The Western Cutlery Company

[zed6309]

I don't own a lot of Westerns anymore........I use to have atleast a dozen Western skinners.
Heres all that I have left.

really like that bowie johnnie, and love that scout knife

[johnnierotten]

Thanks Paul. .......I collect scouts ..so you know which is my favorite.

[coffeecup]

Anyone know any history on Western Cutlery Co. All I have is this old one marked Germany....?

Levine's says they were made for Wiebusch and Hilger in NYC, from about 1874-1914. Those dates would suggest that this was one of the contractual relationships ended by the start of WWI.

I can't believe I had overlooked this thread! Looks like it started in January though--last December and January were a bit rough around here.

In any event, I'm in the process of shifting my collection focus and most of my users over to Western (of Boulder Colo) knives. I've been doing this with my fixed blades for a while, and am gradually getting the excess non-Westerns folders moved out.

So far, I've only got 8-10 Western folders (vs maybe 20-25 fixed blades) but that is increasing. This morning I snagged a bone-handled 6206 as my first knife-purchase of 2011. I'll try to get some pics snapped of what's on hand and come back to this thread.

Lately though, most of my knife-collecting effort has been collating my notes on about 450-500 Westerns known to have been carried in WWII. Not as easy as it would seem, as most of the notes were taken incidental to vet interviews, museum visits, etc. Not a lot of folders in that bunch, most guys seem to have carried whatever issue folder they could get their hands on as opposed to a private-purchase folder.

Jim

[blademaker]

Very interesting Jim, thanks for the info! I really had no idea this knive was that old......Looking forward to your pics..
Thanks again


Craig

[WelderBob]

These are the only Western folders I have...love the matchstriker pull's, don't care much for the scale's...they make me nervous.

Bob

[coffeecup]

Looks like I"m late getting back to the party. Sorry for the quality of the pictures, I'm still figuring out the new camera.

Western Folding Hunter, in sort of a cracked ice or pearl celluloid (and I'm with WelderBob here; those handles make me nervous). This would be a 2227 pattern


Western 6206


Western 691 trapper, and one I haven't figured out yet: it looks like a 693 locking single blade trapper, but in carbon steel and without a lock. Both in delrin.


Another I haven't figured out yet; on a 72 frame but doesn't quite seem to be a 372 pattern. In bone.


Pair of stainless scouts; top is near-new, bottom has some miles on it.


Looks like I've got three variations of the toothpick as made by Western, but those are at my brother's place. I just don't like having yellow-handled toothpicks around. . . . (probably ought to quit buying them, eh?)

Jim

[PigSticker]

Here's a couple Boulder Camp knives-tried to get pic's of the difference in the tang stamps--the older also has radiused nail pulls while the newer one has strait nail pulls. I to show the difference in the liners but camera battery went dead--i'll update post later

Who knows how to date the straight blades i knew at one time but have forgot--i know it has to do with the plastic rings being stacked a certain way but have fergot

[johnnierotten]

Sweet Scouts.

Jim....I'm with you..I've never seen a single blade without the lock....like the one in your pic.
To bad your missing the shield.....thats an odd one.

[coniferwoodsman]

How about a Carpenters Special?

[johnnierotten]

Here's 2 I picked up recently..

[coniferwoodsman]

That is a Beautiful Jack, johnnie! Very nice score.
All the best
Dave

[johnnierotten]

Thank you, Dave.

[slimpickins]

Just ran across this thread. Oh well, better late than never. Here's my only two Westerns, both 45's. I picked them up about 20 years ago and really liked the turkish clip blades.Slim.

[Mossdancer]

A couple I picked up today. An L66 and a Two blade Hunter. Both Western Boulder COLO with usa on the fixed and not visable on the hunter. It appears photo's are not fixed yet so will post them later.

moss

It seems it is taking me longer and farther in between to visit here.

[cato]

got this little doctor off bay in a pile

length 2 and 7/8ths

[Mason]

got this little doctor off bay in a pile

length 2 and 7/8ths

Very nice elegant example.

[knifegirl888]

got this little doctor off bay in a pile

length 2 and 7/8ths

Dang.... that's nice!

[bonehead]

got this little doctor off bay in a pile

length 2 and 7/8ths

Cato, From a lot? that thing is sweet.... did you see it from afar? Bonehead

[cato]

thanks for all the replies, yeah i seen it but was not sure how it was.

[Colonel666]

[album][/album] Well, I have this Western folder model #54 in stainless steel. It opens smoothly but beware the big screws are only caps over a pressed rivet that the blade swings on. The ergonomic handle is able to prevent dropping it when flipped open. Not for real using but it is as large as a West-Cut K5 fixed blade when in open position. Included is photo.

[johnnierotten]

Not for sure if I've showed these 2 or not.....

[orvet]

That is a beautiful Whittler Johnnie!

The second knife is an interesting lock back. The patent was granted on August 9, 1977.
It was invented by Lawrence P. Johnson of Bolder CO, so I imagine he worked for Western.

I have the paper work of the patent in .PDF format, but I can't post a PDF here on AAPK.
The knife is a lockback but the spring is enclosed so dirt & debris cannot get into it.
If you look inside the knife you only see what looks like a back spring but it is really the piece that encloses the spring.

I think the style never caught on because in the 1980s Coleman bought Western and then in 1991 Camillus bought Western. I think that type of knife was discontinued when Coleman bought out Western. I think the pattern was only made for 6 or 7 years, maybe less. Not really enough time for the new style to catch on, and I think it was more expensive than similar sized lock backs. I think the drop point blade put some folks off, as the clip blade seemed to be more popular at that time.

Johnnie, the "C" on your tang means it was made in 1979, (in case you didn't know).
I have one with a worn down blade that was made in 1978.
Yours is much nicer than mine plus it has the awesome etch!
Nice Knife!!

[orvet]

Here is a .jpg file that shows the letter dating of Western knives.
It was a small file that has been enlarged and it was slightly blurry when it was printed in the 1982 Western catalog. , thus the blurriness of the pic.

I think Coleman bought Western about 1984.
The 1986 catalog has the name Coleman Western on the front.
I think Coleman continued the letter dating at least for a while, but I believe Camillus did not continue it after their purchase of Coleman-Western in 1991.

[Miller Bro's]

Dale, that is interesting info about the Western knife.

Here is one that I have with the carry case, looks like I need to wipe the verdigris off of it

I would like to see the patent on it



Johnnie, I like the bone handle Western

[orvet]

Nice ones Dimitri!

Here is a Western pen knife.

I am a big fan of the Western fixed blades and their older slip joints.
I just wish I had the budget to add Western to the brands I collect.
Their old carbon steel is some of the best ever made!