Early Astro without scales

[samg]

Yep, I remember that knife. I'm talking about the original Astro that the shop offered without micarta handle. Mine is a bit unusual it seems, as it doesn't have a lanyard hole. It can't be the only one out there.
Sam

[Ta2bill]

Here you go Sam!

[jeepster]

Very cool Bill!

[samg]

That's amazing Bill! Where in the world did you find that?
Sam

[Ta2bill]

Thanks Ronnie!

Originally Posted by samg

That's amazing Bill! Where in the world did you find that?
Sam

You know how it is Sam......we just keep beating the bushes!

[samg]

True story Bill. I have one of those Tie clips. I'll post it tonight when I get home.

Sam

[samg]

Here are a pic of the Astro tie clip

Regards, Sam

[samg]

Here are your astro mold pics Bill.
Regards, Sam

[Ta2bill]

Thanks Sam! This mold was passed down through my knife family tree....Very special gift to me.

[samg]

Very cool and unique. Thanks Bill.
Sam

[samg]

With the surfacing of the NASA training Astro thread that I started today, I wanted to bring this thread back up. Any early Astros without scales out there as offered early on in the Randall Catalogs?

Thanks, Sam

[Ta2bill]

I've been waiting until I returned from doing research at the shop before posting this!

Very early (pre-1963) Solingen blade with the stamp on the ricasso.

Skeletal design which has never had handles added.

(per Scott, the Shop Foreman, Jason Randall and Aaron Johnson.
I consider these three men some of the top authorities on the subject.)

Unique with a Model 15 style brass hilt! (correctly soldered on both sides)

Certainly a one of a kind knife!

Hope you enjoy it Sam!

[samg]

Hey Bill. Just when you thought you had seen it all..... This one of yours looks very much like the one in Pete's book, with the exception of the brass hilt.



Yours has the hump which definitely separates it from the model 15, but the long, stainless steel hilt definitely is what differentiated it from the model 15. It was protection of the hands with the gloves on. In the design, the hilt, rounded (dull) top clip, and cutout in the tang, were the intended design differences from the airman. This one is 2 out of 3. So I guess a hybrid Astro / Airman.
Is the top clip sharp or dull?
Did a sheath come with it Bill? How did you date it pre 1963?

Overall a cool knife. Thanks Bill.

[Ta2bill]

The top clip is not sharpened. It is identical to that knife shown in Hamilton's book, except for brass.

After 63, the blade stamp was no longer on the ricasso, but etched on the blade with the more familiar simitar logo, although it still says Solingen.

While Bo was experimenting with these very first knives, all of the prototypes used these early Solingen blades. Only after the final design was determined did they begin to etch them with the early Randall Orlando logo.

It did not come with a sheath, much like the first prototypes didn't, although I do have a split back canteen snap sheath that fits it.

TB

[samg]

Nice job Bill. Great find :-)
This one would obviously have been in the process before he went to stainless for the Hilts.
Sam