All About Pocket Knives

L36KG and L36, from the 1930's. The dark blade is buffed to mirror bright; that is how my scanner interprets these situations.

That is an unusual pommel on the lower knife, can I see a close up?

Here is the pommel of the L36:

Very similar to an Estwing Hatchet

Thanks for the pic

Miller Bro`s wrote: Very similar to an Estwing Hatchet

Does/did Estwing pay royalties and use the patented split tang Western construction?

tongueriver wrote:Does/did Estwing pay royalties and use the patented split tang Western construction?

Good question, I do not know the answer. I would not doubt it if Western made them for the Estwing company

Here are a couple pictures of an Estwing hunting knife posted on this site by another member, note the similarities

If I was a bettin' man I would say that Estwing is a WESTwing. The sheath looks like a Western also, but I'm not so sure about it being the RIGHT one.

A late Western R18 Gut Hook Skinner in blaze orange. I bought this knife in November 1998 from a knife shop in Fayetteville NC for $18.00. Two of my deer hunting buddies had converted to "gut hook" knives and I wanted one too. Funny thing, one of theirs was a Schrade, the other a Remington, and mine a Western - I remember comparing the knives, all where identical except for handle color.

On top is a 1930ish KABAR. Below is a Western Cutlery. On the "right" side tang stamp of the Western it says WESTERN STATES CUT CO DISTR (and then some additional illegible markings). It is almost certain that KABAR made the WESTERN. Both of these knives have the through-bolt with countersunk nut tang construction. Now a few weeks ago another WESTERN went through ebay that was the same design. This time, however, it had the patented split tang WESTERN handle construction. I wish I had been able to buy that one; it would have made a lovely display of three in a historical sequence.

Couple nice ones for sure

tongueriver wrote:Now a few weeks ago another WESTERN went through ebay that was the same design. This time, however, it had the patented split tang WESTERN handle construction.

Any pictures of it?


Here is a pretty rare Western, it has the changeable blade. Comes in a leather belt sheath with the hatchet head.

Those knife/axe changers are interesting. They seem to all have the same (39) pattern knife, but there is quite a bit of variation in them otherwise.

Here is a very bad case of New Year's Day Celluloitis.

I posted this on Knife lore. I would like to know when it was made and also a value.
Official Boy Scout Knife. Picture should enlarge.

Thanks Stockman

Here are some typical Westerns from the 1930s.

Here is a couple Western "re-handled" fixed blades that Bobby.P sent me in a trade

Does any one know the date this knife was made?

My wife bought this for me at least 10 years ago iirc. I wasn't very excited when it showed up, since the black blade doesn't really go with the aluminum and stacked leather theme, but it kind of grew on me. It's marked Western U.S.A. W36. It's the only "new" Western I own at this point.

TexasJack wrote:

image.jpg

Does any one know the date this knife was made?

Your knife is very early. I can't tell from the pic whether it has the patented (applied for and used in 1931, granted in 1934) bifurcated tang, but I don't think it does. According to Platts' book, they started manufacturing fixed blades in 1928. However, they were bringing knives to Colorado from "back East" sources earlier than that. It is extremely uncommon to see that arched stamp on a fixed blade. I think there is a good chance this knife is earlier than 1931 and possibly earlier than 1928 (not made in Colorado). Nice sheath, by the way.

TexasJack wrote:

image.jpg

This one is a Western L-77 Commando knife with blued blade
Made for WW II. 11 inches overall length.

tongueriver wrote:

TexasJack wrote:

The attachment image.jpg is no longer available

Does any one know the date this knife was made?

Your knife is very early. I can't tell from the pic whether it has the patented (applied for and used in 1931, granted in 1934) bifurcated tang, but I don't think it does. According to Platts' book, they started manufacturing fixed blades in 1928. However, they were bringing knives to Colorado from "back East" sources earlier than that. It is extremely uncommon to see that arched stamp on a fixed blade. I think there is a good chance this knife is earlier than 1931 and possibly earlier than 1928 (not made in Colorado). Nice sheath, by the way.

Does the Cut & Mfg. company instead of just Cut company help date it?

http://bit.ly/16Uw6Bw


Interesting that there is a Case one on eBay that looks very similar.

TexasJack wrote:

image.jpg

http://bit.ly/16Uw6Bw


Interesting that there is a Case one on eBay that looks very similar.

Platts (Western States) was very much in contact with his CASE relatives in the 1920s (hint).

I picked up a couple Westerns lately. Completely out of my element on Westerns but I took a liking to these.
The first one especially, picked up for 8 bucks!! This one isn't too bad either, especially for the price I paid..