Solingen was introduced. Your book says the older "stamp" was seen until 1965, though the newer stamp first appeared earlier in 1963.

I deduct that the original order of 500 model 14 Solingen blades delivered in 1955 had the old "stamp" already applied to the blanks that came from Germany. I then deduct that this initial supply lasted almost 10 years before being exhausted because there was not a very big demand for 14-Solingen blades until Vietnam heated up. I also believe that Mr. Randall probably ordered an additional supply of blank blades in 1963 that were imported with only "STAINLESS" (if they were stainless) across the ricosso, and then he etched the Randall-Made over Solingen trademark in his shop.

If you still have the documentation, I would be interested in what notes led to the 1965 end date for the "old" stamp, and the 1963 start date for the "new" Solingen stamp. Thanks and regards, Jack. You can e-mail me if you prefer. Jacknola@cox.net
 
Hey Jack! Good to see you posting. Sure, give me a few days. The work on that section of my book was finished almost ten years ago; I'll have to dig out my notes. That said, I believe your deductions are correct, and that I based my observation on documented knives, or on knives with known date characteristics. However, if only one sample knife was found to be used, there's always a probability that a sheath or stone could've been swapped at some point, and that would affect the dates given. I'll look into it and email you.
 
Thanks Sheldon. I think you know where my posts are, definitely NOT on KTF. Elsewhere there is a thread entitled "Vintage Model 14s" that I'm populating. You might be interested in some of the pictures, comparisons, and stories I've posted over there should you ever do a new edit and release of your fine reference book. You are welcome to use any conclusions and data I post.

I mentioned your book and conclusions, and noted that you did original research (though everything about Randalls seems to be always a work in progress).

Regards.
 
Thank you. Got it, read it; an interesting thread for sure...
 
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