All About Pocket Knives

I have an older (bought it about 30+ years ago) Western Cutlery Co. "hunting knife". Actually a 6" upswept skinner. It's always amazed me how well it holds an edge and I was curious if any of you would venture a guess as to what type of steel this might be?

Thanks

Hmmmmm ...

Does it look at all like this fixed blade one?



This one is a bit shorter, but I believe they were 1095 Carbon.

Bill

I think Bill is right.
It seems I have heard somewhere that their carbon steel was 1095.

Dale

Hi Guys,

I'm sure it would depend on the time frame, when the knife was made, of course. I have a 1975 Western catalog, that sez their sheath knives were made of chrome vanadium steel. It doesn't mention the composition of their stainless steel, tho'.

Take care,
JR

Good diggin' JR...

Seems even most CV type steels have been 1095 based here in the U. S. of A. Here is A. G.'s Steel Guide just for drill. It is a good reference point IMO.....

http://www.agrussell.com/knife_informat ... index.html

Anyway, you are right for sure about the exact time frame. My knife has the C in the pattern, dating it to 1979 ('77=A, '78=B and so forth), and it very well might be a CV steel, rather that just 1095. Good point.

Here is another Western Combo, but with the impregnated ( ) wood handles.....

Bill

VERY NICE set Bill.
I have one or two on my must get soon list.
I like the wood handled ones & the leather ring sets.

Dale

Hey guys, would this be the same WESTERN company that had knives tang stamped WESTERN, Boulder Colorado? If so, I have a 2 blade folding hunter style knife with cracked ice handles that is dangerous to use because it's so sharp. It also holds an edge very very well. It was used to skin out and quarter 3 whitetail deer and will still shave the hair off my arm or face without resharpening. It's frame looks just like the CASE XX 2 blade folding hunter that I have but, it's over all size is a little smaller. I would sure like to find another one like the one I have. My brothers and a couple friends have tried to buy the one I have several times. I just can't bring myself to get rid of the ol' gal. duffy

Well, fellers -

This thread got me perusing that ol' Western catalog again, for the first time in probably 20 years. Kinda interesting, too.

Ol' Hatchet Bill is spot-on, that chrome vanadium is just 1095 with added elements. The vanadium is where the edge-retention comes in - I have zero idea why they put the chromium in, it sure doesn't make it stain resistant ! CV is also (in my admittedly limited buying experience) "unobtainum" for the average Joe.

A side note of relevance, from the catalog...

Forgers normally opt for 1075, or 1084, vice 1095 because the latter is above the eutectoid level of carbon concentration, but during the forging process, they can obtain more edge retention, since the steel is normalized so many times, during the process.
Stock removal dudes, like myself, usually (used to) go with steels containing the added elements, ie., vanadium, molyb, tungsten to try for edge-retention. However, since cryo-tempering became popular (and affordable), the 10 series can now compete with forged blades.

Said all that, just to say this -- Guess what ? Western was cryo-tempering, as far back as 1975 ! So, Duffy, that explains (partly), why your Western outperforms your Case. Wish I had paid more attention, back when this catalog was new !

Ol' Dumb JR

Duffy wrote:Hey guys, would this be the same WESTERN company that had knives tang stamped WESTERN, Boulder Colorado? If so, I have a 2 blade folding hunter style knife with cracked ice handles that is dangerous to use because it's so sharp. It also holds an edge very very well. It was used to skin out and quarter 3 whitetail deer and will still shave the hair off my arm or face without resharpening. It's frame looks just like the CASE XX 2 blade folding hunter that I have but, it's over all size is a little smaller. I would sure like to find another one like the one I have. My brothers and a couple friends have tried to buy the one I have several times. I just can't bring myself to get rid of the ol' gal. duffy

It's the same company Duffy.

According to Goins:
Founded circa 1911 as Western States. They also used the name or Westaco.
They used the name Western from 1951 and 1978.
About 1978 to move to Longmont Colorado.
The name was changed again in 1984 to Coleman-Western.
They closed in 1991 were sold to Camillus.

Goins also notes that in 1977 they started dating their knives. A letter was added under the USA. A= 1977, B= 1978 and so forth.

I have several of the old Westerns both in folders and fix blades and have found them to be excellent knives.

Dale

Man I love this website! You guys are on top of everything about knives. You folks have forgot more about knives than I'll ever know. Great info Ringmaster and orvet. I can't wait to get to deer camp and pick at the guys about my Western now. . Thanks, duffy.