I don't think that the #4 was an actual thought when the knife pictured was made. The Commandos were early Hunter style blades with a sharpened top bevel. Some Commandos were "one off" blades. The WWII Hunter was the precursor to both the post war model 3 and model 4.

The WWII blade grinds varied in the Hunter model and you could probably make an argument that one blade looks more like a model 3 and another looks more like a model 4. Hence the "3 1/2" term coined by Pete Hamilton.

My ivory model 4 fighter

So, you do agree Joe!!!

Joe, Mitchell,
Thank you for corrections and good information!

Burnie, Ron,
Cool knives!


In any case, they really similar))

The #4 fighter from Randall really isn't a model 4. It is more like a Commando. They should change the name. My .02

Reminds me more of a SOG Bowie than anything else.
Capt. Chris

Little Bear is more reminiscent of SOG type Bowies. to me.

I would tend to agree more with desert.snake that the #4 Fighter (the SOG Bowie grind, and the RKS-4 grind) resembles more the "Commando" blade grind vs the "Little Bear" grind.

The #4 Fighter (the SOG Bowie grind and the RKS-4) all have twin peaks on the top of the blade.

The grind line from the tip of the blade is the same (intersecting with the second peak) on all 3 knives (the "Commando" blade, the SOG Bowie, and the #4 Fighter.
Even the RKS-4 knife exhibits that grind.

The Little Bear knife has a single peak and the blade grind is between that peak and the hilt of the knife. The blade grind is not like the blade grind on the other 4 knives at all.

Tom V.

I didn't get what you were saying Tom.

My point was the Randall moniker of "#4 Fighter" does not fit the grind. I guess they had to call it something.

It looks like a mid-war Commando, which by the way is what the RKS 4 was patterned after.

If not for the finger relief, this would have only one "peak" as you call it. Same with the RKS 4 and the #4 Fighter with the grind similar but a little different when compared to vintage pieces.

So, if I understand this correctly, We agree that the RKS-4, the Commando, and the #4 Fighter are similar, but a little different.

I just am trying to figure out where the Little Bear Bowie comment you made fits in the scheme. (Along with naming the #4 Fighter a "Fighter" comment.

Tom V.