this is the stuff i was living off of while running around with my hair on fire, rock climbing, fast roping onto suspected Noriega hideouts and whatnot...i have my old copy at home, and this is an ad-rife site, but hey, it's free and has lots of Randall stuff and photos of cool combat veteran knives of the author's and others...if you can't make out what is on the crossguard of the vet #15, it says "I'LL GET YOU"

http://www.scribd.com/doc/33861653/Survival-Fighting-Knives-Leroy-Thompson-1986-S

Interesting, especially the photos.

Very cool Lance.
Reminded me that I have that book sittin' on a shelf right next to me!
Tony

Tony, just thought i'd mention those books aren't all that common, and an even harder one to find is another survival knife book by a guy named Smith, published in the early 80's out of Statesboro, GA, lot of good Randall stuff there, too, and he loved his 18 and mini-18, but also showed great stuff on the 17 including a pic of all the original prototypes, and also many other folk's own efforts on the slotted tang including WWII and prior knives by several major cutlery names of the time.....

Not familiar with Smith's book. Do you have a copy?

Yes, and no, it is visiting other friends making rounds through the mail just now....and i am blanking on exact title, but it actually exists as Library of Congress listing shows, which is probably the only place most would ever know it existed at all....i will let you know when it returns...

Alf, the book you are referring to is;

Survival Knives and Survival by J.E Smith

I posses the second edition. Much better than the first edition. It's one of my most prized books. He speaks highly of the model 18 and 17. It is a hard book to find but well worth the cost. There was one on Ebay a few months ago.

Another, even better survival knife book is the Survival Knife Reference Guide by Douglas Berner. I had one of those years back. It was awesome and expensive. I sold my copy for $200.00 back in early 2000.

I will attempt to get some pictures up from the Smith book.

boy, this place IS weird....two obscure/too obscure books known only by one in 10,000,000 known by two posters here....three counting me....same here on second edition being better than first, and he also got feedback on knives from readers of first who let him know of problems with highly regarded and expensive customs...and wrote of them....who does that now?....

I love this place.

Yes, I agree, the Smith book, and Berner book for that matter, are truly unique. In the back of the Smith book, there is a testing protocol that he used for survival knives.

The impression that I got from the book, is that all knives he spoke highly of passed his testing. He even spoke of some that did not, like the early versions of Jack Crain's Life Support System knife.

He proclaimed Randall model 18's as exceptional working knives that are built to be used. (he was not wrong there)

I will try in the next day, to give a good write up of the test and pics of some of the book.

Going back about 10 years before, this book appeared in 1975, published by Phoenix Press, Arvada, CO. The editor/publisher, Robert K. Brown, who, of course, founded "Soldier of Fortune" magazine in the same year.

There are numerous photos in the softcover book of Randall military models by themselves, and also in the hands of participants, demonstrating knife fighting techniques.

The knife pictured on page 61 is described as the "Steele custom version of the Randall Model No. 1 fighting knife..."

Ordered from the Randall Shop: Model 1-6,SS,BM,NS2,ET1.

There also are dozens of photos of US servicemen in Vietnam photographed, wearing Randall, Buck, Gerber, "Ka_Bar", and others; many taken by, then, Major Robert K. Brown, USAR

Great source book for photographed Randalls used in service in Vietnam.

Buck, thanks for the pics. Does that book mention Model 18's?

Here are pictures from the Smith book.

Front cover/Rear cover shots;





Excerpts and pictures of various Model 18's;

(NOTE: One mistake in this first excerpt- He stated 18's come in 5 1/2 and 6 1/2 blade lengths. That is incorrect. Should be 5 1/2 and 7 1/2 blade lengths.









Note in this picture the personalized 18;





Another cool pic of a very well built non-RMK survival knife;



More to follow of the Randall model 17.

Matt,

Since my book is based on knife fighting techniques, the majority of the photographs are "hand-to-hand" poses. The author & his Randall model 1-6 are shown mostly in those poses.

Most of the Model 18's are shown on US soldiers in Vietnam or in training areas as seen below. This is the last page of photographs in the book.

Buck,

Thank you, sir. The reason I asked is because in this on-line article (http://www.rayfloro.com/?p=22) Ray Floro mentions that the Model 18 is highly regarded in that book. I need to get a copy of that book. Thanks for sharing.

wow...blasts from my past....all the books....29 palms....thanks guys....i need to check my pals and see when the Smith book will be headed this way again....i remember among my knife savvy pals from middle school (maybe 8th grade?) a copy of the Randall/(Applegate?) knife fighting booklet making the rounds of the classroom....i have here within eyesight several Lifeknife examples including the better Commando, a 100% original Aitor JungleKing with all its survival junk including slingshot and fish hooks, my Bianchi Nighthawk that pulled a lot of time and duty down south...lotta memories in those books....

Lance all of that would be nice to see....post some photos or better yet.....bring them to the Blade Show. Btw what day will you be there?
Thanks.

Lance,

You are most welcome, brother. These books bring back memories for me too. This genre of knives are what got my hooked to begin with.

The Smith books seem to be available through Amazon...

GREAT STUFF! Thanks Guys!

Ronnie, i will be happy to post pics as soon as i take them, link just posted to Amazon shows the desirable 2nd Edition of the Smith book....it is up in the air as to whether i will attend or not, mainly as i hate Atlanta traffic, but it would be Saturday if i show up, and i would mainly be hanging around Randall-type tables, so running into most, if not all, of you should be a snap if i go....if i don't, i hope all you have a blast, a hope which i know will be fulfilled.

Lance I was looking forward to meeting you but I will only be there Thursday and possibly a short while on Friday. I hope you can make it. Maybe I can catch you at another show. I have met some great people thru this show and these knives.....oh and just to be fair, I've met some really nice turkeys as well.
Over for now.

I have this book. The cover looks like this...

lotta truth in that sentence....sorry i'll miss you..downside for working for uncle is frequent unscheduled work, might get drafted this weekend for duty due to the catch-all "mission requirements" and "other duties as assigned", and miss everyone....never really know until circa Thurs night...meanwhile, have a great time..

and who would have thought those junky weird books we bought when younger would be worth so much today?!...thanks for all the great views, guys!

Tom, can I have it?

I might consider selling it to you, Matt. Now, what was the going price for this book?

Hmmm???

Tom,

I added a zero to that price by accident.

Seriously though, keep that book. Awesome, awesome book.

I borrowed this book from Tom (TAH) for a couple of months and really enjoyed it. I appreciate you loaning it to me Tom. There is a knife maker listed by the name of Daniel Valois (pronounced Val-Wah). He makes survival knives that are really neat. I did a search and found that he is still around...apparently and has a web site. However there are no prices and or knives for sale on the site. There is a notice that his knives can be purchased at another site, but I couldn't find any there either. I sent the guy an email from his web site but have heard nothing. After several weeks I sent another. Still no response. Does anybody know this fellow? Has anyone seen one of his survival knives? I really like his knife (except for the pakka wood handle) and would like to order one. Can anybody please help me. Thanks.

Four, I have all of J.E Smith's books and have read the other Smith's book. I also have a book on Combat and Survival Knives by Jerry Younkins

Tom Vaught

[/quote]

Ronnie, the only place I have seen them (survivals) is EBay every now and again. Arizona Custom Knives has some of Valois knives in stock. None are his survial models, but they may be able to direct you to the path to get in touch with him.

Good luck.

I know this is quite an old thread but I thought I'd give it a try as I didn't know these books existed and came across this quite by chance.

I'm a UK based book collector specialising in knife books and I'd like to try and get copies of these books. ED 1 and 2 for the J E Smith one.

Top dollar paid for good copies if you have one or know anyone who would consider letting them join one of the worlds largest knife book collection I'd be extremely grateful.

Any kin to Miles?

Not sure which one you mean?

Funny how Randall Knife Collecting and knife collecting in general brings out the hard core information that a few in the knife forum are aware of.

I have owned the Smith books for many years. They sit on the shelf mostly these days. In the Combat -Fighting Knives (1st edition) book (1987) by J.E. Smith,jr (page 38) is a picture of a custom weapon "Roman sword" 'designed' by US Special Forces "Steven Fishman" and made by Ralph Harris.

It is a basic knock-off of the "Randall Short Sword" made previously by the shop for a very few people but with a longer blade length.

The Smith books are more of a "collection" of knives built by makers over the years.

Tom Vaught

Tom if you ever decide to let them go to a new home please let me know.

7th Cavalry KIA Little Big Horn.

Well according to some anecdotal family history yes there is a strong possibility.

Very cool. He's one of my 7th Cavalry hero's.

Looks like I just picked up a second edition, I'd still be looking for a first edition too though.

Managed to get a first as well and also his volume on combat knives.

Still looking for a copy of Berner though.