j0e, here is brother Jack's response....(also former 5th Special Force Group - Dak Pek, and Ben Het A camps in Vietnam...1968 fight in Kontum during Tet - petroleum engineer - and oil field accident investigator). He is not a high profile collector but does have a small group of about 20 Vietnam blades... He is knowledgeable and is not a dealer either. He posts on Randall boards as "jacknola" and has done some pioneering research on Randalls. So I'd trust his opinion...... about knives anyway.
Hey Gene...hard to tell exactly but I would say about 1963 for manufacture date for both of them...Bowie could be couple of years earlier. Bowie has pre-1966 stamp, the thick, early guard, coolie cap type that came in post 1960. Toothy has an etched stamp that wasnt available until 1963...however the blade was previously hot stamped first, and then the etch was added for whatever reason, usually because the original stamp was too light. The thick guard and cap probably indicates these where made close to each other...so I would say 1963 for best guess. Looks like rosewood handle... which is anything Che piece of wood. these are nice. Without sheaths I wouldnt pay more than about $600 each because market for these is down. Sheaths can be found.
Last edited by Argo44; 08/26/18 06:30 PM.
