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Old 04-14-2017, 02:11 AM
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Melvin-Purvis Melvin-Purvis is offline
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Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 47
Jack, and Ronnie, are both right. Jack on the knife; it's newer, post '85. Ronnie on the sheath. It's probably an early 70's JRB. The first, late '60's, black JRB sheaths were either user dyed or 'painted over' (for lack of better term) that bled black on everything.

These can usually be identified by the tie-down holes still showing the original tan coloring, in the inside center of the belt loop, and down in the stone pocket too. Those sheaths are rough-back in appearance.

Then, there was a break of a few years, then came the drum-dyed 'full-black' sheaths. The stone matches this sheath if it shipped soon after the Vietnam war ended; military knife sales slowed, and the bottom of the stone bin could've been reached.

Jack, almost all the 'Second generation' JRB black sheaths have smooth backs from the drum rolling process. OP, someone switched their knives and sheaths at some point.

The sheath and stone combination shown is worth a lot in it's own right; you have a modern RMK #18 that could've been made anytime between the mid '80's and mid 2000's. Modern sheaths for your knife are plentiful, and not too expensive at around $100. You did fine on the trade. Hope that helps.
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