My take on this knife.

First, I think it is one of the most significant if not the most significant Randall to ever come to market. Only a handful of knives like this were made in my opinion, I believe partly due to the knife having a less "utilitarian" usability as Zacharias had originally wanted in a knife. It is a pure fighting knife, not designed to be held right side up, finger grooves in the wrong orientation, not really comfortable to to held other that how Bo designed it as was his preferred fighting method with edge up.

I do not believe at this time that Zacharias received more than one like this. In fact, it could be a push that he received any more than the first one out of stag. Bo switched to leather exclusively in November of 1942, the same month of the second knife going to Zacharias. Don't know for sure but will try and find out. I would bet there is no way his third and fourth knife ordered were anything other than leather.

I own the 28th knife listed in Bo's journal that was delivered 7 January 1943, and it is a far different knife than we see here. It is listed as a "Throwing Commando" and appears larger than what I can see of Tune's knife. Leather finger grooves no thong. Handle is relatively small which makes sense because Bo had smaller hands. In any case, quite a contrast but the point is that by the very beginning of 1943, the change had already been made with blade grind, orientation of knife, handle material, etc. Interesting also is that first 6 month period, Bo made 28 knives, a minuscule amount to what would be coming out of the shop in the next 6 months and beyond.

One other point that remains unclear is exactly who put the initials in the butt of both of the knives. Right now I am leaning towards Bo.

There is more to come on this piece and its appearance has encouraged a few of us to dig a little bit and see what we can find out about this early period in the summer/fall of 1942.

I can't say how happy I am not only for Mitchell but the collecting community in general that this knife rose to the surface and now is there for all to see.