Premium Stockman Round Bolsters California Clip

Boggs said:
Hal.....


You always seem to find some of the best looking knives.................and rounded bolster just seem to make so a perfect pocket carry
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Yes Jim, I totally agree with you - Hal, whenever you come in and share your knives with us, its an outstanding privilege, your examples are always the best of the best....what I am trying to say is thank you, it actually means a lot to me and most obviously others when members like yourself are kind enough to share their treasures.

Now...WESTERN, was there an actual manufacturing plant ( or Cutler Firm ) called WESTERN ( ie: GEC ) or was it a Brand that always contracted out their work to obviously good Cutler Firms - as Charlie has suggested possibly Robeson for this particular lovely knife?
 
Beautiful looking Western, Hal!
 
Duncan: Western States Cutlery contracted out everything early on, when the Platts first started The Cutlery in the 1910's, but soon were making all kinds of pocket knives and an extensive line of fixed blades as well. I've never read of them contacting knives out or bringing knives in after they were established but I'm sure it is possible. Like most American Cutlery firms, their number of patterns dwindled after the 30's. The Knife Makers Who Went West book (highly recommended) is where I got the five stockman picture, and it has a chronicled, while condensed history of Western. It is an interesting story as the Platts family began working for Northfiield, and Cattaraugus before the turn of the century and after. The founder of Western moved to Colorado and started the company from scratch. The Platts were well connected with most of the cutlery firms in the Northeast, including Case. One of he Platts men married a Case in fact. This company was firmly entrenched in American knife history.

Western States Cutlery was very innovative with both fixed blades and some of their folding pocket hunters, large clasp knives, and the 5230, a huge 4 1/2" trapper. They are also famous for some very nice stag handled knives. Nice old ones are not easy to come across as other brands, especially in excellent condition. Probably why not as many are seen in the forum.
 
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Thank you Hal, very interesting, I have always wanted to come across an older Western Pocket knife - but I am guessing I stand in the queue there!
I appreciate the time you take to answer as well, cheers for that:):thumbup:
 
Charlie alerted me to this thread as he wanted me to opine re the possibility of it having been made by Robeson.

What a beautiful knife. Congratulations on adding that one to your collection.

At first glance, I got the same thought as Charlie, "that's a Robeson."

The bone is suggestive of Robeson, but I've actually never seen that exact material before.

I've also never seen a hollow ground spey on a Robeson, at least not that I recall.

The punch is defintely like the ones Robeson used and for some time it was a design proprietary to them, having been designed by one of their employees, Mr. Cooper, who patented the punch on April 25th, 1905.

I don't recall a Robeson stockman with lined bolsters. I know I don't own one.

So, did Robeson have anything to do with the construction of that Western? I tend to think not. The punch alone would not cinch that for me.
 
I appreciate the interest from both Charlie's here. Seems like if a company has sold a knife pattern for 30 or 40 years running and had five different blade configurations, it would make more sense if they would not have outsourced it, used the same tooling, etc. But I have no facts or info to even know. Just as a side note, there are four variations of the same style in a 3 1/2" size too.
 
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That's an absolutely lovely pocketknife. The color and texture of the bone are wonderful! And the punch looks like an excellent design: Needle-sharp and strong. Thank you for sharing with us; the catalog reprint is also very interesting. I've been carrying a medium stockman lately myself and have fallen in love with the pattern. Nice knives all around!
 
jujigatame said:
Interesting in that old catalog that you could get the spey blade in regular length or long length. I wonder how popular an option the long blade was back when those were made.
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Yes Nate, I agree, and one wonders if a hardware store or sporting goods store back in the 1950's would even carry all five variations of the pattern. A long spey blade like that... not sure I've ever seen one live on a stockman for that matter.

waynorth said:
A sharp pin-point like that, while needing to be used with care, makes it infinitely easier to start and control cutting a hole in leather. A great design, IMO!
I want to try it out!!
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I have an old belt around here Charlie that could use a new hole up towards the front :rolleyes:, I'll spin a hole today and let you know how it goes.
 
That spey, that punch, the bone, way nice! I have a few Robeson Cattle knives and there is a family resemblance for sure. All four of those knives are very desirable:thumbup:
 
That really is a beautiful stockman, as nice a one as I have ever seen. I am all excited now after seeing the pictures in the add of the long spey bladed stockmen. I had no idea such a knife ever existed. I will have to start fishing on the bay to see if one ever passes by. Probably hard to come by tho. Thanks for posting the pictures and the old add.
Jim
 
I don't have anything near this quality, of the four you showed my eye was caught by the Diamond Edge.

The great appeal of this pattern is a) aesthetics, so sleek and slim, clever use of cut-outs, and semi-sunk joints b) ergonomics, outstanding in the hand feel, the latter of course derives from the former. All too often the Stockman gets criticism for bulk, too many blades in the hand feel due to a high riding Sheepfoot, giving it a humpback appearance. Some people of course prefer that style, it suits them but I for one admire this sleeker variant.

Thanks, Will
 
This Queen made Robeson reproduction is a hair under 4" and has nice, low riding blades and semi sunk joints.

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Jeff - The Mastercraft is a nice looking stockman. That is an interesting blade opposite of the master. And Will, the Diamond Edge by Schrade Walden is for sure a dandy. It's seen a bit of use, but likely not for quite some time.

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Ooh, I like that!
The only reason I dislike stockmans is because of the Sheeps foot sticking up. That one is real clean looking!
 
Not much use on that Diamond, the bone is real class!

Many thanks for the open picture.

Regards, Will
 
Will, you and I think the same, D/E is a love of mine, and Oh to own something like that!!!!
Beautiful Knife, extremely high Calibre knife IMO.
 
I was almost forced to write "I'll take it" before I realized that this was a show and tell thread.

Oh, and I don't have any spare knife money right now!
 
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