Western states cut co/union little hunter

[Thomasg]

I found this interesting fixed blade floating around E-Bay .I know that in westerns early days when platts moved out to Colorado that they sold fixed blades contracted from Case , Union , with maybe a few from marbles and others .The double tang stampings ,celluloids handle , and what to appear to be a stag like end knob are quite puzzling to me ? Is this knife an authen - tic western knife from a contractor that’s been altered in any way? If so who may have been the manufacturer?

[btrwtr]

Beautiful little hunter! Looks like it Could be a Union made knife. Could actually be what Union called the "Little Hunter" in their line. What is the blade length?

[1967redrider]

Beautiful little hunter! Looks like it Could be a Union made knife. Could actually be what Union called the "Little Hunter" in their line. What is the blade length?

Gene/Gunsil would know I bet.


Very interesting knife, thanks for posting.

[Thomasg]

Beautiful little hunter! Looks like it Could be a Union made knife. Could actually be what Union called the "Little Hunter" in their line. What is the blade length?

Ha .i meant to post on the questions form .thanks to all for your replies the knife length description on E- bay is 6 3/4 .I do have one union contract knife for western that has the western state cut co bolder tang stamp , but not the western stamp on other side .

[Gunsil]

Definitely a Little Hunter made for WS by Union Cut/KA-BAR. i have a stag/stag one. I also have one marked Case Tested XX and one marked Henry Sears and Sons in celluloid/stag. I'm surprised yours got by me, I didn't see it. Thomas your is original and correct with unusual celluloid.


John, I just reserved tables for Shenandoah, Barry and I will be there, hope to see you and Herb.

[Thomasg]

Definitely a Little Hunter made for WS by Union Cut/KA-BAR. i have a stag/stag one. I also have one marked Case Tested XX and one marked Henry Sears and Sons in celluloid/stag. I'm surprised yours got by me, I didn't see it. Thomas your is original and correct with unusual celluloid.


John, I just reserved tables for Shenandoah, Barry and I will be there, hope to see you and Herb.

Thank your reply. .The knife has not slipped past you yet and still available on E -Bay with 6 days left bidding .My curiosity about the knife has been satisfied and I will not be bidding. If you do decide to add it to your collection it would be great if you could post a few better pictures for my viewing pleasure .Good luck.i did go back and edit the subject of this post with the correct identification you provided.

[1967redrider]

Definitely a Little Hunter made for WS by Union Cut/KA-BAR. i have a stag/stag one. I also have one marked Case Tested XX and one marked Henry Sears and Sons in celluloid/stag. I'm surprised yours got by me, I didn't see it. Thomas your is original and correct with unusual celluloid.


John, I just reserved tables for Shenandoah, Barry and I will be there, hope to see you and Herb.

Thanks, Gene. We will be there most definitely.

[Thomasg]

Someone got a nice rare one .Im really hoping that it went to a A.A.P.K . Member who will post some better photos on this post and on the Western forum . The 100 + year old western states ( contract)fixed blades are not normally seen much on the E-Bay .

[Gunsil]

That thing went crazy high! My last second bid didn't even go in. Knife is hard to find but lacking condition and sheath. it's not quite a hundred years old, KA-BAR didn't make that model until 1930 or 31. I guess my stag/stag one in better condition must be a valuable knife! I was a fool two years ago and sold a mint KA-BAR Western States with bone handle model 62 and proper sheath to a friend for 600, should never have done that.

[Thomasg]

That thing went crazy high! My last second bid didn't even go in. Knife is hard to find but lacking condition and sheath. it's not quite a hundred years old, KA-BAR didn't make that model until 1930 or 31. I guess my stag/stag one in better condition must be a valuable knife! I was a fool two years ago and sold a mint KA-BAR Western States with bone handle model 62 and proper sheath to a friend for 600, should never have done that.

Yes I was surprised at the price the knife went for myself .i was thinking that the Union little hunters were in the 1920. -37 age range .thank you for the clarification I also prefer a fixed blade purchased that has a proper or functional sheath .Also knowing that the O.P. Contract knife was also offered in bone is valuable information . Thanks

[Gunsil]

Thomas, Little Hunters were never made in bone, the mint WS/KA-BAR I sold was a model 62, actually a 662 which is a larger knife. The first 6 in 662 is KA-BAR code for bone. Little Hunters were made in stag/stag, cell/stag, and leather/aluminum. Little Hunters were made 1930 or 31 right through WW2 and up to the the early 1950s although they stopped calling them Little Hunter some time after WW2 and they became only available in leather/aluminum.