Knife Of The week Model 23

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During late 1971 or early 1972, Bo and Gary decided it was time to add another style of straight-point hunting knife to their expanding selection of field knives. They wanted something between the extremes in size and weight of the small Model 8 Trout and Bird and the heavy-duty Model 19 Bushmaster. Bo had never really liked the looks of the Model 19, even with its revised blade shape. There is better than a 50-50 chance that the original discussion and designing session took place during a trip to the Randall ranch, or maybe while they were on a hunting or fishing outing. When father and son were away from the press of daily business, their minds often turned to the imaginative designing of new and different styles of knives.

They retained the main feature common to both the Model 8 and 19, the straight-point blade with its sharpened top edge. This short but sturdy top cutting edge was popular with many hunters and campers and was to be a major feature of their new knife for big game hunters. The blade length they settled upon was 4 1/2 inches, the same as the Model 19, but the new knife's width would be considerably less. Because this was a full-size big-game knife, they stuck with 1/4-inch forging stock, to avoid the edge-chipping problems encountered in the Model 22 Outdoorsman.

It wasn't long before they took their ideas to the forge and grinder, possibly with Pete Hamilton doing part of the work. Pete remembers talking with Gary about the design and fabrication of the prototype knife and referred to it as a lightened Model 19. Nobody remembers exactly how long it took to arrive at a final blade shape that met all the functional and aesthetic requirements of Bo, Gary, and the senior shop craftsman. It must not have been too long because this new design was the "Gamemaster" and was in production before work was begun on the next catalog, sometime in the late summer or early fall of 1972. This twenty-second printing introduced the Model 23 Gamemaster to prospective purchasers. Part of the original catalog description read: "A variation of Model 19, serving the same purposes, developed because of popular demand for a knife with these characteristics. Top edge is for heavy-duty cutting..."

Bo and Gary's new hunter has turned out to be one of the more popular models in the Randall sporting knife line.

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This is one of the oldest #23's you'll see. It has 7 spacers which were being phased out as the #23 was being developed and added as a standard catalog knife. It's in a model #20 sheath.... again, pointing to a very early #23.

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Criminy, Tune. What's the big deal? The shop made TWO of them with 7 spacers!

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Graham, beautiful #23 but tell us about the shotgun!
Is that an original Winchester 1887 or a reproduction?
Let's see some more photos of it too! WOW!!!

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I don't jump all over the compliment train often. "THAT" #23 is absolute perfection! You always have "tradin' material" with me!! NICE!!
Best, Capt. Chris

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Hey, "El Capitan" doesn't usually get this carried away about a tool steel knife. You better watch out for a "tradin deal" heading your way. Nice 23, thanks for posting, Bill J.