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- Aug 9, 2000
- Messages
- 374
Randall Lore #45 The Shaw-Leibowitz Special.
Recently, I was preparing these photos for a customer and thought you might like a refresher course on the Shaw-Leibowitz Special. Shown below is one of these knives Jack Crider had made and scrimed by D. Baker. Shaw-Leibowitz stopped production at 125 to 150 knives since this is what was ordered at the time. Randall dealer, Jack Crider, was able to get the jump on the other blades and had them made up in many different handles, but these knives were not etched.
A total of 300 blades for these knives were made. Gaddiss book states 125 knives were finished with the Shaw-Leibowitz etching. I wrote an article in 1990 for the RKS newsletter in which I stated 144 knives were made with the Shaw-Leibowitz etching. These figures were from talking with Jack Crider and Leonard Leibowitz. Which is correct? Let us be happy in saying about half of the 300 original blades had the Shaw-Leibowitz etching. (as shown below)
The Shaw-Leibowitz Special was advertised by them in the late 1970's as "The Lewis and Clark Commemorative", but is known on the collector's market usually as the, Leibowitz Special. This is probably due to the fact that most of the Johnson sheaths are marked on the back with "LS".
This offering started out to be 300 knives but only 144 knives were etched by Shaw-Leibowitz. The etching on the blade was to commemorate the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804 to 1806. Guided by the Indian Princess Sakagawea, they made a daring trip from St. Louis up the Missouri River and onto the Pacific Ocean in 1805 opening a new frontier for the young country. The advertising reads, "Randall Knives has designed and made a New Bowie style knife, and Shaw-Leibowitz has created a new scene, to commemorate this great historical event".
The three, figures of Lewis, Clark and Sakagawea are seen rowing their canoe through the Missouri waters past dense foliage and distant mountains, while a flowing banner above the scene identifies the commemorative with the words, "Lewis & Clark - 1805". Any numbered scene could be purchased with or without the dramatic effect of colored plating. In the scene with plating, the figures and canoe are 24K gold, and the banner, supplies, and oars are plated copper.
The knife, advertised as a bowie knife, is more aptly described as a 1-1/4 to 1-3/8 inch wide 6 inch long clip blade with a Model 6 style grind. The knife, which does not appear in the Randall catalog, features a handle of selected rosewood, a guard of nickel silver, and a butt cap of duralumin. The total length of the knife is a fraction under 11 inches. Each knife has its own leather sheath with stone pocket and LS is stamped on the back of the sheath. This knife was not offered in stainless but offered in Swedish tool steel only.
The issue price for the knife was $185 for the etched scene only and $235 with the special gold and copper plating. A special glass-top walnut display case was available for $45.
Best regards,
Rhett Stidham
Recently, I was preparing these photos for a customer and thought you might like a refresher course on the Shaw-Leibowitz Special. Shown below is one of these knives Jack Crider had made and scrimed by D. Baker. Shaw-Leibowitz stopped production at 125 to 150 knives since this is what was ordered at the time. Randall dealer, Jack Crider, was able to get the jump on the other blades and had them made up in many different handles, but these knives were not etched.
A total of 300 blades for these knives were made. Gaddiss book states 125 knives were finished with the Shaw-Leibowitz etching. I wrote an article in 1990 for the RKS newsletter in which I stated 144 knives were made with the Shaw-Leibowitz etching. These figures were from talking with Jack Crider and Leonard Leibowitz. Which is correct? Let us be happy in saying about half of the 300 original blades had the Shaw-Leibowitz etching. (as shown below)
The Shaw-Leibowitz Special was advertised by them in the late 1970's as "The Lewis and Clark Commemorative", but is known on the collector's market usually as the, Leibowitz Special. This is probably due to the fact that most of the Johnson sheaths are marked on the back with "LS".
This offering started out to be 300 knives but only 144 knives were etched by Shaw-Leibowitz. The etching on the blade was to commemorate the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804 to 1806. Guided by the Indian Princess Sakagawea, they made a daring trip from St. Louis up the Missouri River and onto the Pacific Ocean in 1805 opening a new frontier for the young country. The advertising reads, "Randall Knives has designed and made a New Bowie style knife, and Shaw-Leibowitz has created a new scene, to commemorate this great historical event".
The three, figures of Lewis, Clark and Sakagawea are seen rowing their canoe through the Missouri waters past dense foliage and distant mountains, while a flowing banner above the scene identifies the commemorative with the words, "Lewis & Clark - 1805". Any numbered scene could be purchased with or without the dramatic effect of colored plating. In the scene with plating, the figures and canoe are 24K gold, and the banner, supplies, and oars are plated copper.
The knife, advertised as a bowie knife, is more aptly described as a 1-1/4 to 1-3/8 inch wide 6 inch long clip blade with a Model 6 style grind. The knife, which does not appear in the Randall catalog, features a handle of selected rosewood, a guard of nickel silver, and a butt cap of duralumin. The total length of the knife is a fraction under 11 inches. Each knife has its own leather sheath with stone pocket and LS is stamped on the back of the sheath. This knife was not offered in stainless but offered in Swedish tool steel only.
The issue price for the knife was $185 for the etched scene only and $235 with the special gold and copper plating. A special glass-top walnut display case was available for $45.
Best regards,
Rhett Stidham
