All About Pocket Knives

A good friend showed me a knife that belonged to his grandfather. I didn't get a chance to photograph it.

It was a Western camper with a long oval shield that said "STAINLESS", lined bolsters, and a tang stamp something like:
Western
Boulder,Colo
Made in USA (I can't remember if it was "USA" or "U.S.A.")

The knife was very thin and flat for a camper, with jigged bone (or plastic?) scales and the bolsters had an almost home-made look to them. Is this enough information to give him a general idea of when it was manufactured?

Thanks for any help,
Bob

Pictures of the knife as well as any stamps are needed for a detailed determination, but from what you have given us -

1 - Before 1973, as it still references BOULDER COLO in the stamp.

2 - If it has "plastic", i.e., Delrin, then it is 1961 or later. Delrin did not become commercially available until 1961, and Western was one of the first cutlers to implement the use of it.

3 - The earliest I know of the 901 having stainless steel handles is 1967/1968 in the 1968 catalog as the S-901-S. The 1961 version was the 901 and it was advertised as having bone stag handles.

If it has stainless steel blades and springs, it is 1967/68 to 1972.

Thanks for the information.

I'll try to get photos when I see him next.