All About Pocket Knives

This stainless steel (?) handled knife is 3" closed, lobster pattern with manicure on the bottom and a clip blade with swage on the top.
Font tang is marked "Western/USA" and back side: "S-381/B".
What makes it a bit unusual is the style of the clip blade. Most of the metal handled Gent's style knives have a spear point or pen master blade.
The "B" dates it to 1978.
Was this knife made by Western or for Western by Camillus ?
kj

In 1978 it was still Western, but no longer in Boulder.

The "S" in the "S-381" signifies that the BLADES were made of "440 series" stainless steel, but the handle scales were also made of stainless steel. While not specified, the handle material was most likely also "440 series" steel.

Production moved from Boulder to Longmont in 1978. Construction on the new plant began in 1977 and production started in the spring of 1978. The move was probably planned in 1972, as 1973 saw the removal of BOULDER COLO from all stamps.

Thanks for this help.
When did Camillus start to make knives for Western ?
kj

Camillus and Western and Case and Union/Kabar and Marbles and ......... made knives for each other for decades. Case and Western were related by blood and marriage.

Camillus bought the name and IP in late 1991 from the Boulder business men who had bought the assets in late 1990/early 1991 and had milked the assets before selling the remains to Camillus.

Camillus then made knives under the Western name until 2006, the last year Camillus made any knives. They filed for bankruptcy in February 2007, with no knives ever made in 2007.

At the bankruptcy sale later in 2007, the Camillus and Western names were bought by a Chinese company, ACME Co.

All current Camillus and Western offerings are made in China.

Everytime I see one of their clam packs or blister packs hanging on a WallyWorld shelf bracket, my first thought is about Wiley E. Coyote and The Roadrunner. Wiley ordered all his crap from Acme Co.