Western Folding Knives

In 1911, H. N. Platts, was able to draw on his extensive friendships and family connections in the cutlery world to start Western States Cutlery and Manufacturing of Boulder Colorado. At first only a jobbing business, by 1920 construction and machinery purchases were underway to begin manufacture of knives. Through name changes--to Western States Cutlery Co. in 1953, then Western Cutlery Co. in 1956--and moves first across town and later to Longmont Colorado, the company stayed under the leadership of the Platt family until 1984. In that year, the company was sold to Coleman, becoming Coleman-Western. Eventually purchased by Camillus in 1991, Western continued until Camillus expired in 2007.
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Thomasg
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Re: Western Folding Knives

Post by Thomasg »

Felanmac wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 4:55 am Beautiful folders. These are also western cutlery
Wow those are some great looking strait razors .I have only managed to find one example of the western states and the scale on one side was broken .the one I have would be the third one from the top of your O.P. .thank you for sharing !
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Felanmac
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Re: Western Folding Knives

Post by Felanmac »

Thank you! I got lucky and found them all in one sale. Mr zzzygoten told me that they did not make very many and they are from @ 1920s.
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Thomasg
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Re: Western Folding Knives

Post by Thomasg »

Felanmac wrote: ↑Mon Sep 04, 2023 10:01 pm Thank you! I got lucky and found them all in one sale. Mr zzzygoten told me that they did not make very many and they are from @ 1920s.
I lucked out and found this one on E-bay I really have no idea how long western states offered them for sell .They do appear in a 1921 reprint catalogue page in the knife makers who went west .
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Felanmac
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Re: Western Folding Knives

Post by Felanmac »

::groove:: That is a great catch!! And the box too!!! Well done sir.
A man without a knife is a man without a life
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Thomasg
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Re: Western Folding Knives

Post by Thomasg »

Felanmac wrote: ↑Wed Sep 13, 2023 7:53 pm ::groove:: That is a great catch!! And the box too!!! Well done sir.
Thank you for your reply .I try and pick up anything I can to add to my small western collection.
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buckshot22
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Re: Western Folding Knives

Post by buckshot22 »

Colonel26 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 02, 2022 5:29 am My favorite of the bunch, a complete set of the 74x series in bone in cluding the rarely seen 741 muskrat. A couple of these are almost nonexistent, the 743 ive only ever seen this one. Someday maybe I’ll find better examples to replace a couple of these.

0884788B-6BB4-4F12-B5A4-52DDA713D165.jpegA28DADE9-3322-4118-A4E4-A418F5BC6CCE.jpegF749D4B7-4DE4-46CC-AEAD-9C72D23EF22D.jpeg85C707E7-BF98-44A0-8DD0-56BFD9DC455E.jpegFFBC120F-945D-4038-800D-3D9277DC227B.jpeg2928550B-7C50-470C-AEB9-4D759F45EB22.jpeg7195522F-B795-4DA2-81A8-D09A5DE904BB.jpeg

Colonel- thanks for sharing your knowledge. I got a call over the weekend from a gentleman wanting to sell some of his knives. I bought all the knives he had. He personally bought all of them new in the 40s and 50s. After reading about your quest for all of the Western 74x series, I feel like I hit the lottery with this 743. Even before I read your posts I fell in love with the practicality of the pattern. 3 of my favorite blade styles in one knife! The guy definitely carried this one, but did not abuse it!
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Mumbleypeg
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Re: Western Folding Knives

Post by Mumbleypeg »

I see why you like that one. California clip and long spey. Nice variations to an otherwise standard stockman. ::tu::

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Thomasg
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Re: Western Folding Knives

Post by Thomasg »

buckshot22 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 21, 2024 1:31 am
Colonel26 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 02, 2022 5:29 am My favorite of the bunch, a complete set of the 74x series in bone in cluding the rarely seen 741 muskrat. A couple of these are almost nonexistent, the 743 ive only ever seen this one. Someday maybe I’ll find better examples to replace a couple of these.

0884788B-6BB4-4F12-B5A4-52DDA713D165.jpegA28DADE9-3322-4118-A4E4-A418F5BC6CCE.jpegF749D4B7-4DE4-46CC-AEAD-9C72D23EF22D.jpeg85C707E7-BF98-44A0-8DD0-56BFD9DC455E.jpegFFBC120F-945D-4038-800D-3D9277DC227B.jpeg2928550B-7C50-470C-AEB9-4D759F45EB22.jpeg7195522F-B795-4DA2-81A8-D09A5DE904BB.jpeg

Colonel- thanks for sharing your knowledge. I got a call over the weekend from a gentleman wanting to sell some of his knives. I bought all the knives he had. He personally bought all of them new in the 40s and 50s. After reading about your quest for all of the Western 74x series, I feel like I hit the lottery with this 743. Even before I read your posts I fell in love with the practicality of the pattern. 3 of my favorite blade styles in one knife! The guy definitely carried this one, but did not abuse it!
Great for skinning small game with a bonus utility blade . I have found trappers are a little bit too large to skin a squirrel.some great looking rogers bone .Nice find!
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DM11
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Re: Western Folding Knives

Post by DM11 »

buckshot22 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 21, 2024 1:31 am
Colonel26 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 02, 2022 5:29 am My favorite of the bunch, a complete set of the 74x series in bone in cluding the rarely seen 741 muskrat. A couple of these are almost nonexistent, the 743 ive only ever seen this one. Someday maybe I’ll find better examples to replace a couple of these.

0884788B-6BB4-4F12-B5A4-52DDA713D165.jpegA28DADE9-3322-4118-A4E4-A418F5BC6CCE.jpegF749D4B7-4DE4-46CC-AEAD-9C72D23EF22D.jpeg85C707E7-BF98-44A0-8DD0-56BFD9DC455E.jpegFFBC120F-945D-4038-800D-3D9277DC227B.jpeg2928550B-7C50-470C-AEB9-4D759F45EB22.jpeg7195522F-B795-4DA2-81A8-D09A5DE904BB.jpeg

Colonel- thanks for sharing your knowledge. I got a call over the weekend from a gentleman wanting to sell some of his knives. I bought all the knives he had. He personally bought all of them new in the 40s and 50s. After reading about your quest for all of the Western 74x series, I feel like I hit the lottery with this 743. Even before I read your posts I fell in love with the practicality of the pattern. 3 of my favorite blade styles in one knife! The guy definitely carried this one, but did not abuse it!
8) ::tu::
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DM11
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Re: Western Folding Knives

Post by DM11 »

Waukonda wrote: ↑Mon Aug 28, 2023 5:02 pm Western States
Real dandy! 8) ::tu::
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Colonel26
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Re: Western Folding Knives

Post by Colonel26 »

Thomasg wrote: ↑Wed Feb 21, 2024 10:36 am [quote=buckshot22 post_id=<a href="tel:1122751">1122751</a> time=<a href="tel:1708479114">1708479114</a> user_id=47972]
[quote=Colonel26 post_id=<a href="tel:1018089">1018089</a> time=<a href="tel:1656739790">1656739790</a> user_id=14441]
My favorite of the bunch, a complete set of the 74x series in bone in cluding the rarely seen 741 muskrat. A couple of these are almost nonexistent, the 743 ive only ever seen this one. Someday maybe I’ll find better examples to replace a couple of these.

0884788B-6BB4-4F12-B5A4-52DDA713D165.jpegA28DADE9-3322-4118-A4E4-A418F5BC6CCE.jpegF749D4B7-4DE4-46CC-AEAD-9C72D23EF22D.jpeg85C707E7-BF98-44A0-8DD0-56BFD9DC455E.jpegFFBC120F-945D-4038-800D-3D9277DC227B.jpeg2928550B-7C50-470C-AEB9-4D759F45EB22.jpeg7195522F-B795-4DA2-81A8-D09A5DE904BB.jpeg

Colonel- thanks for sharing your knowledge. I got a call over the weekend from a gentleman wanting to sell some of his knives. I bought all the knives he had. He personally bought all of them new in the 40s and 50s. After reading about your quest for all of the Western 74x series, I feel like I hit the lottery with this 743. Even before I read your posts I fell in love with the practicality of the pattern. 3 of my favorite blade styles in one knife! The guy definitely carried this one, but did not abuse it!
[/quote]
Great for skinning small game with a bonus utility blade . I have found trappers are a little bit too large to skin a squirrel.some great looking rogers bone .Nice find!
[/quote]
buckshot22 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 21, 2024 1:31 am
Colonel26 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 02, 2022 5:29 am My favorite of the bunch, a complete set of the 74x series in bone in cluding the rarely seen 741 muskrat. A couple of these are almost nonexistent, the 743 ive only ever seen this one. Someday maybe I’ll find better examples to replace a couple of these.

0884788B-6BB4-4F12-B5A4-52DDA713D165.jpegA28DADE9-3322-4118-A4E4-A418F5BC6CCE.jpegF749D4B7-4DE4-46CC-AEAD-9C72D23EF22D.jpeg85C707E7-BF98-44A0-8DD0-56BFD9DC455E.jpegFFBC120F-945D-4038-800D-3D9277DC227B.jpeg2928550B-7C50-470C-AEB9-4D759F45EB22.jpeg7195522F-B795-4DA2-81A8-D09A5DE904BB.jpeg

Colonel- thanks for sharing your knowledge. I got a call over the weekend from a gentleman wanting to sell some of his knives. I bought all the knives he had. He personally bought all of them new in the 40s and 50s. After reading about your quest for all of the Western 74x series, I feel like I hit the lottery with this 743. Even before I read your posts I fell in love with the practicality of the pattern. 3 of my favorite blade styles in one knife! The guy definitely carried this one, but did not abuse it!
Buckshot, that’s a real fine looking 743! You done hit the jackpot.

Thomas, I agree. That blade compliment would be perfect for taking off Thumper’s britches!
“There are things in the old Book which I may not be able to explain, but I fully accept it as the infallible word of God, and receive its teachings as inspired by the Holy Spirit.”
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