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.
Keg
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Keg »

tongueriver wrote:Nice knives, Keg; I like your likes. :)
There is a guy in (I think) Oregon who redoes mostly Western knives. Some of his stuff is pretty interesting. I have not purchased anything from him but am considering having some of my knives re-engineered by him.
http://www.ebay.com/usr/knifeholderstev ... 1543.l2754
::tu::
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Colonel26 »

Here are mine.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Colonel26 »

Here are some close ups of my favorites.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Producer »

Here are three Westerns I just posted in "Fixed Blades" and then saw this forum-so.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Producer »

K-5 in Marbles sheaths.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by wazu013 »

Here's a Western Boy Scout knife.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Producer »

wazu013 wrote:Here's a Western Boy Scout knife.
Nice, I love those BS L 66s'
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Producer »

Craftsman/Western 66
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terryl308
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by terryl308 »

got this L39 listed on ebay if anyone is interested. #2217 7567 7085, one day left May24. Terry
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Producer »

Western L88
Compared to the wood handled 88 [W88] this blade is thinner and has jimping.
Last pic is the W88
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Producer »

L88 with the W88 plus a Marbles Woodcraft and L36 for comparison
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Producer »

Another old boy.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Colonel26 »

Producer, you sure do have some nice old Westerns!
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Producer »

^^^^^
Thanks Colonel26
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by garddogg56 »

Pro, thats one of my first hunting knives. Nice find ::tu::
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Producer »

garddogg56 wrote:Pro, thats one of my first hunting knives. Nice find ::tu::
Thank you gd.
In the late 60's 70's I had Schrades, Gerbers etc.
I wish I had paid more attention to these beauties Western was making then.
I really like the steel. For me, these Sharpen up easily to a great edge.
I like the double stitching on the sheath for this one.

For what it's worth, I got this one for $20 plus $5 shipping.
Maybe I'm crazy but I thought that was o.k.
Thanks, Harold
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Producer »

Delrin 66 [666] :shock: model from 1979 I believe, as it's marked "C".
I use Marbles leather sheaths for under 5" blades if the originals are damaged or missing.
They are under $10 delivered if you look around. They are not bad at all after a little saddle soap or polish.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Producer »

Another L66 [Western - Boulder Colo - USA]
Doing some repair on the sheath, which is original, and cleaned up the knife a bit.
I love a 66. Nice shape and size and wonderful steel.
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garddogg56
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by garddogg56 »

And Pro you gutta love the steel on them knives ::nod::
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by tongueriver »

I like Westerns. Just some pics.
1930s Westerns001.jpg
little Westerns001.jpg
April 2012 group 1.jpg
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by stockman »

Producer wrote:Delrin 66 [666] :shock: model from 1979 I believe, as it's marked "C".
I use Marbles leather sheaths for under 5" blades if the originals are damaged or missing.
They are under $10 delivered if you look around. They are not bad at all after a little saddle soap or polish.
Producer, I have seen on AAPK bad reports on the modern Marbles Moose & Goose sheaths. Possible
causing blade staining.

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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Producer »

stockman wrote:
Producer wrote:Delrin 66 [666] :shock: model from 1979 I believe, as it's marked "C".
I use Marbles leather sheaths for under 5" blades if the originals are damaged or missing.
They are under $10 delivered if you look around. They are not bad at all after a little saddle soap or polish.
Producer, I have seen on AAPK bad reports on the modern Marbles Moose & Goose sheaths. Possible
causing blade staining.

Harold
Stockman, thanks for posting this.
I've used 5 of these in the last few years[no problems] but the last one ,purchased about 4-6 weeks ago, I had a problem with a Westcut K-5 after leaving it in the sheath overnight.
It was like a staining to the blade as you have said. I thought it was the polish I had used on it even though this had never happened before.
I wasn't aware of this until now but it makes sense.
Obviously I retract recommending these sheaths.
I did mange to clean up the K-5 and the sheath is usable now but I [instinctively?] had moved my least liked blade into it.
I thought it was something in the saddlesoap/polish I had.
:oops:
Thanks again
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by Producer »

Picked up another West-Cut K-5.
This one has a bigger, swept back guard than my other one has.
They are lighter, half the handle pins of the "66" models and less fancy too.
These K-5's get really sharp for me and I don't consider myself that good at sharpening.
The markings are similar but not exact. Seller claimed it was pre-1958 manufacturing.
I don't know but I like the design and the price was very good.
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by djknife13 »

Here's two stag Westerns. The top one is origional and the bottom is a recovered gas-aholic. I have had bad luck with Westerns cracked ice scales, especially in the Boulder era. I have had three model 239's gas.___Dave
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Re: Western Fixed Blade Knives

Post by galvanic1882 »

Just picked up a batch of older Western's that have been in a collection for a long time, trying to help the family move some of this stuff. Never collected them but these have me considering it!! Most of these are mint except for a couple.
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