MEMBER ITEMS FOR SALE
Custom Knives | Other Knives | General Items
-------------------------------------------
New Posts | New PhotosAll Photos



Go Back   The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions > Factory Knife Customization & Mid-Tech Boards > Randall Knives Forum

Randall Knives Forum Discuss Randall Knives

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-24-2022, 02:49 PM
Jacknola's Avatar
Jacknola Jacknola is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 651
Leatherman's interesting toothpick

On another board “Leatherman” posted a couple of knives and asked for help. One of them was this 13-12. The only response he got was an off the wall opinion that the handle might be “poly pearl.” That comment exhibited a fundamental misunderstanding of historical RMKs because there is no evidence "poly pearl" material existed when this knife was constructed. It was misleading at best, and at worst, might cause a great deal of confusion. Therefore, I thought it would be worthwhile and instructive to address this here... this site being the acme of historical Randall discussion.







The knife has several markers that can ID approximate age. The blade stamp indicates the blade was definitely made pre-1966. The escutcheon plate looks silver, and its shape is post-1960 (if it were brass it would be post 1965 which would date the knife exactly). The coolie cap striations are middle 1960s as is the collar decoration. The tang nut is missing from the coolie cap but it would almost certainly not have been rounded but was probably hexagonal. The guard is relatively thick compared to later versions, but much thinner than 1950s, ends not brazed on. The solder on the blade at tang is not particularly well done.

All in all, this knife manufacture probably dates between 1964 and 1966, leaning toward the latter date, a relatively tight window, with a fairly high degree of confidence.

So... what handle material was available and used by the shop in this time period? “Poly” pearl is not an option. Only one artificial handle material was being used with some frequency other than Micarta (which this is not, of course) during this time. That material is Delrin. I am 90% certain this is a Delrin-handled knife, which makes it a relatively early example of the use of that material. The only other option would be some other experimental material, but that seems highly unlikely.

The Delrin handle can be cleaned using mineral spirits. Also, there are good instructions available on the internet by search function about how to clean and polish the Delrin handle. But leaving it as found is also an option to preserve its character and history. You can look at the line “Dating a Randall Bowie” to see what kind of nut to put on the cap to maintain authenticity.

It is an interesting knife... and its date of manufacture with the Delrin handle make it somewhat special. I'll consider adding these pictures to the "Delrin" line later. Regards and...

Ciao,
Jack

Last edited by Jacknola; 01-27-2022 at 11:47 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-24-2022, 04:51 PM
KenH KenH is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: South Baldwin Co across the bay from Mobile, AL
Posts: 129
Thanks for posting. while I'm not a real collector, I do enjoy reading about collectable knives. I learn a few things from time to time. Thank you.
Ken H>
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-27-2022, 11:45 AM
Jacknola's Avatar
Jacknola Jacknola is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 651
Leatherman also posted this interesting uncompleted KIT Bowie, asking age. The stamp makes it post 1966, and since KIT knives were discontinued early 1970s, the knife is probably late ‘60s or so. There have been some good discussions about KITs, and some have averred an unfinished KIT is more highly regarded than a finished one. I have a hard time understanding that because I think you can “unfinish” a finished KIT knife. I don’t know if the shop would put a new handle on an old KIT blade.



Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-28-2022, 04:27 PM
Jacknola's Avatar
Jacknola Jacknola is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 651
Dang. I see both knives posted on E-bay using my data, unattributed. I don’t do commercial, kinda feel like I was had, helped someone simply for the sake of a sale, not collecting. Still it was an interesting knife. I’ll be more circumspect in future.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-29-2022, 03:34 AM
TexasJack's Avatar
TexasJack TexasJack is online now
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Southeast Texas
Posts: 2,919
A very cool looking knife!


__________________
God bless Texas! Now let's secede!!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-18-2022, 01:27 PM
samg's Avatar
samg samg is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Matthews NC
Posts: 666
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jacknola View Post
Dang. I see both knives posted on E-bay using my data, unattributed. I don’t do commercial, kinda feel like I was had, helped someone simply for the sake of a sale, not collecting. Still it was an interesting knife. I’ll be more circumspect in future.
Hey Jack
I've always appreciated your perspective on these knives and the amount of research you put into it in helping the community understand what they have.
Once it's out there, it's out there and despite someone wanting it to get a sale, there are many of us who appreciate it with the ernest desire to want to know. And it inspires us to want to know and dig for more.
Folks like you...and yes, I'm going to say it, Joe Dorsky have been a great asset to this community because of your desire to get to the facts.
Thanks for that Jack.
Samg.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
a, bee, blade, brass, guard, handle, handle material, help., how to, interesting, knife, knives, made, material, micarta, pearl, polish, randall, shop, silver, special, tang, tang nut, thin, what kind


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Leatherman Wave pancake swiety The Sheath/Holster Makers Forum 4 11-14-2012 06:18 PM
Angler's Leatherman sheath Mike T. The Sheath/Holster Makers Forum 3 12-30-2006 11:47 PM
Benchmade Osborne D2, Kershaws - many, and leatherman k502X and waves and more Highlander 1008 Knives For Sale - Other 0 03-06-2006 04:35 PM
Mexican Loop, Leatherman style MtMike The Sheath/Holster Makers Forum 9 01-11-2003 11:14 PM
Leatherman-wave Miguel SBC Forum (Sociedade Brasileira de Cuteleiros) 0 11-06-2002 09:51 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:13 AM.




KNIFENETWORK.COM
Copyright © 2000
? CKK Industries, Inc. ? All Rights Reserved
Powered by ...

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
The Knife Network : All Rights Reserved