I recently acquired this 12-8, the only non-model 14 I own. I am very taken with it. My best guess at age is approximately 1971 - which I guess qualifies it as "this old Randall" - but I would appreciate other, expert, opinions and reasoning. Though I'm an engineer familier with metals, I'm not knowledgable about wood so any opinons about the handle would also be appreciated.

Second question is about the odd pattern on the sheath. This looks a little as if mold had attacked the sheath and it was cleaned, yet the knife and sheath and stone are pretty much in unused condition. I really kinda like the "camouflage" look, just wonder if anyone knows what could be the source of the pattern. Thanks