Westmark Cocobolo Trapper question.....

[58chevy348]

I recently acquired one of these Westmark Cocobolo Trappers made in Germany. I've seen mixed information, some stating they are made by Boker, and others are saying this is a Western brand. Does anyone have any information on these knives and where they were offered on the retail market? Thank you!

[Eye Brand Man]

Definitely Boker made. That jigging is what they call washboard and is pretty much exclusive to Boker.

[58chevy348]

Thank you Eye Brand Man! That's the direction I was leaning toward, since the knife was made in Germany. I wonder if Boker bought the rights to the old Western "Westmark" name?

[zzyzzogeton]

Westmark was a line of Western knives from the early 70s to late 80s. Models 701, 702 and 703 - fixed blade w/ wood handles. Considered a "high end" line. Continued into the Coleman years with production stoppage during the later Coleman years followed by a final death w/ the purchase of Western buy Camillus.

The Westmark name was acquired by Smokey Mountain Knife Works through some deal with Camillus prior to the Camillus bankruptcy process.

The 70X series was never reborn under SMKW, but SMKW has had a Doctor's knife, a boot knife (identical in form to the Western W77 / Camillus CP77 boot knife), and this trapper. All came in that purple & black box. There may have been other SMKW Westmark models, but I don't remember any off-hand.

[58chevy348]

Thank you zzyzzogeton! So, in other words, this was a knife which SMKW contracted out with Boker in Germany to produce for them to sell?

[zzyzzogeton]

Yes. SMKW still owns the name but doesn't make anything themselves. Anything they sell under one of their brands is contracted out.