-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Help
- Thread starter thawk
- Start date
Codger_64
Moderator
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2004
- Messages
- 62,324
Many sources cite 1896 as a beginning date for Western Cutlery, but research shows that the real date was in 1911. I think a part of the confusion over these dates has to do with the father, sons, and grandsons involved in the cutlery manufacturing trade for so many years.
Charles W. Platts was born in Sheffield England in 1838, and entered the cutlery field at an early age, as had his own father and grandfather, Platts’ name being found on guild registries there back to the 1600's.
In 1866, having completed apprenticeship and being ready to become a superintendent, he emigrated to America, landing the superintendent position with the Northfield Knife Co. In Northfield, Conn. Eventually, all five of his sons worked there under his supervision.
In 1894, he moved to Little Valley, New York, following his second oldest son, H. N. Platts who had moved there a few years earlier and became foreman of the grinding and finishing department of a local knife company. His father became superintendent.
Soon they decided to start their own cutlery manufactory, and in 1896 began making the C. Platts and Sons brand in a building in nearby Gowanda, New York. Because of good sales, they quickly outgrew their building and moved to Eldred, Pennsylvania in 1897. Again, they were successful, but in about 1900, Charles Platts died, and the name was changed to C. Platts’ Sons.
In 1905, H. N. Platts bought out his brothers and moved the company to Bradford, Pennsylvania, combining with his wife’s family’s cutlery. He sold his interest in 1911 and moved once again, this time to Boulder, Colorado, a town of about 9,000 people.
In 1907, three of the remaining brothers, Charles Jr., Joe, and Frank ( Charles W., Joseph A. and Frank L) opened Platt’s Bros. Cutlery Co. In Andover, New York, and ceased operations in 1911.
They had signed a contract with the Business Men’s Association of Andover, the Andover Business Men’s Association had promised the Platts Brothers so much money for them to move here and it never happened. In March 1910 a petition in bankruptcy proceedings was filed against the Platts Brothers Cutlery Co. and in May of 1910 the business is advertised for sale, by the trustee in bankruptcy and was sold to C.W.Harrison of Sheffield, England. The plant was sold subject to a $6,000 mortgage, held by the Andover State Bank, and was bid in at $654 above the face value of the mortgage.
45 year old H. N. Platts did well in Boulder, naming his new company Western States Cutlery and Manufacturing Co., and locating in a new two story brick building he built at 12th and Marine streets. Soon a second larger building was built adjacent to the first, but seperated by a railroad track.
The main product line was pocket knives until circa 1928, when soon after Harlow C. Platts patent was filed for the split tang fixed blade knives. The L44 was one of the first, having the aluminum knob pommel, soon replaced by what we now call the birds head pommel. Personally, I always thought it was adapted from the shape of a saddle horn.
The West-Cut mark also appeared in the early thirties. During WWII, Western’s largest contracts were for their 6490 Campers Pocket Knife, though the also made a quantity of L61 fixed blades for the Navy, as well as some of the floating “Lifeboat” knives for the Navy and Army Air Corps.
One unique and interesting thing about the Western factory, they produced their own electrical power using diesel generators from circa 1940-‘50.
During the 1940's, the Western logo was changed from the buffalo skull which had been in use since 1911,
to the rope style script we are now familiar with. In 1956 the company name was shortened to Western Cutlery Co., and in 1957 they moved to a new facility on Western Avenue in the new industrial district.
During the late 1940's thru late 1950's, Western made quite a few hunting knives for Sears under the "J. C. Higgins - Our Own Mark" tang. Usually the Platts bifuricated (split) tang patent number was present.
Western Cutlery moved from Boulder to Longmont, CO. in 1978, and became Coleman-Western in 1984. In 1991, Camillus bought Western Cutlery. Camillus closed in February 2007. It is unknown at this time if the Western name and trademarks have been sold.
Michael
Charles W. Platts was born in Sheffield England in 1838, and entered the cutlery field at an early age, as had his own father and grandfather, Platts’ name being found on guild registries there back to the 1600's.
In 1866, having completed apprenticeship and being ready to become a superintendent, he emigrated to America, landing the superintendent position with the Northfield Knife Co. In Northfield, Conn. Eventually, all five of his sons worked there under his supervision.
In 1894, he moved to Little Valley, New York, following his second oldest son, H. N. Platts who had moved there a few years earlier and became foreman of the grinding and finishing department of a local knife company. His father became superintendent.
Soon they decided to start their own cutlery manufactory, and in 1896 began making the C. Platts and Sons brand in a building in nearby Gowanda, New York. Because of good sales, they quickly outgrew their building and moved to Eldred, Pennsylvania in 1897. Again, they were successful, but in about 1900, Charles Platts died, and the name was changed to C. Platts’ Sons.
In 1905, H. N. Platts bought out his brothers and moved the company to Bradford, Pennsylvania, combining with his wife’s family’s cutlery. He sold his interest in 1911 and moved once again, this time to Boulder, Colorado, a town of about 9,000 people.
In 1907, three of the remaining brothers, Charles Jr., Joe, and Frank ( Charles W., Joseph A. and Frank L) opened Platt’s Bros. Cutlery Co. In Andover, New York, and ceased operations in 1911.
They had signed a contract with the Business Men’s Association of Andover, the Andover Business Men’s Association had promised the Platts Brothers so much money for them to move here and it never happened. In March 1910 a petition in bankruptcy proceedings was filed against the Platts Brothers Cutlery Co. and in May of 1910 the business is advertised for sale, by the trustee in bankruptcy and was sold to C.W.Harrison of Sheffield, England. The plant was sold subject to a $6,000 mortgage, held by the Andover State Bank, and was bid in at $654 above the face value of the mortgage.
45 year old H. N. Platts did well in Boulder, naming his new company Western States Cutlery and Manufacturing Co., and locating in a new two story brick building he built at 12th and Marine streets. Soon a second larger building was built adjacent to the first, but seperated by a railroad track.
The main product line was pocket knives until circa 1928, when soon after Harlow C. Platts patent was filed for the split tang fixed blade knives. The L44 was one of the first, having the aluminum knob pommel, soon replaced by what we now call the birds head pommel. Personally, I always thought it was adapted from the shape of a saddle horn.
The West-Cut mark also appeared in the early thirties. During WWII, Western’s largest contracts were for their 6490 Campers Pocket Knife, though the also made a quantity of L61 fixed blades for the Navy, as well as some of the floating “Lifeboat” knives for the Navy and Army Air Corps.
One unique and interesting thing about the Western factory, they produced their own electrical power using diesel generators from circa 1940-‘50.
During the 1940's, the Western logo was changed from the buffalo skull which had been in use since 1911,
to the rope style script we are now familiar with. In 1956 the company name was shortened to Western Cutlery Co., and in 1957 they moved to a new facility on Western Avenue in the new industrial district.
During the late 1940's thru late 1950's, Western made quite a few hunting knives for Sears under the "J. C. Higgins - Our Own Mark" tang. Usually the Platts bifuricated (split) tang patent number was present.
Western Cutlery moved from Boulder to Longmont, CO. in 1978, and became Coleman-Western in 1984. In 1991, Camillus bought Western Cutlery. Camillus closed in February 2007. It is unknown at this time if the Western name and trademarks have been sold.
Michael
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2005
- Messages
- 2,581
Seeing how the question of Western history has been raised, I'll ask my question here, the W49 Bowie is marked with letters on the tang, does this denote year of manufacture and how does that translate into what year.
Thanks
Rusty1
I guess this would be more appropriate in the Camillus forum?
Thanks
Rusty1
I guess this would be more appropriate in the Camillus forum?
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2006
- Messages
- 5,978
Nicely done Michael.
Amazing how most of the knife history points back to several families and the area in upstate NY is always there somehow.
I can't wait to get up there some day when the museum opens.
Seems a lot of their knives have a good following. I have seen some very attractive fixed blades that quickly get past my high water mark.
I'd post some pics, but I'm laptopping tonight.
Thanks for the info. You are often the BladeForum version of the History Channel.
Amazing how most of the knife history points back to several families and the area in upstate NY is always there somehow.
I can't wait to get up there some day when the museum opens.
Seems a lot of their knives have a good following. I have seen some very attractive fixed blades that quickly get past my high water mark.
I'd post some pics, but I'm laptopping tonight.
Thanks for the info. You are often the BladeForum version of the History Channel.
Codger_64
Moderator
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2004
- Messages
- 62,324
Yes, but... this from Tom WIlliams some time back...
Early models are stamped on the guard. The sheath is either a one piece design or the "Swing" sheath that was introduced in 1968.
Bowies made 1977 or later (through the early 1990's) may have a letter stamped on the blade indicating the date of manufacture-A=1977, B=1978, C=1979, etc.
Camillus acquired the Western brand in 1991 and these Bowie knives are stamped "WW49" (W=Western and W=wood handle).
Michael