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#169878 - 03/27/18 11:39 PM 12-9 Beginners Luck
crsides Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 12/09/17
Posts: 19
Loc: South Carolina
Long story, but here goes... I used to go to Fri night auctions in a small town in upstate SC. This night there were some bowie knives, two were alike, but only one marked with the Randall logo. There was also some knife making materials for sale. The Randall marked knife was in a plain sheath, the other in a Randall marked Johnson brown button. All I knew about Randall's were they are expensive and you're in for waits measured in years. I set my limit at $150, this in 2000. The Randall marked one came up first, bidding ended at $95.00, and I had my first Randall. But I needed the sheath, so had to pay $105 for the unmarked knife. I showed the knife around to dealers at gunshows for a year or two, only getting more questions than answers. Some thought the marked knife was fake because they had never seen one like it. Some just wanted to know "how much". I had been collecting guns long enough to know to find out what you got before putting a price on it. One helpful soul said to send it to Randall, which I did. Gary Randall examined it and sent the letter below.


Joined the Randall Knife Society and even on that forum, got some interest and little help. Took the trip to the Blade show in Atlanta for the RKS meeting. Met Pete Hamilton who was introducing his book. Pete said they made 4 of these with NS "S" hilts around 1959, it was a special knife and to keep the letter with the knife, it would add to the package when I got ready to sell. I was beginning to appreciate what I had found in the little home town auction. When I answered that I had come to Atlanta to sell, he took me out to the floor to met Tom Clinton. Tom's face lit up when he saw it, held it up and said he just loved a beautiful Bowie. Asked me if it was for sale, and what I wanted for it. He was very fair and generous in meeting my inflated price. I nearly fainted as he counted out those $100 bills.

I had digital pics of the knife and some hard copy print outs, but over the years, lost it all. Every time a new Randall came along, it would rekindle an interest to find a pic of this one. I heard that Tom had passed away and someone suggested I contact Gary Clinton. Unbelievebly, Gary recognized the knife from my description, dug it out and sent me some pics. I cannot thank him enough. A long-time itch finally scratched. Well, I said it was a long story ...



Charlie



Edited by crsides (03/27/18 11:47 PM)

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#169879 - 03/28/18 12:05 AM Re: 12-9 Beginners Luck [Re: crsides]
Chief Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 12/05/05
Posts: 5413
Loc: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Great story, thanks!
_________________________
See Ya, Chief
RKCC CM-037
RKS #5154

If you put off following The LORD just remember......They don't serve breakfast in hell!

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#169880 - 03/28/18 12:06 AM Re: 12-9 Beginners Luck [Re: crsides]
Ronnie Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 02/13/11
Posts: 2255
Loc: NW Mississippi
Awesome knife. Great story too.
Ronnie
_________________________
Ronnie
RKS#2166

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#169881 - 03/28/18 12:16 AM Re: 12-9 Beginners Luck [Re: Ronnie]
W Polidori Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 02/09/16
Posts: 5791
Loc: Central New York
Charlie,

This one may be one of the original 4. Sure looks like N/S to me. It's sitting in the museum.


Attachments
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_________________________
Warren

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#169882 - 03/28/18 05:46 AM Re: 12-9 Beginners Luck [Re: W Polidori]
Tracer Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 10/29/16
Posts: 153
Cool story, cool knife.
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Mark
Massachusetts
NRA Life Member
Webley Collector

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#169887 - 03/28/18 12:25 PM Re: 12-9 Beginners Luck [Re: Tracer]
Robert Frey Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 06/07/11
Posts: 1538
Loc: Wausau, WI USA
Nice knife! I wish they would make that hilt again.
_________________________
Rob Frey

NRA Life Member

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#169888 - 03/28/18 12:46 PM Re: 12-9 Beginners Luck [Re: crsides]
TAH Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 10/26/05
Posts: 2382
Loc: USA
That is one great looking knife. Wow!
_________________________
Tom
RKS #4233

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#169899 - 03/28/18 05:23 PM Re: 12-9 Beginners Luck [Re: TAH]
Windsor Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 08/12/15
Posts: 1861
Loc: Texas!
wow, awesome story, beautiful knife.
_________________________
Rob

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#169904 - 03/28/18 11:26 PM Re: 12-9 Beginners Luck [Re: Windsor]
crsides Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 12/09/17
Posts: 19
Loc: South Carolina
Thanks Guys. I really missed it when it was gone, but was not really a knife collector. It went to a great home, and provided funding for my other collecting interest. It was a fun trip.

Charlie


Edited by crsides (03/28/18 11:27 PM)

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#169908 - 03/29/18 08:36 AM Re: 12-9 Beginners Luck [Re: crsides]
coachblalock Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 12/03/16
Posts: 1872
Loc: Lake Fork, East Texas
Thanks for sharing and Thanks to Gary for digging it out and taking pics!
_________________________
"Filet that fish? Hell naw! I'll scale him, gut him, fry him up in grease, take him by the head and tail, and play him like a French Harp!" - Uncle Paul sometime in the 60s.

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