Hey yall. So my grandpa recently passed away (at 93 years young so no surprises there) but my mom gave me his old hunting knife as a birthday present. I was asking around on Reddit for more info and restoration tips when somebody advised me that this wasn't any ordinary old knife, I guess Western means something in the knife world and this one might be pre WWII - lol - Grandpa was an avid fisherman all his life and hunted a lot before he started working in the city, so I am sure he had good reason to buy a quality knife and obviously he put it to good use.
The pictures are attached. The best I have found is that the patent on the tang, which is hard to read in the picture due to the rust but reads "Pat No 1967479" - it dates to 1934. I was able to find a similar style knife and "Western Auto Supply Co" engraving on ebay, without the patent number, which they claim to date to 1941. Is there anybody out there with more information on when this knife was made?
Also, anyone near SW Ohio/Northern Kentucky who you would recommend to restore it? I would like to preserve it to pass onto my nephew one day.
Help dating my grandpas old Western Auto Supply Co hunting knife
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Re: Help dating my grandpas old Western Auto Supply Co hunting knife
Goins dates them from 1945 to 1960. The company itself was older but the early 40's is about the time they started offering firearms and hunting items in their catalogs.
Eric
Eric
Re: Help dating my grandpas old Western Auto Supply Co hunting knife
The knife was made by Western Boulder, previously known as Western States Cutlery, in Boulder Colorado.
The knives are noted for their high quality carbon steel and still sought after by hunters who liked the steel and its quality.
I hope this helps.
The knives are noted for their high quality carbon steel and still sought after by hunters who liked the steel and its quality.
I hope this helps.
Dale
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- zzyzzogeton
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Re: Help dating my grandpas old Western Auto Supply Co hunting knife
That is an L36K with the 1941 spacer pattern.
It's possible that it is a post-WW2, 1947 to 1949, but I have not found a 1947 or 1948 or 1949 dated ad for an L36K. All the 1947/1948/1949 ads I have seen have been for non-L36Ks (L48,L58,etc) and have a different spacer pattern, with only 2 bands of color, not 3.
I would call it a 1941 L36K. Not made during the war years (possible local exceptions) for public sale, nor made for the government either. With no ads yet seen during the early post-war years, it's probable that Western didn't gear up for the L36K until they showed up in the 1950 catalog.
The model name changed from L36K to just L36 in 1955.
It's possible that it is a post-WW2, 1947 to 1949, but I have not found a 1947 or 1948 or 1949 dated ad for an L36K. All the 1947/1948/1949 ads I have seen have been for non-L36Ks (L48,L58,etc) and have a different spacer pattern, with only 2 bands of color, not 3.
I would call it a 1941 L36K. Not made during the war years (possible local exceptions) for public sale, nor made for the government either. With no ads yet seen during the early post-war years, it's probable that Western didn't gear up for the L36K until they showed up in the 1950 catalog.
The model name changed from L36K to just L36 in 1955.
Re: Help dating my grandpas old Western Auto Supply Co hunting knife
Tacticalbeanpole,
The user Zzyzzogeton is one of the most knowledgeable people on Western knives that I have ever heard of. You can trust what he tells you!
As far as "restoring" the knife - I wouldn't do anything to it unless something is loose or broken.
A lot of people want an old knife like yours polished up and made to look new. This is actually the opposite of restoration. It is removing metal to make it shiny, but less authentic. Polishing an old knife ruins any collector value.
You might take a soft cloth and rub away a spot of tarnish. Definitely wipe the blade and handle down with a light oil (mineral oil works okay). Store it separately from the sheath - the leather can hold moisture which causes rust and tarnish.
That is the best advice that I can give you for a beautiful keepsake knife like yours!
The user Zzyzzogeton is one of the most knowledgeable people on Western knives that I have ever heard of. You can trust what he tells you!
As far as "restoring" the knife - I wouldn't do anything to it unless something is loose or broken.
A lot of people want an old knife like yours polished up and made to look new. This is actually the opposite of restoration. It is removing metal to make it shiny, but less authentic. Polishing an old knife ruins any collector value.
You might take a soft cloth and rub away a spot of tarnish. Definitely wipe the blade and handle down with a light oil (mineral oil works okay). Store it separately from the sheath - the leather can hold moisture which causes rust and tarnish.
That is the best advice that I can give you for a beautiful keepsake knife like yours!
Jesus is life.
Everything else is just a hobby.
~Reverand
Everything else is just a hobby.
~Reverand
- zzyzzogeton
- Posts: 1725
- Joined: Tue Jun 20, 2017 8:47 pm
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Re: Help dating my grandpas old Western Auto Supply Co hunting knife
The only "restoration work" I would do it would be to --
1- use mineral oil or 3-n-1 oil and 0000 steel wool to kill the rust that is forming on the blade near the guard,
2 -then, after the rust has been killed (will look blackish) and mostly removed using rags and the steel wool, I'd take a carpenter's pencil and buff off the black rust
3 - followed by removing the graphite left by the pencil with a standard pencil eraser
4 - and finally, apply a light coat of Rennaissance Wax to the blade and guard to inhibit future rusting and corroding.
If the guard had any verdigris, I'd gently scrape it off with a needle, stroking gently enoughto only remove the green crap and not scratch the guard, followed by a good wipe down with a clean cloth, then followed by the Rennaissance Wax.
Grandpa happily and proudly used it and that's the way I think it should remain - looking well used and cared for.
To "restore it" which most folks say when desiring to make something look shiny and "new" like so many DAs on fleabay do is like putting lipstick on a pig.
Seldom did someone back in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s spend their good hard-earned money on a tool and then never use it. As always, there are exceptions to that generalization.
99% of the time I can tell when a fixed blade has been "restored" or whether it just sat in a drawer for a long time. Do I buy them? Yeah, sometimes I do if it fills a hole in my collection, but I'm not a damn crow, buying a bright and shiny blade just because it is bright and shiny. I'd rather buy used knife with character. It's not like I need to worry about not having a good user around the house.
1- use mineral oil or 3-n-1 oil and 0000 steel wool to kill the rust that is forming on the blade near the guard,
2 -then, after the rust has been killed (will look blackish) and mostly removed using rags and the steel wool, I'd take a carpenter's pencil and buff off the black rust
3 - followed by removing the graphite left by the pencil with a standard pencil eraser
4 - and finally, apply a light coat of Rennaissance Wax to the blade and guard to inhibit future rusting and corroding.
If the guard had any verdigris, I'd gently scrape it off with a needle, stroking gently enoughto only remove the green crap and not scratch the guard, followed by a good wipe down with a clean cloth, then followed by the Rennaissance Wax.
Grandpa happily and proudly used it and that's the way I think it should remain - looking well used and cared for.
To "restore it" which most folks say when desiring to make something look shiny and "new" like so many DAs on fleabay do is like putting lipstick on a pig.
Seldom did someone back in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s spend their good hard-earned money on a tool and then never use it. As always, there are exceptions to that generalization.
99% of the time I can tell when a fixed blade has been "restored" or whether it just sat in a drawer for a long time. Do I buy them? Yeah, sometimes I do if it fills a hole in my collection, but I'm not a damn crow, buying a bright and shiny blade just because it is bright and shiny. I'd rather buy used knife with character. It's not like I need to worry about not having a good user around the house.
Re: Help dating my grandpas old Western Auto Supply Co hunting knife
My recently acquired Imperial toothpick had some rust on the blade when I got it. I tried a few different methods to remove it; the one that worked was wrapping a paper towel dampened with vinegar around the blade. That darkened the blade, though. I may try your suggestions in the hopes of restoring a little shine.zzyzzogeton wrote: ↑Thu Aug 11, 2022 4:44 pm The only "restoration work" I would do it would be to --
I do agree that tacticalbeanpole's Western should not be polished up. I'd just remove the corrosion (and any grime it's accumulated over the years) and preserve it.
USN 2000-2006
Adaptable and (usually) affable knife enthusiast, unsure of his knife collecting destination but enjoying the journey
Case taste, Rough Ryder budget
Adaptable and (usually) affable knife enthusiast, unsure of his knife collecting destination but enjoying the journey
Case taste, Rough Ryder budget
- Madmarco
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Re: Help dating my grandpas old Western Auto Supply Co hunting knife
That's one nice old bowie you have there TBP! Although I don't know much about your knife it looks like plenty of other members do judging from the replies, so I'll just you to AAPK! Even if you need to send it out of state for restoration IMHO it's definitely worth it so you can always have the memory of your grandpa close by. Great knife!