When it comes to Randalls I like the old and the unusual, so when this knife became available I really couldn't help myself. I had never seen another Randall with a similar Bakelite handle other than the one in Pete's book on page 92. This one is 11 3/4" long with a 6 3/4" blade. I have a letter from Gary Randall to one of the knife's previous owners dated July 31, 1989 wherein Gary states "I would guess that this knife was made around 1940, and it is the only one like it I have seen". There is nothing in Gaddis' book that refers to any model made in this configuration other than a statement on page 69 to the effect that "During the last half of 1942 and into the first couple of months of 1943, Bo experimented with a few combat knife styles besides the Zacharias-Randall style". I'm no expert on knife making, but it seems to me that it would take quite a bit longer to construct a knife like this than it would the stacked leather handled fighter we all know so well, and Bo needed to equip as many servicemen with a good knife as he could during the war years . As far as dating, it's wide open as far as I'm concerned: It could be pre Zacharias or post Zacharias. I've talked to a few other guys who think it's maybe a 50's knife or even a kit knife. I'm not too inclined to think so because the blade grind more closely resembles one of Bo's knives from the late 30's (For example the knife on the far right in photo 41 on page 44 in Gaddis' book) and I've never seen a kit knife with a tang wide enough to create this handle. From a condition standpoint, this one has been rode hard and put away wet. Tom (TAH) on another forum recently told me "I'd be happy if you sent me just the pits! " when referring to another knife. If I sent Tom the pits on this puppy, I'd have to rent a semi! Condition notwithstanding, this knife is every bit as sturdy and deadly as the day it was made. It is what it is and if it's nothing else it's at least interesting. I'm going to be doing some more research and if any further information comes to light I'll be sharing it with you. For now thanks for looking.

Best,

Ron

Thanks Ron! The handle appears to be ebony in the third picture with the grain, checks and all doesn't it? What a really cool and rare knife! I'm really starting to suspect that you have excavation rights around the old shop with all of the rare old knives you dig up and present to us:lol Thanks for continually educating us and sharing your finds! I love pictures!!!!!!

Seuss

Thanks, Allan. You know I just assumed the handle was Bakelite, but since I'm really not that familiar with either Bakelite or ebony I can't rule out the possibility of ebony. Here's a couple of more photos.

Hi Ron!

That is truly a interesting looking Randall and surely must be unique.

The way the blade tilts upwards gives it a certain authoritative demeaner, and I sure wouldn't want to mess with anyone weilding it! :eek:

I agree with Allan that the handle looks like wood (ebony) to me. Does it have that wood grain look all over?

Thanks for showing us this RMK rarity. :101

Cheers!

David in Mooseville

...Looks like a dark wood that may have been oiled by someone along the way. Perhaps when Bo designed the tenite handle with exposed tang with extended skull crusher later he was drawing on ideas he had worked with on this knife?
Jeff

David: The handle material does seem to have "grain" throughout!

Jeff: Interesting thought! We'll never know, but that does seem pretty logical.

Best,

Ron

Hi Ron,

That's a sleek looking knife. You can't help but see the early conception of a Model 14. Assuming there was no sheath, if I were you, I'd call Clarence Moore and have a replacement made. :lol

Another great find!

Tom

Ron:

You are my hero. Always the most interesting and factual knives and topics. I don't get to view much as I have been working out of the US for a while.

Mike

Hey good morning, Tom

Thanks for the great idea! Took me a while, but I tracked down the number of Bumby's Hardware store. Clarence was out, but his wife told me he's pretty backlogged right now (27 year wait). She suggested I contact George Lawrence up in Oregon as George furnished some of the very early sheaths for Bo. Ol' George is whipping one up for me as I write this. He suggested I get a moose to trample on it for a while so the condition matches up with the knife. Another great idea, but now I have to find a moose! Any ideas?

Best,

Ron

I agree with Mike. I'm holdin' out for Ron's book, "Randall Knives In 'Bore' Time". :101

Good morning to you also, Mike. I always get a little worried when I don't hear from you for a while. I'm glad everything's OK and that your able to tune in every now and then. Thanks for the nice comment. My heros are my friends and I count you among them.

Warm regards

Ron,

Moose are scarce around here. Probably has to do with the all the hunters on this forum. There is one that occasionally migrates down from Canada, but he doesn't look like very good eating.

Tom :D

"He suggested I get a moose to trample on it for a while...."

Hmmm.... Ron, I don't think I'd like that. The last time it happened, I know for sure I didn't...;)


"Moose are scarce around here... There is one that occasionally migrates down from Canada, but he doesn't look like very good eating."

Tom, I believe you are very astute in your culinary tastes. :lol

Cheers!

Mooseville Madman

Ron

Can you tell what the pins are made of? They sure seem to be large. Would you think they are that thickness all the way through the tang or have they been flatened (sp) out?

You are the man when it comes to pinned older RMK. Just wanted to know what your thougths are.

Rod

Tom: I agree: That wandering Canadian moose would certainly be tough and stringy!

Moose: I wasn't talking about YOU being trampled. I just need my sheath stomped on a bit. Maybe to the tune of "This ol' sheath just ain't what it used to be".

Rod: Great to hear from you again. I'm thinking those large pins are nickel silver. If they were aluminum, I'm pretty sure there would be some corrosion given the exposure the carbon steel has apparantly seen. They also don't look like they have been flattened out. The tang is certainly wide enough to accept the full diameter without being weakened.

Best,

Ron

...Anyone who has driven Interstate 4 through Orlando has gone right by the old Bumby Hardware store building. It is in the Church Street Station complex of buildings. I do not remember the building as the Bumby Hardware and so it must have been closed sometime before 1965.
Jeff

Hi Rod!
I'm glad to see that you are surviving early winter, which is certainly a severe adjustment for you. I hope you and your wife are not planning to flee south...:D

Hi Ron!
I knew it was not your intention to trample on me. However, we Moose stick together up here in Mooseville. We are recently Grinch free and it always worries us when folks mention walking all over us...:lol

Concerning the pins being nickle silver rather than aluminium, I suppose you're probably right, but wouldn't there be more of a patina on them? Is it possible that they could be made from some other non-corrosive metal?

Hi Jeff!
I heard tell that "...the old Bumby Hardware..." store used to carry a fantastic line of full flushers. :rolleyes:

Cheers!

David

Hi David,

Nickel silver was my best guess. It's possible that the previous owner polished any surface tarnish off. I can't think of any other silver colored metal that would work or be practical. Pure nickel or silver would be too soft. Platinum would be too expensive. Maybe someone else has other ideas. These pins are identical to those seen on the knife in Pete's book on page 92.

Best,

Ron