Thanks to all who have posted thus far.

From Randall Made Knives: The History of the Man and the Blades by Robert L. Gaddis

In 1954 Bo received a letter from two U.S. Marine Corps officers interested in developing a pilot's survival knife. More detail on this will be forthcoming next week, but from this process the Model 14 was also developed. The original plan was to have the knives mass-produced for the Marine Corp. Because of red tape and changes in personnel assigned to the project, that never happened. "Bo didn't have the time, money, or patience to mount a lobbying effort, so he just added these knives to the Randall line as Models 14 and 15 and kept on making top-quality knives for those who appreciated them." (p. 150)

The Vietnam War vastly increased the demand for Randall knives.

Quote:

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From February through July 1965, there was a significant, but manageable, increase in the orders. Then, in August, the avalanche started! That month saw many thousands of U.S. military men going to South Vietnam, as it suddenly became an American war. The demand for good knives skyrocketed, and individual orders received at Randall Made Knives more than doubled, compared to those of only the previous February. This wave of new orders was led by good ol' Model 1 All-Purpose Fighting Knife, followed by the Model 14 Attack, while in third place was the newest addition to the line,the Model 18 Attack-Survival.

...During January 1966, the Model 14's popularity overtook that of the Model 1, ushering in an entirely new ranking of model preference with U.S. military men. Throughout the remainder of the Vietnam War, the Model 14 Attack was a runaway leader in individual GI orders, with the Model 18 survival knife in second place.... (p. 206)

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In the current RMK catalog, the Model 14 comes with either a Black or Green Micarta handle, "This knife was designed to meet the demand for an almost indestructible all-purpose knife, though it is especially suited for combat and survival purposes." I'm sure anyone who has handled a Model 14 with its 7 1/2" blade of 1/4" stock would readily agree.

Lady and gentlemen, may we please see some Model 14s?
Kevin
#5109