Traditional Fixed Blade Knives by Western

I

ironworks

Joined
Jul 17, 2023
Messages
6
Hi all around,

I can not find a separate forum for Western knives here, so I hope I am in the right place.

Does Western still manufacture knives here in the US? I have a 5 1/2 inch fixed blade knife marked "WESTERN U.S.A. W36". Does anyone know about how old that is or when and where made?

Thanks a bunch !
 
Western was owned by Camillus until they went out of business. Now both names are owned by another company and possibly being used on knives made overseas. I remember those being sold in a local grocery/department store chain in my area up until the late 1990s but they had been made for many years. I owned the shorter up swept tip model when I was younger it set me back about $12 if I remember correctly. It was actually a pretty decent knife and would have served me well to this day if I knew what happened to it. I hope you find out more.

Try here ↓

 
thebrain said:
Western was owned by Camillus until they went out of business. Now both names are owned by another company and possibly being used on knives made overseas. I remember those being sold in a local grocery/department store chain in my area up until the late 1990s but they had been made for many years. I owned the shorter up swept tip model when I was younger it set me back about $12 if I remember correctly. It was actually a pretty decent knife and would have served me well to this day if I knew what happened to it. I hope you find out more.

Try here ↓

Click to expand...
Wow, thanks a lot. That did it. All the Information I was looking for in this great link !
 
I wish I still had my Model L66.

My sister's boyfriend gave it to me after I bought my Buck 121 and 301 in 1978.

'You like knives, have this!' Doug said.

It was stolen in 1983.

[Insert profanity filled comment your Grandmother wouldn't like here!]

[Nor would the Mods.]

[Grandmothers outrank Mods.]

[I've gone off topic, sorry.]
 
I grew up on a Western L39, loved it. Later learned that Mr. Platt patented the split tang design in 1934, I think it was. I lost it in my teens, but have some Western knives now ( but no L39).

Parker
 
jmh33 said:
View attachment 2778225

Pics liven the place up!! 😊😂
John 😁
Click to expand...
This is an excellent example of a Camillus era Western stamp.

The second line of a Camillus-Western stamp will always be {"U.S.A. model #"}.

Western and Coleman-Western fixed blades will have the second line as {"Model #" U.S.A.} and will have a date code letter as the 3rd line or at the end of the 2nd line (usually I or J in a circle).
 
Westerns remind me of walking home from high school and stopping at Sears to check out what was then a pretty decent sporting goods department. US-made Weaver and Redfield scopes, JC Higgins and Ted Wiliams firearms (rebranded) and yes, Western fixed blade knifes. These were often also rebranded as JC Higgens.
Attached is my small Western collection. Included are my late father-in-laws Wards Westernfield (top). I'm not sure what Western P/N this corresponds to but the others are, top to bottom:
S-H48A. Stainless 4-1/2" blade with staglon grips;
S-H48B. Stainless 3-3/8" blade with staglon grips;
628A. Carbon steel, 2-3/4 blade with rigged delrin grips
1000000146.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top