So, let's get this great new forum started. How about a thread to collect all the various Western tang stamps over the years? I'll start off with one from an R12 fixed blade. I think this knife is from the Camillus era.

Here is a pic I cropped down but you can still see. This is front and back of the latest barlow I picked up.

Here is a Western tang stamp guide I got somewhere.
It was probably originally published in Knife World.

I know it doesn’t have all their stamps, but it is a start.

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Dale
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Well, dang. They left out the one from the 50s -- Western over Boulder Colo over USA

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Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.

This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012

The first one is from a 442a and the second from a beat up old West-Cut 334.

Here are two of the three stamps on my Western stockman. The third stamp, on the reverse of the main blade is the model number, 657.

Here are a few I have right now. I have some Westaco also but the stampings are light or worn and hard to get a good photo of. Not sure but I think the bottom "Bird" knife is Camillus made.

Here's 5 of mine.

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Joe

Western 657

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SCOTT

http://www.pocketknivesblog.com

hope you can see tang stamps as battery died after 1st pic,these knives are similar,but must have been from different years one has carbon blades and a bail the other has stainless,both have western states in an arch over boulder colo,these 2 are the only advertising knives ive ever seen from western bought them both at a lawn sale for a quarter for the pair

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my avatar is what happened the last time someone tried to sell me a bogus knife

Hey all, just picked up a 13" fixed blade Western this afternoon. Here is the tang mark. Can't seem to find or date it.

More photos at this Picasa web album. If anyone can date this I'm all ears.

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These are the times that try mens souls" - Thomas Paine

I believe that it is a World War Two blade and guard which has been re-handled.

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Always looking for larger Schrade Cutcos, cattle knives, and lovely old bone.

Why I didn't post a picture the first time, I don't know. It's on an L39 I was given in 1957.



And I have one like the one Mike and Stressmaster showed. It's on a 901 Stainless Camper.

_________________
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.

This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012

A local knife dealer (uncle*ron on ebay) says the mark dates around 1934-1950, also confirmed the rehandle.

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These are the times that try mens souls" - Thomas Paine

Crossguard looks like iron; if so, that is largely a WWII trait (the use of brass was controlled as a strategic material). A shot of the pommel (if it still has it) will help date it a bit better.

By the production numbers, the knife is most-probably a G48-6 (6" blade, leather handle, sometimes referred to as a "Shark" knife) but might be a G48-5 (5" blade, leather handle, sometimes referred to as a "Baby Shark"). Lesser chance that it is a G48-8 (8" blade, leather handle, not common enough that it got a nickname I guess).