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- RMK791 | "Styers Special" Model 14 CDT - 7 1/2" - Black Micarta - S Hilt
RMK791 | "Styers Special" Model 14 CDT - 7 1/2" - Black Micarta - S Hilt
MODEL - #14 CDT “Attack” "Styers Special"
BLADE LENGTH - 7 1/2”
BLADE STOCK - 1/4“
BLADE STEEL - O1 High Carbon Tool Steel
BLADE STAMP - RANDALL MADE - ORLANDO, FLA.
HILT STYLE - Rare Double S Shaped Hilt
HILT MATERIAL - Brass
HANDLE SHAPE - Commando Shape
HANDLE MATERIAL - Black Micarta
SPACERS - 7 (Red / White / Red / Thick Black / Red / White / Red)
BUTT CAP - Brass Butt Cap
OTHER STANDARD FEATURES
- CDT - Cut Down Tang
- TB - Sharpen Top Bevel
UPGRADE OPTIONS
- ET1 - Name Etching - Line One - TIM NEVELDINE
- BM - Black Micarta
- #2 - #2 Handle (Commando Shape)
- Rare Double S Shaped Hilt
- BB - Brass Butt Cap
ENGRAVING - N/A
SCRIMSHAW - N/A
SHEATH MODEL - Model A (Roughback, Left-Hand, Special S Hilt)
SHEATH MAKER - Johnson
SHEATH SNAPS - Smooth Nickel-Plated
SHARPENING STONE - Salmon Fine India
ESTIMATED AGE - Unknown
COMMENTS: Excerpts from Randall Knife Society Newsletters:
RANDALL KNIFE SOCIETY - ISSUE 11 - JULY 1991
NEVELDINE: STYERS SPECIAL
I ordered my Randall Styers Special fighting knife about nine or ten years ago. The design and execution of this weapon follows the guidelines suggested by John Styers, a USMC close-combat instructor of World War II era. In 1952, Styers wrote a book titled "Cold Steel" describing in graphic detail his knife-fighting techniques. Long out of print, it was reissued by Paladin Press in 1974 and should be available from them.
The bowie style blade on the Styers Special appears to be taken directly from the Model 14. It is seven and one half inches long of one-quarter inch tool steel. The guard is of thick quarter inch brass and is formed into a radical "S" shape. The handle is commando shaped black micarta with red, white and black spacers. The butt cap is brass and the narrow tang is not visible through its top. Note also that the upper edge of the sheath is curved to match the guard.
I spoke with Pete Hamilton at the Knoxville show and he remembered making a few of these knives. He said that no more than five were ever made, making them quite rare. The Styers Special was designed to be grasped with the thumb pressing the rear face of the upper guard, appropriate to the slashing attack taught by Styers. Any other hold gives the impression that the handle is too short and is uncomfortable, at least to my average hand.
I hope that this photo and my description are of interest to you and other Randall collectors.
Tim Neveldine
RANDALL KNIFE SOCIETY - ISSUE 20 - DECEMBER 1993
THE FIGHTING KNIVES OF BO RANDALL: BEAUCANT
The combat maneuvers associated with the "knife that cut twice" the BOWIE-KNIFE, were first demonstrated to RANDALL by JOHN STYERS, which was a knife combat instructor and taught more than 50,000 MARINES basic knife fighting in 1935. Later, STYERS became a student of COL. A.J. DREXEL BIDDLE, DEAN of the close-combat school. STYERS left his MARINE CORPS career in 1939, served in the reserves and went back into active duty in
I943. He also authored the famous book. "COLD STEEL"
RANDALL-first met STYERS while visiting WASHINGTON. D.C. in MARCH 1951. At this time, STYERS explained a design that he had been working on for quite some time. After some thoughts, Mr. RANDALL said that if given enough time, he would make the proposed knife. Less than a year later RANDALL made the final product, in MARCH 1952. The prototype was never sent to STYERS. He and RANDALL had stopped corresponding for some reason. They later renewed their acquaintance at QUANTICO, where RANDALL was presenting another knife design to the U.S.M.C. EQUIPMENT BOARD, having been taken there by the famous MARINE flyer MAJOR TEX MEHAFFEY (incidentally MAJOR TEX MEHAFFEY and LT. Col. JORDAN are the two officers responsible for designing the model #15). Mr. RANDALL used a SOLINGEN blade on the first STYERS' knife to save time, since it was an experimental model. The design of this particular model was taken from the #1 with a clip point type shape. The uniqueness of the "S" shaped brass hilt has a specific purpose. It is to be handled with the owner's thumb pressing against the front part of the knife's upper guard. There is a large "print" made for the thumb placement while holding the knife. The exact specifications of the STYERS' knife included: 7" blade made of 1/4" steel stock, 1-1/4" WIDE, 2-1/4" sharp on top of blade, 4-3/4" leather handle, 3/4" brass but cap, "S" shaped 3/16" thick and 3/4" wide brass hilt, and 1-1/8" finger groove. As of today the knife is still on display at the RANDALL MUSEUM. The model #14 has a 7-1/2 inch blade while the model #15 is more easy to carry with its 5-1/2 inch blade.
RANDALL KNIFE SOCIETY - ISSUE 66 - MAY 2005
RANDALL STYERS SPECIAL
In 1991, fellow member Tim Neveldine of New York, wrote about the Styers Special for the RKS newsletter and that was the first time I became aware of what this knife is.
Tim wrote: I ordered my Randall Styers Special fighting knife about nine or ten years ago. The design and execution of this weapon follows the guidelines suggested by John Styers, a USMC close-combat instructor of World War II era. In 1952, Styers wrote a book titled "Cold Steel" describing in graphic detail his knife-fighting techniques. Long out of print, it was reissued by Paladin Press in 1974 and should be available from them.
The bowie style blade on the Styers Special appears to be taken directly from the Model 14. It is seven and one half inches long of one-quarter inch tool steel. The guard is of thick quarter inch brass and is formed into a radical "S" shape. The handle is commando shaped black micarta with red, white and black spacers. The butt cap is brass and the narrow tang is not visible through its top. Note also that the upper edge of the sheath is curved to match the guard.
I spoke with Pete Hamilton at the Knoxville show and he remembered making a few of these knives. He said that no more than five were ever made, making them quite rare. The Styers Special was designed to be grasped with the thumb pressing the rear face of the upper guard, appropriate to the slashing attack taught by Styers. Any other hold gives the impression that the handle is too short and is uncomfortable, at least to my average hand.
I hope that this photo and my description are of interest to you and other Randall collectors.
Tim Neveldine
When I talked with Pete Hamilton about the Doler Special I also asked him about the Styers Special. He said the original Styers Specials were Model 14's with an "S" hilt. He also says the very first Styers blades were shaped like the original Model 14, Solingen blades (but forged and not Solingen blades). The original handles were also a dropped, commando style handle. Later, they just had the same shape as a standard Model 14.
While researching for information about John Styers on internet giant Google, I was fortunate to access a most interesting site. That site is EzineArticles.com. EzineArticles.com was created to be a matching service - bringing writers and ezine publishers together. Expert Authors & Writers are able to post their articles to be featured within the site. Their searchable database allows email newsletter publishers hungry for fresh content to find articles that they can use for inclusion within their next newsletter.
The following article was found on EzineArticles.com and partially presented here. (Anyone anti-war or squeamish should not read further as Mr. Cestari is quite direct).
JOHN STYERS by Carl Cestari
Most people have only been exposed to John Styers work through the book "Cold Steel".
It is important to remember that first and foremost this book outlines a BASIC course of close-combat instruction. The elements covered in this system include bayonet, knife, stick and unarmed combat. Styers developed this "system" for BASIC training.
The framework of all of these models remains CONSISTENT throughout. The fundamentals for employing the bayonet, knife, unarmed combat and even the stick work are ALL the same.
Note in particular the "stance" used for the bayonet, the knife, and for unarmed engagement, SAME stance. The "body" mechanics involved in all the methods presented are at their core foundation, ALL similar. This in itself shows "genius".
What we see in "Cold Steel" is NOT the STYERS method! It is a "system" that STYERS developed for use in BASIC training. John Styers was a man of both great knowledge and SKILL in a number of man to man combatives.
Those who knew Styers personally have told us about his vast interest, knowledge and proven skill in a number of close-combat methods. From the "French" style of bayonet fighting, to "Russian" knife fighting, to boxing, wrestling, jiu jitsu, and of course "dirty" fighting.
As concerns the STYERS knife work, as shown in "Cold Steel" it must also be considered that this was but a SMALL part of Styers overall skill and ability in KNIFE FIGHTING. Again this was a system of BASIC TRAINING!
Other sources show this quite demonstrably. The man was a MASTER of bladework.
Now the knife system taught in "Cold Steel" is excellent. The "problems" that are often cited by others has FAR MORE to do with a lack of understanding in the tactics and techniques as "they" present them, than it does any practical faults in STYERS method.
ON TO THE METHOD
First, Styers was training men for battlefield COMBAT! NOT for a "duel". He assumed (rightly so) that in the so-called "fog" of war men will revert to pure "animal" instinct and move right in for the "kill". Think about this! During the frenzy of real combat you and your enemy are REDUCED to fighting with knives. Men are killing and being killed ALL AROUND YOU. YOUR natural instinct for SURVIVAL will seize you by the throat. You will grip that knife as strongly (your LIFE NOW depends on THIS ONE WEAPON) as possible and MOVE RIGHT IN FOR THE KILL! (WASTE ANY TIME and someone else is going to KILL YOU) You are NOT going to "spar" or "duel", you ARE going to KILL, survive and move on to your next threat or objective. Styers KNEW what real "kill or be killed" combat was like. He realized that MOST men in this dire situation will instinctively SEIZE their knife either in an "overhand" or "ice-pick" grip or an "underhanded" type "hammer grip". They will ATTACK with a determined KILLING intent. THAT IS THE BASIS for the Styers method!
Now the "elements" of Styers method rest on BODY position, ARM position, and KNIFE position.
Here is where so many "experts" go right OFF TRACK. Forget any "technique", thrust, slash or "whatever". WITHOUT the FOUNDATION of proper BODY, ARM, and KNIFE position all the "technique" in the world is MEANINGLESS!
Without a REAL understanding of Styers FUNDAMENTAL tactic and what MUST be done to make it EFFECTIVE, all THIS becomes NO MORE than two guys trying to cut and stab each other. THIS IS NOT what Styers envisioned.
On to the "Meat & Potatoes":
Stance - Whether you assume the "Styers" position from a "classic" fencer's pose, as Styers demonstrates (for continuity) or simply advance (lead leg) retreat (real leg) one pace, as long as your UPPER torso remains square and your body rests "spring-like" on your legs you're doing OK. BALANCE must be rested on your center point and the rear heel RAISED. Toes and KNEES pointed FORWARD!
KEY POINT: Body SQUARED, Torso ERECT, Chin PULLED IN, BALANCE centered, Rear HEEL RAISED.
Arm Position - Gripping the KNIFE: Blade vertical to ground. Thumb EXTENDED down backstrap, Slight upward CANT or "cocking" of blade.
Weapon bearing hand and arm: Pulled IN, Upper arm slightly BACK from vertical, Elbow tucked into, not away from side, LOWER ARM raised on a plane EVEN with opponents THROAT/EYES. Weapon hand SHOULD NOT break the lateral plane of the upper torso! THIS IS KEY!
Offhand hand: Pulled in just like weapon bearing hand.
COMMON ERRORS: Wrong foot placement. Leaning over or into the opponent. Chin/Head THRUST out. WEAPON HAND EXTENDED and/or SPLAYED OUT!
Read THAT AGAIN!
Knife LEVEL with ground and NOT POINTED at opponents EYES/THROAT!
Offhand SPLAYED out to side.