Randall Knife Questions

[thorin6]

I've always wanted to add a Vietnam era Randall knife to my small collection, and I picked up this knife at an estate sale this weekend for what I hope was a reasonable price, given that it didn't come with an original sheath. The question I have is when was it built. It appears to be a 3-6 (type 3 with 6inch blade), but I'm having trouble placing it in any time frame. It appears to be a custom built knife, with a Rosewood handle with finger grooves, and it has seven washers behind the guard, going yellow, red, black, yellow, black, red, yellow. The guard appears to be somewhat different than any I can find searching the web for pictures in that the protrusion above the blade (where the "RANDALL MADE" markings are) is somewhat between a hunter and fighter guard. Also, the blade is 5-1/2 inches in length. I would appreciate any help in identifying the era when this was made. (I'm not real concerned about the price unless there are reasons to doubt the authenticity of the knife).

 

 

[thorin6]

Close-up of the markings, guards, and washers:

 

[thorin6]

The handle:

 

[thorin6]

The rear of the handle, no nut or pommel. the handle is somewhat triangular:

 

[Elton]

I put this on the forum a while back, I called Randall in Orlando and described a knife I bought a gun show and they were able to tell me every thing about it. Their number is 407-855-8075 a couple of these pics and you will know the story, I think.

[thorin6]

I put this on the forum a while back, I called Randall in Orlando and described a knife I bought a gun show and they were able to tell me every thing about it. Their number is 407-855-8075 a couple of these pics and you will know the story, I think.

 

Thanks Elton, I remember now that you put the number on the forum a while ago. I will try them in the near future to see what I can learn.

 

[Ronnie]

I believe your Randall has been "re-handled". The spacers do not look right to me. It could possibly be an early Kit knife before they started marking them. All speculation on my part. You could post photos on the Randall Knife Collectors Club Forum Site and get a lot of answers. There are some really knowledgeable Randall Collectors there. The Forum is called "Knifetalk Forums".

Hope this helps.

Ronnie

[thorin6]

Ronnie,

Most likely you are correct; i searched for Randall Knife Kit and some of the blades look remarkably similar. I also went to the Knifetalk Forums and found out that one of the big Randall collectors sets up at shows in my area, and I may be sitting close to him at a show next week. I'll take the knife there and see if he can positively id it. I may also call the number that Elton gave but sometimes it's best to have a hands-on check.

[Ronnie]

Yes thorin6 I do believe it is a kit knife or simply rehandled. Let us know what you find out.

Ronnie

[thorin6]

The Randall knife collector I was hoping to see last weekend went to a different show, but he should be at a show nearby in a month. I'll plan on being at that show and bring the knife; then I'll let folks know what it is. Also, it appears that the kit knives were mid-late 60s to mid-late70s, and the early ones were not marked with either a "K" or "KIT" or the name of the person who ordered the kit (mine has no markings other than the "RANDALL MADE . . ." I also read about several special forces personnel who ordered kit knives before they deployed to Vietnam.