I have mostly completed this conversion of a recent Astro to a fairly close replica of the original version. The screwdriver is not completed yet, and the crossguard is short on one side, but otherwise it is fairly close. Suggestions welcomed.

Looks pretty nice to me.

I really don't like the Astro tough..!!!…BUT...
I do love this complete package..BRAVO
Well done indeed !!!

Grind off that "tick" on top of the blade and make a hump back and it will then look like the original Astro's.

I think the Astro is a Randall sleeper! Such a clever yet simple, iconic design.

I've often wished the simple handle was an option on both the Airman and Attack. The storage cavity need not be carved out on either of those knives; just the micarta slabs screwed together. Extra sets in different colors (G10?) would add some flair too. Just neat all around!

If memory serves me correctly, some years ago the Astro was one of, if not the least ordered catalog knife. Is this still the case?

Thanks for sharing your project with us.

Here is what the "original" Astro looks like:

Nope Jim that isn't what an "original" Astro looks like. The Astro had a hump on top of the blade. Look at any photo of the original Mercury knives and you can see what I'm talking about. Over the years the blade has morphed into what it is now......certainly not a replica of Mr. Randall's first asto's.

Thanks Mitchell for the pictures. Appreciate it.

The picture of Jim's knife is deceiving....

The early knives had a slight hump on the back and Jim's could easily have it, but the picture angle is difficult to determine.

Here is an early knife with brown micarta scales with very little, if any hump.

Jim's picture could be deceiving but I'm thinking there was a period where the Astro had a spear point blade shape.....could be wrong. But the bottom line is the current Astro with that funky little "point or tick" as I call it is not a replica of the original Astro. That was the point of the Astro.....to give the Randall lovers a replica of the knife the Mercury Seven carried.

Also there was a reason for the hump and the large size of the guard. The hump was to provide protection when or if the astronaut had to insert the knife between a strap and his space suit. The hump would push the suit cloth down away from the blade and then the sharp blade could cut a strap or whatever needed to be cut. I can't remember where I read that but like Ragu.....it's in there.

The original poster said "fairly close replica". There is no way to take a current Astro and make an exact replica..... no more than taking a current knife in any model and "duplicating" a 50+ year old knife.

I admire his craft and industry....

You could say the same thing about WW2 fighters.... most had humps.... but for a brief period in 1943 when it disappeared ... then it came back.

These humpless fighters are rare as hell.......

Does that make the humpless fighters less authentic...?

Here is an early 1943 fighter.... no hump.

PLEASE FORGIVE THE HIJACK..........

What are you arguing about Mitchell.....you posted photos that pointed out what I was saying about the hump.

I am not arguing Ronnie......nor am I raining on the original poster's project.

Dang Mitchell. I'm loving that fighter and sheath and all the braided leather.

Thanks Tom, it's my new favorite ...... Until the next one!!!

Ronnie,

My photo is not deceiving. Here is the Randall paperweight that clearly shows the narrow double hilt and no "hump" in the blade.

Here is a photo of an early 1960's Astro - no hump!

Jim--

I remember when that NASA Mercury program knife came up for sale on Ebay....I wanted it so badly but too rich for my blood. I was always curious, it appears that handle curves upward....is that just an optical illusion?

Well the picture won't do right but Jim go back and look at the original picture on this thread....does that Astro have a hump?

Jim does this Astro have a hump in the blade?

Gaddis says that the early Astro's were made using Solingen Blades. I don't remember any Solingen Blades that were not hump back. Don't know why y'all are making a big deal out of this. I simply don't like the current rendition of the Astro. I simply pointed out the difference between the originals and the current made knife.
Ronnie