Resizing Roderick's photo.

Thanks!

A very nice job on the handles, Roderick!

Here's my pair........Stainless seven spacer Sportsman's and early Bear bowies, both numbered "1" from Randall........

Here's another way to look at your pair.

If you want to keep you and your camera's reflection from showing on the blade on the second photo, hold the camera over the handle and shoot at an angle at f/11 or f/16 for more depth of field.

Hope this helps.

AV8R, you posted, "both numbered "1" from Randall........"

Just to be clear, the number "1" is etched on the right side of the blade (opposite side from the trademark side)?

Buck: Thanks for bringing the pictures up. Each knife has a marking below the logo. It can be seen on the closeup of the 12-9. They're both marked the same. The original owner, knifemaker Earl Witsaman, was good friends with Bo Randall and had these knives made on request. Randall marked the knives this way, but I don't know what it signifies. Both knives have the exposed flat brass nut. Thx again for the photo help.

I'm curious if anyone has seen another early 12-9 with stainless. Could this be the first one??? As far as the Bear bowie, I believe Griggs made the first stainless 12-8 in the late 1960's. Thx,

Pete

Meaning no disrespect, but the number "1" below the trademark doesn't appear to be something the Randall Shop would do.

The number would likely be etched on the blade in a neat professional font.

Again, not trying to "torpedo" the story, the number just doesn't look like it came out of the Shop.

Perhaps, Capt Chris or Tunefink or Crutchtip will offer their observation on the "number".

The only trademark side etches I have seen are "KIT" for the old kit knives.....and the maker initials for the authorized "out of shop finishers like Leschhorn. I don't have any experience with an etch like the one in the pictures..... sorry.

You don't see many bowies with 7 spacers, usually they were 5 spacers in the 50-'s and 60's.

Never say never, but I agree with Buck..... not a shop etch.

Guys: Thanks for the info and Buck, no disrespect taken. I'm definitely not trying to construct anything but a well documented and factual history on the knives. I just bought this set from Dave Harvey, who got it from Earl's widow. Dave gathered what info he could on the knives from Earl's wife and he spoke to Gary Randall about them. Dave was impressed with the fact that the blades are stainless and was trying to establish the rarity of such blades on early bowies. He documented what he knew about the knives in letter form, so I'd have some authenticated history. Dave never had any mention from Gary that the etch might have been done outside the shop, so I never really thought about it. I agree with your opinions and I'm going to have to say "jury's out" on the etch at this point. I appreciate your comments very much and would also welcome any info with regards to the history of stainless on the early bowies. Gary told Dave Harvey that back when these were made, the shop was filling special requests and trying different things. Based on his and Bo Randall's close relationship with Earl Witsaman, Dave said Earl most likely got Bo to agree to do these knives in stainless for him. I just figured that whoever forged the blades from stainless at that time probably just did the etch with Bo's approval. I still think that's a possibility, but also have an open mind to that not being the case. I'm going to research these knives as far as I can go and hopefully be able to put together more actual facts. Please don't ever think that I would try to put my own "story" to the knives. I would never do that, all I'm after is the real history. The knives themselves are really cool beasts, I love the set and it's fun to try to figure out the history. Again, I welcome your info, opinions and I appreciate your wealth of knowledge and your time. Thanks,

Pete