Question about old Western knives

6

6magpie6

Joined
Jul 31, 2004
Messages
2
undefinedI recently acquired two Western knives that I think are old. The one has a black shim immediately behind the guard, a thin brass shim, a red shim, another brass shim, a brown shim and then another brass shim. It has bone handles. This shim pattern repeats near the pommel. The pommel is oval in shape, does not dip down, but is symmetrical. The blade is, of course, stamped "Western" but Colorado is spelled out completely. On the other side of the blade is stamped "Patent Applied For." Does anyone know how old this Western knife might be?

The other knife is a folder about 6 1/2 inches long (closed). Both blades open from one end, but the interesting thing is the notches where you catch the blade with your thumbnail to open have on the side closest to the edge triangular indentations as a part of the notch. Opposite the "Western" stamping on the blade is the number 062. Any explanation for the notches or a guesstimate of the age of the knife? I can send a picture if this will help. It has a reddish bone handle.

Richard Wright
 
The notches are what are called a "matchstrike pull". In theory, one can strike a blue-white match off it. As for the age, I don't believe Camillus has made any pocketknives under the Western name like that, so it could be a late Western States. I'll do a little snooping.
 
Dear Sword and Shield,

I am so new to this game I didn't know the name "Camillus" and "Western" were intertwined. I do appreciate the answer that the notches were called "matchstrike pulls." Did you have any thoughts on the older Western fixed blade with the stamping "Western, Boulder, Colorado" written out in full and on the other side, "Patent Applied For" with the different shaped pommel.

I don't know if I can send a picture to you, but one picture is worth 1,000 words. Is there any way I can send a photo to you from this website?

Thanks for your reply,

Richard Wright
 
Camillus owns the Western name, and has for about 15 years, hence the Cam-Western connection. However, are you sure it's just marked "Western"? Take a magnifying glass and make sure there isn't a "States" anywhere on that stamp. A WS folder makes a lot more sense than a C-W.
 
Before camillus owned western coleman did (I have one of the western-coleman w49's). Before that I believe it was western, western states, boulder state before that (not sure). anyone shed any lighht on this?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top