Here is the letter I received from Mr. David Harvey

We began making our Nordic Knives Special Bowie in 1998. We were discontinuing our earlier special design, the Nordic Knives Special Drop Point, and I was looking for a larger knife that would be both attractive and different from others in the Randall line. I wanted a knife that could serve a user in the
field or on the trail, and also one that could serve the collector market well. This design first attracted me on one of knifemaker Willie Rigney's knives. It is simply a medium sized English Bowie, with a flat ground 7" stainless steel blade. One prototype was made, which stays in the collection of Randall Knives. We have since taken orders for over 500 knives, with around 460 knives individually serialized produced so far.

The standard version is the same as most Randall models, except for the
stainless steel blade: brass hilt, leather handle, aluminum butt cap. Very few have actually been made this way, as most customers prefer to dress them up with stag, wood, or micarta handles. All of the various hilt & butt cap options are also available, of course. Pricing for the standard design is currently at $510, with delivery coming in late 2009.
I can not thank every one enough for the great participation in the knife of the week threads. So without further a due
Ladies and Gentlemen: could we please see some Nordic Specials Old and New

Those are both beautiful knives. The scrimshaw is outstanding.

Those knives are Dave Harvey’s personal knives.

Both are very beautiful with the scrimmed handles. Here are a couple Bowies. One with a single guard and the other with a forward curved style.
~dale

Although not ordered when they were the Nordic dealer special, here are some non-catalog model 11-3's.
~dale

and handle close ups... some very beautiful stag.

This is an older NDP.....

Dale,

Those 2 Nordic Bowies are awesome, especially the one with the finger grooves.

Steve,
That one belonged to a friend. I just had it to photograph and sell for him. I must say I really liked the way it felt when holding it...superb fit in the hand. The single guard is my choice for any user. It seems to make it more useful... at least for the things I do with a knife anyway. Mine has the forward curved (my favorite style for double hilts). Here's a couple pics of it on a couple different burl stands.
~dale

This is the only one I have.

Gawd, Those are some exquisite knives. Those two of Dave HArvey's are nothing short of stupendous!

Mine needs a little engraving and scrimshaw. One of these days. But here it is as it came from the shop, one more Randall masterpiece in pure silver and elephant ivory:


Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved

Regards, Doug

Here are some cool ones from perry millers site
www.Spaceportcutlery.com

Just awesome looking knives everyone.

my only nordic special

There's our Florida Panther.

Great knife "Scout Bob".

Dubie Baxter

This is my first Nordic Special, and I have one almost like it in route:

Below are better photos of the same Nordic Special (#487):

Ken-

Beautiful Nordic and awsome pictures.

Pap

I also have #297, which is identical except for red/brass spacers and the character of the ironwood handle, and #496, which has a Stag handle and nickel silver furniture (forward curved hilt and butt plate).

I am thinking to take a few snapshots of #496 in a few minutes, mainly for my dad's sake. (I had to convince him that #487 has an IronStag handle.)

I spent about ten minutes this morning taking these snapshots of Nordic Special #496 (Nickel Silver furniture and Stag handle):

One of my favorites...

Very nice. What number is it? I cannot quite make it out in your last photo.

Thanks Ken, #405.

Rob

Nordic Special #570, which I ordered in 08/2008, arrived yesterday. Here are couple quick snapshots that I took this morning, on top of my present work-related task:

Ken, very nice piece! I've never seen another with a single square top hilt or thumb notches.

Maybe this can be called the Nordic Hunter.

A few more photos of Nordic Special #570:

Ken, If you ever want to part with Mr. #570 there, let me know!!. Excellent configuration.

Many thanks, it has all my favorite options including the black no hone sheath.

Here is a Fossil Walrus handle Nordic Special with some really interesting coloration. I wonder what minerals contributed to this color?

Another view.

Great Nordic Specials guys
Thanks for posting.
I am expecting my first some time this spring. The original date was March, but I think they are running behind a few months. I will post as soon as I receive it.

Peter

My stainless Nordic Special with supplied stabilized wood and nickel/silver furnishings:

VERY NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think the shop made a mistake and gave you Italian Marble for the handle.

#494 with antique gold micarta

Coming next (since I've figured out the picture posting thing) BIG PICTURES!

What a beauty!!

Pap

Hi
I had just gotten back from the Blade Show when I had a call my Nordic Special was due in. Custom ironwood, nickel silver forward curved hilt, aluminum and black spacers, 22 handle with aluminum crows beak and black left hand sheath.

Peter

It's amazing how totally different ironwood can look. That is so dark it gives the appearance of Brazilian Rosewood. Nice Peter. Did you shoot these photos with your "G-10"? If so...Help me out as to "settings" via email. Thanks and good luck with your "Nordic"!
Best, Capt. Chris

Not sure if these threads still continue, but here's my recently acquited #518 Nordic Special:








For informational purposes, here are a few words Daniel over at Nordic responded to my inquiries on the knife:
"I can tell you I suspect it was made around 4 years ago, based on the current numbers we are receiveing from Randall.....Based on the options that particular knife has, lugged brass hilt, scalloped brass collar and butt cap, very nice stag handle, our current price to order a knife with that configuration from Randall would be $785 assuming it has a brown sheath. You have a very nice knife there with outstanding stag."

Cool options and great stag!

Looks very nice. Stag is outstanding.

Here is a recent addition to my collection. Ivory handle scrimmed by Rick Bowles.

Jim
Great looking Nordic Special, please post a close up photo of the handle
Thanks
Peter

Peter,

Here you go.

Jim

Peter,

Here are the fraternal twins. The Cougar scrimmed knife has .999 silver hardware.

Jim

Jim
Great looking pair, there are big horn sheep here, but I haven't seen any yet. I have traveled where they are known to be, but they have avoided me and the camera.

Peter

VERY nice lookin' knives Jim!!!

Jim,

Those two are masterpieces - very impressive... Thank you for sharing!

Wow, what an impressive pair - Fine Art!

That's a great looking pair of knives Jim. Beautiful scrimshaw.

Posterity Post:

Pair of Nordic Specials.

Nickel Single Hilt Square, Red and Aluminum Spacers, Nickel Butt Cap, Wrist Thong, Thumb Notches, Finger Grips, Each Engraved "September 2012" on reverse.

Top is Nordic Supplied Ironwood.
Bottom is Shop Supplied Black Micarta

Both have black no-hone sheathes.


Thank you Mr. Harvey.

Doug

Tunefink,

is your 70's NDP a 3 1/4" or 4" blade. I have one with the same spacers but mine is a 4" blade.

knife is shown on first page of this thread.

It was 3-1/4. What is your sheath stamped?

this is where it get interesting. the sheath is marked 11 45

I am not sure the sheath is original. the knife is .241 thick almost 1/4" maybe the knife was a 4 1/2" and was cut down removing the notch???? if so it appears to have been a good job. would the Randall shop have done something like that?? I thought it was a NDP with a mis-matched sheath. but now I think it is a ground down Model 11, here is the back of the sheath.

I don't think that is a regrind.... notches look right.

Scott may be able to help?????? Boss?

Sure, it looks likes a regrind to me also..but not by the shop with that finish...

WoW, I have a Model 11NDP 4". Maybe the shop would like to offer this new Model as a NON Catg. LOL.

It has a nice feel and isn't butt ugly, I think Scott is right about the regrind. it appears that who ever did it, did a good job. Maybe it is a One of a Kind special order. thanks everyone for the insite. if there are any more ideas out there please weight in.
max

I agree Scott. Way too mirror polished and the thumb notches portion has been altered. It started it's life as an Alaskan Skinner-4 1/2". No more!
Best, Capt. Chris

What do I know.... it's not a fighter!!!!!!!!!!!!

thank you, Tunefink, Scott and Capt Chris for the information. do you have any idea how badly the regrind devalued the knife? I may have to let it go.

max

This is what it should look like:

thank you Crutchtip, did all the Model 11's have the shorter hilt? my knife has the longer hilt like the NDP Tunefink shows on page 1. of this thread. If this knife didn't have the 4" blade it would be a dead ringer for the NDP, maybe the original owner tried to copy the NDP blade. Ruining a very nice Modell 11 in the process.

Perhaps the owner, who made the change blades, just was not convenient ledge on the butt. I know a few people who like smooth butt, without projections that could push his hand.

I remember a topic about the Thumb notch that got quite heated.
You could be right on about that, and that would make since that the blade would be shortened to accommodate the removal of the top of the notch.

I took me years to warm up to the deep, top cutout on the Alaskan. I preferred something more along the lines of this altered blade..."then"... No more! The shop had it right all along. Just "USE ONE" and you will fall in love with that deep, notched rear top portion of a Model #11, regardless of blade length.
The 4 1/2 " offering, along with the 5" is 1/4" stock. I prefer the 4", forged out of 3/16th myself. Try it...you'll like it!
Best, Capt. Chris
PS: Examples below: #11-4" and the #28, "Woodsman", if you should "not" like the cutout...CCS

I'm as guilty as the next guy, but we should get back to "Nordics". Should we want to show variations of "Alaskans" we could start a new thread. Should we just simply want to talk about the "way-coolness" of drop points, we could also start another thread.
Just sayin', Capt. Chris

Back to Nordics: Here are mine...............stag knives are ser# 001 and 003.

Mine is not a fancy one, but it is a low ser. number, made in Y2K.

Another way to look at AVBR's

Another way to look at "GHD's"

Buck: I appreciate that. Thank you!!

Pete

#464

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Love the colour of this one

Looks great!

First of all: I wish every forum member a heathy prosperous and otherwise fantastic new year!

Here's the Christmas gift I got from my wife and it arrived right on time!

Nordic Special Bowie with nickel silver furniture and concave Black and White Ebony handle.

Congratulations, very handsome bowie!

Great Christmas present, Gert.
Your wife selected a true gift.
Happy New Year to you both.

More great ones.

Nice!