I just got to wondering about these things, so I thought I'd ask.

When was the #5-4 first made?

When was it added to the catalog?

Was it always made from 3/16" stock?

Only 3/16", or was 1/4" used too (like the 4" Stanaback Special)?

Was it ever available with a leather handle? Why not now?

Anyone have photos of old ones? Please post them if you do!

Thanks!

first of all your knife is very nice Rick. :-)

Well, my knife is not so old but a 5-6 anyway.Probably from the 90s but i'm not shore
/Kimmo

Rick

From what I was told, the 5-4 did not appear in the RMK catalogue until 1998. But( the Capt. famous word) I have a 5-4 with 7 spacers (1972 or earlier) and a SP 13 stone (1969-mid 70's) and a Baby Dot sheath.

I will try and find a picture and post it.

The above did not answer all of your questions, but perhaps it is a start.

A couple of pictures, I hope.

Rod,
NICE 5-4!!!!!!
Definitely older than 1998.
Tony

Kimmo, nice knives!

Rod, thanks for the info and the pictures!

The Gaddis book shows the #5-4 as being a current model. The book was published in 1993. It says this:

"These photos are some of the ones taken by Jim Weyer of Toledo, Ohio, for the 1988 Randall catalog. The descriptions of the knives came directly from the latest Randall's catalog at print time, the twenty-ninth edition."

That seems to indicate that the #5-4 was a regular model by 1988. The knife shown in the Gaddis book is the same one used in the current catalog and on the website (where this photo came from).

Rod's #5-4 is the oldest I've seen so far, so let's use it (1969-72) as the benchmark. Maybe someone will post some more info.

Incidentally, the Gaddis book's description says that the #5-4 is not available with a leather handle. So maybe it never was?

Rod,
Does that sheath stamp read 8 4?
Best, Capt. Chris

Tony, thank you for the kind words.

Rick, you are correct, I was wrong. I was trying to recall from memory, what year it was first advertised in the RMK catalog. With my memory, that is a bad thing to do.
I am in Ireland and my wife is in Canada. So I had her look at my notes about the knife(they are all in Canada)and 1988 was the year it was first advertised in the catalog, so I was told.

Capt. the sheath says 5-4.

No problem, Rod! And thanks again for posting the pictures. It's a great knife. I'm glad I got to see it.

Rod,
I have seen many examples of 7 spacer Randall knives made after 1972, even into the 1980's. Most were requested by the customer to match their other knives (knife) etc. This was not an uncommon practice, as were many other "oddities" that simply do not happen today. I'd like to have all of the "one ofs" I have let slip through my fingers over the years (hind-sight).
Having said that, take a look at the "other" way-cool features about Rod's knife:
A) Seperate "S"
B) Unlined wrist thong hole
C) Old black micarta stock
D) Old handle shape (at the butt)
E) Stone pocket on a 5-4??
Excellent example of a Randall knife that folks will spout out "They never made that"...and be dead wrong. Thanks for sharing Rod. This knife and photos needs to go in the "This old Randall" thread as well.
One quick thing that should be pointed out is that, although it is the hallmark of books on Randall knives, not everything in "print" should be taken as Gospel. Even Bob Gaddis would tell you that. Just because a knife wasn't featured (or added to) the Randall catalog doesn't mean that many were not made prior to that date. In fact, a great many Randall knives had a good run before entering the catalog.
Great topic...Capt. Chris