I have been collecting Randalls' for a while, but I am still confused sometimes about what constitutes a "Separate S". Does it have to be a certain distance from the right hand scimitar on the stamp, or does it just have to look like it wasn't stamped at the same time?

Does anyone know why the "Low S" began, and what periods was it used?

Thanks guys....Close-ups will certainly help me and the newbies.

Dubie Baxter

Hey Dubie,
I could answwer but...it's more fun to wait for the Sheldon and Joe show

Bwahaha, thanks for the laugh Perry...brat

Dubie,

Yes, you're correct on the first part...

As to the second part, you may want to differentiate between introduction and use dates, following the premise that when a new feature or characteristic was introduced it would subsequently supersede the previous feature or characteristic, with caveats...

Generally speaking, the 'Separate S' blade stamping method first used in mid 1967 was superseded with the 'Integral S' blade stamping method in mid 1972...but, as a caveat, during the high inflation and interest rate period of the late 1970's (you're old enough to remember those days), RMK, in lieu of purchasing as much new (high priced) steel as they may have in the past, IMO, instead dug a little deeper into the blade bins, utilizing a large number of older blade forgings in the process...

As an example; we purchased a 60+ RMK knife collection a few years back in which the majority of the knives were ordered and received between 1978 & 1980...at least five of those knives, possibly six, utilized older 'Separate S' blades. The 'Low S' blades introduced in early 1964 were used primarily through 1967, but we’ve seen 'deep bin' blades of this type used on knives that were built and sold well into the early to mid 1970's...

Anyhoo, I've got a trail to the lake to finish, hope that helped...

Here's a PS Dubie:

There is a small percentage of separate S stamps that were stamped so close to the position of the S in the integrated S stamp at the same depth of the mother stamp that that it's very difficult to differentiate it being a separate S. Maybe I should call this the "Wandering S" theory! (Inside joke sort of)

Ron

Good question Dubie. I'm still confused. Maybe somebody has some pictures. The 1 book I have on Randalls don't have very much info. Thanks

Don't feel bad Patrick. I got into a heated arguement once with an eBay seller, about his separate S listing. Turns out he was right...I think.

Dubie

"Wandering S"...now THAT'S funny!

Maybe a "Slippery S"

Dubie

Interesting version of the separate "S" on Ebay.

ORIGINAL VIETNAM ERA RANDALL MADE FIGHTING KNIFE,BLADE IS 7 3/8 INCH LONG,OVERALL LENGTH OF KNIFE IS 12 1/4 INCHES,HAS THE MICARTA TYPE MATERIAL,GROOVED FOR HANDGRIP,THICK BRASS CROSSGUARD,BLADE IS DOUBLE EDGE,TOP EDGE STARTS 1 7/9 INCH FROM CROSSGUARD,BLADE MARKED ON LEFT SIDE-RANDALL MADE-ORLANDO,FL. S,THE "S" MARK WAS USED FOR BLADE BLANKS THAT RANDALL GOT FROM SOLINGEN,GERMANY,DURING THE VIETNAM WAR,AS THE DEMAND FOR HIS FIGHTING KNIVES WAS SO GREAT,HE HAD TO CONTRACT OUT FOR SEMI FINISHED BLADE BLANKS,RANDALL THEN PUT THE FINAL FINISH Item number: 120128254911

Good info. It's appreciated.

Dubie