Thanks for the fine contributions too. Your pictures (and your knives) are always great, and I know you know more about Western Cutlery history than you are telling. History? Did someone say HISTORY? Well...alrighty then! Here is a condensed verson of Western history with a factoid or three thrown in for good measure!
Western Cutlery History
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, and Western's own claim for this date bolstered by the new owner's literature.
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 opened Platt’s Bros. Cutlery Co. In Andover, New York, and ceased operations in 1911.
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 soonafter 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. Western Cutlery moved from Boulder to Longmont, CO. in 1978, and became Coleman-Western in 1984. In 1991, Camillus bought Western Cutlery.
Codger - ranting as usual!
