On another site, a discussion of sheaths and ages of Randalls is underway.
http://www.knifetalkforums.com/ubbth...=109301&page=6
Well known Randall personality, Gary Clinton, posted these sheaths from his collection as part of that discussion.
Of interest to the origin of the
magic-Randall is the example posted on the far right of the collection. It is also shown in more detail in picture #2 below.
Gary includes this comment about this particular knife:
?#1: Has a name and date etched from Randall 1960. Pinned ebony. Lugged nickel silver hilt and the sheath is indented for it. Quality of the sheath is very good. CK, ST snaps.?
Given the cut-outs in the sheath of Gary's knife, it is probable the sheath is original to the knife. Which means? a pinned ebony handled model-1 Randall was made (or etched) by the shop in 1960, and it was delivered with a brown button sheath that was marked with a vertically oriented Randall stamp. In other words, Gary?s knife could have
(haven?t seen the blade) very similar characteristics, handle, blade, spacers, and sheath, as the
magic-Randall knife that started this discussion line (see pictures post #1).
I had previously found a picture of a model-1 (leather handle) with a similar brown button- vertically stamped sheath that was documented as being ordered in 1961, delivered in very early 1962. This post by Gary now moves the possible
magic-Randall sheath date back in time from '62-'63 to year 1960, and raises the possibility of moving the production date of a pinned ebony handled model-1 knife forward from mid-50s to 1960.
The convergence of possible production dates of sheath and knife could provide a simple solution to the paradox of the
magic-Randall, discussed in great length, documented with pictures, in ?the magic-Randall? post in this line.
Oh well? that?s show biz.
By the way? I unfortunately was the under-bidder on a green tenite, model 14, a few months ago. It was sheathed in a Burns-Martin stamped sheath? Burns Martin being a well-known, high quality, holster manufacturer in Calhoun City Mississippi. Is this food for thought about sheath manufacturers for Randalls? I may post those pictures in a new line. Regards, Jack Williams