Western Stag #539

In 1911, H. N. Platts, was able to draw on his extensive friendships and family connections in the cutlery world to start Western States Cutlery and Manufacturing of Boulder Colorado. At first only a jobbing business, by 1920 construction and machinery purchases were underway to begin manufacture of knives. Through name changes--to Western States Cutlery Co. in 1953, then Western Cutlery Co. in 1956--and moves first across town and later to Longmont Colorado, the company stayed under the leadership of the Platt family until 1984. In that year, the company was sold to Coleman, becoming Coleman-Western. Eventually purchased by Camillus in 1991, Western continued until Camillus expired in 2007.
Post Reply
knifegnome
Posts: 630
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2016 3:20 am
Location: Bradenton FL
Contact:
Contact knifegnome

Western Stag #539

Post by knifegnome »

Picked up a nice Stag Western #539 off fleabay. Stamped Western Boulder Colo Pat'd Made in USA, Anyone know what year and what the patent was for. Don't see to many with genuine stag .
Attachments
P7113514.JPG
P7113515.JPG
P7113516.JPG
Top
User avatar
tongueriver
Posts: 7239
Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:01 pm

Re: Western Stag #539

Post by tongueriver »

Beautiful Knife! The patent is for the split tang construction. ZZ will come along and tell you more.
patent snip.JPG
Top
User avatar
zzyzzogeton
Posts: 1837
Joined: Tue Jun 20, 2017 8:47 pm
Location: In the Heart of Texas on the Blackland Prairie

Re: Western Stag #539

Post by zzyzzogeton »

This is a 1955 "transition" knife. The patent number was dropped around 1953 or 1954. Dates are shaky there but those are the 2 dates mentioned in several posts/articles/etc. No definitive date. 1955 is when model numbers first show up stamped into the pile side ricasso.

This knife was either made before the patent reference was dropped but after the decision to add model numbers was made

OR

My guess is that the new patent-less stamp had not yet been made when the first run of model number stamped 539s was run.
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Western Cutlery Collector's Forum”