Whatizzit?

[BoBlade]

Every now and then a knife shows up on e-bay that raises a few flags. I think most of you guys have seen this, but I'm going to throw it up here so we can have some discussion.

http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-SPECIAL-FIG...QQcmdZViewItem

The seller says it's a "16-7" (I guess cuz it has a 7" blade and a full tang), but it also has a low S and unlined thong hole! I'm not that familiar with Vietnam era knives, but I don't believe that 16-7's had made their debut that early. Throw in a "guthook" choil and no sheath and you have a whole bunch of flags raised! I've asked my "Randall Master" (Crutchtip) to come on over and comment on it. I hope he does. In the meantime all other comments are welcome.

Thanks,

Ron (AKA Grasshopper)

[tunefinK]

Looks like a double hilt low "S" diver........ I noticed the unique choil as well..... could have been a user modification.

[BoBlade]

Tune,

Don't know how I missed the Diver! Brain's not working too well this morning, I guess. Anyway, if it's a legit knife, that's what it probably is.

Thanks,

Ron

[tunefinK]

Shoot Ron, don't take my word for it........

I looked through (quickly) the Randall Bibles and didn't see a choil like this one. It's sharpened on one side like a belt or chord cutter........

I'd sure like to know what Crutchtip and others think?

[Knifekid]

Several things look very questionable to me:

I don't think I've ever seen sawteeth run that far on any knife.
They're almost back to the logo.

Same with the choil, even forgetting about the gut hook, the grind starts much closer to the hilt than any older 16's I've seen. Gut hook is a big question itself.

Thong hole, although beveled, looks very odd.

Very deep stamp for a knife that old.

Although the finger grooves look right for the era, the micarta looks much more current than the "old black"

No sheath??? Always a problem.

I'm not at all saying the knife isn't right, just very odd. Before bidding I would make sure that I could send it to the shop for inspection. Again, very odd knife.

Perry

[crutch tip]

[FONT=Arial]I was goaded out of retirement by Bo Blade for this one so here goes. I tend to look at the glass as half full. That being said, the knife could be good. I said could be. I have seen one other knife with a similar "gutter" as it is referred to in the auction. In my opnion a more accurate description would be "line cutter".

The problem you have is vague responses from this seller. Won't give out a phone #. Won't let the knife be inpected prior to bidding. He can keep it as far as I am concened. [/FONT]

[BoBlade]

Thanks, Crutchtip. You know...............one can get "rusty" in retirement. Just think of this as a little sharpening

Best,

Ron

[smcbrearty]

Thanks guys. I was thinking about bidding on that one. The no sheath had me concerned as did the fact that the bidding doesn't seem high enough if it's a good knife. I think I'll let that one pass.

Steve