This certainly looks like either a Heiser or a HKL (I like this "HKL" nom-de-designation instead of using "Heiser-Randall stamp", or "west Ranall stamp," etc...much easier and descriptive) with Randall stamp. It has all the frontal clues but without seeing the back it would be virtually impossible to tell. I probably could tell you what it isn't though. A view of the back with stamp and stitching should be decisive.

Of interest are the brown buttons. In the photo, the button on the hone pocket appears to be almost 10 percent larger diameter than the button on the keeper. I blew it up and carefully measured units - 64 units diameter on the keeper, 69-70 units diameter on hone pocket. However, the difference might be camera angle perspective. If the diameter is indeed different, we have some new data to consider.

I would like to insert a thought here. Stockman made some sheaths about late 59-mid 60 or so, as did several other leather workers in the area from time to time (Gaddis). But, Stockman was primarily in business as a maker of fine harness and saddlery for the trotting and horsy set. My sister is a current card-carrying member of the central-florida horsy set. I assure you all that the poor-workmanship and quality that are commonly attributed to Stockman would not be tolerated by the group of central Florida customers that use horse tack. Something to consider.

Rex

That is good stuff and documented too. I've saved in in my "documented" files. Too bad we don't have a picture of the back of the sheath. The last documented knife with a Heiser stamp on the sheath I've found is in 1959. However both were combat models 1 or 14 sold by dealers.. therefore the knives could have been for sale/on display for some time. That is one reason I proposed early 1959 as the date for the switch to use of the Randall stamp.

I'm pretty sure sometime after publishing my findings, I ran accross a model-1 on line somewhere, documented shipped in late 1960 or even '61 (memory) with a Heiser stamped sheath. But, I cannot find that file now. If this mamory is accurate, then some Heiser-stamped sheaths were still being shipped when the Randall stamp had become dominant. However, that kind of overlap would be expected to occur on less popular models, which the combat blades were in '59-'61.