Western Staes or Shapleigh

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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98src
Posts: 331
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2018 12:35 pm

Western Staes or Shapleigh

Post by 98src »

Got this knife in a group and noticed that the big blade is marked with the
traditional Shapleigh Hardware Co with the DE in a diamond inside but the small blade is marked with the arched WESTERN STATES over BOULDER over COLO. Did Western States ever make knives for Shapleigh? the knife shows no signs of tampering.
DE-1.jpg
DE-1.jpg (36.25 KiB) Viewed 1955 times
DE-2.jpg
DE-2.jpg (47.96 KiB) Viewed 1955 times
DE-3.jpg
DE-4.jpg
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zzyzzogeton
Posts: 1837
Joined: Tue Jun 20, 2017 8:47 pm
Location: In the Heart of Texas on the Blackland Prairie

Re: Western Staes or Shapleigh

Post by zzyzzogeton »

In a nutshell, YES. Western made knives for many major chains, e.g., Sears, Monkey Wards,Western Auto, distributors such as Shapleigh, etc.
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98src
Posts: 331
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2018 12:35 pm

Re: Western Staes or Shapleigh

Post by 98src »

Thanks. Does that explain the WESTER STATES marked small blade?
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