"Model of the Week (Week 3 Model 3)

[BoBlade]

This one is near and dear to my heart for several reasons. No other
model can trace it's roots directly back to Bo's first knife and
Litch Steinman's Scagel even before that. For a little history, I'm
going to refer to "My Bible" (The History of the Man and the Blades
by Mr. Gaddis): The majority of knives that Bo made prior to WWII
were hunters with "fancy" hilts and spacers. This model then fades
from the forefront as Bo's efforts are concentrated on making good
fighting knifes for our servicemen. There is a passing reference on
page 71 stating that in November of 1943 Bo "redesigned one of his
Scagel style hunting knives to use the same hilt, handle and butt
as his fighters" (photo page 68). The next time we hear about the
hunter is in late 1945 on pages 105 / 106 when Bo "reduced the
point upsweep and raised the back, or spine, into a slight hump
just ahead of the hilt" It also received a larger choil. At this
time it officially became the "Model 3". I have never seen a WWII
Hunter that looks identical to the knife pictured on page 68, but I
have a pinned stag that was documented to have been sold in July of
1946 that Mr. Gaddis believes was forged prior to the design
change.



I have another Model 3 that I believe was made very soon after the
late '45 design change. The handle shape and brass washer and nut
are identical to that of a 1945 fighter. The accompanying Moore
sheath may be an indication that Heiser had not yet started making
field knife sheaths for Bo.



This Model 3 with finger groove leather handle was made towards the end of the 40's



The other reason is because I used a Model 3 (my Dad's) for almost 3
decades before I realized what I had and retired it. A couple of
the forward leather washers are a little loose, but other than that it's still in pretty good shape



OK let's see your Hunters. Guys!


Best,

Ron

[SteveM]

BoBlade,

Those are some super knives. I wish I had some as nice as those to post.

The model 3 is my favorite model. I only wish my photography skills could do them justice.

First a newer 3-5 with stag, compass, and thong. The stag is curved nicely to fit the hand.



Next is a 3-5 Treeman special. Orange G-10 with finger grooves. A nice bright knife.



An older probably very late 60's to mid 70's 7 spacer 3-5. I think it's got the seperate S stamp.



This one's probably only a couple years old. A 3-5 with nice curved amber stag.



One of my favorite Model 3's. A 3-6 with nice stag and engraving by Skaggs.



Continued..........

[SteveM]

The matching mini 3 for the 3-6.



Here's a 3-6 7 spacer. Nice fat stag. This one has been to the shop for a touch up. The blade wasn't bad, it just had a very tiny nick down towards the tip. They did an excellant job fixing it up.



Here's a standard 3-6 late 60's early 70's vintage. It's not in the prettiest shape, but it's still solid.



A new standard 3-5. Hopefully it gets to see some action in a few months.



A very nice 3-5 that I picked up a little while back. It has customer supplied stag that is about as perfect as you could find. It has some nice size to it, made for larger hands.



Continued.............

[SteveM]

A 7 spacer 3-5 with black micarta. I think this one has a seperate S also. Unlined thong hole.



An finger grooved ivory 3-6 with all black spacers and compass.



A 3-7 with my supplied stag.



Another 3-7 with shop stag.



A 7 spacer finger grooved stag 3-6. Nice older knife.



The end............ Sorry for all the pictures but I don't get to play model of the week very often.

[BoBlade]

Steve,

I'm flabbergasted at your amazing layout of model 3's. I had no idea you were packin' so many! That Treemen blaze orange variant really grabs me.

Thanks for sharing,

Ron

[Seussbrother]

Well Steve and Boblade, looks like I didn't need to have any 3s this week. You guys have really got the bases covered from the old through the new with many handle options and lengths. It's hard not to like the curves on those babies! Many thanks for sharing guys and I'm sure this will be a good week for the model 3 fans!

Seussbrother

[Moosehead]

Woo Hoo, Ron and Steve!

What a fabulous selection of #3s you guys have.

From the vintage leather and stag, to the spanking new G-10 orange, and everything in between, it's just mind boggling how many different kinds there can be of the same model. :cool:

The "Hunter" is one of my favourite Randall designs.

Here's a #3-6 from the late 70s, that clearly illustrates the appeal that this classical version has for me.












Please keep 'em coming folks!

Cheers!

David

[shipahoymatey]

Ahoy =
First attempt at posting a picture on this Forum. Hope it works. :confused:

Here's our donation to Model of the week: Model 3-6, Low S, Black Micarta.

Bob and Donna

[BoBlade]

Ahoy, Shipmates,

I'm impressed with both the knife and your success at posting a photo on your first attempt I hope this is a harbinger of things to come!

Best,

Ron

[jclarksnakes]

Ahoy Bob and Donna, Ron, David, Allan and SteveM,
....Those are some impressive Model 3s. Mine seem pale in comparison but I will try to post some PICs anyway.
Jeff

[Buddy Thomason]

Ron - Thanks for the history lesson and great pics. SteveM - Full House, man. Wow! B&D - I love that black micarta version - impressive! Moose - Nobody has a better eye for stag. Great close-ups!

As a Scagel collector and afficianado, naturally I love the #3. It is said that one characteristic of a classic Scagel knife is "not a straight line anywhere." Curves are beautiful and #3s typically have plenty of curves. The design is also highly functional. I only have one but it's one of my favorite knives. It's just a few years old and sports a stainless blade, NS fittings, compass and finger grooves. What I wasn't anticipating when I ordered it, and what I really love about it, is the dramatic curved stag handle. My wife has been trying to get this one from me but I won't let her have it. I keep telling her the #25 Trapper she has is just fine.
Buddy T

[jclarksnakes]

...I like Model 3s. If there were no Model 27s I would probably have a bunch of Model 3s.

These first two PICs are a 3-7 I got on Ebay. It has SS blade with thumb notches and possibly a seperate S stamp. It also has seven spacers, NS hilt, black micarta handle, NS name plate, aluminum butt and black Johnson sheath which matches my black gunbelt perfectly. The knife has been too agressively sharpened and so it is sort of a user.



Thse next two PICs are a 3-5 with pinned stag fingergrip handle. I bought this knife at the Pigeon Forge show in a replacement Johnson smootbutton sheath. I have it with the Johnson Brown Button sheath which is still not right because it is a couple years newer than the knife. I have a few other knife and sheath orphan combos.



This next one is my Randall Recon which is a stainless 3-7 with top edge sharpened and Model 1 style hilt with leather handle with black spacers. The sheath is black with special Randall Recon stamp.


This next PIC is all three of my 3-5s including the pinned stag one. The others are both recent. One with stag fingergrip handle and one with SS blade and black and brass spacers on a leather handle.

[shipahoymatey]

How in the world did some of you submit such large, clear pictures? Everytime I tried, it would only let me post 51Kb, so I had to use editing software to reduce it to that size.

What type of cameras are you all using? I have a Sony 5.0 megapixel, but can't take such great closeups.....

Help............ :confused: :confused:

Donna (of Donna and Bob)

[BoBlade]

Buddy: "not a straight line anywhere" ! I've gone for that motto since I was 13

Jeff: great stuff / thanks!

Donna: Don't feel like the lone ranger. I have the same problem and I'm anxious to find out how these other guys do it. In my discussions with Moosebreath, he thinks I need to change my software.

[jclarksnakes]

...The Moose seems to be the guy who most consistently gets great detail in his photos. Maybe he will tell us about it.
Jeff