Western age/value

[Ridgegrass]

Anybody recognize this Western? A friend wants to sell it and asked me for a fair value. I don't know about these. Thanks J.O'.

[Ridgegrass]

Turns out he just gave it to me. Not at all interested in knives. Here it is in very excellent condition. It is a bruiser! Solid as a rock. The letter code is "C". Guessing 1979? My lucky day! J.O'.

[tvic]

I can’t offer any info on it, Ridgegrass, but you got a good looking knife there - and how many times have you ever seen a Western sheath?! Congrats on that gift!

[Ridgegrass]

You bet, Tim, lucky guy. Found the better ones on ebay for $100-120, rough ones $50. Not really my thing but its growing on me. Just so well built and tough.
J.O'.

[Gtrclktr-351]

Turns out he just gave it to me. Not at all interested in knives. Here it is in very excellent condition. It is a bruiser! Solid as a rock. The letter code is "C". Guessing 1979? My lucky day! J.O'.

I know nothing about Western, but that is a nice knife. And free is hard to beat!

[Ridgegrass]

Western has an interesting history. Charlie Platts,(d.1900), a master cutler from Sheffield, who began way back with American Knife, Northfield, the Case's and the Champlins (Cattaraugus), was a prime mover in the new American knife industry. He married Debbie Case. Long story short, His son, Harvey moved the family west to Boulder, CO in 1911 to start "Western States Cutlery" selling knives made on contract by Challenge, NYK, Utica, Case and others. Western finally built a factory around 1920 and the rest,so they say................. Their knives don't seem to be very common in the east, but they are nice quality. O'.

[Paladin]

Western has an interesting history. Charlie Platts,(d.1900), a master cutler from Sheffield, who began way back with American Knife, Northfield, the Case's and the Champlins (Cattaraugus), was a prime mover in the new American knife industry. He married Debbie Case. Long story short, His son, Harvey moved the family west to Boulder, CO in 1911 to start "Western States Cutlery" selling knives made on contract by Challenge, NYK, Utica, Case and others. Western finally built a factory around 1920 and the rest,so they say................. Their knives don't seem to be very common in the east, but they are nice quality. O'.

Western States knives were dandies. Excellent quality and a couple of great etch logos. They have all about disappeared into the safes of collectors.
Any truth to the rumor that Platt had to relocate to the west because of lung problems?

Ray

[edge213]

Western has an interesting history. Charlie Platts,(d.1900), a master cutler from Sheffield, who began way back with American Knife, Northfield, the Case's and the Champlins (Cattaraugus), was a prime mover in the new American knife industry. He married Debbie Case. Long story short, His son, Harvey moved the family west to Boulder, CO in 1911 to start "Western States Cutlery" selling knives made on contract by Challenge, NYK, Utica, Case and others. Western finally built a factory around 1920 and the rest,so they say................. Their knives don't seem to be very common in the east, but they are nice quality. O'.

Western States knives were dandies. Excellent quality and a couple of great etch logos. They have all about disappeared into the safes of collectors.
Any truth to the rumor that Platt had to relocate to the west because of lung problems?

Ray

Yes Ray, Platt went west due to "grinders consumption", a lung issue caused by getting metal particles in your lungs grinding blades.

[Ridgegrass]

Agree, according to Houston Price, son Harvey Nixon Platt moved there due to "Grinder's" (General name "Silicosis" a form of Pneumoconiosis caused by inhalation of stone dust) . Lots of miners, factory workers, etc. were affected by it., especially after power tools were invented. Modern filyering and ventilating has greatly decreased it's effects. . J.O'.

[FRJ]

It is a bruiser! J.O'.

Nice knife, J.O'.
These knives are built very solid, look good and are a breeze to carry as they are slim in the pocket.

I wouldn't be without mine.

[Paladin]

I was just perusing the Voyles Auction, published today, and I noticed one offered there. No bids yet on it.

Ray

[Ridgegrass]

Joe, Thanks for the pics. Love that diamond shield.
Ray, I'll watch it. Thanks. John

[Ridgegrass]

David, I didn't mean to contradict your statement about metal dust. The metal added to the stone dust was just as problematic. The term, "silicosis", was just about the stone. Sadly, before public health codes, many people who worked in any kind of dust suffered respiratory illness and early death, including coal and other miners , grain and lumber millers, and even young women who worked in button factories grinding shell, bone, and pearl. Many companies denied the danger and laid off the sick with no benefits. J.O'.

[FRJ]

Joe, Thanks for the pics. Love that diamond shield.
Ray, I'll watch it. Thanks. John