Sounds like a great idea to me. My favorite "collection within the collection" are KITS! So...Let's see 'em.
Stay sharp, Capt. Chris

Big kit from the past

Tommy Bish Kit Randall 2-9 with Ed Layton Scrim.

Tom Flynn

Three other Tommy Bish Kit Knives an 11 & (2) 19's.

Tom Flynn

Wow! Nice stuff starting to show up here! Let's roll!
Stay sharp, Capt. Chris

Here's one from late 60s/ early 70s.

Model 4-5 Big Game and Skinner.

Still as from Randall, not yet put together.

Nice piece of stag, brass for hilt, and 5 spacers (3 thick - 2 thin, duller shade).

The obverse blade side was etched, "Vern Jump." (I always thought that was a cool name).

My understanding is that Randall would sometimes not mark the blade "KIT" if it was etched with a name. But I think we can all agree; I am not an expert.

Great thread.

Thanks, Gary

Edit: And Ps. GHD, that is one cool-looking knife, man.

…

19s go figure

smittys was mine and Warrens

Man, Chief, that's just plain beautiful. And the copper hilts are magnificent too, esp. the S-shaped hilts.
Wow.
(And I like the addition of the choil on the Smiths, very nice).

Gary

...

I can add a bit to the story of these two. This was the tusk that was used for these two knives; just about half of it. Also Chiefs idea to upgrade matching zipper cases with snake inlays. These were the first two Amy did. Since then she has made dozens with different inlays. These two are the Rolls Royce of zippered cases.

So question for clarification.
Some blades are stamped Kit, others are not. Some knives are rehandled. Anyone care if rehandled knives are posted here?

Chief,

Great 19's!

Tom Flynn

Warren,

Good point however, the nature of a KIT knife was whatever anyone wanted to do with it; any material goes!

Tom Flynn

Ok, here goes to further Tom's point. Captain supplied the stock leather handled knives for this Faisal set. I sent the Narwhal to James for discussion. We all thought a 25 style handle was classy and probably not something attempted before. This set, hilt forward is 100% shop done. James gang figured out the rest.
Oh, and many thanks to my friend GCTom for the display cabinet. I added 6 remote lights and it's just an awesome piece of furniture.
Looks great and many to thank that made it all happen.

Warren
Sorry, I have to take a big breather to look at all of the pictures. Never seen such an awesome Facel. Outrageous.

Pap

Pap,

Thanks for the reply. Sometimes a project turns out better than originally planned. When you're dealing with natural handle material that has to be cut and shaped, you need to make sure you make the right choices. Only one shot to make it right.

That is a beautiful set of knives.

Warren,

Awesome Faisal set and pretty good looking display if i must so!

Tom Flynn

Nah...It needs a Randall "PATCH" in it!
Stay sharp, Capt. Chris

Seeing as how we are including re-handles as well...Here ya' go.
Best, Capt. Chris

Superior craftsmanship Tom. I can't thank you enough.

Here's a 1-7 transformed. BMK copper guards, Cooper Arms gunstock handle, black Ceracoat finish, Mudbone leather w/elephant inlay.

I bought this unfinished Low S Kit blade on eBay probably 10 years ago. I asked James to finish it in a period looking style with brown micarta. the blade is circa 1964. It's the oldest blade I have seen with a "kit" etch.

Winner

Here is a link to some great history on Tom's Bish made knives.


https://www.randallmadeknife.com/1967-gun-world

Warren, Mitchell & Tom,
Splendid examples...all the way around! Thanks for sharing them.
Warren: Those RMKs "PROVES" it really pays to attend The Gator Cutlery Club Show!!
Good job everybody,
Capt. Chris

Agreed Cap. It was a good plan well executed.

As for re-handles

Triathletes are probably as close to a "Kit" blade right now out of the shop. There's been lots of transformations with scales and some have conventional stag. Here's one done by BMK that turned out great. The sub-hilt is actually quite a comfortable hold.

Warren, that's a great looking knife. What materials were used?
Walker

Warren,

Love the Sub-hilt Tri!

Tom Flynn

Warren,

Love the Tri's; gives you many opportunities to use some great handle materials that don't quite measure up for a full-size Randall. Tailor Knives also fall into that category. Attached are a Narwhal Tri, Musk-ox Tri, Stag Tri and my EDC Black Palm Tri. The Tailor Knife is done in Fossil Mammoth.

Tom Flynn

There you go, great set of Tri's and a Tailor Tom.

Nickle silver fittings, musk ox center spacer paired with aluminum/black/red/ micarta spacers.

I had no idea what the center spacer was. Thanks
Walker

Welcome

Just outta curiosity
do you have before pics of the redos
Sharpi

Of what, the Triathlete?

Tom

Was all the FI put on your triathlete’s by the same person?

They are great looking.

Rod,

Don Hedrick did the Narwhal and the Stag for Rick Bowles.

The Black Palm and the Mammoth were Gene Beal for Capt. Chris.

The Musk-ox was form Duke; not sure who he had do the application.

Tom Flynn

Here's another from the Captain; an older 12-8 missing a sheath. Sent it to the "Gang" along with the left over FWI from the Smitty project. Mud being himself finished it off. Hell of a good project and a companion BMK followed with the last piece of ivory.

Thank you Tom.

Everyone of them is very special. I really like FI.

Before & after

Very nice Chief
That's what i'm talkin about
Sharpi

Thanks

It's a stock Thorpe brass lugged hilt forward except a blade modified with a parry strip by James Behring.
Handle is FWI tip, with matching brass sub-hilt.
Also the idea behind the build. Bo's first Smith.

Chief and Warren those are some great Thorpes.

Thanks Steve, lota blade.

BMK RMK Faisal Set.

Tom Flynn

Tom,

That set has it all. Nothing was left out for sure. Hey that cabinet looks familiar?

Those are fabulous Tom.

Great set Tom, True works of art!

Here are a couple of "kit" knives. Well, one kit and one Gayle White.

Here's a KIT

oh my gosh !!!! Is it ever !!! Wow !!

This is one of my favorite pair of knives-Crosscut Mammoth # 1-8 & 2-8 and sent them to Warlander Leather for Elephant Inlay high-rides to make sure no dye ever touches those handles. Captain Chris had vision on this pair. James and Amy did what they do best!

Tom Flynn

Awesome score Tom. The crosscut is amazing.

Tom,
Now...all we need to do is capture another matching "pair" of handle material and get something similar done! This was a fun project. Thanks for the photos!
Stay sharp, Capt. Chris

We talked about these knives a few weeks ago Captain. Great handle material, beautiful set Tom!

Does anyone know which models were offered as kits?