Newbie with more questions than answers

[Gemstateguy]

I realize it's quite common for Western fixed blade knives to be re-handled. I recently acquired this one, with the scabbard shown, for the grand sum of $40.00. Realizing that it has been re-handled, how is it possible for someone to do such a great job of altering this knife and make any profit in doing so?

It's about as perfect as can be, other than some minor surface rust. Scabbard is most likely not original to the knife. Mark side is marked: Western over Boulder, Colo. over Made in USA. Pile side is stamped deeply: Official Boy Scouts of America with the BSA logo above.

Thanks for any information you may provide..... and I apologize if I posted this in the wrong place. I tried to find information elsewhere, but..... ended up here.

[1967redrider]

I would say that's an original sheath with the Boy Scout's logo, matches the logo etched/stamped on the blade. I happen to have 2 of these with regular handles. But your handle is eye-catching.

[Thomasg]

I realize it's quite common for Western fixed blade knives to be re-handled. I recently acquired this one, with the scabbard shown, for the grand sum of $40.00. Realizing that it has been re-handled, how is it possible for someone to do such a great job of altering this knife and make any profit in doing so?

It's about as perfect as can be, other than some minor surface rust. Scabbard is most likely not original to the knife. Mark side is marked: Western over Boulder, Colo. over Made in USA. Pile side is stamped deeply: Official Boy Scouts of America with the BSA logo above.

Thanks for any information you may provide..... and I apologize if I posted this in the wrong place. I tried to find information elsewhere, but..... ended up here.

I can’t answer either of your questions .could be that someone who was extremely talented had a leather handled knife that had deteriorated made a great save on the knife by customizing it .For 40$ your got a really nice looking knife .Great find !

[FRJ]

Thanks for any information you may provide.....

I have no answers for you but wanted to welcome you to the forum and say you have a great knife there.

[Suredan]

I would like to know how the people that are re-handling these knives are getting the pommel off. I tried to repair one that had severely deteriorated leather. I couldn’t drive the pins out without damaging the aluminum pommel. I know they are managing to do it somehow.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Welcome Gemstateguy. My guess as to how this was done for such a small amount of money is that someone who owned it had it done or did it themselves, but then something happened and that owner had to sell it, or it was sold from an estate or by someone that didn’t know what they had in hand. I wouldn’t take the price that you paid for it as the price that was paid for that knife to be rehandled. Someone obviously knew what they were doing and did an excellent job. But someone in the chain of custody didn’t value what they had and sold it cheaply. Just my guess.

[Reverand]

Welcome to AAPK!
I agree that someone rehandled it for themselves, then the knife was sold off later. Perhaps they passed away and the family sold it, or sometimes people just downsize and sell things in Yard Sales or Moving Sales, and it got passed on at a bargain price.
You definitely got your money's worth! As a collector's item it has been devalued, but as a good user it was a bargain. I can see a few gaps in how the replacement pieces were cut, but they still did a darned good job on it.
I have managed to pick up a couple of similar Westerns with deteriorated handles for under $20, but I will spend more than that for handle materials. After studying them I intend on putting solid bone handles on them, to avoid removing the pommel. That appears daunting to me!