Western Leather Washer Handle Construction

M

MarkPinTx

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Aug 21, 2003
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Recently, on the Exchange I believe, I have seen a couple of Western fixed blades with the exposed, "forked" tang with the leather washers and dural buttcap pinned to the tang.

I presume that this was done for strength (stronger than a stick tang?) and in no small part because it was fairly unique to Western fixed blades.

What is the history of that? Did anyone else use it? Anyone know if it was patented?

Thanks. Im sure this has been discussed before, but a cursory search didn't show it.

More generally, what is the history of the once ubiquitous leather washer handle?
 
IIRC, Western had a patent on the "split tang" knife handle construction.
 
I suspect that you are correct on the patent. Can't find it though. Some similar stuff with detachable blades, but not that one.

Leather washers make a pretty good handle, but I wonder who thought it up. It isn't a particularly intuitive construction. I wonder if the Scandinavian birchbark washers came first.
 
You can download a PDF copy here

US1967479-0_zps70d9abde.png


US1967479patent_zpsd083e00d.jpg
 
Nice find! And Im a freaking patent lawyer. I was looking for those assigned to Western States.

However, reviewing the claims, that is directed actually to the plate 8 that forms a ricasso and/or abutment for the washers/handle (for example claim 3 doesn't require a split tang at all). Whereas I would think that the split tang and correspondingly shaped washers or segments or chunk o handle material would be patentable on its own, maybe not in 1931.
 
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From The Knife Makers Who Went West by Harvey Platts (grandson of H.N. and son of Harlow):

Page 59.

Western States Cutlery & Mfg. Co. made its first sheath knife in 1928, the number 63. This was a simple knife with full tang and bone stag handle, but without an end-knob or guard. An extension of steel on the back and front of the blade substituted for a guard.
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Page 66.

The family management team of H.N. Platts, president; son, Harlow, factory manager; and son, Reg, sales manager began the 1930s facing serious challenges. The beginning of the Great Depression had interrupted the slow but steady progress Western States Cutlery had been making. Sales of its quality pocket knives fell drastically. The company introduced a less expensive line marked "Westaco," but still sales declined. Harlow then invented and patented a design for sheath knives that held the handle in place between two tangs, instead of one, and a better appearance. Starting with the number 43 pattern, the factory began producing the new sheath knives. The number 44 and number 48 patterns soon followed. At this time, a new curved end-knob was designed to replace the symmetrical end-knob previously used for sheath knife handles.

This was the beginning of Western's leadership in the sheath knife field.
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Mark, this may or may not help. I haven't tried further searches, yet. I'll see what I can find tomorrow.
 
The Platts patent number was used on knives for many years after it expired, and was even used on knives which did not feature the patented construction. It was a common ploy in the knife industry, to both hoodwink competition and give advertising points to consumers. You can see that patent number on knives made for Sears under the J.C. Higgins branding up into the 1960's.
 
Codger_64 said:
The Platts patent number was used on knives for many years after it expired, and was even used on knives which did not feature the patented construction. It was a common ploy in the knife industry, to both hoodwink competition and give advertising points to consumers. You can see that patent number on knives made for Sears under the J.C. Higgins branding up into the 1960's.
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Actually, that was a pretty common practice everywhere, as much negligence as anything. Failure to mark a product with a patent number can cost damages in the event of suit. In the last 10 years or so there was a flurry of suits by unemployed personal injury lawyers accusing companies of false marking. The statute has been amended to largely elimiate that.

Thanks for all the good discussion and links!

It is quite possible that rightly or wrongly the split tang and H-shaped washers or handle chunk may not have been believed to be patentable.
 
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