DOCUMENTED RHODESIAN BUSH WAR MERCENARY CARRIED RANDALL NUMBER ONE ALL PURPOSE FIGHTER.

Randall Model 1-8 with clip point blade marked "RANDALL MADE / ORLANDO, FL" between Randall's signature scimitars. Carbon steel construction. Blade exhibits field wear including sharpening. Tip is lightly bent. Brass cross guard with red, white, and blue spacers. Hidden tang construction with stacked leather washer handle and brass pommel. The knife is complete with its brown leather scabbard that features chromium plated "baby dot" snaps that were used on Randall scabbards from the mid 1960s-1990s. Hone pouch was removed in the field, as was a common modification so the knife could be strapped to web gear. 1/2” indents were molded in front of where the hone pouch was removed so the knife could easily be secured to suspenders. Scabbard remains supple with scattered blemishes and is marked with Randall's football logo on reverse belt loop as well as "1 8". CONDITION: Good. The wear to value ratio on this knife is justified, as it is documented in several photographs being used during the Rhodesian Bush War. The knife was carried by mercenary J. Bruce Campbell and included with the knife is a framed display measuring approximately 32 – 1/2” x 26” that features 13 photos of its original owner, as well as a letter explaining the knife’s use during the war. At least four of the photos show Campbell wearing the knife in Rhodesia during the war. The scabbard modifications are noticed in the photographs. The letter states that Campbell purchased this Randall Model 1-8 in Houston Texas in 1971 before joining the British South African Police in January 1973. He served in the anti-terrorism squad, BSAP Support Unit, where he commanded eight Africans as an acting section officer. Campbell states “I carried this knife on ant-terrorism operations for over a year, from 1973 to 1974. It was on my beef when I was blown up in a land mine explosion in Sept 1973 in Mt. Darwin, Rhodesia.” In the letter, Campbell also states that he was interviewed by Robert Brown who founded Soldier of Fortune Magazine. The interview appears in the Summer 1975 edition where Campbell’s name was changed to Mitchell McNair. In a separate article written by Campbell in 2010, he confirms his alias: “An itinerant writer named Robert K. Brown came to Salisbury, Rhodesia in 1974 to interview me. He said he was freelancing for Esquire Magazine and Guns Magazine. He wanted to know what would make a Californian such as I come over to this little country in southern Africa and fight terrorism? The interview eventually appeared in the first issue (Summer '75) of a strange magazine called "Soldier of Fortune." I took Brown up to Mt. Darwin and introduced him to my farmer friends who were on the front lines of terrorism every day and night of their lives. I asked him not to quote me because I could be prosecuted for "mercenary activities" by the State Department. He quoted the hell out of me but changed my name to "Mitchell McNair." A copy of this magazine is included with the knife. The interview is lengthy and Campbell shares his experiences of rescuing 250 children who were abducted by the terrorists that he frequently refers to as “terrs”. The article also mentions when Campbell hit a landmine: “On 18 September 1973, his Land Rover hit a land mine while he was leading a reaction force to counter an attack on a white farmer’s compound. Though it demolished the vehicle, McNair escaped with a slight concussion and temporary eye injury.” The use of Bren machine guns and FALs are also mentioned, as well as Campbell being a good shot. The framed display includes photos of Campbell’s “land mine protected Land Rover” and him training with FALs and a Bren. The magazine also has a photo of Campbell on page 24. This is an excellent archive of a mercenary who fought in one of the most controversial wars of the 20th century. This is perhaps the only Randall knife that has documented use with a soldier of fortune. The wear and condition of this knife reflect its use in the conflict, especially considering it survived a land mine explosion.

Item Dimensions: 34" x 26"

Name

Value

Accessories

Framed Display

Blade Length

Overall Length

13"

Paperwork

Soldier of Fortune Magazine