The 74x circle is unbroken.

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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Colonel26
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The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by Colonel26 »

Those who've been around for a while know that I'm a sucker of all things Western, especially the 74x patterns. I saw this old add posted a few years ago, and took up the challenge of acquiring all the listed knives. Oddly enough the ones considered more rare were the easiest to find. The more common ones were the hardest. But here they are. They are all HOK's. In really good condition, but they're HOK's nonetheless.

Today the 745 came home. You can see a great variety in bone, and all but the 745 have the pattern number stamped, Western was not real concerned with pattern number stamping. They were hit and miss in the old days. Also the 745 doesn't have a shield. Again, nothing unusual for Western. You could make a sizable collection of Westerns just collecting the same knife with all it variations lol. This one will do nicely until I can find one with a shield!

Here's the add and the family. If you pay attention you'll see that I have one too many knives in the pic. That's because the top one is a 741. It is the same frame, etc... but it's a Muskrat. Therefore, it wasn't in this add.
IMG_2470.JPG
IMG_0671.JPG
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by jerryd6818 »

Good job Cuz. Isn't that old bone gorgeous?
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by cody6268 »

As a Stockman fan, that's a great collection.


How hard would a 743 or 746 be to find? A Stockman with a Trapper-sized long spey is very unusual.
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by Colonel26 »

cody6268 wrote:As a Stockman fan, that's a great collection.


How hard would a 743 or 746 be to find? A Stockman with a Trapper-sized long spey is very unusual.
In my area Western anything is hard to find. But generally from my experience the 743 and 746 are two of the harder ones to find. I got lucky and found them early in my collecting. I bought the only two examples I've ever seen. They are unique, and I really like them. But they are thicker than a normal stockman, lots of blade to fit in that frame.
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by Colonel26 »

jerryd6818 wrote:Good job Cuz. Isn't that old bone gorgeous?
I agree Cuz. And quite a variation too. Thanks!
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by edge213 »

Really cool!!
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by Dinadan »

That is a fine collection, Colonel. I like Westerns, but I do not see many. Like Jerry says, the bone is just nice! You should do a photo with the knives arranged just as in the old catalog.
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by Colonel26 »

Dinadan wrote:That is a fine collection, Colonel. I like Westerns, but I do not see many. Like Jerry says, the bone is just nice! You should do a photo with the knives arranged just as in the old catalog.
Good idea Mel.

Here in the pre internet days it was Case, Eye Brand, and those "cheap" knives. Lol. I didn't know anything about Western until I got one in a trade here in aapk. It was a USA 742 and I fell in love wth that steel. Been hooked ever since.
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by CheckSix »

awesome! :wink: ::tu::
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by rea1eye »

Great collection there !

Bob
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by Colonel26 »

CheckSix wrote:awesome! :wink: ::tu::
rea1eye wrote:Great collection there !

Bob
Thanks guys. Here are some blade open pics. Like I said, they're HOK's, not pristine. But the blades are full to mostly full. Here are the different blade compliments to demonstrate the variety.
Western 741 Muskrat.
Western 741 Muskrat.
Western 742 Stockman.
Western 742 Stockman.
Western 743 Stockman.
Western 743 Stockman.
Western 744 Stockman
Western 744 Stockman
Western 745 Stockman.
Western 745 Stockman.
Western 746 Stockman.
Western 746 Stockman.
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by tongueriver »

Very nice, indeed! Thanks for the show!
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by Old Folder »

Dinadan wrote:That is a fine collection, Colonel. I like Westerns, but I do not see many. Like Jerry says, the bone is just nice! You should do a photo with the knives arranged just as in the old catalog.
I agree with Mel Colonel.
Put the original add photo in "Paint" or "Photo Shop" with you own collection and come up with something really beautiful to frame. ::nod::

The most striking thing about this collection is the different bone colors. Difficult for me to pick a favorite.
Western went way out in bone color selection. ::tu::
It's always important to know what you don't know.
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by Colonel26 »

Old Folder wrote:
Dinadan wrote:That is a fine collection, Colonel. I like Westerns, but I do not see many. Like Jerry says, the bone is just nice! You should do a photo with the knives arranged just as in the old catalog.
I agree with Mel Colonel.
Put the original add photo in "Paint" or "Photo Shop" with you own collection and come up with something really beautiful to frame. ::nod::

The most striking thing about this collection is the different bone colors. Difficult for me to pick a favorite.
Western went way out in bone color selection. ::tu::

Thanks guys. That's a right interesting idea, I never thought about that. I'll look into how to do that. I've never really played around with those programs.
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by Old Folder »

Thanks guys. That's a right interesting idea, I never thought about that. I'll look into how to do that. I've never really played around with those programs.

It's kind of time consuming Colonel, but can be fun. I like the "Paint" program within Windows 10.
Below is a couple "Clip Art" items from the web I "borrowed" and worked with in Paint that I posted earlier here in aapk.
I also straightened up your pic a little bit. No offense (Not that it needed it)
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by Colonel26 »

Thanks Dan. No offense. Tha pic was one that I copied from here that someone else had posted. It looks good.

And that Retirement Village People thing is hilarious!
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by gsmith7158 »

Wade congrats on finishing the circle! It very satisfying to complete a long search such as that. Now I hope you don't run up on some obscure publication that states one of the knives in that circle actually had two variations. ::woot::
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by Old Folder »

gsmith7158 wrote:Wade congrats on finishing the circle! It very satisfying to complete a long search such as that. Now I hope you don't run up on some obscure publication that states one of the knives in that circle actually had two variations. ::woot::
Variations? ::uc::
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by Colonel26 »

Rofl!!! Greg I've already found that they did!!!

With shield, without shield. With pattern number, without pattern number, with buffalo etch, without. ::facepalm::

Maybe I just ought to quit now.
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by philco »

Congrats Wade. ::tu::

Don't quit now, you've got the most complete collection of those known in AAPK land. You must press on. 8)
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by Colonel26 »

philco wrote:Congrats Wade. ::tu::

Don't quit now, you've got the most complete collection of those known in AAPK land. You must press on. 8)
Why Phil, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were encouraging me to spend countless hours and copious amounts of money scouring the country for knives just to feed an addiction.

Ok, you convinced me.
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by Cowdiddly »

Congratulations Wade, You completed the Rodeo,
I had to log in to give you a hand, I have not been around lately, I'm one of those poor saps that have to work.
Plus my knife collecting got put on the back burner as I have had it with this sorry bank I had my mortgage at. Finally got mad and just paid the dang thing off. My knife collecting had to be shelved for awhile but at least they can't kick me out of my house now, Well the wife can still kick my sorry butt out but the bank can;t Title is Mine. Pat's self on back,

I did manage to get a pair of nice 744s one red and one brown, I also added a super nice bone 655 to the stash before I got sidetracked,
I have the rodeo almost done in two colors brown and red now except that darn 743, I still have not gotten a hold of one.
I am kicking myself for not grabbing one a while back but some IDIOT took it to a grinding wheel, of course on the long spey blade and wappy jawed the heck out of it so I passed it up. Now Im kicking myself as that is the last one I have been able to lay eyes on.

At any Rate, I am glad you got er done and thats a nice lookin bunch o cowboys right der.
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Re: The 74x circle is unbroken.

Post by btrwtr »

Impressive group of knives!
If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.

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