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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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by TexasJack »

image.jpg
Does any one know the date this knife was made?
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by TexasJack »

image.jpg
Jack
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by tac803 »

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.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by tongueriver »

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.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by TexasJack »

TexasJack wrote:
image.jpg
This one is a Western L-77 Commando knife with blued blade
Made for WW II. 11 inches overall length.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by TexasJack »

image.jpg
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?
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by TexasJack »

image.jpg
http://bit.ly/16Uw6Bw


Interesting that there is a Case one on eBay that looks very similar.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by tongueriver »

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).
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by caddyman1973 »

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!!
035.JPG
This one isn't too bad either, especially for the price I paid..
037.JPG
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by royal0014 »

Knice caddyman 8)
The bottom one looks like it has some stories to tell. Is that bone?
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by caddyman1973 »

Thanks! The bottom one is delrin or whatever they used (not familiar with Western). Its a little rough around the edges but still not bad.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by djknife13 »

TexasJack, I have a Western, Case, Kinfolks and a Cattaraugus knife in that pattern. I have no idea who else made them or if one company made all of them for everyone else. I like that pattern.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by garddogg56 »

::uc:: Caddy eight bucks NICE ::tu::
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by wlf »

Caddy,I know nothing about fixed blades ,except that you got some bargains!
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Dinadan »

Here is one that I bought back in the 1970s. It has done good service.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by vikingdog »

Marked Western L77 but shorter blade than the WW II L77 commando knife. Does anyone know anything about this knife?
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by djknife13 »

Should have a 5 inch blade.overall 9 1/8th inches. Came in leather and 677 was same knife in bone.Made from 1940's into the early 1960's. Dave
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by djknife13 »

I just noticed in 'Knifemakers Who Went West" that in the 1940's they also made a stag handled one stamped 577 that came in a "Finnish" style sheath. I think I have all 3 examples in my safe. Dave
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by vikingdog »

That's it Dave, thank you! When I do a search I only come up with the military version.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by knife7knut »

Here's a couple I found awhile back.Less than $10 for all three.Ho sheaths for the knives though.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by djknife13 »

That was a good deal. That little F28 is a hard one to find, and on EBay they sell for close to $100. I have all the variations of the childrens knife except that one. Dave
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by rschuch »

Picked up this boot knife a couple months back. I saw Remington had one, then saw Western had basically the same thing. Just got the sheath for it last month from Terry Landenberger here on AAPK. Thanks, Terry!
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Keg »

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.
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1502483_836919679685111_9171416658160829530_n.jpg
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Keg »

This small knife has western on the other side....
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by tongueriver »

Here are some little ones.
little Westerns001.jpg
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