RARE Vintage 1970's ( estimate) Randall Model 5-6 Camp and Trail Knife - Stainless Steel with Original Sheath and Stone

RARE Vintage 1970's ( estimate) Randall Model 5-6 Camp and Trail Knife - Stainless Steel with Original Sheath and Stone

Bo Randall was one of the first custom knife makers to achieve a cult like status. He began making knives in 1938 and carried on until his death in 1989. In 1983 he was inducted into the Blade Magazine Hall of Fame and in 1997 into the American Bladesmith Hall of Fame. His company has had a backlog of orders since 1953 and his sons who are carrying on the business currently have a 7 year wait list. When NASA needed an Astronaut survival knife, they went to Randall. Randall is widely recognized as the most collected knife maker . 

This Model 5 has a 6" overall blade length with thumb grips on the back side of the blade near the handle. The handle is Micarta with nickel silver guard and 7 stacked spacers. The micarta handle is in excellent condition with only a few very tiny nicks or scuffs. The nickel silver guard has some pitting or corrosion from being in contact with leather strap...it is on the top side and bottom side closest to the handle. I have included close-up photos of this. 

The end of the handle has the optional compass set into it as well as a thong hole. The hole for the compass has a slightly offset mark around one edge from the manufacturing process. 

The blade is sturdy, made from 1/4" stainless steel with a false edge on the back ( this false edge has been sharpened and has some hard to see scratches from the sharpening process...I have taken close-ups of the false edge) . These scratches could easily be removed by an expert or sent to Randall for repair. The cutting blade is beautifully ground and may have been sharpened at some point but I can't see signs of it. 

The original and only owner before me had the knife custom made and engraved with his name RUDIE MAUSSER. 

The included sheath is the original. It is stamped Randall Made on the backside and 1-6. This is because the 1-6 was the Randall Fighting knife which had a very similar blade and shared the same sheath as the 5-6 knife. This is the knife made famous by Allied combat troops in World War II and was widely used in all theaters of war because of this the sheaths were widely stocked by Randall and used wherever applicable. The original double sided sharpening stone is included in the front pocket. This stone was removed for the photos and it was discovered to have a heavy deposit of green oxidation from the brass snap that holds the pocket closed. The green wax like oxidation could be scraped off and the stone put back into service. The sheath is in excellent used condition . Please see the many pics I have taken.

When the knife is taken out of the sheath the knife blade sometimes has a little bit of green from corrosion inside the sheath on the nickel plated brass snap that holds the knife in place. I wiped it off with a rag before I thought to take a photo. It is very little and comes right off. 

This is a rare and lovely knife that is not commonly found anywhere especially in this condition and in Canada. A wonderful addition to a collection or for any outdoor enthusiast who wants only the best ! 

Measures approximately 11" overall

Needs to be sharpened prior to use.