Tom,

Great knife and info. I haven't handled too many Randalls with curved hilts, and always wondered if there were just one or two sizes. Great thread!

#12-6", Sportsman's Bowie does not come with thumb notches. They are available, but uses one of your 5 options.
A #12-8" has much more artistry and "sweep" than a #12-6", Little Bear. The #12-6", "LB" also has a more traditional finger choil than the "Big Bear". Once you get use to them, they are easy to differentiate.
In my opinion, and this goes against everyone elses', I think the FCH is too heavy. I like a nice #1 styled double hilt. About an ounce difference, whether it's 'proportioned" or not...It's still a good bit heavier...and every now and then the Randall craftsmen don't get the FCH's quite small enough.
Best, Capt. Chris
P.S. They do look good though! (The FCH)...CCS

It's almost a little scary, but I seem to see eye to eye with Chris on an awful lot of things, and this is no exception. I've seen 12-6LBs where the FCH looked "just right," but I've also seen them where my impression was that it was just too much. It's perfect on the 12-8; that's such a powerful statement of a knife that the big old hilt doesn't detract from it in the slightest. I think of the LB as more of a hunting knife, though, and would think long and hard before I put any double hilt on it, much less an FCH.

Hey Tom,

I agree. Sometime this summer, I should be getting a #12 9 inch with a fighter guard just like the one on page 198 of Robert Hunt's "Randall Military Models. It should be a sweet bush knife.

Cheers,

Alan Grombacher
RKS#5531

Here ya go Alan,

I think you could hack through just about anything with this #12-9 14 Grind

I'm sure you will enjoy yours when it arrives.

Rob,

Looks like you are a step ahead of me. I love wood as well and have a couple in the order pipeline.

I think Walnut is a fine choice and has been used for knife handles for a long time, there are a lot of classic older RMK's out there with Walnut handles that still look fantastic.

Hey Tom,

Thanks for posting your knife. It is a beauty. Nice stag. I'll have to post a picture of mine when I get it.

Cheers,

Alan Grombacher
RKS#5531

I like the regular dual hilt on the large knives. Here are three bowies. Compare the different hilts on the two 12-9's--the forward curved one doesn't improve the look over the regular one (in my opinion). Also note the Little Bear hilt, proportioned down to fith the knife's size.
-Steve