Western Bowie Knife - circa 1968 (??)

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Mickyratz

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Feb 19, 2018
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Hello, I've an older Western Bowie knife I've had since about 1968. I bought it at a yard sale for about $10-$15 back then... Whomever had it before me did NOT know how to sharpen - appears they used some extremely coarse grit stone thinking they knew how to sharpen - only put a lot of deep scratches in the metal... I've managed to clean it up a lot but there's still more work to be done... Also, the 'D' ring and belt hanger is gone from the sheath - guess they didn't understand/appreciate the need for that (probably saw it as an appendage)

Can someone advise when it was made (follow this link for the pics... https://imgur.com/a/eeRdo) - my research seems to suggest this was an early production knife (pre-W49 designation or date codes - ??). There's NO date/model information I can find - unless it's under the handle scales.

Any recommendations to work out the remaining scratches?? (some are quite deep)
 
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This may sound crazy but the absolute best product I have found for removing scratches/ polishing for both knives of all steel and stainless steel handguns is Mother’s Mag Polish. It’s in the automotive section of any store. I just use a microfiber and the polish, rib it on aggressively, buff it off, repeat. Hope this helps!
 
Thanks Anthony... As you might note from the pics, some of the scratches are quite deep (all those scratches and flaws show even more with the camera!!) ... I've give your suggestion a good try... Thanks!!
 
Thanks Kwackster... I'd considered that - my concern is taking too much material off the blade and compromising it's strength... Anthony mentioned trying Mag polish - I see that as a first option - if those deep scratches don't rub out, then I'll go to a more aggressive option like regrinding...

... Still hoping someone can help pin the age of this blade a little better... Anyone??
 
I would just let it patina or give it a forced patina.
Blades scratch with use, but with patina you won't see them as much.
This is of course if you intend to use it.
 
Western can be somewhat dated by the Tang Stamp, since they changed it every so often.
There is no way to determine the exact year, but you can narrow it down to the range of years that tang stamp was used.
You can find Western Tang Stamp charts using Google or Bing.
 
afishhunter, the tang stamp charts you are referring to are not anywhere close to accurate for fixed blades, and inaccurate in some respects to the folders.

mickyratz - your Western Bowie is a "second post-WW2" version of Western's Bowie knife. It was produced from late 1965 or early 1966 into 1967.

The sheath is original to that version of Bowie. No one cut the dangler off your sheath. The dangler did not come out until 1968, when Western started using the W49 model number on the W49, rather than marking as "BOWIE".
 
You won't take off too much material sanding the scratches off your knife.
That is, if you do it by hand, and not on a grinder.
Follow this tutorial here:
http://beknivessite2.homestead.com/handrubbing.html

I followed that tutorial, started with 220 grit, finished with 1000 and then green scotch bright pads.
Before
w49.jpg


And after
W49Headhunter-1421.jpg


Elbow grease and time.
You may also want to look up the "Bagwell Mods" for your W49 ;)
 
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