Western States Cutlery claimed founding in 1896, but that was the C. Platts and Sons Cutlery which opened in Gowanda, New York. Doing well, they soon outgrew their building and moved to Eldred, Pennsylvania in 1897. They made knives for Case Bros. in their early years.
Case Brothers Cutlery was formed by Jean, John, and Andrew Case in 1900. That same year, Charles Platts died, and the name was changed to C. Platts’ Sons. J. Russell Case formed W.R. Case and Son Cutlery Company in Little Valley, NY in 1902, and in 1904 the name was changed to W.R. Case and Sons Cutlery Company.
In 1905, they moved to Bradford, PA, and purchased C. Platt's Sons Cutlery of Eldred, PA from Harvey N. Platts. Harvey N. Platts became Secretary and Superintendent of the factory. John Russell Case and Harvey N. Platts were brothers-in-law and worked together for years.
In 1907, the Platts brothers (Joseph A., Charles W. and Frank L.) of Eldred, Pa. signed a contract with the Business Men’s Association of Andover, New York. They would move their cutlery plant from Eldred, Pa. to Andover. In 1908, Case Manufacturing Co. was founded by J.D. and Andrew Case in Kane, Pa. In 1910, a petition in bankruptcy proceedings was filed against the Platts Brothers Cutlery Co. and in May of 1910 the business was advertised for sale, by the trustee in bankruptcy and was sold to C.W.Harrison of Sheffield, England.
In 1911, Case Manufacturing Co. closed the Kane plant, and opened in Warren, Pa. and Little Valley, NY. They sold out to W.R. Case & Sons of Braford, Pa. that same year.
Also in 1911, Western States Cutlery and Manufacturing Company was founded in Boulder, CO., by H. N. Platts. In 1956, the name was shortened to Western Cutlery.
In 1978, Western Cutlery moved from Boulder, CO. to Longmont, CO. and in 1984, was acquired by Coleman and became Coleman-Western.
In 1991, Camillus acquired Western of Longmont, Colorado, and began producing Western knives in their Camillus NY plant shortly thereafter. Then in 2007, Camillus went bankrupt and the Western trademark is currently in limbo along with the other Camillus owned trademarks.
Sources for this history are the Western catalogs and "Knife makers who went west".
Michael
PS - I find the S-6504 Woodcraft Knife listed in the 1980 catalog.
