Pete...... the 'early' Stanaback Special Limited.... 4" blade, also has the number etched on the Front of the blade beside the RMK stamping..the 4 5/8" blade is etched on the back side of the blade.

Rex: Nice set there. Seeing your knife makes me feel that etch on mine was most likely done at Randall. I'll ask Dave Harvey to speak with Gary Randall again specifically about the etch this time. BTW, if anyone here has never dealt with Dave, I can attest after knowing him for 20 years, that his integrity and his character are solid gold. None better. Rex, thanks again, helps a lot,

Pete

Pete,

I have no doubts about what Dave wrote about the knives regarding origin of the pair. I met Dave at Blade Show. 2013. His reputation is well known.

It's just that the "number 1" design on your blade looks like someone "scratched" (?) an outline of a number "1" instead of an acid-etched number "1", which is in the serial number, "010" on Rex's knives.

If the number "1" on your pair of Randalls were in the same font & etching as Rex's, I would not be as concerned about the validity of the numbering of your knives. It just doesn't look like Randall Shop workmanship.

I realize too that there is a large span of years between the production of your knives and Rex's knives, but I've seen etching on Randalls that went off to Vietnam, and none showed the design found on your knives.

As stated in the previous post, I'm not trying to "torpedo" the history of the knives. I believe everything else you and Dave have stated. But when you compare the two number "1"s on yours and Rex's, there's a concern for further investigation as to who numbered your knives.

My apologies if I'm overbearing the quandary of the numbering of your knives. I look forward to hearing the voice of authority from the Randall Shop regarding this.

Buck: No worries, I'm not concerned. There's nothing to "torpedo" here. The knives are what they are and they're legit, with 1 owner previous to me and that being a long time repected maker/collector who was personal friends with Bo and Gary Randall. Bo Randall took delivery of knives made by Earl Witsaman and put them directly into the Randall museum collection. They were long time friends. As a little time goes by, the etch is concerning me less and less. A stainless seven spacer Sportsman's bowie is a very rare bird. My main question regarding the etch was if it signified that this one was the very first with stainless. Maybe, maybe not, I don't know. Would be nice to know if it was the first, but doesn't matter greatly, the knife is still one of only a few. As far as the etch itself, keep in mind that my picture is an extreme closeup. In person, it looks professionally etched, not scratched in and after seeing Rex's, I don't doubt that mine was shop done. Dave thinks it was and I trust his opinion. Anyone who knows Dave, knows that he's not prone to reckless speculation. The history of the knives is not in question, it's documented and solid. The etch is there on both and there's no reason to think that it was not done at Randall when the knives were made. At any rate, it's secondary to what the knives obviously are and to the well documented history of ownership. Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate your interest in these and it's definitely fun to have a pair that is rare enough to spark discussion. Thx,

Pete

Back to the title, "Your Matching Pair......"

Here is a pair of "Twelves" that are "Tens".

A Sportsman's Bowie, #14 grind, & Bear Bowie with ivory handles and nickel-silver furniture, recently ordered.

Yeooooza, what a pair!!

"Tens"... no doubt! Nice work Buck, that is a classy pair!

Have a good week guys,

Jay

Here is a pair consisting of a #1-8 and a #2-8 with yellow micarta handles. I actually bought these from the same person at two different times. When I bought the first one, I didn't know he had the other. He contacted me later and offered it to me.
- - Buckspen

Another awesome pair. Very Nice!!!

Documented first matched pair.