Viet Nam era Randall

[squawberryman]

There is an oooold gunchop in Central florida called Peterson's Gun shop. Old man Peterson at the turn of the century buit his own rifles there to compete at the highest levels. AW Peterson is his name, quite a read. I was in there Saturday picking up a "beater" Python when I turned around and looked in the case and saw this. Understand the youngest employee in this place is around 55 years old, it's a refreshing change from the gun shops with gel headed punks that think if it doesn't hold more than seven it's crap. I bought this, and the person selling it was one of the elders. He'll be back Thursday, I'll get the story then. Randall number 14 finger groove fighter. Original sheath with white stone

[bradshaw]

squawberryman.... beautiful Randall knife, in as close to mint condition as life outside a museum permits. Leather protected from Florida sun, salt and humidity. Blade barely if ever sharpened. Mainly, an intriguing look at the purpose-driven Randall knife aesthetic, nothing about it overdone: Bowie-style blade, one of the finest conformations for field use, stout flat-ground blade; classic on-axis Bowie point for stabbing----perfect for hitting the jugular on a hog; classic soldered almost-but-not-yet-exaggerated handguard from the days of sword and knife encounters; handle a copy of WW I era trench knives, or some such down and dirty grip; rollmark worthy of a fine gunmaker.

Yes, let us have the rest of the story...
David Bradshaw

[axel]

Nice knife! You have it misidentified though. It is not a Model 14, but rather a Model 15 Airman. I know as I have two Model 14's and a Model 15. Your blade should be about 5.5" long. The Model 14 is either 7" or 7.5", otherwise the two models are the same.

[squawberryman]

Thank you Axel. Any info given would be appreciated. The Randall factory is an hour from me and at some point in time soon I'll visit there to get add'l info if available. Randalls don't have SN's. Blade is dead on 5 1/2.

[rWt]

There are a number of good reference books on Randall knives. A quick look see on Amazon will show you a few. Can you tell who made the sheath?

[squawberryman]

No stampimgs other than Randall's on the sheath. As I did not serve in the military does anyone know if that set of numbers on the back follow any familiar patterns of military identification? Thank you

[bobl44]

When you go back ask for Stuart or Jerry. I think Jerry is the knife collector there. I think the factory is still off S.O.B.T. , but I think they moved from the original location. Is the son or the grandson at Randall's in charge now?

[squawberryman]

As many questions as answers at this point. i'll try not to let the thread get buried

[Frank V]

Wow, that's nice.

[stevemb]

Some classy steel there ! stevemb

[ward01]

The view of the back of the sheath is a little close but it appears to be what I hear referred to as a Johnson Rough Back sheath - JRB. I think they were changed to another maker about 25 or more years ago. If you go back far enough, Heiser made their sheaths. I 'think' JRB's are correct for the Vietnam era.

One of the ways they date Randals is by examining the colored spacers that are part of the handles. Unfortunately, this model did not use these spacers.

Another way to date these guys is with the color of snap on the sheath. Here, we're going on faith that the sheath and knife have always lived together.

There is a Randal Knife Collectors Society out there but I don't know a contact.

ward