1984 westmark coleman limited edition

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Apr 23, 2014
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I picked this set up in an auction on Sunday. It is #152 of 2000 c/w wooden box. Does anyone know if this set came with a sheath packed separately or just the case. Also is this considered desirable by collectors since the company was now owned by Coleman. Lastly I am not asking what the knife is worth as it is posted for sale on many internet sites I seen already, but I am curious as to what the original catalogue price was if anyone knows. I hope the last question does not break any rules if it does please do not answer, it's not that important anyway. Thanks Pete
 
Coleman sold the Western brand to a group of Boulder CO. businessmen in 1990 who quickly sold the brand to Camillus in1991. Camillus filed for bankruptcy in 2007 and shut the doors.

By "set", what do you mean? Pics really needed to tell more. To a collector of Westmarks or of "limited edition anythings", they are collectible.

You need to be a paying member of gold or above to discuss values. There'a sticky about it at the top.
 
Coleman sold the Western brand to a group of Boulder CO. businessmen in 1990 who quickly sold the brand to Camillus in1991. Camillus filed for bankruptcy in 2007 and shut the doors.

By "set", what do you mean? Pics really needed to tell more. To a collector of Westmarks or of "limited edition anythings", they are collectible.

You need to be a paying member of gold or above to discuss values. There'a sticky about it at the top.

Thanks for the reply Zzyzzogeton. Unfortunately I don't have a camera. By set I mean the knife comes in a wooden presentation box with a glass window on it. It was commemorating the union between Coleman and Western. There are illustrations on both sides of the knife by wildlife illustrator Russ Buzzell. It is a model 701C.
 
The collectors-of-Camillus site does have some of the old Western catalogs.
http://collectors-of-camillus.us/Western/Western.htm

The 1986 catalog does have a price sheet included towards the back. It seems to me that the specific Coleman/Western presentation with a glass window is rather unique even among the Westmarks. It still would be a guess from me about the present value.
 
Model 701 would be a Westmark series knife. Best to watch on line auction sites and look for Westmark 701. Does it look like this?

 
Model 701 would be a Westmark series knife. Best to watch on line auction sites and look for Westmark 701. Does it look like this?


Thanks for the reply edbeau. I have already seen the value on websites, asking price is between 250 and 375. I was just kind of wondering what it originally sold for new. It does look like that picture you posted except the wooden display box is a bit different,and it has a big Coleman/Western write up on the back of the box, plus the knife has artwork on both sides of the blade. It said "two great names one great knife". On the other side it has pictures of the Coleman founder and the Western founder". I really wish I had a camera. Maybe I can find one at the next auction. Regardless of value, I like it and am going to keep it. I know it was good value for the 62.50 I paid for it. Thanks Pete
 
Actually what I am really trying to find out is if the knife had a sheath packaged separately, because the presentation box is molded/ fitted to hold the knife for presentation purposes, a sheath would never fit in the box with the knife. Just trying to find out if it is complete or missing the sheath.
 
While not presentation grade, Western W49s had the option of being bought with a display plaque. The model number was W49P and was available from both Western and Coleman-Western. These did not come with a sheath as the intended target was folks who just wanted to display a big, beautiful blade.

Coleman put out a Texas Sesquicentennial version in 1986 (150th anniversary of independence from Mexico). That W49 had engraving of a similar nature to yours, came in a wooden presentation box WITHOUT a sheath.

Based on that small sample set of "2 presentation styles", both offered by Coleman, would indicate to me that your Westmark display version probably came without a sheath.

As an aside, the Texas Sequicentennial W49s were marked "1 OF 15,000" and not serialized at all. Every single one of them were "1 OF 15,000". No "2 OF 15,000", etc.
 
While not presentation grade, Western W49s had the option of being bought with a display plaque. The model number was W49P and was available from both Western and Coleman-Western. These did not come with a sheath as the intended target was folks who just wanted to display a big, beautiful blade.

Coleman put out a Texas Sesquicentennial version in 1986 (150th anniversary of independence from Mexico). That W49 had engraving of a similar nature to yours, came in a wooden presentation box WITHOUT a sheath.

Based on that small sample set of "2 presentation styles", both offered by Coleman, would indicate to me that your Westmark display version probably came without a sheath.

As an aside, the Texas Sequicentennial W49s were marked "1 OF 15,000" and not serialized at all. Every single one of them were "1 OF 15,000". No "2 OF 15,000", etc.

That's what I was looking for zzyzzogeton thanks. Mine has 152 stamped on the hilt and the box said it was 1 of 2000 so I'm assuming that is the # of the knife.
 
My hunch is that your knife would have shown up in either the 1984 or 85 catalog. The Westmark knives listed in the 86 catalog are shown like the one that Edeau posted above,with both a sheath and presentation box. That catalog price sheet also shows that the knife could be ordered without the presentation box. The listed retail in 1986 was $90 for the knife with box/sheath, and $76 for just the knife w/sheath.
 
The Coleman/Western Westmark came in the glass top wood presentation case. there was no sheath sold with it. we did build a small number of these knives with Ivory handles.....
 
There were far less than 15,000 of the Texas Bowies made - they were not selling- Western management gave all the employees a Texas Bowie with a personalised plaque. there was a limited run of them with Ivory handles made
 
Chris - Glad to have you with us. Sounds like you worked for Western. What time frame were you there? Because I have a few time specific Qs.
 
Chris U, My first question would be "What information can I get about the serial numbers on the Westmarks?". As far as the years made or amount made.
 
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