All About Pocket Knives

WESTERN Black Beauty Fixed blade. Model # F48B.

This knife is really good looking. I know some about it, but not a lot. If you know any more about this knife, I would love to know! The tang stamp puts it pre-1961 (if I'm not mistakin).

I like the Black Beauty's. I especially like the swedge on yours. What do you suppose it is that makes the Black Beauty's go for more than other Westerns? They don't seem to be extreamly rare.

I don't think you're mistaken about the age.

In my research, this model seems to be not exactly rare, but harder to find than the larger models in the Black Beauty line. They originally came with a matching hatchet, and the sheathes could even been attached.

The Black Beauty series of knives first shows up in the 1960 catalog in the "Knife Makers That Went West" book. The F in the model number indicates this is a Black Beauty knife. The 48 indicates the series of blade and the B indicates lack of a blood groove. Given that your knife is marked Western Boulder it would make it an early knife, circa 1961 as you thought. Your sheath is the original Oak Leaf sheath. This model of Black Beauty was continued through 1978. All other Black Beauty models were discontinued prior to 1978. You have a nice knife!

KyDuckHunter -- Welcome to AAPK. Glad to have you aboard.

Thanks for the information. AAPK is all about education and your post fits in perfectly.

That is a nice Western BB - I skinned a deer with mine last season - very good steel, kept a sharp edge through the entire process.

Dimitri posted this link several months ago - lots of information about Black Beauty knives: http://www.oregonknifeclub.org/Newsletter%200903.pdf