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#38852 - 03/23/08 08:35 AM Knife Of The Week Model 24 **
vklough46 Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 10/15/05
Posts: 1649
Loc: Boogie Wonderland
Thanks to all who have participated thus far.

From Randall Made Knives: The History of the Man and the Blades by Robert L. Gaddis, pp. 235-240

Quote:

[Charlie L. Alden sent a letter to Bo Randall in May of 1976.]

Having supplied various Randalls to security and special services personnel for U.S. and overseas assignments, I was approached in April 1976 with an unusual request. Members of a team needed a small, maximum-concealment defense knife that still could serve as an effective fighting weapon. They indicated a "cut-thrust-slash" blade capability, with a blade length of 4 inches as well as a 4-inch handle, and a sheath design that would allow instant access with either hand. That didn't seem too difficult, until the final specification that the knife itself could not be more than 7 inches overall length. No matter how you add 4 and 4, the total isn't 7. The solution became one of "effective function" rather than literal blade and handle dimensions.

On May 5, 1976, I completed an acceptable design. It called for a 3 3/8" black Micarta handle and an inch-wide, 3 1/2" blade of 1/8" stainless steel stock, with the guardless, nickel silver hilt tapered thinner than the handle to allow deep thrust, and the blade thumb-notched both sides the first 13/16" to extend effective hand grip for cut-slash engagement.

The sheath was designed to hang upside down, with a snap-secured strap wrapping across a notch in the knife's duralumin butt cap.

It customarily would be worn inside the shirt on a thin cord around the neck, hanging at mid-chest, where a downward sweep of either hand would open the snap and palm of knife handle. A necktie would readily hide the fact that two shirt buttons are kept unfastened for quick knife access.


... Bo had also been interested in these flat, easily carried types of boot knives for some years.... Charlie's customers didn't have time to wait until that fall, so Bo and Gary found some shop time somewhere in the schedule and got six knives to him within the desired time limit.... Well, the success of this short venture into small concealment knives rekindled Bo's interest in this area of the knife business, and Gary was also now intrigued. They visualized a modified version of Charlie's knife as potentially very useful for police and undercover agents, both for emergency use, such as cutting seat belts, and for personal self-defense. Therefore, the back-and-forth correspondence continued between Bo and Charlie Alden, with Gary and/or one of the senior shopmen throwing in an occasional idea.

...By late 1978, all had agreed upon a final design for the Randall Made knife that was to be the Model 24 in a new catalog edition that was then be contemplated.... The twenty-fifth printing of the catalog in January 1979 [introduced] the Model 24 Guardian. Bo chose the name after some discussion with Charlie, who had suggested "Defender."

...From its introduction through the later 1980s, the Guardian had three or four different sheath designs, plus there have been many more experimentals. The present one is a pouch type with a spring clip on the back. This has proven to be quite satisfactory for a wide variety of carry locations and methods, but if you wish to use Bo's and Charlie's favorite under-the-shirtfront position, you will have to remove the clip and punch a couple of holes in the top for your necklace. A thin gold chain was Bo's first choice.




From the current catalog:
Model 24 "Guardian" -- 4" x 7/8" blade of 3/16" stainless steel stock. Blade sharpened 3" with 1" of thumb notches. 3 3/4" Micarta handle, 3/4" thick. Micarta handle available, in maroon, antique gold, green or black color (please specify). Nickel silver hilt. (Name etching only extra feature available.) Especially designed in 1978 for use of police, undercover agents and law enforcement personnel for self-protection and as a back-up weapon. Concealment sheath included.

Lady and gentlemen, may we please see some Model 24s?

Kevin
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#38853 - 03/23/08 10:44 AM Re: Knife Of The Week Model 24 [Re: vklough46]
Burnie Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 04/22/07
Posts: 1387
Loc: United States
Here is a pair of early fishtails.


Attachments
36798-S5001304.jpg (536 downloads)



Edited by Burnie (03/23/08 10:45 AM)
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Burnie Austin
RKS #5489

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#38854 - 03/23/08 05:49 PM Re: Knife Of The Week Model 24 [Re: vklough46]
Holzinger258 Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 09/14/05
Posts: 1738
Loc: The Desert Southwest
Another pair of fishtails; different design/color sheath:



Burnie, where can I get a couple of those "holder" rings? ...is yours a standard O-ring? If so, what size is it, please? (I would hate to use regular elastic bands, because the sulfur in the rubber would mess up the sheath leather.)
Thanks,
-Steve


Attachments
36820-fishtails.jpg (505 downloads)


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#38855 - 03/23/08 07:19 PM Re: Knife Of The Week Model 24 [Re: Holzinger258]
Burnie Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 04/22/07
Posts: 1387
Loc: United States
Steve, You can take one of yours to the local auto parts store and buy the O rings there.
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RKS #5489

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#38856 - 03/23/08 08:23 PM Re: Knife Of The Week Model 24 [Re: Burnie]
Holzinger258 Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 09/14/05
Posts: 1738
Loc: The Desert Southwest
Thanks--appreciate the help!
-Steve

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#38857 - 03/28/08 12:08 PM Re: Knife Of The Week Model 24 [Re: Holzinger258]
Guido_Bitossi Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 09/22/05
Posts: 2779
Loc: Florence, Italy
....for your eyes' pleasure only.....



Best
Guido


Attachments
37042-#24_Skaggs.jpg (534 downloads)



Edited by Guido_Bitossi (03/28/08 12:09 PM)
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RKS # 3775
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#38858 - 03/28/08 12:45 PM Re: Knife Of The Week Model 24 [Re: Guido_Bitossi]
Holzinger258 Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 09/14/05
Posts: 1738
Loc: The Desert Southwest
BEAUTIFUL, Guido!
-Steve

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#38859 - 03/28/08 12:57 PM Re: Knife Of The Week Model 24 [Re: Guido_Bitossi]
TonyLaPetri Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 10/05/05
Posts: 6852
Loc: Glen Head NY
Guido,
BELLISIMO!!!!!!!!!!!
Ciao,
Tony
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Tony LaPetri
RKS#1885
RKCC CM-022

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#38860 - 03/28/08 05:01 PM Re: Knife Of The Week Model 24 [Re: Guido_Bitossi]
Chief Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 12/05/05
Posts: 5413
Loc: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Quote:

....for your eyes' pleasure only.....



Best
Guido




One of my all time favorites!!!! Really nice my Brother!

See Ya, Chief
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See Ya, Chief
RKCC CM-037
RKS #5154

If you put off following The LORD just remember......They don't serve breakfast in hell!

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#38861 - 03/28/08 06:30 PM Re: Knife Of The Week Model 24 [Re: Guido_Bitossi]
tomthbomb Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 09/15/05
Posts: 3955
Loc: Deep East Texas
Guido,
That is a thing of beauty!
It brings tears to my eyes!!!
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Tom Welch
RKS #4868

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