Western Fixed Blade Knives

[Miller Bro's]

Here are a few I have.

[Old Hunter]

I posted this one on another thread but I'll gladly show it off again I need to get a sheath made for it, or find a proper Western sheath - the one I have it in was made at Boy Scout camp in 1969 and is kind of loose.

[Miller Bro's]

Thanks for showing it

I don`t have that model in the black beauty line, very nice old knife

[IMBand]

Here are 2 Westerns that were re-handled by Muskrat Man and then sent to Rick Garcia of RG Leather for
a custom side by side sheath. I suggested to Rick that I liked the sturdier look of his work and asked that
the knives not clank together on draw. This is what he the finished product looks like. Couldn't be nicer imo.
These knives will be hanging around hunting camps and cabins doing regular chores and getting shown off
to my buddies.

THANK YOU Kaleb and Rick (and morrisindp44 for the L39 blank). I am one happy customer guys.
Just have to put the working edge on them and make some hunting plans................
The handle material is Roosevelt Elk.

IM

[Miller Bro's]

Nice knives and sheath

[FRJ]

That is very smart and handsome set up, IM. Really nice.

[IMBand]

Thanks guys, I really like it. It is a little wider than I expected.................but the work is fantastic.

IM

[tongueriver]

Great setup! Thanks for sharing!

[tongueriver]

I have the book by Harvey Platts which sorta kinda covers the older knives with many ghastly gaps, but I see that there is a date coding system for more recent Western knives. Do anyone wish to share that knowledge?

[Miller Bro's]

http://www.oregonknifeclub.org/Newsletter%200903.pdf

Make sure you start on page 1 and scroll down to page 4 for the entire article.

[jmh58]

Thanks and a good read!! John

[tongueriver]

Thank you Miller for some excellent information!

[tongueriver]

Here's a couple cute li'l fellers.

[268bull]

Those are some nice looking Western's guy's! Here is my remaining Black Beauty, F 39. I have several old issues of Sport's Afield, Outdoor Life, Field and Stream' from the 40's - early 50's, and the Western ad's show the knife and the sheath as matching. I didn't pick them up together. I found the knife at an estate sale, in the garage lying on the work bench. Some month's later, I picked up the sheath at another estate sale lying on top of a bedroom dresser. And they matched! Bull

[Miller Bro's]

Very nice knife!

[tongueriver]

L36KG and L36, from the 1930's. The dark blade is buffed to mirror bright; that is how my scanner interprets these situations.

[Miller Bro's]

That is an unusual pommel on the lower knife, can I see a close up?

[tongueriver]

Here is the pommel of the L36:

[Miller Bro's]

Very similar to an Estwing Hatchet

Thanks for the pic

[tongueriver]

Very similar to an Estwing Hatchet

Does/did Estwing pay royalties and use the patented split tang Western construction?

[Miller Bro's]

Does/did Estwing pay royalties and use the patented split tang Western construction?

Good question, I do not know the answer. I would not doubt it if Western made them for the Estwing company

Here are a couple pictures of an Estwing hunting knife posted on this site by another member, note the similarities

[tongueriver]

If I was a bettin' man I would say that Estwing is a WESTwing. The sheath looks like a Western also, but I'm not so sure about it being the RIGHT one.

[Old Hunter]

A late Western R18 Gut Hook Skinner in blaze orange. I bought this knife in November 1998 from a knife shop in Fayetteville NC for $18.00. Two of my deer hunting buddies had converted to "gut hook" knives and I wanted one too. Funny thing, one of theirs was a Schrade, the other a Remington, and mine a Western - I remember comparing the knives, all where identical except for handle color.

[tongueriver]

On top is a 1930ish KABAR. Below is a Western Cutlery. On the "right" side tang stamp of the Western it says WESTERN STATES CUT CO DISTR (and then some additional illegible markings). It is almost certain that KABAR made the WESTERN. Both of these knives have the through-bolt with countersunk nut tang construction. Now a few weeks ago another WESTERN went through ebay that was the same design. This time, however, it had the patented split tang WESTERN handle construction. I wish I had been able to buy that one; it would have made a lovely display of three in a historical sequence.

[Miller Bro's]

Couple nice ones for sure

Now a few weeks ago another WESTERN went through ebay that was the same design. This time, however, it had the patented split tang WESTERN handle construction.

Any pictures of it?


Here is a pretty rare Western, it has the changeable blade. Comes in a leather belt sheath with the hatchet head.