I'm speaking of the Stiletto Joe...Not the Astro. Nice to have ya' back.
Thanks, Capt. Chris

Scott,

Great observations and all absolutely relevant with respect to what the shop was producing 10, 20, 30 and possibly even 40 years ago. However, you go back any further and you start seeing examples of aesthetic abnormalities and the results of Bo saying "we'll make it your way"!

Check out the uneven choil cuts on this circa '48 2-5:



I've seen hilt's with actual solder nodules and good size holes:



Spacers that were "smeared" after being ground and polished:



Excesss pitch left on the handle after after it extruded out the pin hole:



Ivory handles that were left rough ground:



Totally custom one-off knives:



"If" Bo agreed to etch the word PAUGUK verticle to the blade, he would have had to do it one letter at a time and this would account for the letters not lining up exactly. I'm not saying that this 2-5 is a product of the shop as we see it without any doubt. Just that it is IMO, certainly possible and can't be ruled out given the era.

PS to Cap: Yeah, can't rule out the "kit" either.

Best,

Dirty Water thanks for your input. It is appreciated and the manner in which it was stated is very much appreciated.
Ron and Joe I have known both of you for many years now thanks to the RKS and I am never anything but truly amazed at your knowledge of Randall Made Knives. Ron the unmarked knives remain a mystery and although I agree with Scott and the fact that there are perhaps many former employees perfectly capable of making an exact copy of any Randall Knife I cannot rule out Bo Randall's patriotism and a feeling that if he had been asked to supply the CIA with a quality fighting knife in a sterile condition and to not divulge the fact that he had done it, that he would keep that secret for life. As bazarr as that may seem. After all there are several fine examples of Model 1's and 2's without a trademark around and in fine collections. Joe I hit all around the fact that it was a NASA knife without actually saying it for sure. Thanks for stepping up and calling it what it is. I didn't think about the training knives. If it's a tuff question we can depend on you and Ron to step up to the plate.
Scott the fact that you have never seen RMK etch or engrave on a knife as the Mod. 2 Ron shows is understandable since Randall had the engraving done outside the shop by a company in Orlando up until the 1960's. I don't remember the exact dates when Randall started engraving but I believe it was after the Astro knives were made for NASA.
In regards to the Astro posted here by Tunefink...well needless to say it's gonna bring a lot of money. How much? Any ideas? I may have to get in the race! It would look awfully good in my collection. To quote the British SCO (Senior Commanding Officer) in the movie, "The Great Escape", "it's good stuff, Hilts."

I agree Joe! I've studied the Astro's more than any other Model and, sadly, there isn't much information on the very early one's. NASA placed more than one order and there were around 3 dozen shipped to them, most, if not all, with no sheath. As far as I know they were all carbon blades and most all were made from Soligen blades. The one up for auction looks to be a Soligen. At least some were Rhodium plated but it doesn't look like the one up for auction was one of them. The Rhodium plating was performed by a NASA subcontractor. Me and Joe both think this knife was likely purchased by an Air Force officer connected to the Space Program during that time period. I also think, and Joe won't agree with this, that making these knives is were Randall came across Micarta for handle material. This is my theory only.

Error on number made for NASA...see more current post!

Perry, Interesting thought...I worked for a NASA sub contractor in the early/mid 1960s and we often used material VERY similar to RMK "Browm Micarta" for making backing for printed circuit boards and other parts that were used on the "birds"

I may have I cracked the case. Lt. Colonel Joseph P. Salvo: He was a heck of a soldier, and a man with accomplishments in his life that are truly of note... paratrooper trainer WWII, Japan occupation, Korean War, Vietnam War, Laos War, Cambodia War, and in between, NASA. Here is his obit.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tucson/obituary.aspx?n=joseph-p-salvo&pid=154241845

Joseph P. Salvo | Visit Guest Book

"Lt. Colonel Joseph P. Salvo died of pneumonia at home in Oro Valley, surrounded by his loving family on October 17, 2011. He was born in 1919 in Philadelphia, son of Sofie and Peter Salvo. Immediately following graduation from Westchester State University, in August 1941, he was drafted into the army where he served as a parachute jump trainer during WWII. He was a Captain stationed in Japan at the start of the Korean War. He was among the first troops sent to Korea with the 25th Division where he headed an ambulance company and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service. Joe was one of the first Medical Construction Liaison Officers in the Air Force and was assigned to Lackland AFB during the construction of Wilford Hall Hospital. In 1960, he was designated Operations Officer in Bioastronautics at Patrick AFB. He supported Projects Mercury and Gemini working closely with John Glenn and other Mercury 7 astronauts. (emphasis mine). On retirement from the Air force he joined the United States Agency for International Development and served four years as Chief of Civilian Health Facilities in South Vietnam. In 1971 he moved his family to Vientiane, Laos where he was assigned as the Hospital Administration Advisor to the Kingdom of Laos. He also worked as an advisor and consultant in Cambodia. After retirement from USAID he spent several years as a consultant in developing countries. Joe enjoyed badminton and won a gold medal in the Senior Olympics. He was honored by West Chester State University as a Distinguished Alumnus. He is survived by his wife, Joan H. Salvo; and children, Joseph P. Salvo (Julie), Christine Davis (Daniel), Richard J. Salvo and Marianne Fracaro (Andrew); his grandchildren, Kelsey and Celeste; and his surviving sisters, Mary Mike and Terry Domarosky. Arrangements by VISTOSO FUNERAL MEMORIAL CHAPEL."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At some point it wouldn't be hard to contact his wife and ask about the history of the knife. For that matter, a letter to John Glenn just might be answered. He took the time to visit with a bunch of my Annapolis son's flight class during the Navy-Notre Dame game a few years ago. He was happy to have to attention and to talk.

They certainly didn't waste any time putting the knife up for auction. Or at least somebody didn't waste any time.

Well, the auction says it was from his estate. It could all have been prearranged, or memorabilia was packaged, or even sold some time ago by the family. But what is interesting is that the claim in the ad is probably true. This knife was likely a NASA knife, later carried in Vietnam, and probably Laos and Cambodia... hence the (model 15?) sheath.

Most of the things we regarded as meaningful during our life will be just another artifact to our heirs. I just dumped a load of my step-dad's history... except we kept the personal pictures of the Bikini Atoll underwater nuke test he took from 8-miles away.

Jack I sent you a PM.

I realy like this Astro :-)