Western Cutlery Co. Germany - Scissors

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.
Post Reply
User avatar
New_Windsor_NY
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 10827
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2018 4:50 pm
Location: I'm On The Far Right On The Left Coast In Commiefornia

Western Cutlery Co. Germany - Scissors

Post by New_Windsor_NY »

I recently found this pair of scissors that had evidently fallen behind my work bench. I can't remember when I saw them last. In fact, I don't remember ever owning these scissors. Oh well, they look good and function great. Thought you might enjoy a Western Cutlery Co., non-knife topic. :D
Attachments
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
Kid: "Wish we had time to bury them fellas."
Josey Wales: "To hell with them fellas. Buzzards got to eat, same as worms."
Clint Eastwood-The Outlaw Josey Wales

Skip
Gunsil
Posts: 2760
Joined: Fri Feb 28, 2014 5:25 pm
Location: Lower Hudson River valley, N.Y.

Re: Western Cutlery Co. Germany - Scissors

Post by Gunsil »

Those are some old scissors you have there, that company had no relation to our Western States Cutlery Co.
User avatar
zzyzzogeton
Posts: 1722
Joined: Tue Jun 20, 2017 8:47 pm
Location: In the Heart of Texas on the Blackland Prairie

Re: Western Cutlery Co. Germany - Scissors

Post by zzyzzogeton »

Maybe, maybe not, Gene.

Don't forget about the 1925 Western catalog - page 12

11434
User avatar
New_Windsor_NY
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 10827
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2018 4:50 pm
Location: I'm On The Far Right On The Left Coast In Commiefornia

Re: Western Cutlery Co. Germany - Scissors

Post by New_Windsor_NY »

If I had to pick a scissors pattern from the examples on that catalog page that most resembles the scissors in question, it would be the lower right corner pattern, #153.
Kid: "Wish we had time to bury them fellas."
Josey Wales: "To hell with them fellas. Buzzards got to eat, same as worms."
Clint Eastwood-The Outlaw Josey Wales

Skip
User avatar
zzyzzogeton
Posts: 1722
Joined: Tue Jun 20, 2017 8:47 pm
Location: In the Heart of Texas on the Blackland Prairie

Re: Western Cutlery Co. Germany - Scissors

Post by zzyzzogeton »

Technically, if the OP scissors had been made for Western from the 1920s, the stamp SHOULD have read WESTERN STATES CUTLERY. Based on that tidbit, Gene is PROBABLY correct in saying that "this" scissors and stamp were not associated with WSC.

Western started making their own folders in 1919 an their own fixed blades in 1928. As scissors are kinda between a folder and a fixed blade, I could see Western making their own scissors as run-up "transition" period. However they WOULD have used the correct stamp of the era - Western States.

I suspect that Western's scissor and shears options were contracted out. Germany would have been a logical source in the 1920s.

Until someone turns up a set of Western scissors/shears with the original box, it'll stay in the speculation category.
Gunsil
Posts: 2760
Joined: Fri Feb 28, 2014 5:25 pm
Location: Lower Hudson River valley, N.Y.

Re: Western Cutlery Co. Germany - Scissors

Post by Gunsil »

Goins states Western Cutlery Co Germany was a mark of Wiebush and Hilger circa 1876-1914. I would suspect the Germany wasn't used until after the 1890 tariff act. Goins could also be mistaken, but Wiebush & Higer used the Western Cutlery Co mark with several different country of origin marks.
User avatar
New_Windsor_NY
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 10827
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2018 4:50 pm
Location: I'm On The Far Right On The Left Coast In Commiefornia

Re: Western Cutlery Co. Germany - Scissors

Post by New_Windsor_NY »

A BIG thank you to ALL for the information on these scissors.
The 1876 or 1890-1914 date span makes sense as that is when
some of the family arrived from Germany. I am sure that these
scissors made the trip with one of them. ::tu:: :D
Kid: "Wish we had time to bury them fellas."
Josey Wales: "To hell with them fellas. Buzzards got to eat, same as worms."
Clint Eastwood-The Outlaw Josey Wales

Skip
Post Reply

Return to “Western Cutlery Collector's Forum”