"Model of the Week" (Week 2 Model 2)

[Moosehead]

Hi all!

Here is my very first RMK "Stiletto", which I recently received directly from the shop:




It's has a beautifully grained, shop supplied Ironwood handle, with a Brass forward curved hilt, a scalloped brass collar and a flanged scalloped brass butt cap:




The craftsmanship that went into creating this exquisite dagger is outstanding. Here's another view. Closeups will follow in the "Reply" following this post:




Cheers!

David

[Moosehead]

Here are some up close shots of...

The blade: (It's very sharp!)






The scalloped hardware: (It's intricate!)






The handle: (It's gorgeous!)
(Please note that the tiny green spot that is visible on the handle closeups are due to a "blind pixel" in my camera and is not on the wood.)










I hope you folks all like this one, er... I mean two.

Cheers!

Moosehead

[crimsontide]

Nice !!!!

[clk]

Moosehead

If I ever grow up, I want to be able to take pictures like you do. Superb photography and a darn nice knife as well.

Rod

[brasshilt]

Very nice! I may just have to add an ironwood Randall to the pile. Does anyone know how ironwood hold up against other woods as far as density and durablity?

[panhead]

They don't call it Ironwood for nothing.
Panhead

[SPryor]

Thinking about purchasing this #2, but basically ignorant about markings. spacers and
such to verify authenticity, era etc.. Any input on this one would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[BoBlade]

Hi Steve,

There's people around who know a lot more about this era knife than I do and hopefully they will input, but offhand I'd say it's a carbon 01 blade post '85 because of the 5 thin spacer stack. A photo of the sheath and stone may help to pin it down further. I see some scratches on the blade that seem to allign with the backside of the male retainer snap. I believe Greg puts a protective piece of leather over that fitting now, but I don't know if he has done that from day one or not.

Best,

Ron

[Melvin-Purvis]

Nice photo work David!!!

Ronbo, you're right about the 'post '85 date; and yes, Greg does and always has...that said, the 'JRB scratch' usually hits the blade flat, and IIRC is seldom seen on #2's and #13's...

-S

[SPryor]

In the closeup I see what appears to be fine scratches on the bevel, which I thought maybe looked like someone has cleaned it up..with sandpaper, or maybe steelwool.

There is no sheath with this, so what might be a realistic value?

[SPryor]

Anyone with an idea of a ballpark value on the knife I pictured above..? Thanks.

[BoBlade]

Hi Steve,

The market's a bit depressed right now. If it was me, I'd send the knife to Randall for a replacement sheath. I don't think that would cost you any more than 30 bucks or so (Maybe the Cap or DW can give you a more exacting figure). When you sell the knife, you should get 3-4X more back out of it than you paid for the sheath. With sheath I'll ballpark it at ~ $400.

Ron

[SPryor]

Okay, thanks. It may be outpriced already, but we'll see how it goes. Thanks again.

[BoBlade]

The Model 2 Model of the Week thread is a bit overdue for a post, methinks. Here's one I ran across earlier this year. It's not purty, but it's old. When I say old, I mean before Bo started stamping his logo on the blade! If you turn to page 70 in your bible (Gaddis), you'll see that the first handful of stillettos shipped out in April of 1943. Among them was the "The Moon" Mullins knife which now resides in the Randall museum. If you were to go there and look at that knife, you'll see it has no stamp as well. Other dating earmarks are the (1) the spacer set at the hilt: One thick green and one thick red with a brass shim in the middle (2) a butt cap that is cast and not machined, and (3) an early CJ Moore no hone sheath with a high keeper. Sometime early in it's life one of the quillions was bent, broken off and then brazed back on (Like I said, it ain't purty, but it's a great piece of Randall history). I hope you enjoy the pics:











Best,

Ron

[Alberta Al]

Hey David and Ron,

Wow nice knives.

Ron's posts of the Randalls that he collects are always some of my favorite posts.

Alan