Help w/ Dating a Western Bowie

[Biggame223x]

Knife in question is the bottom knife w/ the bigger handle pins.

This is not marked like my other Western, this one is marked on the guard and not the blade.

Any ideas when this one might have been made?

Sorry for the crappy pics, my red velvet is still on back order and my camera only has ebay mode...

When did they quit marking them w/ Boulder? I seem to recall a chart?

 

[Mountainwind]

These might help.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=390913&highlight=w49
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=400540&highlight=w49

 

[Biggame223x]

Thanks for the reply!!

Anyone have anymore on this?

 

[edbeau]

The time period that Western used the letter code ("A" 1977) was the easiest time to day a Western. I only have one that has the stamping on the guard and I am not sure of the date of it. I guess a safe bet is "prior to 1977".

 

[copdoc2008]

The time period that Western used the letter code ("A" 1977) was the easiest time to day a Western. I only have one that has the stamping on the guard and I am not sure of the date of it. I guess a safe bet is "prior to 1977".

Nice Western Bowies..............

I don't know how to date them but Trent has a chart that can give you a general idea.

This might help. Dad and I had both of them before ~1966/69. Mine was well used when I got it. I think Trent though the new one was the oldest even thought Dad got his a year or two after I got mine.

New Bowie

This is hard to read but says Bowie on one side and Western, Boulder Colo, U.S.A. on the other.

Used Bowie

Western Bowie U.S.A.

 

[Trent Rock]

I love the artwork on that box!!!!

Here is the chart
It's not set in stone
Use it as a guide I guess
Dating Westerns is kinda hard, I have found

My question is:
When did they STOP making the carbon steel ones?
The carbon steel ones are more sought after on EBAY it seems like
I pretty sure the ones with the Pat # tang stamp are all carbon steel....

 

[edbeau]

Trent, I thought I read that the stainless were only made after the Camillus bought Western from Coleman.

 

[mhawg]

Hello guys here in the Camillus forum. I understand that Camillus made the blades for Western knifes and I have seen the date stamps in this thread. This Western Survival Knife seems to have been made in 1990 but the chart says that letters were used from 1977 to 1987 but that might not be absolute. If, indeed this is a 1990 Western blade could it be Carbon Steel or is it stainless? Thanks.

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[edbeau]

First off, that is one nice knife and the only one missing from my Western wood handled collection. Sure looks to be in good shape. Not sure the sheath is original but a real good looking one. Western became Coleman-Western in 1984. In 1991, Camillus bought Western Cutlery of Colorado. If yours is a 1990 then it is a Coleman-Western and should be high carbon steel.

 

[edbeau]

mhawg, I couldn't find the knife in the 1986 catalog but in the 1980 catalog it is called Heavy Duty Survival Knife. It lists the blade as Carbon Steel and the selling price was $43.50.

 

[rprocter]

when was the Western Bowie first produced ?
roland

 

[edbeau]

I have a book that was printed in 1975 and it shows the W49.

 

[mhawg]

First off, that is one nice knife and the only one missing from my Western wood handled collection. Sure looks to be in good shape. Not sure the sheath is original but a real good looking one. Western became Coleman-Western in 1984. In 1991, Camillus bought Western Cutlery of Colorado. If yours is a 1990 then it is a Coleman-Western and should be high carbon steel.

Meet me at the old 'Sheldon Church' or email me about this Western Heavy Duty Survival Knife.

 

[edbeau]

Thanks to mhawg my collection of Western wooden handles is complete. My "last" Western is truly a great knife. I believe that the "N" is the last year of marking the blades with a year mark. The W46-8 is my youngest with a date mark. My oldest is a W88 with a "C" date or 1979. I have three Westmarks (one 701 and two 702s) but I have no way to date them with the serial number on the blade.