Western Boulder Bone Stag Pocket Pen

[thawk]

Great color jigged bone, single spring pocket knife.

3" Closed length

1959 Catalog

 

[Blues]

Cool knife, Hal. Does the knife date from the same year as the catalog? I know little about those.

 

[thawk]

Cool knife, Hal. Does the knife date from the same year as the catalog? I know little about those.

I would say close give or take a few years. Western went to Delrin right around 1960, and dropped Boulder from the stamp. It could be a little older. I'd say its from around that time, but the 1950 catalog picture looks the same. I'm not very knowledgeable either.

 

[Blues]

Thanks. :thumbup:

 

[Rusty1]

Nice lines on the Western thawk, A lot of knife making history behind the Western Brand.

I have wondered sometimes why they never used the family name on the knives

Russell

 

[thawk]

I've thought the same thing Rusty, maybe if was some kind of family agreement since there were still Platts and Case knives already being made back East. It says in "The Knife Makers That Went West" they chose a geographical name to avoid confusion, and to give them a separate identity. This was in the 1911 to 1919 era. Western States did not produce their own until 1919 or 1920. In the early years, Western States pocket knives were made by American Shear and Knife then Utica Cutlery and later by Thomaston and Valley Forge Cutleries. That would have impacted using those family names too.

 

[jackknife]

Beautiful little knife!:thumbup:

Very gracefull lines on those blades.

 

[Will Power]

I like that a lot:thumbup:

When are you sending it to me for pocket-assessment?

 

[Cheeseburger]

I have a soft spot for Westerns.
I have a soft spot for 2 bladed slip joints.

How could you go wrong with this one? Love it. Thanks for posting it.

 

[thawk]

I've found these four. I like single spring knives like this. With a California clip and pen blade combo, it is a handy, slim carry.

I'd love to see anyone else's Western States, Western Boulder, or Western USA slip joints. They are not real common, but very well made pocket knives from Colorado. I was pleased to finally find an example with the bone scales. The two darker ones are 652's and the handles are a Delrin like material.

 

[thawk]

I like that a lot:thumbup:

When are you sending it to me for pocket-assessment?

Willgoy, have you ever been in a tavern that has a Free Beer Tomorrow sign above the bar?

 

[Modoc ED]

That's a swell looking knife thawk. Very nice bone and color.

That particular, long, slender, clip point has always been of interest to me. I've always wondered if if was designed for looks or for utility and if utility, what is it that it does that a standard clip blade can't do?

So many questions -- so little time.

 

[thawk]

Ed, I think the California or Turkish Clip were designed more for aesthetics, and a streamlined profile than for functionality. Not sure about that though. These Western blades are really thin from top to bottom. Great bird knives for cleaning quail or doves.

 

[Will Power]

Willgoy, have you ever been in a tavern that has a Free Beer Tomorrow sign above the bar?

No, not yet but I remain optimistic

Those other knives are remarkable too, single spring is not only pocket friendly but it's a test of good knife-making as well. Thanks for showing them.

 

[thawk]

Yes, the blades are full. Not much belly in those clips. I see the very same shape on quite a few other makers Muskrat patterns, so that tells you something about what they were designed for. Skinning and boning small critters I suppose.

 

[Bastid]

Those are awesome. The old bone looks fantastic to me. Thank you for posting those pictures. I have started enjoying single spring knives also. They just feel great in the pocket.

gus

 

[Mike Robuck]

Nice collection. This was my great grandfather's Western:

I moved to Boulder shortly after the displays were all sold off.

 

[thawk]

Does yours have a pattern stamp on the pile side, it looks like a 442? At first I though the stamp was different, but it is the same. Thanks for showing it. Looks like your Great Granddad liked that knife a lot. Yours appears to have a longer and deeper nail notch. They put a huge nail nick on these for the size of the blade.

 

[Mike Robuck]

It does have the 442 stamp on the main blade. The bone is more brownish than reddish.

I have my grandad's (same side of the family) Western stockman also and it's in about the same condition. I think it has the pattern number 6509 on the pile side of the master.

Being in Colorado, I've seen a fair amount of Westerns at flea markets and antique stores. I wish I had bought a few of them.

 

[waynorth]

I had to dig into my Harness Jack collection to find some Westerns for this thread. Like Mike, I wish I'd bought a few more along the way.
Not as graceful as your single springers Hal, but they have their own charm. The Candy stripe one is pictured in one of Jim Sargent's older books.