Vietnam-era Model 18 evaluation needed

Recently, I visited Randall's shop in Orlando.
I have a Vietnam era 1975 to 1977 Model 18
Check out the single hilt and thumb notches, reduced by Randall’s shop.
It has a White Washita Arkansas stone, in the Johnson rough-back case.
Randall told me it is a collectible item and that I might be able to get some help & advice on evaluation.
I have had it for over 40 years.
I am interested in selling it.
Thank you for any help and/or advice that you might provide

Welcome! Cool knife. Curious, is there a hole in the bottom hilt?

"Viet Nam Era" and "75-77" do not go together......

It appears to be a few years earlier than you stated. It has a transition sheath which was punch marked for rivets, and the white stone is consistent with 73-75. I do not believe that it is worth anymore than a standard mid 70's model 18, actually less in my estimation.

yes, there is a hole in the bottom hilt..

Mr Bill from Spring Hill.. This isn't something I made up.. This info was given me by Randall.. This is my only Randall Knife and I have used enjoyed. Getting on in years, Its time for someone else to enjoy it now.
I do appreciate your comments and any facts you feel relevant might also help..

What "facts" do you find irrelevant?

Do you know when the Vietnam war began and ended? I'm sure everyone at the shop does.

Do you not believe that this is a transition sheath with punch marks for rivets?

And it is my belief that it is not worth anymore than a correctly handled Model 18.

Mr. Bill from Spring Hill...
Relevant or Not ....I think you should charge your forum name to THAT....

Exactly who did you speak to at the shop that stated they modified the knife by removing the top quillion and added the thumb notches? That information would help you immeasurably.

must have been built the first couple months of 75....otherwise, it's a post Vietnam era knife...
half the hilt was removed, and thumb notches added....doesn't sound/look like "shop" work to me....BUT I'm not the expert on what the shop may have done back in the day.
Just say'n
As for value??? just put it on the Bay, and find out!!! the ultimate place to find "true value"
:-)Rocky

This gentleman spoke with me, and this was done at the shop, whether reduced at a later date I couldn't tell. However, the thumb notches are RMK's for sure...

I did not say that this was Vietnam era, I did say that the knife was made mid 70's and suggested that the men of this forum could give him a better idea of the value because we (@RMK) can only give replacement (catalog) value for insurance purposes...

Thank you Scott, for another piece of the puzzle.

Scott,

Are thumb notches usually added before or after heat treat or doesn't it matter? If before heat treat, does that mean that this knife was most likely custom ordered with a single hilt?

Loooong after...

If I was to offer an opinion, I would say that the hilt was not shortened till a later date...just looked very ...awkward"...

By the way, I believe the gentleman told me he used this knife while deployed for Vietnam...maybe he'll chime in again with the rest of his story...

So, the knife probably started as a standard build, then at some point, the top hilt was reduced either by the shop or privately and the thumb notches were added by the shop most likely at a later date.