Most likely. Could it have been made in November or December? Sure, but my guess is it was made earlier. Gaddis covers these hunting knives turned into fighters also.

Wally,

We had a pretty lively discussion earlier this year that included this knife:

http://www.knifetalkforums.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=137540&page=1

I certainly don't want to get back into it, but there is some good info and pics in that thread.

Thank you Ron, I re-read the thread. Being very much a novice, some simple points, from time to time, may seem overly important to me. The last few posts here have helped me come to this theory...
The four knives ordered by the Lt. probably all had stag handles, 3 finger grips, teardrop quillion, relief forward of spine to accommodate the forefinger.

The knife in Gaddis, referred to as one of the first 10, was not ordered by Lt . Zacharias, but made immediately after his order for 4 knives was completed. It incorporates practical improvements as Bo saw them.

The leather handled pre RWB spacer knives, like the one Tune acquired at BLADE, are probably the next step in the evolution of the model 1. (I was curious if any leathered knives were known with three finger grips.)

I'm just wondering outloud!

Wally,

It's really great to see more and more collectors take serious interest "in the old ones"!

Best,

IF you read Gaddis, he clearly states the Zach knives ordered were stag. I don't believe the three additional were in the same configuration as Mitchell's knife. Two were ordered in November of 42 (when the switch to leather was finalized) with the last ordered in January 43. These stag knives had handles similar as pictured in Gaddis page 67 but with crown.

Neither myself or Mitchell think Bo made more than a handful of his type of knife. I don't think maybe half a dozen. As I have stated, they were not the best for utilitarian use because of the upside down handle with grips. Also, the labor involved shaping the hilt was prohibitive versus a conventional hilt I would think.





I could not find the reference to the knife pictured on page 67 as being one of the first 10. I also don't see where it says the knife was ordered immediately after Zach's order, which was actually three orders, not one, spread out over approximately 6 months.



I don't recall having seen a leather handle with finger grips, 3 or 4, designed for upside down fighting. I have seen a couple standard leather handled WWII fighters designed for edge up fighting style with an S guard.

I don't have anything to add to the opinions already shared. All of them are mostly correct, in my opinion. Truth is, no one knows for sure so the mysteries remain.

Here is a 60's fighter with upside down grips. The only other one I have seen. It was a bit pitted, so it has been shop cleaned. I think it is pretty cool.

Joe, IF you re-read my post, that you quoted from, in the first paragraph I say these are my theories. I'm not disputing anything in the book, as I said before, I'm wondering outloud. I appreciate ya'lls expertise, so I'm trying to coax everyone's opinion. For every one Randall knife I've seen you guys have probably seen a thousand. I'll look for the quote in Gaddis' that says about 10 "Zachs" were made, but the Lt. only ordered 4.

Wally, I appreciate your interest in the old ones and your willingness to wade into the discussions. I am always amazed at how easy these talks are at Blade Show but easily devolve online.

It's tougher to look a man in the eye than peck on a keyboard.

Boy ain't that the truth you%^#%^$&^*^*(!

yes, it's pretty cool.....
:-)Rocky