I've noticed some of that on older Randall's,.....and I was pleasantly surprised my model 1-7 Kit knife had a wonderful tapering in thickness down to the tip. I've even seen some older examples on some models that came back then without finger choils,.... that are always on them today. (so it can be done) I'm keeping an eye out for one needing some serious rehab at a fair price,.....as even I can't bring myself to work over a well preserved piece of Randall history.

I'm not sure if having the rectangular full length tang available was how all kit knives were offered,....as this is my only contact with one. But I gotta say it just HAS to be stronger in keeping the handle intact, than depending on a thinned down threaded connection. As I outlined in my work on the knife, the added 1/8" stainless pin I added through the unusual stainless pommel make this a brute I think.

I actually made the seller what I thought was a fair offer at $365.00 w/shipping on this well used Model 20. I pointed out it's not quite a model 20 now anyway, but I guess he places more value on it's Vietnam history than I do.

It's been listed for sale at $500 for quite awhile, and he would't take less than what he says was the $425.00 he paid. It appears to me much of the blade edge has been worn or ground away, making for a knife where the rest of the finger choil could easily be removed and a new edge added. I was also planning on flattening the spine a little into more of a slight drop point. Too much belly on a a knife and it tends to slip off at the end cuts when prepping wood.

A few pics: