How's this for a good idea?...Drop point "build" !

Fellow member, Walt (Ironworker) just emailed me with a dandy idea and observation. Let's give him all the credit...Thanks Walt! How about this? A Loveless tribute! Talk it over. Any drop point, including a Triathlete is up for consideration. I could even be pursuaded into getiing some way-cool custom handle work "performed" on it!
Let me hear from ya'll, Capt. Chris

PS: This one's in black ash...CCS

I will donate the TRI. Iwill exclude myself from this build. I already have one made with ironwood scales. There are alot of different way's to go with this build. Have fun, Walt.

CAP,
Did you say TRIATHELETE???
AS JOHN WAYNE said in one of his movies!
We're burning daylight!!!!!!!!!!!



Billy Poyner
RKO-RKS#5030
MM

Excellent Idea!

Tom Vaught

Walt,
No one has to donate anything as the member who's number is drawn "pays" for the knife....now....a little help for the RKCA's "Troops Treasury" mixed into this??? Not a bad idea.
Billy: We don't have to build a "Tri"...There are plenty of drop point choices. With the exception of the now discontinued "Randall Drop Point Hunter" the Model #10-3" and "Tri" are the only ones the Randall shop offers with handle "scales" (or the makings of being finished with scales, as the Tri come skeletonized and naked)...verses a one piece handle...just sayin'.
Bob Loveless made plenty of blade patterns, for sure, but the drop point hunter was most certainly one of his most notable, if not "the" most!
Best, Capt. Chris
PS: Walt: You were correct in your email. We did have something similar to this going on some time ago. This time: I think it'll take wings!!...CCS

Another:

This will be a good build.

Alan Grombacher
RKS#5531

Ok Capt. If the tri is used in this build the price of the tri can go to the RKCA Troops Treasury. Is a single hilt doable on this build. On page 21 of the green catalog is a picture of a 10-3 with a single hilt. Walt

I like Tri's and 10-3's--
Don't the 28 fall in that area,if so lets build it and donate
to one of our deserving service people.Build and contribute
like we just did with the Sgt's knife...

Billy Poyner
RKO

Model #28 is also a drop point hunter...ON STEROIDS!! It's got a full...exposed tang!
Best, Capt. Chris

Here ya' go...

I'm "all in" on this one... Will the built knife go to a soldier, or will the proceeds go to the fund? Either way, I love it, maybe some ivory scales carved, or checkered?

The catalog price of the tri will go into theRKCA troops treasury if used in this build. I am donating the tri for that purpose. Walt

The #11 - 3 1/4" Alaska Skinner comes to my mind.

Another great choice!
Best, Capt. Chris

How's 'bout this possibility?

New Randall Tri. just completed for me by James Behring.

Duke,
Excellent! I smell a "trade"!!
Thanks, Capt. Chris

Great Idea!
Count me in!
The Tri and the #10-3" have/can have true scales,
but I like the size of the #28.
Tony

Always loved a drop point, what about a GTR?

Pap

"GTR" isn't a drop point, Pap. It's a "trailing point"
Best, Capt. Chris

What about this one?
It's my latest ad on to my collection

The Triathlete seems most fitting to me, at least the profile of it. The #28 seems the better knife for the intended purpose.

Here is Griffin Drop Point, built by Dave Griffin after he left Randall and started making knives on his own. It is quite similar to the Randall Drop Point Hunter, which Dave was instrumental in having made at Randall. "This" design (to me anyway) most closely resembles a knife that Bob Loveless was known for.
Best, Capt. Chris
PS: This is not my knife. I know not, from where I aquired this photo,but kudos to whomever this fine knife belongs to...CCS

How about a Pathfinder? Drop Point?

Here are a few more Griffin's to prime the pump........

Old Yellow
Ironwood
Fossil Ivory
Ivory
Unknown Wood

Notice the tapered tangs.

I knew you'd come through Mitchell!
Thanks, Capt. Chris

Am I correct in thinking that those are the only RMKs made with tapered tangs?

As far as I know Griff. There may have been a few one offs along the way, but the Griffin Drop Point Hunter was the only one produced in quantity. I have heard estimates in the 75-100 range all made in the 80's.

Guido has several cool GDP's as well.

The "Triathlete" is tapered as well. There were a couple of very early 90's GDP's I was able to snag but these were made from remaining blade stock...and I'm talkin' 1990 and the first part of '91.
Best, Capt. Chris
PS" Mitchell: Bring whichever one (ones) you like the least to B'ham show...I smell a trade!! (and I'm bringing a couple of oldies with me...)CCS

O.K....Crew,
(If I have a crew for this one...and it looks like I have a "full crew"!)

Let's talk about this drop point hunter. Here are the choices (short list, if you will) If I have forgotten one I'm sure someone will let me know.

A) Model #10-3" / "DP" (Drop point)

B) Model #11, Alaskan Skinner (3 1/4", 4", 4 1/2" or 5" blade
available)

C) Model #25, Trapper (5 or 6 inch blade available)

D) Model #26, Pathfinder (4 inch only)

E) Model #28, Woodsman (4 1/2 inch only

F) Triathlete (Approx. 3 1/4" blade / full tang)

G) Fireman (4 inch heavy blade)

That's about it. Ya'll has it over amongst yourselves. Some models, like the Model #11's, will lent themselves to more interpretation, i.e. more options, handle shapes, etc. than...say a Model #28. Lots to talk about!
Let me hear from ya', Capt. Chris
PS: Photos are nice also...CCS
Below: The "Crutchtip Commemorative"

Fireman? This being the only one I own and only one I'd ever gotten to hold...amazed at how strong, balanced and sweet it feels. Not pushing for it or anything----all of the knives you've listed, Capt., are outstanding with lots of possibilities.

Fantastic potential for a great build.(How 'bout that shirt, Rob?)

Duke, that's a great looking Fireman.

Here's a couple photos to spur ideas (triathlete and #10-3). My vote is for a triathlete build. Thanks guys, Jay

Here is a #10-3 inch with brown micarta that I supplied and a Tri with musk ox scales.

I just got two more Tri's in and they will likely be handled with ironwood for one and carbon fiber for the other

Peter

If we are looking at a drop point hunter, then a #11 is my choice. We could trick it up to the max, while the #10, etc will only get us a couple of options.

Pap

B) Model #11, Alaskan Skinner (3 1/4", 4", 4 1/2" or 5" blade
available)

Tricked out Triathelete. So many different way's to go. Walt RKS#5924

Triathlete for me.

Triathlete,




Billy Poyner
RKO-RKS#5030
NRA Endowment
MM

Triathlete, W/Ivory!

Model# 11-5" would be my choice.

Triathlete.

I like this thriatlete modell a lot.

Triathlete with some "bad ass" wood and a custom sheath

model 11
:-)Rocky

I must do some scales on a thriatlet some time. I have some great material for it.:-)

Fireman would be fun.

O.K. Crew,
It looks as though we're in agreement, with regards to building a drop point knife. This is the short list from a few pages back....
Let's talk about this drop point hunter. Here are the choices (short list, if you will) If I have forgotten one I'm sure someone will let me know.

A) Model #10-3" / "DP" (Drop point)

B) Model #11, Alaskan Skinner (3 1/4", 4", 4 1/2" or 5" blade
available)

C) Model #25, Trapper (5 or 6 inch blade available)

D) Model #26, Pathfinder (4 inch only)

E) Model #28, Woodsman (4 1/2 inch only

F) Triathlete (Approx. 3 1/4" blade / full tang)

G) Fireman (4 inch heavy blade)

Whatdaya' say we make it "shorter? "ROLL CALL" Pick your top "3"...process of elimination outta' work.
Best, Capt. Chris

1)#11-4 1/2
2)#25
3)#26

Pap

1 - F) Triathlete (Approx. 3 1/4" blade / full tang)
2 - A) Model #10-3" / "DP" (Drop point)
3 - D) Model #26, Pathfinder (4 inch only)
Thanks,
Tony

1 - (F - Triathlete
2 - (A - 10-3/DP
3 - (G - Fireman

C D F.

1. Triathlete

2. Pathfinder

3. Alaskan

#1 - B) Model #11, Alaskan Skinner - 3 1/4"
#2 - C) Model #25, Trapper (5 or 6 inch blade available)
#3 - D) Model #26, Pathfinder (4 inch only)

B) 4.5 inch
C) 5 inch
D) 4 inch

Alan Grombacher
RKS#5531

B)#11-4", Alaskan Skinner
D)#26, Pathfinder
F) Triathlete

Ken Lambert
RKS #3610
NRA Benefactor
FOP

Triathlete
#26
#10-3



Billy Poyner RKO-RKS#5030
NRA Endowment--MM

It seems that to do a build which would allow for the most discussion of possible options to take place we should pick between(IMHO):
#11-41/2"
#25-5"
#26-4"

I would vote for

B) Model #11, Alaskan Skinner (3 1/4", 4", 4 1/2" or 5" blade
available)

D) Model #26, Pathfinder (4 inch only)

F) Triathlete (Approx. 3 1/4" blade / full tang)
Peter

G
F
B

My previous choices(#'s 11, 25, & 26) were based on most options allowed by Randall for build.......BUT......if allowed increased option creativity(or there could be plenty more I just don't know of-grateful for the ordering questions thread) I would choose instead:
#28
Fireman
Triathlete
BECAUSE OF .......the strength, beauty and Randall design of these 3 wonderful blades.
Continue to let this building discussion BUILD!!!

1.#11-5"
2.#25-5"
3.Triathlete

1) F
2) B
3) D

My top three are:

C)Model 25 Trappe 6 inch
B)model 11 5 inch blade
D)Model 26 4 inch

Dan Snyder
RKS #5537
SHAG #010

1) B
2) C
3) F

For a "Loveless" build it should be full tang knife with handle slabs IMO.
The #28 Woodsman would be quite close from the start but it doesn't leave us a lot of room for choices.

So I'd go for

1. #10-3
2. Triathlete
3. Fireman

Agreed Peter, and you summed up very well most of what I was trying to say in my two previous posts. All of these blades are wonderful, HOWEVER (or BUT), it comes down to possible # of options allowed to be discussed, AND, slab-side(Loveless). For example, look back at my Behring handled Tri. No slabs on that baby. Can't you just envision a #28 all dressed out in slabs? Oh boy!!
Check out pg. 96&97 in most recent BLADE mag. for some nice looking Loveless like slab-sided drop points(not all).

I #28 could not have slabs unless the shop re-designed it. The reduced, full & exposed tang is way too reduced...and as has been discussed...No options, to speak of.
Best, Capt. Chris

Hey Capt.
Yeah, I know, and God knows that I love MY #28 so much that there truly is rarely a day that ,if I'm not wearing it, it is at least in my hand once or twice a day-----makes a great letter opener, and my patients are used to seeing unusual assortments of "letter openers" on my desk.
Like I said, ALL of these blade designs are great....and different. The nice part about "Builds" to me is discussions around different options, what feels good in your hand and why. I'm sure we'll be hearing more opinions.
Thanks for another Build.

That's why I made the votes I did, there's more options to work with.

F,A,G Walt

Another "build" I came across that was never finished.

Dang we need to finnish this one as well.

F)Tri please