This is one of the most beautiful knives I have ever owned. I speculate it is a very early, 1960s, Ralph Bone Hunting or fighting knife made possibly when he was in Florida and before Texas. The small bone stamp is only 1/4 inch. The blade is bright and beautiful and looks to have never been used.
I have kept it and the brass coated in Renaissance Wax since I acquired it years ago. The brass guard and cap show age spots, but only add character to the knife. The finger grooved handle is tight and smooth as silk. It has a beautiful dark golden patina. It is comfortable in either hand.
It does have a slight curve. The blade is 6 and overall length is 11.25. This is a big knife. The other is marked with D 112. My research tells me this was the style and number.
Ralph Bone hand made his knives then abandoned that trade to make stocks for firearms and also engraved them. I emailed two knife experts, one who has written several books on knives, to see if they could provide any further information because there is not a lot to be found on the internet except that they are high quality and it is rare to find one. This one is as good as any Randall or other maker that I have ever seen. The Johnson Sheath, who was a big supplier for Randalls.
It has a sharpening stone pocket with stone. The sheath shows minimal wear and will give good service for years to come.It is marked D 6. Im not sure what caused the spot between the D and 6 and I didnt want to mess with it. If you are a collector, youd be hard pressed to find a better example of Ralph Bones craftsmanship.
Please look closely at the pictures. They are the best part of the description. The pictures on the wooden bench were taken outside in natural light.This information was just shared with me from another member. The knife you're offering is the Model D "Big Game Hunting and Skinning Knife, offered with 5" or 6 blade. The knife boasts optional features of Stag handle, optional finger grooves and brass end cap. It is the 12th knife made, personally, by Ralph Bone at the newly formed Ralph Bone Knife Company, formed in mid 1967. Ralph Bone never lived in Florida.
Bone became most famous after he trained Enedino De Leon to make knives and left the knife company in 1974, ultimately, to become a Master Firearms Engraver, living in Owasso, Oklahoma. I'm currently winding up a book about Ralph Bone and De Leon, soon to be published. If it was carried in the Vietnam War, someone took very good care of it. The item "VINTAGE RALPH BONE FIGHTING HUNTING KNIFE LIKE RANDALL JOHNSON DELUXE SHEATH" is in sale since Sunday, February 11, 2018. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Knives, Swords & Blades\Collectible Fixed Blade Knives\Vintage Fixed Blade Knives\Factory Manufactured".The seller is "racemore" and is located in Columbia, South Carolina. This item can be shipped to United States.