Chris hit the nail on the head. No one knows why Rhett chose the mini, but I suspect he thought they would sell better as a mini. You have to remember, when Rhett made the deal for the 1500 (IIRC) knives, he was obligated to purchase them all.

The 28 is the drop point hunter with a border patrol handle. When Gary decided to bring the model back, he nixed the SFG handle as too time consuming, the same reason RMK quit making it originally back in the early to mid 80's. A four fingergirip handle. the earliest style of handle, was assuredly not gonna happen as it was the sole reason for the Griffin or single finger grip handle design, an effort to save time.

On page 114 of his book Wickersham says someone in the shop, perhaps Dave Griffin, put the axe on the drop point hunter because it looked too much like a Loveless drop point hunter. I don't know where he heard that nonsense, but it is patently false. As I stated above, it simply took too much time to make with the four finger groove and tapered tang, and the same with the SFG.

The only people in that shop that have ever determined what models are made or not, are Bo and/or Gary Randall. Period.

so is the model 28 the same size as the GRIFFIN DP?
(plead for my ignorance since I've never grasp one)
the handle is obviously different, but is blade shape the same?

The drop point hunter got the nickname "Griffin" because Dave Griffin who worked in the shop came up with the handle, the single finger grip handle to replace the 4 finger grip handle. As I outlined above, it came about in an effort to save time versus the original 4 finger groove model.

As you can see from the photo, the bottom knife is one of the earliest DPH models. The subsequent SFG handled models have different shapes from knife to knife. The one in the middle I am uncertain of. I cannot tell if it is stag or not, but the handle looks like polished stag. If it is stag, it was not done at the shop but put on after the fact, probably by Griffin himself.

The blade shapes are relatively the same, but the model 28 has a choil whereas the DPH did not. You will note also, the photo shows the blade grinds of the 5 knives noticeably vary.

Here are the model 28 and the Griffin drop point together

Peter

They are very similar.
The GRIFFIN should be lighter if it has the tapered tang.
I don't really see a ton of characteristics like a LOVELESS in the GRIFFIN.
THANKS CRUTCHTIP.....all those yours?
THANKS PETER......very nice set
THANKS CAPT.

too bad not more options on a model 28

An FYI- Dave Griffin did NOT design the knife, only a replacement handle style for the 4 finger grip version. Basically took 3 finger grips off, simply to reduce fabrication time. People refer to some that have that handle as a "Griffin", but the model is in fact , a Drop Point Hunter, irrespective of handle style.

I just found a nice RKS5 in great shape