All About Pocket Knives

jerryd6818 wrote:My youngest Grandson graduates from high school three weeks from tomorrow and two weeks later (June 4th) he ships out for U.S. Army Basic Training. Soooo, as a graduation present, I bought this for him. I'm still on the fence whether or not to have his name engraved on it. Maybe on the bottom bolster?????

Great gift, Jerry, your grandson's a lucky guy.

I'd suggest getting his initials engraved on the bolster, or a short (5 letters or less) nickname if he goes by one. A personalized knife like that would be the perfect gift IMO. Congratulations to your grandson and best of luck in his upcoming adventures!

The initials are a good idea Tony. That didn't cross my mind. I was all caught up in full name (12 characters, kinda expensive). I looked for an engraver today but didn't have much luck. Seems like most of the internet info is old and no longer valid.

Some might be attached to jewelry stores in the area, reaching out to a few of them and asking after such services might bear fruit?

Good luck!

Jerry - I would visit a locally-owned "nicer" jewelry store and ask about engraving. It is pretty common for a jeweler to need to be able to engrave a ring, pendant or bracelet.

Thanks guys. Yesterday, I stopped at a place that told me they only do "industrial" engraving and a jewelry store was what he recommended. Even recommended a specific store so when the knife gets here I'll take it by there and see what they have to say. Unfortunately my favorite store closed it's doors shortly after the first of the year. The old Marine that ran it decided to retire. Sure liked dealing with him. He gave me a discount.

Back in the 80s and 90s there was a chain of stores, usually in malls, called Things Remembered. They specialized in personalized gifts. They were the place we sent our customers if they needed a lighter or knife engraved. They had all sorts of gift items that could be engraved such as flasks, cups, writing instruments, plaques, lighters, ECT.
They were popular with guys getting married for groomsmen's gifts.

I don't know if Things Remembered is still in business, but you might look for that type a store in your area.

orvet wrote:Back in the 80s and 90s there was a chain of stores, usually in malls, called Things Remembered. They specialized in personalized gifts. They were the place we sent our customers if they needed a lighter or knife engraved. They had all sorts of gift items that could be engraved such as flasks, cups, writing instruments, plaques, lighters, ECT.
They were popular with guys getting married for groomsmen's gifts.

I don't know if Things Remembered is still in business, but you might look for that type a store in your area.

Yup, still in business. There's one in the mall near us.

Cool! They are nice stores. I believe they are a franchise and each store locally owned, or that is the way they were 30 years ago.

As Steve noted, they are still out at the mall. They are EXPENSIVE. Paid more to have my niece's initials engraved on a lighter than the lighter cost (it was a Zippo). These days, with all the shootings that are taking place, you take your life in your hands if you visit our only remaining mall and it's in what's considered a "good" neighborhood. Rockford is starting to look like the wild west.

This is an example of the extremely rare xW66 with cocabolo handles from 1941. It's SUPPOSED to get to me next Tuesday.



The XL66 and xW66 both debuted in 1941 and were not produced during WW2. The L66 was resurrected shortly after the war ended, but the W66 did not reappeared until 1978 based on catalog advertising.

The visual tell differentiating the 1941 from the 1978+ versions is a lack of handle rivets. Secondary tell is the handle disk pattern/arrangement.

The 1978+ version sports a pair of large headed brass rivets in the handle.

Here is a post-1978 W66, a "D" date code or 1980 example.

zzyzzogeton, thanks for the tutorial on the Western knives this morning. When I was reading your post the "66" rang a bell. I checked and mine has the rivets in the handle, with only W66 stamped in the brass. Or could mine be an elusive 99M, worth a arm and a leg?
Treefarmer

Model numbers stamped in the brass guards generally indicate that a particular Western was made between 1968 and 1976, depending on the model.

I say generally, because there are a couple of people with guard stamped L39s that say they got them around 1958 or 1959 via S&H green stamps, so ....

Sorry, but Western never had a 99 pattern. The highest fixed blade model number was 88.

Their Westmark line a had a 701, 702 and 703.

zzy, the two W66 knives, 1941 & 1980 have different profile blades and different blade grinds. Usually a new blade profile would make it a different pattern number.
Would you explain why these have the same pattern # please.
thanks, kj

One, a manufacturer can do what it wants.

Second, lighting, camera angles, background can impose perceptual differences. Not saying that's a reason here, just an observation.

Once I get the knife in my hot little hands, I'll be able to review/comment on any differences based on actual examination/comparison.

Third, the 1941 version was being made by different grinders that the 1978+ versions - different people >>> differences.

Fourth, different stamp die used to stamp out the blanks and the die maker/designer decided to tweak it, or misinterpreted a line drawing, but it was "good enough" and no reason to pay to change it.

Fifth, the 1941 knife, as seen in the picture has been used and resharpened a few times in its 77 year life span. It was bought just before WW2 started or shortly the start. Civilian purchase of knives, while spottily available during the war, were curtailed. And it was bought to be used, not just sit around in a drawer, so the profile/grind could have changed over time due to end user sharpening techniques & tools. How many times have we seen people buy a brand new knife and commence to "making it their own" by changing the grind from FFG to convex, convex to flat, sabering flattened out, choils added, handles changed out, etc.

I have a Kabar 1254 shorty tanto that "almost, kinda" looks like a bad clip point because I can't sharpen a tanto edge for squat and I use that little tanto point damn near daily as a box/tape cutter. Anyone looking at it 50 years from now will say

"WTF??? Why/when did Kabar make those??"

Here are two I picked up in the last day or so. First is a pretty decent Camillus #33 easy open. I'm really liking the full blade on this one. Can't wait to get it. And here is one I got from our very own Olderdogs1 Thanks Tom! It looks like a show piece for certain

Greg, once you get it in hand, you're especially going to like the bone on that 33.

jerryd6818 wrote:Greg, once you get it in hand, you're especially going to like the bone on that 33.

Jerryd I already do! A short line too had to get that one.

That ol' 33 looks like kissin' cousin to my short line 1st-gen 72. "Decent looking" is a bit of an understatement.

Just ordered - 6347 in Amber Bone

Steve, I have an 07 in Amber Bone on my watch list. I would rather have the Burnt Amber Bone but it's more expensive.

Amber Bone
Burnt Amber Bone

I do like that burnt amber, Jerry.
I just wish it was easier to get the knife in hand before purchase and select the exact one I want. Several of the knives they have pictured on Shepherd Hills have a great looking bone, others of the same bone, not so pretty. I'd love to be handed six or seven 6347s in amber bone, then told to pick one.

Nice knives Gregg
Very cool!

Browsing the AAPK store this morning, a Buck "grail knife" popped up - it'll be on the way to me now. The first variation of the Buck Stockman (before it was designated the 301), made by Schrade circa 1966. OH

Steve, I have a modern Case 6347 (three spring) that I carry; you will enjoy EDC'ing that Stockman. Nice choice. OH

Old Hunter wrote:Steve, I have a modern Case 6347 (three spring) that I carry; you will enjoy EDC'ing that Stockman. Nice choice. OH

Thanks OH. It was in my mailbox yesterday