I promised my buddy, and "authorized" Randall knife dealer (N.C...Near "Bragg"), Buck Buchanon that I would put this thread together as soon as I could. Well: This is as soon as I could.
A couple of weeks ago we had someone request some information about Randall (German) "kit" blades. The entire thread went downhill and was removed..."BUT"...(That word again)... shortly afterwards I heard from the man, via my email, along with a message from Buck. It seems as though Buck had an encounter with the man, and his "kit blade" at a local show up in the Carolinas. At any rate, Buck got a chance to snap a couple of quick pics which he has forwarded to me. I have edited them just a bit and I am about to post them up for all to see.
Besides these photos...and thanks to Scott, I also took a few shots today of a pair of Solingen blades, a #14 and #15. Perhaps we can all learn something from these unique blades It wasn't a lengthy amount of time that these blades were offered as a "kit" option by the Randall shop. It was long enough that they're are numbers of their examples out there.
I don't know exact numbers and it would be irresponsible of me to guess. I do know a little bit about the entire German project, from it's inception and completion by Bo Randall and Eric Christian in Solingen, Germany. It was an interesting time, running from 1954 (beginning of 1955) up and through the 1990's!
A lot of different "stuff" was begate from these early Solingen blades. The first Model #16, #17 and #18's were created using Solingen blades for examples...samples, if you will.
OK: I'm not going to carry on. I am hoping that Buck will pipe up and share some of his knowledge about these blades as well. Here they are for your viewing pleasure...ENJOY!!
Best, Capt. Chris

Below are some other examples of German-made Randall #14 and #15 blades. These are in their "earlier" stages, not yet having been etched with the Randall trademark.
Best, Capt. Chris

#14 features first. The front of back of the entire blade shown first. The close-up, both front & back shows (if you can strain through my photo attempts) "STAINLESS" etched on the front and "W.GERMANY" on the back. It's easy to see why a good portion on these blades, upon completion were "void" of these markings...
Best, Capt. Chris

Lastly: The Model #15 shown in the same sequence. Notice that "MADE IN GERMANY" is stamped on the front tang. The back is totally clean?? Just more "puzzle pieces". Hope you enjoyed the "tour"...Comments and informative historical additions are more than welcome.
Best, Capt. Chris

My fellow RKS members:
It has been brought to my attention that some folks may have the opinion that the Randall shop was still importing Solingen blades up to and including the 1990's. If that is what my initial post "appears" to say, let me clarify. All of the Randall "Solingen Fighters" in both blade lengths that were made up and sold through the Randall shop, along with some of the later #18's, kit blades and the like were done so to "use up" old Solingen forgings from the "VN" era of ordering or shortly thereafter. Hope that's clear now...(and thanks, Crutch)
Best, Capt. Chris

Re: Kit Randalls. I posted these before...found this sold on e-bay a few years ago. I tend to be drawn to things that have a certified military history and have been used in the field. Still, this knife is a little strange... I think these "kit" blades might have been offered in the catalog from Randall circa about 1967. We were all trying to figure how to afford a Randall... but most of us did not know exactly how to finish these blades. This on looks pretty good...






"You are bidding on an uncommon kit knife. Randall Models 14 and 15 (Solingen blades only) were available in kit form was Models 16, 17, and 18 were not. Kit knives could be purchased in the 1960s and 1970s but starting in early 1971 kit blades no longer carried the Randall trademark."

See:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://pmimages.worthpoint.com/thumbnails2/1/0907/03/1_416b7e8bcd0cc9b2e872593ba1dcee37.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vietnam-era-randall-model-14-kit-knife&usg=__XAOwFKPIhaH_yxaeVdgvMV1vHcI=&h=150&w=150&sz=5&hl=en&start=39&zoom=0&itbs=1&tbnid=K9LelQsYBwX4WM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=96&prev=/images%3Fq%3DRandall%2Bmodel%2B14%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26tbs%3Disch:1

Here's another #14 Solingen "KIT". Sorry my pictures are not up to most of your standards.

I guess I'm the culprit that has brought all of this to light.I was set up at the Greensboro Gun Show on the 28th of August, when a feller came up and asked about Randall Kit Blades. He said he had one, and that it was marked "W-Germany". I explained to him that Randall offered some of the model 14's, 15, & 18's during the Viet-Nam War with blades made in Solingen, Germany.

I asked him to bring it in so I could take some photos. As it is in most auditorium buildings, light fixtures are a "mile away" on the ceiling, and one cannot achieve very good exposure to show grind lines, and blade configuration.

I wasn't able to give him much information, but Tommy, the book dealer from Radford, VA was right across the aisle, so I grabbed Sheldon Wickersham's "RANDALL KNIVES A Reference Book", and showed him the pages related to kit blades.

I suggested that if he wanted more background & possible "street" value, to register with this forum and ask questions.

By the time I got back to Fayetteville and look at the forum, the thread had been removed, AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

So, let's not talk about THAT "history". I just sent the photos to Capt. Chris to put on the forum to present examples of little-known Randall History of the kit blade. I had seen other kit knives on this forum in other threads.

You never stop learning, especially on this Forum.

I always try to sign up new members in the RKS at the shows and I try to interest folks in this very educational Forum.

I hope I didn't get off on the wrong foot, bringin' this kit blade to light. I can only be responsible for myself.

Thanks for listenin'

Buck Buchanan
Cumberland Knife & Gun Works, Inc (1972-1999)
Fayetteville Arms Room (1999-Present)

Thanks Buck,
You did nothing wrong, in any way. The "Feller" has been in touch with me (prior to my posting this thread) and perhaps he is getting some of the background/history/answers he was looking for.
Best, Capt. Chris

I just picked this Model 15 Solingen "KIT" blade up.