Anyone know what happened to "The" Bradford Angier Model 5 that was Mr. Angier's?
oldguy

Also, can anyone post the excerpt from his book where Mr. Angier discusses his Randall knife?

oldguy, I'm not trying to hijack your thread...just trying to keep it alive.


Bradford Angier (1910-1997)

I have a copy of on your own in the wilderness it's from the fifty's but I cannot find where he talks about his randall but it seems there is a very old randall pictured. I have posted this picture before on the forum

I posted this some time ago I think, this is from the American Rifleman

Peter

Peter, Thanks for the posting about Bradford Angier Knife. Does not get much better than a pre 64 Model 70 & a Randall Made knife. Walt

Thanks for posting that Peter.

I have read that article before, but that is good reading. Thank-you Peter for posting it. I enjoyed reading it again....

The Photo above is not a photo of Bradford Angier (it is miss-labeled in some links in the google search for Bradford Angier like this one:

http://www.google.com/search?q=bradford+...mp;ved=0CEoQsAQ)




The photo is actually of his friend and neighbor on the Peace River, "Deadly" or "Dudley" Shaw, more properly Reginald Withers Shaw.

See this link:

http://www.michaelkluckner.com/bciw11peacedudleyscabin.html

"Deadly" or "Dudley" Shaw got his name from using the word 'Deadly" a lot.

"His nickname arose because he used "deadly" as an adjective--as a synonym for "awful," usually referring to the quality of camp food."

Bradford Angier was a much younger man when he wrote many of his early books. I have read several of them. I think he had published about 35 different ones but a lot of info was repeats of info in other books earlier written.

Tom Vaught

In the picture it looks like it is a carbon steel blade. I always thought it may have been stainless.

Tom, thanks for clearing up the photo. Anyone have a photo of the real Bradford Angier?

Also, Tom, in all the Angier books you have read, does he ever mention his Randall knife by name or is it just a known fact that he carried a Randall? I was under the impression that he wrote about it in one of his books.

Peter, thanks for reposting the article. I noticed that he still doesn't credit Randall Knives, although he does Winchester, Marbles, and several other brands. Wonder why??

Supposedly he talks about his Randall in the book "On your own in the wilderness" I own a new version and a original copy (original seems to be rare) but I cannot seem to find where he talks about it in this book.

I'm too lazy to "Google', so I'll ask here, my memory tells me B. Angier was the first "Poet Laureate" of South Carolina .... Can anyone confirm, (from memory, please)

More than one B. Angier. We are talking about the Bradford Angier who was a Newspaper Writer from the east and moved to the upper western coast of Canada. Lived in a log cabin with his new wife.
Wrote a bunch of outdoor books about his time in Canada (and other places) later in life.
Tom Vaught

Oldguy...I just read in "The Randall Saga" written by Dominique Beaucant, that Bradford Angier's
knife is on permanent display at the Harvard Museum.

Tanasie, Thanks for the info. I always wondered where it was. I also always wanted to know if the Powers Trout and Bird Model 8 was like the oldstyle or new style and if it had any options on it. oldguy

Not to beat a dead horse, but can anyone confirm which book Mr. Angier talks about his Randall. I would like to hunt down an original copy, but Ben has me questioning if "On Your Own In The Wilderness" is the correct book.

Thanks!

Tom, I have a copy from 1964 that I bought because I expected to find the 5-6 there. He talks of knives a lot of course but does not mention a Randall IMO.
But it's a very interesting book nevertheless and I enjoyed reading every page

Thanks Peter. I'm starting to wonder if he ever mentioned a Randall by name in any of his books. I was under the impression that he did.

In the book, "The Art and Science of Taking to the Woods" by C.B. Colby and Bradford Angier, (dated 1970 from Stackpole Books) is ONE comment about Randall Knives.

At the bottom of page #43 and top of page#44:

'For instance, avoid a flashy belt knife with a 7-or 8-inch handle and fancy sheath. The days of Jim Bowie are long gone, so stick to the more functional sizes. The longest of the several belt knives that one of us owns has a 6-inch blade. The shortest of them being half that long. His all-time favorite has a 4-inch cutting edge, that kept sharp, can help build a snug lean-to or skin a moose.'

'THE OTHER OF US PREFERS A HANDMADE RANDALL 6-INCH BLADE THAT IS THE ONLY KNIFE WHICH HE HAS EVER BEEN ABLE TO SKIN AN ENTIRE BIG GRIZZLY WITHOUT STOPPING TO RESHARPEN. IT IS LIKEWISE EXCELLENT FOR FUZZ STICKS,EMERGENCY SHELTERS, AND OTHER WILDERNESS CHORES'

I have never found another comment like that in the 7 books by or co-written by Bradford Angier that I own.

Hope that helps.

Tom Vaught

Cool!
Tony

Very neat Tom, thanks for posting that.

Google books search (bradford angier randall) turned up the following three titles that also show pages where Bradford Angier references his specific knife in 1, the Randall shop in 2, and the compass in his Randall knife in 3.


1. Looking for gold: the modern prospector's handbook By Bradford Angier c 1975

2. One Acre and Security: How to Live Off the Earth Without Ruining It By Bradford Angier c 2000

3. Basic Wilderness Survival Skills By Bradford Angier, Lamar Underwood c 2002

Many of us are familiar with Gaddis's description of Bo and Bradford being pen pals and coming up with the 5-6 with Micarta handle, nickel silver hilt, and compass. (pg 221) I think from the reading this was occuring in the mid 60's. Perhaps it wasn't until Angier's later books that he began to directly credit Bo and the Randall shop?

Either way, an Angier 5-6 is on my want list.

I think that's probably the case. I finally gained access to a scanner so I could post these pages from "On Your Own in the Wilderness" (1964 edition). This book was co-written by the great Townsend Whelen, and it seems to be his 'voice' that's speaking on these pages. In the photo the knife on the right looks like an early Randall.

Edit: There's no specific mention of a Randall, but I think what Whelen says about knives in general is interesting.

Sorry for the poor quality scans.

Good call, Rick. One of the many reasons I like stag is that every piece is unique. Like a fingerprint:




Best,

Thanks Tom, Chad, and Rick. You all nailed getting to the bottom of Bradford Angier's Randall references.

Ron, is that the same knife in the photo? Second knife looks like a Marbles and the third might be a Buck.

Hi Tom,

I believe it is. I just about s%#@ when I compared the handles! Thanks for posting that scan, Rick. It seems I need to pick up a copy of that book. Agreed on the others. I think the 4th is a Randall as well.

Best,

After comparing the handles over and over, I think you're right, Ron. It's the same knife. The question is, did the knives in the photo belong to Townsend Whelen and/or Angier?

Knowing you, you probably have Frances Gary Power's knife in your collection and you don't even know it.

Good question, Tom. I think the chances of finding out for sure are pretty slim. It's worth looking in to.

Wow, Ron, that is very cool!!

Thanks, Rick. For some reason I've had more than my share of luck with Randalls. Karma? What are the odds of a matchup like this? Pretty long I'd say.

Best,

Maybe you should play the lottery Ron with luck like that.

I have posted the picture of the page with the knives before. It is in the book on your own in the wilderness. the older version

Rob,

I figure if God wanted me to be rich, it would have happened before now. Don't know if you watch Seinfeld, but I feel like George: If I win the lotto, I get hit by a truck the next day! I'm more than thankful for my family, friends and relatively good health.

About your lack of an RKS number: Hell......I'd just pick one not assigned yet like 10,000 and go with that!

Tom, Ron, your discussion intrigued me, so I put the 2 knives in a comparison--sure do look the same--then I sketched an outline of the top knife and superimposed it over the bottom knife (blue line). Finally I arrowed and circled a few unique features. GOT to be the same knife (except for the choil?)

A line from "The Andy Griffith Show"....
"you beat all I've ever seen...you know that Ron?"

Steve,

Thanks so much for going throught that exercise! The choil is there. It's just hidden by the shadow. Similar situation with the WWII Hunter in Gaddis' book: It doesn't seem to have a choil because of the light reflection, but it has one (Note: Not the same knife, but all WWII Hunters with that same grind had one):




Ronnie: What can I say?

Best,

So well said!

Great post. Good info. Some cool pics. Very enjoyable. Thanks all!
Tony

Ron, that is too cool! I would love to hear the story of how you aquired that knife.

That is so cool.

Ron,

I is great fun to be able to see all the neat knives in your collection. Thanks.

Do you have an interesting story about them?

Cheers,

Alan Grombacher
RKS#5531

I've been watching from the sidelines but I just have to say that I sure wish we had more threads like this one! From the beginning until present it's a "good read". Thanks to all who contribute. Ron for your insight and terrific photos and collection and Steve and everyone who goes that little extra to make a thread like this..."complete"...I appreciate your time and efforts. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Capt. Chris

I agree, Captain. Now let's continue with a photo of the elusive Bradford Angier. What did this guy look like???

From the back of the book WILDERNESS WIFE ...

Thanks, Tony!



Chad,

Thanks. Some guy came to Rhett with the knife late last year. Rhett came to me to help date it. Things kind of evolved from there. Rhett gave me the guy's contact info, so I'm going to start start with him in an attempt to trace it's lineage.



Alan,

Every one has it's own story. Some a bit more colorful than others.




Thanks, Cap.

Best,

Thanks Capt. I'm glad I started this one. oldguy

Show me THAT knife...!

Tony,

Thank you for the posting Angier's photo. He doesn't look at all like I pictured him in my mind.

Not sure if I would be 100% sure. Very similar though.

Whatever, it is a cool knife.

Tom Vaught

I found this book by Bradford Angier years ago. Wilderness Cookery. Great read lots of good tips.

Man, this thread keeps getting better. Great scans, thanks guys. I wouldn't mind living in that cabin on the lake a few months out of the year.

Abby, could you give us the year that book was published?

Ron, looking forward to hearing more about your knife if you're able to track down more information. That's a heck of a find!

Published in 1963. Found this at a yard sale years ago.

Here's another shot of the cabin with the photographer's comments...



"We took a side trip from the Alaskan Highway to Hudson's Hope, British Columbia. This is the cabin that Bradford and Vena Angier lived in during the early 70's. They were writers about the wilderness that inspired my imagination when I was young. I have several of their books."

Look at the size of that screen on the windows....now that's some large mosquito's!

Okay, Ron, show us the actual knife.

Close, but no banana

Not even close, the pin in your handle is much smaller. Nice try!

Helluva good try!!!

Tom / Rob,

It's really a worse try than you think: The knife photographed in Bradford's "Wilderness Cookery" is a mid 50's Model 3-6. The knife I posted a photo of is a C 1950 Model 7-5. If you look closely, that's a small stamp on the Model 7. The only era that a Model 3-6 or 3-7 carried that small stamp was in the 40's.

As a side note: The pin in the 7-5 is nickel silver. That only happened on a small percentage of knives around 1950. A number of years ago I had a bet with Doug (Silverknife): He claimed they were aluminum. I think he still owes me a beer

Best,

Ron,

It's a beautiful 7-5. Those old knives have such sexy lines. I'm sure Angier would have been proud to carry it as well.

I found this at the Randall Museum from Bradford to Bo.

Abby,

Thanks for the photo. I enjoyed seeing it!

Very good thread, I am enjoying these pictures and it made me order some more of his books!

But that Grizzly had emotional problems,......and was "thin skinned".

Seriously though,....I thought that I would add a link I posted in another thread to a free online reading of one of his books, "How To Stay Alive In The Woods". It seems appropriate to add into this older thread. 285 pages and worth a read.

Thanks Tom (Vaught), for bringing THIS old thread to my attention.

https://archive.org/stream/HowToStayAliveInTheWoods/0020280505StayAliveWoods#page/n1/mode/2up

Col. Whelen was an exceptionally skilled outdoorsman (based on the books of his I have read). Lots of Military experience.

Tom V.

Bradford Angier mentions in one of his books that Col Townsend preferred a blade shorter than 6" so my vote would be, it is Bradford's Randall knife.

Tom V.