Western Fixed Blade Knives

In 1911, H. N. Platts, was able to draw on his extensive friendships and family connections in the cutlery world to start Western States Cutlery and Manufacturing of Boulder Colorado. At first only a jobbing business, by 1920 construction and machinery purchases were underway to begin manufacture of knives. Through name changes--to Western States Cutlery Co. in 1953, then Western Cutlery Co. in 1956--and moves first across town and later to Longmont Colorado, the company stayed under the leadership of the Platt family until 1984. In that year, the company was sold to Coleman, becoming Coleman-Western. Eventually purchased by Camillus in 1991, Western continued until Camillus expired in 2007.
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Miller Bro's
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Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Here are a few I have. ImageImageImageImageImageImage
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Old Hunter »

I posted this one on another thread but I'll gladly show it off again :D I need to get a sheath made for it, or find a proper Western sheath - the one I have it in was made at Boy Scout camp in 1969 and is kind of loose.

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Deep in the guts of most men is buried the involuntary response to the hunter's horn, a prickle of the nape hairs, an acceleration of the pulse, an atavistic memory of his fathers, who killed first with stone, and then with club...Robert Ruark
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Thanks for showing it :D

I don`t have that model in the black beauty line, very nice old knife ::tu::
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by IMBand »

Here are 2 Westerns that were re-handled by Muskrat Man and then sent to Rick Garcia of RG Leather for
a custom side by side sheath. I suggested to Rick that I liked the sturdier look of his work and asked that
the knives not clank together on draw. This is what he the finished product looks like. Couldn't be nicer imo.
These knives will be hanging around hunting camps and cabins doing regular chores and getting shown off
to my buddies. ::nod::

THANK YOU Kaleb and Rick (and morrisindp44 for the L39 blank). I am one happy customer guys.
Just have to put the working edge on them and make some hunting plans................ ::ds::
The handle material is Roosevelt Elk.

IM
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Nice knives and sheath ::tu::
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by FRJ »

That is very smart and handsome set up, IM. Really nice.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by IMBand »

Thanks guys, I really like it. It is a little wider than I expected.................but the work is fantastic.

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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by tongueriver »

Great setup! Thanks for sharing!
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by tongueriver »

I have the book by Harvey Platts which sorta kinda covers the older knives with many ghastly gaps, but I see that there is a date coding system for more recent Western knives. Do anyone wish to share that knowledge?
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

http://www.oregonknifeclub.org/Newsletter%200903.pdf

Make sure you start on page 1 and scroll down to page 4 for the entire article.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by jmh58 »

Thanks and a good read!! John ::groove::
Not all who wander are lost!!

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Make sure some of them are Dirt!!!
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by tongueriver »

Thank you Miller for some excellent information!
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by tongueriver »

Here's a couple cute li'l fellers.

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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by 268bull »

Those are some nice looking Western's guy's! Here is my remaining Black Beauty, F 39. I have several old issues of Sport's Afield, Outdoor Life, Field and Stream' from the 40's - early 50's, and the Western ad's show the knife and the sheath as matching. I didn't pick them up together. I found the knife at an estate sale, in the garage lying on the work bench. Some month's later, I picked up the sheath at another estate sale lying on top of a bedroom dresser. And they matched! ::tu:: Bull
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Very nice knife!
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by tongueriver »

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

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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

That is an unusual pommel on the lower knife, can I see a close up?
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by tongueriver »

Here is the pommel of the L36:

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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

::hmm:: Very similar to an Estwing Hatchet ::nod::

Thanks for the pic ::tu::
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by tongueriver »

Miller Bro`s wrote:::hmm:: Very similar to an Estwing Hatchet
Does/did Estwing pay royalties and use the patented split tang Western construction?
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

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 ::shrug::

Here are a couple pictures of an Estwing hunting knife posted on this site by another member, note the similarities ::nod::
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by tongueriver »

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.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Old Hunter »

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.

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Deep in the guts of most men is buried the involuntary response to the hunter's horn, a prickle of the nape hairs, an acceleration of the pulse, an atavistic memory of his fathers, who killed first with stone, and then with club...Robert Ruark
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by tongueriver »

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.

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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Couple nice ones for sure ::tu::
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.
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