Ron and Tune;

I don't know if there is a right or wrong answer anymore. Here are the back sides:

A little more on each knife:

From the top:

#1: Has a name and date etched from Randall 1960. Pinned ebony. Lugged nickel silver hilt and the sheath is indented for it. Quality of the sheath is very good. CK, ST snaps.

#2 Obvious Heiser but the workmanship and leather quality are off for a typical Heiser. United Carr snaps

#3 Here is where I'm beginning to wonder: The workmanship, quality of leather and everything else screams Heiser. The leather is thin and the stitching is identical to a Heiser. United Carr snaps

#4 Typical Heiser. United Carr snaps

#5 I would say a typical Johnson but the workmanship is still better than average. No groove on the stone flap or belt loop. This white stone. CK, ST snaps.

#6 I would agree that this is a Stockman. Poor quality. CK, ST snaps


Gary

Let's make this a little easier.





Very interesting discussion. Carry on.

Wow....#3 really does look like a Heiser.

BTW Gary, the knives are great! If I only knew someone that liked old fighters!

Good to see you posting....

Here are six brown buttons:



On the flipside, five have the Randall logos and one has the Heiser logo:



From the standpoints of overall quality and stitching patterns, I would guess that the five with Randall logos are all Johnsons. Yet (as I previously alluded to), the overall quality and stitiching patterns of Heiser sheaths varied over the years. Here's a pic of two Heiser sheaths (One marked and the other unmarked) from the late 50's when both the shop and Heiser ran out of brown buttons for the 2nd time. If both were unmarked and had brown buttons, I would assume they were Johnsons:



Did someone say this ain't going to be easy?

Man I'm loving this thread. I'm learning that what I thought I knew I'm not so sure about any more. Or something of that nature. Anyway some nice sheaths and great knives. Keep it up. I love this forum.

I agree this is one of the most informative threads ever here, Mr Clinton, just how deep is your collection?

Hello Griff,
That depends on the day. Some days it's too much and others not enough! I still buy if that helps to answer your question.

Gary

Guys,

Still thinking about this topic and found a model 3 with a letter and post card from Randall dated September 1960. The sheath is a brown button with the Randall stamp. That makes two knives from 1960 with good information that have the Randall stamp.
If Johnson came about in 1961 or 62 then these would be too early for him.

Come to think of it: We have had an awful lot of knives go through our hands over the years that have been "one year only" Johnson brown buttons. Too many in my opinion.

Gary

Gentleman,

One thing that I have always noticed when looking at the difference between a JBB and a Heiser sheath is not only the stitching and leather but the color of the buttons. The JBB buttons are usually a tanish color, and the Heiser more of a yellowish. If you look at all 12 sheaths pictured from Ron and Gary, you will see. What do you think?