Randall Oddities, Unique Knives, One Of A Few

Let's see what this thread will bring out out of the shadows. Post your TRUE oddballs.

I'll kick it off - This knife is a Model #1 with a 5-1/2" blade. I saw this knife on Steve Zimmerman's website, but thought it was a regrind. Burnie bought it and put it in my hand at Blade Show. It is not a regrind.

The sheath fits like a glove. The blade is very narrow and light. I have a 5" fighter from the same time period and it is too wide for this sheath.

It has 7 spacers, black micarta handle and a lugged hilt.

One off Taxidermy knife created by Gary Randall in 1968 and presented to Dick Dove after speaking with him inside Denmark's Sporting Goods. Stashed away in one of the safes.

OK...I'll play! Although not as ancient as many we all have, this one is "officially rare"! It's (only) 45 1/2 years old, i.e. June of 1971 but I have "never" seen another! Last photo shows the knife on top of the original sales receipt. What I like most is the fact that the guy got a 10% discount!! (ALSO RARE!!)
Good thread Mitchell...(Even though I had to go downtown to my safes to retrieve this package from my "Hidden Stash"...(Ha-Ha)
Best, Capt. Chris
RMK Model #8-5" with seperate "S" and a white stone in the Model B sheath's front panel hone pocket...CCS

Now THAT is a package! !! Rare allll around. Good 1 Capt.!!!

That #1 is wayyy cool also. I like the lugged hilt on smaller blades!

Very First Model 24 produced and so numbered and signed by Bo and Gary.

sexy, great get!

Nice thread Tune. I don't know if I have ant real oddball knives but you guys posted some great knives so far. And Eric you always seem to come up with something unique. That knife is awesome

This one may be a Gambler prototype. It was authenticated by Perry Miller in 2014.
- -Buckspen

Capt you kill me $45
Sharpi
My first was a Bird & Trout

Not nearly as much of an oddity, so far as rarity, but a hard-to-find Model #8-4 1/2", Trout & Bird. They were made for John Newell, owner of the Orvis store in Winter Park, Florida. I understand the shop has, either closed down, or moved location. Too bad.
Best, Capt. Chris
PS: Stainless was "AEB-L"

Here is an interesting piece. It's a 70's knife.... carbon, micarta, standard spacers. Nothing special, until you notice the "S" shaped hilt. Sort of cool....

anyone besides 1 gunner have a upside down stamped RMK?

Had a Model 9 that I was custodian of for a few years
The top one in the picture

LIke Dave, I rented this one for a while.

That's just cool, I like the human effect!

This is probably the most unique RMK I own:
Purchased as a Styer, Crutchtip states he thinks it's a Doler. I'm ok either way, whichever it is.
Picture courtesy of S.Zimmerman

This knife would be #2 in line. Model 19-6
Picture courtesy of M. Welze

Good get has a way cool look!

Thank You Chief.

This would be my third choice for unique. Double finger grip Griffin handle.
Picture courtesy of Tunefink:

And lastly, for knives I currently own I'll end with this beauty. Love the blade grind.
Picture again, courtesy of Mr.Mitchell

Where's the picture of one that I want 12-9 number 1 grind + sawteeth?

David Loomis,
Your #9 may have part of a 2-knife set, one right and one left-handed.
Nice, Capt. Chris

Here's a Doler :

Why is it called a Dolar? Please explain. Thanks.

Pap

RKS Newsletter Doler Special

RKS Newsletter Styer Special

RKS Newsletter - More Doler

Great thread guys. Thanks. Hoping someday to have a knife to show in a thread like this.

Thank You Mitchell, good reading material.

And, back to school for me

Fun thread and cool knives!

This is a rare one. 4" Model #1 Fighter. It is 1/4" stock so it's not a #5-4" clone.

It comes with a letter from Gary Randall!

Not mine, but definitely qualifies as a unique RMK:

Gotta love a 6" Model 19.

Mike Mason would probably trade sheaths! Great package Tom.

Interesting Tom that neither one of those 19-6s are stainless.

@ Mike Marshall,
Thank You for the picture on the Doler. Possible we could see a picture of the full handle? I know I need to shoot better pics of the one I have.

Although authenticticated as a Leschorn, with the RMK stamp in the blade I'm going to post it. Size of this knife is very similar to a GTR:

Fat chance on that happening. I've given up on that search, Greg did a repro JRB.
That's good enough for me.

Here ya go Michael!

Here is a good clean shot of a Styer.

And here is another rare variant of a 14 by Doug Kenefick.... a Friedson Fighter.

Mitchell,

Here is a link to the thread where Joe questions / states he doesn't believe that knife to be a Styer. ??

http://www.knifetalkforums.com/ubbthread...6189#Post146189

How many were done by Kenefick Tune? Don't recall ever seeing that knife.

I don't know Warren, but only a hand full.....

Reading the RKS Newsletters referenced above makes it easy. Dolers had 6" blades, Styers were 14 forgings, so they should have been 7-1/2" blades.

What length blade on the one you have Michael?

Looks good though Mike.

I have trimmed around the "Steyr/Doler" hedges but never owned one. I have another "oddball", quite rare, that still fits the category. I know that Guido has one and, I believe, we both bought them from Rhett. Mine came about in a "cash/RMKs" trade with Rhett at a Lake;and show...about 30 years ago. Rhett's price sticker and blade code is still on it. I just burrowed to find it in The Captain's STASH!
I believe...and have not ever heard any other answer that satisfies me as much, that this knife, which I call a "K-6.5" may have been a prototype for Doug Kenefick's "Sasquatch". Blade length is (& the sheath is stamped) 6.5 inches. "NO SPACERS" and, according to Rhett and Dave Griffin, 100% RMK "shop-made"! Dressed stag handle in a semi-border patrol shaping. A thick solid brass butt plate...with a black-faced compass drilled in it!! The stone is salmon and the whole package is 1980 production.
Hope you like it. I have been told, in total, "5" were made.
Stay sharp, Capt. Chris

Hope you like it? Well heck yeah! Wish that were available now.

Well... good news on the above knife is that it DOES NOT suck!!!

Thumbs up here, this is the kind of stuff I like seeing.
Good get

Thanks gang,
Forgot to mention something else that does not "suck"...1980...& It's "PINNED"!
Best, Capt. Chris

thought I saw that...
:-)Rocky

That compass looks really good surrounded by the brass. I was surprised by the pinned handle, had to do a double take. Great looking setup.

Another unique RMK I had forgotten about:

that looks way cool Mason!!

Most of you have seen this, but is is one of the rarest for several reasons. One to be it is only the second RMK ever designed and made for potential adoption by the US military. The other of course being the model 15. Another reason is the bolo design and size, a unique and neat piece. Not to forget the history on who came up with the design and the intended purpose.

Was hoping you would post this knife Joe. Way cool.

Sun Valley Patrol....
posted several times, but here it is, again.
:-)Rocky

And yet another I hoped would show up. I do really want that knife Rocky, love it.

I decided to take another shot....here it is

:-)Rocky

That'll do it Rocky. Killer knife.

Nickel silver lugged hilts have never been an catalog option offered by the shop..... BUT, they do exist.

Here are two:

First is a very rare package. Brown micarta in a brown button sheath, with a smallish nickel silver lugged hilt.



Next is a knife from about 10 years later with the mother of all hilts. this thing is huge to the point of being ugly.

Amazing Tune.

looks like a standard Bowie hilt off the shelf

Size wise, yes, but there would have been no nickel silver hilt on the shelf.

Late 60's Model 2-5" with scarce "Delrin" handle and lugged hilt with a flanged collar and coolie cap! Also a stainless steel blade. More than likely a one of a kind item.

nice!!

:-)Rocky

figure of speech

Never had a Delrin Bill, nice knife .

Just poking you Joe. Your economy of words .......

Bill, any info on the delrin 2-5? (Provenance, paperwork, order form, etc)
It's an oddity alright!

That one looks familiar......:)

Model 2 4" reduced hilt with JRB sheath

Awesome fossil Eric.

Model 1 7" with Narwhal handle and Sable Sullivan Sheath

Oh man what's next Eric.?

Thanks Warren, last one for tonight.

Model 11 5" - FWI with engraving and JRB Sheath

That sheath is odd for sure. Keeper on a concealment sheath.....cool.

Eric

Now you know I'm an 11 collector. That's not fair.

Some great posts and pictures in this thread guys.

Here is an "odd" one. This feller has some of the smallest sawteeth I have ever seen on a RMK.

It's a late 60's knife with an ivory handle, 7 spacers behind a lugged hilt and a flanged butt. Separate S stainless blade to boot.

Looong scalloped butt with thin brass nut... ooh lala

Eric & Mitchell,

Great knives!!!

Tom Flynn

This is probably one of the more iconic "one off's".

"The Okie"

I am not sure who owns it now.... but it's a cool knife.

Not a "one-off" but: One of 5! This knife was made for Danny Cruz who worked for Maurice Johnson at the Casselberry shop. "Dusty" was Danny's nickname, given to him because he had to drive 10 miles of dirt road to get to work!
While there were 5 made, this is the only one with black and white (pinned) ebony handle! The knife, which looks like a "Ulu" is really a leather-cutting knife. Danny made his own custom sheath for it. Hope ya'll like it.
Stay sharp, Capt. Chris

Any RMK Cigar roller knives out there? They should be similar to the leather knife, Capt.

This is a very early model 1-5" I recently acquired.

I remember asking you about the hilt on this one Burnie; bronze as I recall. Wonder how many bronze hilts are out there?

There aren't many 5" blades from WW2, thats what the previous owner told me. That knife is raaare, and in killer good shape too ...

Yes Warren it is and Wally that is very true! However it's rarity leaves room for speculation. The original owner however told me he believes it to be original and he is very knowledgeable and that's good enough for me.

Oh yes, no doubt. I've bought several from him, if he says his duck can pull a truck, I'd go ahead and hook em up. Great knife!

This handle has some wear to it. Indicating he cut lots of leather with that one. Cool knife.

Actually Ronnie the "cigar shaped " handle is indicating WWII or just after.Look at some early model 1's.and you will see this handle shape

The very small teeth would suggest that the owner was a woodsman by nature and knew the value of small teeth on a knife to make very good Snare "Triggers".

Tom V.

Not sure why it cut off 1/2 of the picture.

^^^ in the forum software, quote boxes have a specific width, regardless of the image size you are quoting.

(ETA) there's a horizontal scrollbar to see the rest of it

I'm not talking about the shape of the handle Burnie. I'm talking about the wear on the handle....smooth as a baby's butt.

Ronnie, Burnie, I think you two are talking about two different knives.

I'm talking about the leather cutter.

Sorry Ronnie I was lost on this one. Apologies

Here is a unique - 6" WW2 fighter.

Just saying 6" WW2 fighter puts it in the rare group, but this knife has a Springfield butt cap and nut on an Orlando blade.

Gaddis states on page 101:

"By 10 November (1943), things were moving along well enough for Larsen to send a detailed report covering sales of an additional 200 knives. They enclosed a royalty check for the whole 263 knives sold to that date, less a deduction for 100 butt caps and nuts sent to Bo."

The knife is in a Southern Saddlery sheath.

No problemo Burnie.

Tune,

I recall noting that the throat rivets were different materials or the plating is removed.

It is worn plating and some odd lighting. They are the same.

I'm told only a few...Model #10-7", pre-"S" stamp blade trademark on stainless stock and stag, supplied by RMK!
Stay sharp, Capt. Chris

Wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Cool Capt!

Nice knife and that stag has aged nice.

Here are a pair of unusual and rare knives. A WWII Era model 1-5" fighter pictured with what is certainly one of if not the first model 5-5" note very low blade "small" blade stamping indicative of WWII Era. Certainly a rare and unusual pair.....

Fantastic knives, Burnie. Did someone overdo it sharpening the 5-5? A pity, if so, but she's still a real looker.

Burnie I'm glad the WWII 1-5 and 5-5 are together. They make a great pair.

Burnie,

You do come up with some great oldies.

Thank you Warren. Here are much better photos of the knife "Ron's of course!" Blade has been sharpened and would clean up nicely. I like the petina....😁

Thought about these last night....they might classify as oddities....
:-)Rocky

Most certainly Rocky, those are cool
Complete with the stamp !!

Very nice, Rocky.

Here's what seems to be a luggage tag made from Belgian Congo ivory:




Here's a belt buckle made from sterling with the Randall stamp:

All of the above are simply cool as beans!

I would think that Bo never liked to waste anything!!!
Also...it's just hard to consider the he had tusks that were so large, that he had nothing to do with the remainder but to make ash trays....how big were they??? 100lb's+ each....just think of it!!!
to think of it is amazing....

:-)Rocky

Here is just one at the museum.....

So, here is a weird one. It is a 1943 knife as far as I can tell. It came in the big collection I bought last year and was one of only two I kept.

It is a screw on butt cap, no nut!

While the idea eliminated the nut and washer, it probably did not work well since any tightening of the butt cap would have would have left the butt cap out of alignment with the washers.

There are two known examples of this style butt cap. Mine and the pictures of the other knife that had the but unscrewed and pictures taken. Mine has not been disassembled.

First, my knife, you can see in this picture there is no nut on the butt cap.



These next few are from a different knife that was disassembled:

Tune, Sweet knife. Question, you state it as a 1943 example, but I thought it has a Bill Platt type thong hole. I thought Bill didn't start until Jan. 1944?

I read a few threads that gave the 1/44 date. I also saw a VL&A Model 1 fighter that had the same WT and a Randall stamp some 3 inches from the hilt. It was described to me as a 1943 because of the placement of the Randall stamp. I personally have no clue, just trying to figure out the upper pommel drill hole (WT) and how it dates a knife.

I can't argue with that Eric. Probably a 44 knife.

I was always under the assumption that Bill Platts started in 1943, as best as my old memory can tell. Re-reading Gaddis states early (Jan.) 1944. We all know that Bill was mostly responsible for the switch from the furnace link type of wrist thong to the much more efficient drilled tong hole. Of course, who knows of Bo had offered (or tried) it earlier?? Nice knife Mitchell.
Best, Capt. Chris

Not sure what I was thinking. Not much it seems. Bo was drilling thing holes prewar. Maybe it was drilling the aluminum that proved difficult? The Zach was drilled in late 1942.

Thanks guys. I am always learning on this forum. All the best!

I don't think the change took place as soon as Platts arrived. I think some of the things like the more consistent standardization of blade length, blade grind, handle shape, and of course the drilled thong hole took place over a period of time. Not long in my opinion, but not overnight.

Today I looked at the site, looked at the old knives of Jack Levin and discovered a rather unusual Randall for for pruning branches and knots.

full size here
http://www.knifegallery.com/2012%20Shows/NYCKS/slides/Randall_121118A.jpg
http://www.knifegallery.com/2012%20Shows/NYCKS/slides/Randall_121118B.jpg

Also, I see one of the first, is it not the one that is the first, from the museum?
http://www.knifegallery.com/2017%20Shows/NYCKS/slides/Randall_171111.jpg

Crider Special?

It appears to be a model 10 ground differently than a Crider. Note that it is not quite a spear point like the Crider, and the bottom bevel is pure model 10. If you look below the logo and name etching, the grind kind of rises and raises the mid line from where it would be on a Crider or a standard 10 grind, resulting in the top bevel being shallower than the bottom bevel.

It appears Bo took a model 10 and tweaked it for someone he knew.

Then again, what do I know?

Thank you very much! It would be nice to revive this model.

You know a very lot




Update:
Yes, this is one from Randall museum, that was named first. I looked at the photo from the museum and see same texture of the horn, spacers and choil. I used to have doubts, because In the photo from the museum I did not see the second pin, which is closer to the rear of the handle, now I see it.

I mean this photo. Unfortunately, I forgot who made it, but it was somewhere on this forum from 2 copies, I glued it in photoeditor. I will be very grateful if any remind me of the name of the photographer and I mark him in the file name.


and here you can even see the stamp

Not a stamp. That was hand etched with an "electric pencil"