Some really great looking #2s on this thread. Especially Boblades 1943 beauty.
My #2 question is: Does anyone have a wide bladed #2? How common were they? Hunt's book has one.
Cheers,
Alan RKS#5531
Hi Alan
There's a gentleman I consider a friend who doesn't participate on this forum but does look in from time to time. He saw your request to see a wide blade # 2 and sent me some photos which follow. The dimensions are a bit over 1 1/2" wide by 8 1/4" long:
In terms of scarcity I'll quote Mr. Gaddis from page 71: "The Randall Stiletto was a big hit with US servicemen, so Bo offered it in the same blade lengths of 6, 7 and 8 inches as his fighter. From the very first, he considered a blade width of about 1 1/4 inches to be the best, but he was also willing to be flexible and tailor a stiletto to the customer's wishes. Throughout 1943 and a part of 1944, Randall stilettos sported blades of 3/4 inch, 1 inch, and 1 1/2 inches, although the vast majority were Bo's standard of 1 1/2 inches."
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Ron Mathews RKS No. 4223
Quote: In terms of scarcity I'll quote Mr. Gaddis from page 71: "The Randall Stiletto was a big hit with US servicemen, so Bo offered it in the same blade lengths of 6, 7 and 8 inches as his fighter. From the very first, he considered a blade width of about 1 1/4 inches to be the best, but he was also willing to be flexible and tailor a stiletto to the customer's wishes. Throughout 1943 and a part of 1944, Randall stilettos sported blades of 3/4 inch, 1 inch, and 1 1/2 inches, although the vast majority were Bo's standard of 1 1/2 inches."
Ron -
I disagree with the last statement. The vast majority of exisiting examples of WWII stillettos are approximatley 1 1/8" with some at 1 1/4".
The wide blade stilleto as pictured is far less common and I have never seen a 3/4" model 2 of the period that I recall and I wonder if any were actually ever made. The ricasso is 3/4" on most of them, so to have a blade the same width it would no longer be a model 2 but something else. Perhaps along the lines of the Applegate stilletto.
Thanks for posting the wide bladed #2. Ever since I saw the one in Hunt's book, I've liked them.
I've always thought a wide bladed #2 would be a perfect "going into the bush to finish off the bear knife". But then again, My #14 is always on my hip in season.
And a wide bladed #2 would be a great Dirk-replacement for when I wearing my kilt!
Cheers,
Alan RKS#5531
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Alan Grombacher RKCC-CMI-010 RKS#5531
Registered: 09/14/05
Posts: 1806
Loc: The Desert Southwest
By the way, Alan, I always thought a Scotsman's Sgian Dubh had a small blade, typically 3 to 3.5 inches. How would you fit a wide-bladed Model #2 inside your sock? -Steve (lol)