[Moosehead]

Hi folks!

Welcome to Part IV...

During the first decade of the RKS, Rhett was determined to build up the membership so more collectors could benefit from the shared knowledge. New members were encouraged to contribute articles to the newsletters and many did. An expanded RKS also created a network of collectors which facilitated trades, sales, information exchanges, and the search for that elusive Randall.

To this end Rhett organized a number of Membership Drives which offered very significant prizes to those who helped sign up new members. The prizes were specially created Randall knives and the winner's name was picked by a drawing.

Rick Bowles, who helped Rhett and the RKS right from its beginnings, was involved with the first special knife in April 1991. Rick did a fabulous scrim of "Sitting Bull" on an ivory handled "Bowie". The hilt and buttcap was engraved by the late Tom Leschorn. The model #12-9" was a new version of the "Sportsman's Bowie", but it had a stainless blade ground like a model #14. At that time it could only be ordered with a handle scrimmed by Rick.

This knife was provided by the late Tom Clinton, authorized dealer and outstanding collector of RMK. The knife is pictured in newsletter issues #9 and #11. The knife came with a remarkable oak leaf sheath crafted by Greg Gutcher and both are depicted in Issue #12. This first knife, scrim, engraving and sheath were all donated by the aforementioned gentlemen. Membership drive prizes were funded by the RKS in subsequent years.

I hope Rick will provide us with more information and photos of this incredible knife, as well as well as the rest of his contributions to the following membership drives.


The 1991 winner of the second membership drive knife was awarded with this model #4-7" with a spectacular looking stag handle which Rhett supplied to the shop . A photo of this knife first appeared in newsletter issue #13.










Thanks to "Knifekid" for the photos which I copied from his old website. I actually had a chance to purchase this beauty from Perry's site but stupidly passed on it.

Two knives were given as prizes for the 1992-93 membership drive. One was a #12-6" "Little Bear" with a Ron Myer carved handle of a Bald Eagle and engraved fittings by Ken Hurst. The second knife was a Rick Bowles Special with a scrimmed ivory handle of two buffalo and Hurst engraving of the hilt and buttcap. Photos of these knives can be found in newsletter issues #16, #17 and #18.

The l993-94 drive saw a small "Sasquatch" with a Cheetah chasing a Gazelle scrimmed on ivory by Rick and engraved by David Perdue (Issues #22, 23, 25 and 26.) The winner of this special knife is to be found in issue #28.

The 1996-97 membership drive gave the winner a Tom Clinton "Special" with another great scrim (a wolf scene), Perdue engraving and unique sheath by Gutcher (issue #30). The winner was announced in issue #34.

For the 1998-99 drive a special RKS III club knife with ivory spacers, instead of black Micarta was given away (Issues #39, #40 and #41). I believe this was the last of membership drive giveaways, as the RKS had grown to a sufficient size and the cost of these knives was proving to be prohibitive.

Stay tuned for Part V...

Cheers!

David