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  #1  
Old 01-30-2017, 11:47 PM
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Randall Confederate Bowie

Does anyone have an opinion as to whether the handle on this Bowie was shop done or not?
Notice the etched butt cap, and unusual spacer configuration? The handle is brown Micarta. I am guessing '63-'65 made.
Any opinions would be appreciated.
Regards, Samg






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  #2  
Old 01-31-2017, 07:25 AM
Ta2bill Ta2bill is offline
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This has been bought and sold twice in the past 6 months. It is a "KIT" knife. The second seller did not reveal/disclose as much info as the first seller did. He actually didn't show the Letter/monogram on the butt cap this last auction.
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Old 01-31-2017, 08:06 AM
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Thanks Bill. Is this the one that has the "A" monogrammed on the end? I asked the seller and he said it was smooth on the end. Do you happen to have pics from the other auction?
It was listed as Brown Micarta, and the grip notches look good too.
Thanks again Bill.
Sam
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  #4  
Old 01-31-2017, 08:47 AM
Ta2bill Ta2bill is offline
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It's not the one that I was thinking of with the "A" on it:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RANDALL-KNIV...p2047675.l2557
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  #5  
Old 01-31-2017, 09:33 AM
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I think this knife originally had an Alabama Crimson Tide script "A" on the butt. If so, I found out a couple of years ago that the original owner whose name is on the blade was an Alabama fan from N. Alabama and the knife is indeed late 50s.

The original owner passed away about 4 (?) years ago and the knife was sold by his family. When the knife first appeared I considered buying it as I am a University of Alabama graduate. I researched the knife, found the obit of the owner, e-mailed survivors, but opted not to buy the knife in the end...knida wish I had bought it. Whoever bought it subsequently polished the script A off of the end.

The knife Bill posted a link to is the same knife. In any case, someone did polish the "A" off the butt. Hope this helps.

Last edited by Jacknola; 01-31-2017 at 09:42 AM.
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  #6  
Old 01-31-2017, 09:38 AM
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Thanks Bill and Jack. Jack, do you think this to be a kit knife? The spacers aren't correct, though we do see wired configurations from time to time.
Regards, Sam
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  #7  
Old 01-31-2017, 09:41 AM
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I don't personally think it is a kit knife partly because of the soldering of the hilt and the hilt itself. I think it was possibly custom ordered including the butt cap. But that is an off the wall opinion.

Last edited by Jacknola; 01-31-2017 at 09:45 AM.
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  #8  
Old 01-31-2017, 09:43 AM
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Also Jack, if this knife has the darker Brown Micarta, that wasn't advertised by the shop in the catalog till the 16th printing 1963. I guess it's possible that it was used as early as late 50's.
The thickness of the hilt seems to indicate late 50's.

Bill, thanks for finding that previous listing.

Regards, Samg
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  #9  
Old 01-31-2017, 09:50 AM
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From what I"ve read we need to be a little careful about judging brown micarta on color. In those days, each batch had a slightly different color and how the block was cut, with grain or across grain, made a big difference in the appearance. We know brown micarta was being used in early 1960s on the astronaut's 17s, possibly earlier. Have seen in on a knife supposedly confirmed dated to early 1959...not sure though... Also, this knife could have been rehandled at some point though there is no visual evidence.
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Old 01-31-2017, 09:59 AM
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Thanks Jack. The finger grooves on the handle look to my eye shop done, but the spacers...Have you seen that color sequence before?
It's definitely a hard one to call. For me anyway. Thanks Jack for your input.
Sam
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  #11  
Old 01-31-2017, 11:54 AM
Ta2bill Ta2bill is offline
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In the auction that I sent the link to, the seller states maroon micarta and not brown. Also that it's a "custom" build, whatever that means. And the yellow print stone is later than the sheath.

Did you wind up the high bidder Sam?
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  #12  
Old 01-31-2017, 12:12 PM
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Yes I did Bill. Thanks for posting that other listing that shows the butt cap. The pic is blurry, do you see a peened tang?


Last edited by samg; 01-31-2017 at 12:26 PM.
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  #13  
Old 01-31-2017, 12:25 PM
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Dang! The previous listing does say Maroon!! WTF??!! I haven't pulled the trigger on it yet. I have an odd feeling about it. Discription said Brown. Maroon wasn't available till 1975 according to the Randall Catalog, and not available on the model 12 large Bowie's. If it's Maroon, unless Randall was using it long before 1975, this knife was rehandled IMO.
Regards, Sam

Last edited by samg; 01-31-2017 at 12:34 PM.
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  #14  
Old 01-31-2017, 12:32 PM
Ta2bill Ta2bill is offline
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That's why I feel it's a "KIT" knife that was assembled much later on.
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  #15  
Old 01-31-2017, 12:46 PM
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The spacer sequence is odd too. Vintage Randall's are red/white/blue, with blue being center. This one is odd.



I know custom means just that, but....
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