Ugly Duckling Given a New Life

[Gunstock Jack]

I picked up this old Western Outer's model several years back. It was a complete wreck. It had been gouged up terribly with a grinder and was rusty and pitted. The handle scales were really ugly cracked ice celluloid with a poorly done flint knapped appearance over cracked and split ebony or similar hardwood. Suprisingly, the celluloid was in better shape than the rest of the knife. I finally got a wild hair and decided to try and make it better. After a lot of sanding I managed to get most of the grinder marks and rust off the blade, then buffed it up a little. Then I started looking around for something to rehandle it with and came up with a small piece of Zebra wood. I sliced it lengthwise in the bandsaw and made a couple new scales out of it and peined them on, and this is the result. I was suprised that it came out as well as it did, considering the shape it was in and the limited amount of time spent on it, about 4 hours. It is very light and thin and would make a pretty good carry knife. But first, I'll need to make a sheath...

[Froggyedge]

Four hours well spent!
Looking very nice!

[FRJ]

Jack, do you have an opinion of the steel that Western used in that knife? Thanks.

[Gunstock Jack]

The steel seems to be of a good quality, and took a very keen edge just in the process of restoration. I assume it is just good ol' carbon steel like a 1095 and seems to have a decent heat treatment. I haven't used it yet so I can't be more definite.

[orvet]

Nice job Jack!
I LOVE the steel in those old Westerns.
They seem to have used some of the best carbon steel ever,
or else they had their heat treatment dialed in better than anyone else has.
Even Western's inexpensive line West-Cut, had better steel than most other knives of that time.

That should be a SUPER USER!

Excellent save!

Dale

[glennbad]

Nice save, Jack.

She's a beauty now!

I have a couple Imperials in that pattern with bone handles. If the bone didn't look so darn nice, I'd be tempted to try that mod myself.

Thanks for sharing.

Glenn

[wv trapper I]

Good job Jack, those ol Western's are good knives, around here you can find them reasonable.
Joe

[Darksev]

One of my very first knives owned was a Western "Black Beauty" given to me by my uncle. I've always wanted to add one to my collection, maybe I'll have to start eyeing some up.

Very nice restore though, for sure. I think my favorite projects are the "Saved from death" ones