All About Pocket Knives

Here is an old Western #062 folding hunter that I restored. It originally had Delrin handles which had acid or something dropped on it that ate a big hole in the Delrin. According to Harvey Platts’ book the knife was probably made in the 1960s. I took the knife apart and removed the old Delrin handles and clean the knife inside and out. I reassembled it with Culpepper’s sunset colored Shetland jigged bone.

I hope you enjoy the pictures.


These are the before pictures –
Here are the after pictures –

That's one lucky knife!

Great job Dale!

I'm with Royal. Those handles are just right for that knife. Good job Dale.

I agree with the others, that jig pattern is just right for that knife.

Excellent work!

Dale, I love what you did to that knife. Nice job. Dave

Man o man! One of my all time favorite brands, a pattern I drool over, and now bone! Dale you're a giving me heart palpitations.

Fine looking knife, extra nice!

Dale,
Just have to add a hearty "Amen" to what has already been said about your latest project
Treefarmer!

Thanks guys, I am glad you like it.

royal0014 wrote:

Dale, I don't think you could have done any better at matching a Culpepper to that knife!

Too many adjectives needed to say it, so I'll simply say "WOW"

Thanks Chris. I was pretty pleased with the match myself. The color is almost spot on for an older Western I got at the OKCA show this year. I was hoping to match it with the bone from Culpepper. The jigging is a bit different than the old one, but the color is a close match.

The top knife in this pic is the old Western Bolder with match striker pulls.
I need to get another set for the old Western as the rear scale is missing on it.

Very nice job, Dale You've completely changed the character of that knife, in a more than positive way

Great job Dale!

Dale,

I had a chance to pick one those Western Hunters up used for $20. Are they worth that?

I think so Glenn.
The one I picked up at the show, with the match striker pull and no rear handle, I paid $45 for.
IMHO, the old Westerns had some of the best carbon steel blades ever made, especially those made prior to the mid-80s when they were purchased by Coleman (the lantern people)!

I understand why the Colonel says they are his favorite brand. If I weren't so heavily into Camillus and Schrade in my collections, I would definitely be collecting Westerns! I have a couple of users and a few in my collection, but they are not a focus for my collecting like Schrade and Camillus.

In my opinion Western doesn't take a backseat to anyone prior to 1985 in blade quality, edge retention and workmanship. I know it's sacrilege to some people but I would say their steel is as good as New York Knife, Schrade Cut Co or the old Ulsters, pre-WWII.

glennbad wrote:Dale,

I had a chance to pick one those Western Hunters up used for $20. Are they worth that?

I would rip my back pocket off getting my wallet out for $20. Heck is pay what Dale food for one in similar condition if I could find one for that price with decent blades. After all I do know a couple guys who could put new scales on one .

Dale was spot on about the steel. I've found some about as good, none better. I judge all other knife steel by my old Westerns.

That's really nice, Dale. They are a great knife.

ooh that looks nice

I picked up a Western folding hunter this Summer on E-bay for $40 it has some staining on the blades but is otherwise very nice. I'll get some pics and post. I love the Westerns and the Folding Hunter pattern

Very very nice work Dale

I started collecting Westerns when they were still in business before Coleman and collectors often asked me why. I said I could get them for $10 when sinular knives by Case and Robeson were going for 10 times that. They told me "yea, but they just aren't as collectable". I just liked them. A few years later I was having the last laugh.

All Western States arched stamping

Really nice work Dale, A big transformation. Beautiful knife.

Harold

Thanks Harold.
I really think Western knives were some of the best carbon steel ever produced. There heat treating process is probably the secret because the knives were probably made out of 1095 steel like most other carbon steel knives.
There ease of sharpening and edge retention has always impressed me!

Dave, what a nice group of knives. I've got a couple of hunters myself. I sure like them.
That yellow piece there is quite the knife.