Stag Saturday: from bottom to top
Model 1-6
Model 3-6
Model 5-6
Model 8-4
Model 19-5
Model 20-4.5
Cattleman's

Pap

My dad’s Model 5:



My Model 8:



My Model 12-9:



And my Model 26:

Very nice stag, Mick!!

Pap

Thanks Pap!

Amber stag:

Nice AG Russell there, outstanding!!

Pap

Nice knives gentlemen. I’ll play along with a few..

Older Pathfinder, newer sheath.

Model 11, all dolled up.

Awesome stag!!

Pap

Ok, so you made me open my safe and get out my oldies. A Model 7-4", 01 steel, NS hilt, Wrist Thong, black compass, Johnson pouch sheath, Circa 1976. Model 7-5", stag, NS hilt, Wrist Thong, black compass, Johnson baby dot sheath, Circa 1981. Model 7-5", stag, SS steel, NS hilt, Wrist Thong, liquid compass, Gutcher custom pouch/sharpener sheath, Circa 1998.

Pap

Pap

Model 15 CDT polished stag flat sides.

Love the oldies Pap.




George

11-5 1950's, LH sheath

11-5 1960's, OK, I'm done, sorry I got carried away.

Wow, those oldies of yours Trump them all. Great collection, thanks for sharing.

Pap

Great looking knives guys, never get tired of stag handled blades.

My favorite stag-handled Model #1. Hope you like it.
Stay Sharp, Capt. Chris

post war

early 80's special "Friedson" style grind with 5" sharpened top edge

Those sure are nice looking knives one and all!
Thanks for posting.
Walker

Wow, Capt.

That is an absolute beauty!

Great stag everyone!!

Pap

sorry I was late to this party

my 4 BEANS

Nice looking beans too!
Walker

Late, as usual ...

Mighty impressive there Tony!!

Pap

Thanks Pap!

Very nice bunch Tony!

Looks great, Tony!
Walker

Tony,

Great Stag there!!!

Tom Flynn

Thanks Guys!!

Smithsonian, Stag, Nickel Silver

Model #4-5 inch...with "9" options! Can you name them?
Stay Sharp, Capt. Chris

I run out of gas at eight options.

The nut on the end is an oddity.

I come up with 8, two of which are on the sheath with one of them a no-charge.

Larry

P.S.: Is the exposed tang nut considered to be an option?

Oh! no-hone was the option I was missing, I think.

I got 7 on the knife itself and black no-hone for the last 2.

Pap

I got 8, (2 more with sheath)...but Cap won't let me play...

Scott and Capt
Can either of you explain the tang nut option? I don’t think I have ever seen that option advertised.
Inquiring minds, with poor memory, would like to know please.

Early-Mid 90's...Ya' had to "request" an exposed nut on stag with a butt cap. Pappy got 'em all correct.
Stay Sharp, Capt. Chris
PS: No...You cannot and have not been able to (for a long time) get an exposed nut on any butt cap except with a leather handle...CCS

Thank you Capt. Appreciate the explanation

1. SS
2. TN
3. NS1
4. ASP
5. STAG
6. DB
7. WT
8. EXP. NUT
9. MAB
10.NHS

Tellll meee!

And me overlooking the TN...don't assume these are standard without checking!

Larry

Stag Saturday

Very nice! Like that gray tail for sure.
Walker

4-6 Built as a fighter

Love that 4-6 DoubleW

Stag Saturday

Beautiful!

Here's another. Nr. 1 6" with Nickel silver

12-9 14 grind , Jim Behring re-handle.

Nice!
Walker

Very nice!! Love those Behring re-handles.

Pap

Seeing that it's Saturday and as quiet here as a library with no books, a Nr. 12-9" Sportsman's Bowie, with a Nr. 25 handle and nickel silver trimmings.

Gert, here's the brother to your 1-6.

And what a nice one it is, Tom!

I’m pretty sure that’s the knife that sold on Nordic recently. I almost bought it. I definitely should have, it looks fantastic!

Stag 1-7

I thought about taking my own photo of this re-handle. But, the Behring photo does the knife justice. My 4-6, stag re-handle by Behring...

I added a production photo,..

DoubleW,
That AR looks like a SBR

OK:
I'm "pretty sure" this package was made in October, 1986!
Best, Capt. Chris
PS: This one's outta' "The Captain's STASH" & The Small Safe...CCS

. Epic !

it doesn't get any better than that one CAPT

Nice little SBR you have there.

only the Capt could get that out of the shop

:-)Rocky

Man, there are some real nice ones here!
Thanks y’all!
Walker

Here's my two stags. A Copper Combat Companion and a Stanaback Special

Indeed it is!

That is gorgeous! Behring does fantastic work!

Thanks! They’re easy to get these days. Got the stamp back for that one in about 2 weeks.

DoubleW- thank you, for the compliment. Behring also "listened" to what I wanted, AND stayed in contact with me throughout the re-handle....

I buy way too many knives, though...

A little late for Stag Saturday but had to rediscover my photo.

That’s a good looker, too!
Walker

Did he mark the knife in some fashion to designate he worked on it?

There is sooo much of this going on Joe, this is almost a mute subject at this point.
Behring is not the only one doing the alterations, and their work is very impressive.
I spoke with a gentleman at Blade that's doing some of the rehandles on this exact subject, and he stated he doesn't see any reason why he should have to "mark" his work as such.
It'll make things very interesting in the coming years. They can truly make that Randall a "one of a kind"!!

I know it is going on, and I see it as a problem in some respects. I have told this story numerous times, but will repeat it here. This is referencing Behring. There was an "agreement" with the Randall Shop that he would mark his knives in some fashion. Maybe an "understanding" is a better term.

I have seen some with a medallion in the butt, but not much else.

Now here is what I see as the problem. I am looking to increase the interest and collector base of the hobby. A surefire way to run a new guy out of town is for him to get burned. More than a few guys have sent me re-handles for authentication and a couple have gotten irate when I tell them it was not made like this in the shop but altered by another party.

I think many secondary sellers of these knives don't have a clue either, so I don't necessarily believe it is all nefarious guys intentionally taking advantage of someone, but it happens nonetheless.

Of course guys are free to do as they please with their knives, but I think that folks doing so should mark them in some fashion. Tom Leschorn marked his pieces, so I don't think it should be a problem for people doing major modifications to do the same. In fact, I would think they would want to do so to generate more business, but what do I know.

Your statements highlighted in red are profound, and exactly why I think guys doing these atlerations should mark their work. To add, I do not believe a re-handled Randall can be "one of a kind", it is simply an altered one. My $.02

I know and see your point Joe..."BUT"...I was close, personal friends with Tom & Mary Leschorn (Even bought their old house) and Tom did "not" mark all of his work. GCTOM has a splendid example to prove so and I've seen a dozen more.
Gail White also had un-marked custom RMKs as well. My point, simply being, it ain't something new.
Stay Sharp, Capt. Chris

Chris -

There are quite a few "unmarked" Tom Leschorn knives that are in fact, not Tom Leschorn knives. IF he didn't mark any, it is a minimum. With discussion at the shop, the vast majority of TL's work was embellishment. He didn't assemble knives that basically look like they came from the shop, probably because they did come from the shop,

A lot of guys mistakenly think a grey and white spacer arrangement meant TL put the knife together, but the shop used that same arrangement on more than a few pieces. Gail White used red and white spacers, so did the shop. Some guys think a beveled and/or pinned butt cap means TL. Not true. Steve Johnson did so at the shop.

Gail White as you know didn't embellish knives, he basically put handles on. That was not TL's thing. Did he do any? Perhaps, but I would have to see one with some type of provenance.

You didn't mention that TL and GW were friends of Bo and "approved" if you will. None of these guys altering knives today have that card in their back pocket.

There is a grey area here, and in my opinion, more than a few pieces that are/were attributed to TL actually are shop made. GW on the other hand, didn't really do anything extraordinary, so not as big of a deal.

Now Tommy Bish? That is another story.

I would like to see GCTOM's knife you describe.

Joe and Cap,

No TWL markings anywhere.

Tom Flynn

Tom -

you think it could have been buffed out some time in the past, or he simply didn't mark it? No doubt it is his work, and there is the catcher. He embellished knives, and AFAIK didn't make "standard" knives like what the shop put out.

If it was originally unmarked, I would say it is highly unusual. Leschorn was proud of his stuff. I don't recall as I sit here seeing a knife that was obviously his work and not signed. I mean it probably took him all of about 2 minutes to put TL on the hilt.

Curious, have you looked at the inlay thru a loop for a "hidden" TL?

TWL's later works were marked.

Tom Flynn

Will do and let you know

Tom Flynn

Joe

Reference your comments: “Gail White used red and white spacers, so did the shop”

Here is a picture of my Gail White Model 5. The spacers appear black and seem to have a “canvas” grain.

Rod -

Not saying he used the all the time, but he is known to have used that arrangement. Ivory?


Tom.

amazing stuff. You could be correct about his earlier work. If that is the case, there can't be many.

The gist of this thing was that spacers, pinned butt, beveled or angled butt make a knife a TL, GW, Bish, or anyone else. I was also to have folks understand that in my opinion, folks that re-handle knives should mark them in some fashion to protect primarily the newer guy that may not be as informed as many guys are. I will repeat, he gets burned once, he is gone forever.

No Joe unfortunately not ivory. Micarta

I catalog every knife on a spreadsheet with every detail; especially if it was re-handled. The re-handles that were done for me have hammer-marked blades and/or unusual hilts. There will never be any question if I sell one. However, I hear you when it exchanges ownership in later trades, that is where it could get muddy.

Tom Flynn

Joe,
A minute point but Gail White used at least "1" black spacer, sometimes more and I have a letter he wrote to Grady stating such and "why".
I was set up with Tom at a Miami Beach Convention Hall show where he sold a confederate, highly engraved and checkered and no "TL...or "L" or "Tom Leschorn". I'll admit he signed a bunch...but, according to Tom, a dozen or so were not.
FYI,
Capt. Chris

I think, in the interest of "Saturday Stag" being the primary reason for this thread we should...perhaps...start a new thread about this topic above.
Best, Capt. Chris
PS: A Caveat..."Being" as I will be "on the road" a good bit for the next 3+ weeks, allow me an "early Saturday" stag, if you please.
PPS: RMK "shop-supplied" amber popcorn stag...
Stay Sharp, Capt. Chris

Cap
That is definitely a great stag, and I also love the pouch sheath, as well!

Pap

I have an unsigned TL on my bench right now. Low S, double hilt #3 with ivory inlays on both sides.

Just sold another.... same deal, no markings.

There are MANY rehandled Randalls in the market going back as far as pre-war knives.

There you have it. Thanks Cap.



Perhaps, but I can't say I have seen many "pre-war" Randalls period. Most war time knives that are re-handled were done out of necessity, as in a repair. it was not a cottage industry like it has become over the past several years, of other makers altering generally newer and perfectly good knives to make a "one of a kind Randall"

You of all people should know, and have told me that you want to get new guys involved in the hobby, so it is surprising you have such a lais sez faire attitude about altered knives. I will repeat for the third or fourth time in this thread, a new guy buys an altered/re-handled knife (predominately newer production) thinking it came from the shop that way is lost probably forever. Think about his first or second foray into the collecting world only to find out later the knife is not original, yet was purchased as such. Bad ju ju.

I don't have a problem with it as long as they are marked in some fashion. Some of the guys do great work and may enhance the appearance of a plain Jane Randall for the owner, but what I am saying is folks that are doing this work with Randall knives on a regular basis, and are making GOOD money doing so, should mark their work in some fashion. Maybe honor the "understanding" with the shop that was in place? That would insure there is no grey area for the new(er) guys.

The pre-war knife I referred to was one re-handled by Michael Johnson.

He had it t Blade Show in 2018. He offered it for sale, with full disclosure that he had re-handled the knife. I almost bought it... he did a great job.


Michael Johnson Knife

This modern era fad of rehandled Randall’s is anathema to the purist Randall collector. All inherent value is lost, period. It is certain a fellow collector will get burnt at some point, if not many. I, and most I knew, wouldn’t give these fantasy pieces a second thought.

It is amazing how few object to this. I suppose now that many of the old timers have died off, and we find ourselves in the “Age of the Common Man”, it is not really all that surprising.

Pinned stag Saturday, but on a Wednesday. LOL. Models #1 thru #8.

Willhunt

Beautiful, can’t say anything else.

Thank you Rod. Much appreciated.

yeah, that's pretty cool

Outstanding Stag!

Tom Flynn

Joe and Chris,

Checked under high magnification and no TL or TWL anywhere.

Tom Flynn

This is an interesting thread...

People routinely ask RMK whether certain knives were their work. When they were made. Etc. Having to deal with those requests must be bothersome, distracting. After all, they are in the business of making knives, not verifying history.

Yet RMK has been patient about it, and asked others like Pete, Perry, Grady, if they would do authentications to help the owners/collectors who had knives that maybe did not look like knives in the current catalogues.

Knives that were genuinely made by RMK as “one offs” or transitional or set up in ways not considered to be standard are at times questioned by knowledgeable people who did not have the benefit of knowing for sure and did not have the personal experience of being involved in making them.

Even folks at RMK might not know for sure…Institutional memory fades with time, and not everybody remembers everything even if they are still there when a question is raised.

This Forum has had a lot of conversations along these lines…sometimes heated, almost always informative. (How many stiches to the inch or what about the color of thread on this sheath? Why this sheath stamp in this orientation? What about this spacer setup? How about this Model X with a blade that does not look like a Model X?)

Most people who like knives have ideas about design, parts and pieces, etc. If we must have knives that satisfy these urges, and we want a Randall, we can work with RMK within the bounds of their production and get a perfectly suitable knife.

Otherwise, we can have another maker put their own brand on a knife that matches our wishes.

I guess I fall on the side of keeping the real thing real. If a Randall knife needs work, have RMK do whatever is needed to keep it functional but avoid having outsiders modify it to an extent that it could be confused as a rare example that never went into the catalogues.

Otherwise…those suspected “rare examples” might be brought to RMK for authentication at some time in the future.

It is likely that said rare examples will have been bought at a premium because somebody told the buyer a “story” that turns out to be just too good to be true.

(By the way, it is not just RMKs that fall into this situation. Consider efforts to authenticate Jim Bowie’s actual knife. A number of said knives have been laboriously “authenticated” over the years! And owners of those “authenticated” knives have strained to justify their purchases, motivated by zeal, by the urge to protect their investment, and/or the anticipation of profit when they sell them.)

Larry

Love willhunt's stag...all excellent examples.

And on topic for this thread.

Larry

There ya go Tom. You have one of the dozen or so that TL told Chris he didn't mark.

Larry -

Yes, the requests can be bothersome, one of the reasons I bring up the point of new guys possibly being taken by a knife with a fancy handle put on by a couple of well known cutlers. I have had several sent to me for authentication and I have to tell a guy it is not a Randall handle. A couple of them have gotten irate and verbally attacked me because of what I said. I have had guys bring them to me at shows, and the shocked looks on their face when I give them the bad news says it all.

As i previously stated, the re-handling of newer Randall knives has become a cottage industry that is keeping a couple of makers busy, and they are making good money for their efforts. Some of the work is really good, but they need to be marked.

I wanted to note, I have never known Grady to authenticate anything. He had no affiliation with the shop as of course Pete did, and then Perry.

Joe,
Grady was the "go-to guy", including referrals from the shop, on sheaths. This what I "know" and saw and heard, first-hand on this subject.
When I first got the RKCC up & running, I got a call from Grady. He wanted to join and actually "asked me" if I would be interested in him putting an article together for the "Knife Knews". The subject would be a detailed description of his methods for restoring old leather (sheaths).
Naturally I said "yes". When the copy was done and printed I dropped off 100 copies at the shop. I was busy, at first, out front with Scott. When I went into the office, GTR had "just" finished reading the article.
His words (GTR) were..."Perfect"...That's why we refer everyone to him on all things, sheath and leather related". This included dating them for the oldies.
Perhaps this is what Larry was referring to.
...I "still" think all this subject matter deserves it's own thread.
Stay Sharp, Capt. Chris
PS: Sorry for new members and newer RMK fanatics: "Grady" we're referring to was Grady McCotter. Sadly, shortly after he wrote the article, Grady passed away. Great guy...CCS

That is a very impressive set, Will hunt!
Walker

The shop does what it can to ease its "pain" of incessant calls, and Grady fit the bill. You think Gary or anyone else wants to answer questions about sheaths? You know the answer. Heck, even Gaddis has limited information on sheaths.

I will say, while Grady was a great guy (RIP) and probably took some sheaths that were not in good shape and made them servicable, he also ruined a fair share with his "treatment". I saw many that needed nothing, but some guys are convinced that a sheath needs this or that to "preserve" it, and they were turned into a limp dick. So, it was a mixed bag. Most folks don't carry anyway, so what is the point?

I have more than a couple of sheaths dating back to WWII that were carried in theater, and they need nothing. The same for Korea and Vietnam, all harsh environments. Some may have had something put on them 60+ years ago, I can't say for certain. Nevertheless, I discourage folks from "treating" their sheaths, particularly with oils i.e mink oil, which can actually accelerate deterioration.

You hunt and carry, you "treat" your sheaths?

I use waxed sheaths and have replaced them a couple of times.
Capt. Chris
PS: When I get back from "The Ham" I'll start a new thread. We (myself included) have royally hi-jacked this one.
My apologies, CCS

Terrific set, willhunt!

Not to continue to derail the topic but I think this is a great conversation that is overdue. I too share Joes concerns about the re-handles and modified Randalls. We need to do everything we can to encourage new collectors and a re-handle makes things complicated for those who are not aware. Someone at a show can say this is a one of a kind and it could very well be. The problem is it did not come out of the shop like that and greatly affects the collectability.
Fast forward 20-30 years from now when we are all gone and then it gets very confusing.

Don't get me wrong, I think the Behrings do fabulous work and the same with Jim Sinclair. But I would also like to see the knife marked somehow so everyone knows it is modified.

Randall will not honor a modified knife if it needs repair.

The samurai sword hobby is hanging on by a thread because evidently they have been making samurai swords for 500 years and fakes for 499 years. If you ask the seller it is as original as they get. Ask the buyer and it is modified. Try to find someone at a sword show without grey hair.

We need to keep it simple and inviting.

Gary,
Good to see your post, thanks. Jim & Rocco are setting up with me in Tulsa. Let me approach them with ideas about this. I'll do the same with James & Grant...to be continued.
Headed out at dawn's 1st light tomorrow...BUT...when I get back we'll have at thread for this topic...and it will help some...I guarantee!
Best, Capt. Chris

Back on track with a Stag Smithsonian with a little popcorn

That’s a great one to put us back on track!
Walker

Stag 1-7 with brass hilt.

Mid 1940's #4...pinned and old-school FG's.
Best, Capt. Chris

Beautiful!

Very nice, Capt!
Walker

Beauty!!

Pap

circa 1943

Wow! That looks like it has been "too nice to use" for almost 80 years.

Colt Python/Randall 1-7

Stag Saturday...From Wally and Lori
Wally has forgot his password

Here's Stagurday contribution!!!!!

Let's keep this thread alive: Just posted to my website:
* RMK #26-4"
* Stainless
* Thumb notches
* Nickel silver (reduced) hilt
* Model #25 handle
* Special RMK tan pouch sheath
Stay Sharp, Capt. Chris

I've always liked this set - yes, it HAS been used to carve a Thanksgiving turkey, so it's a user!

A pair of Stag Model 26s
One polished, one not

Looking very good, y’all.
Walker

Day late but here they are.

Very nice pair, Billy!
Walker

this piece of stag fits great in the hand

Here's my 21's and 26's

Brother how did that carbon #21 get in there?????

I let the spacers and the stag influence me

not sure this fits here...BUT it is stag!!

:-)Rocky

Oh yeah, that stage definitely fits!! Everything looks good to me!!

Pap

Stag carver on turkey day.

Rocky

Jokingly, and I am not a great cook, but looks like turkey to me and not venison/stag.

Sorry bad joke, Happy Thanksgiving.

Can't touch this...

Close

AWESOME Bears !!!!

Model 2-7

Model #12-9 (14 G)