What's a good "western" type folding knife.

[Peter Parker]

Peter Parker,
Who made those knives, in particular the bottom two? I can't quite make out the tang stamps. Are they current production? Would they happen to be carbon steel?

I love equal-end knives and there aren't many available that I know of, and almost none have traditional carbon steel blades.

The amber bone is a Shatt & Morgan worm groove bone equal end Whittler, I call it an equal end cattlewhittler. It feels so good in my hand, and the steel is 420HC. The bottom is my favorite knife period. It's a Queen City limited stag three blade Cattleknife with w/punch blade. Some dealers listed it having 420HC but my friend Bill Horn said they are D2 and he is in good with the Queen folks. They only made 50 of these if my memory is right. Your right, sadly it is hard to find these especially new this may help http://www.collectorknives.net/ .

 

[Will Power]

All good suggestions so far!

But, I'll add another that's different: How about a Queen Cutlery Teardop Liner lock in Amber Bone? It's a sturdy but not pocket busting single bladed knife that locks,D2 steel and a bit over budget but under 50 USD.

Gunstock is a pattern that could considered as 'Westernish' it's tough and heavy duty but a bit square & bulky for my tastes, 2 blades.

Similar in size but more rounded and pocket friendly is a Copperhead pattern, Böker does a nice one in carbon with Grand Canyon jigged bone handles a really worthwhile material!

One inexpensive way to test patterns is the Chinese manufacturer Rough Rider, decent enough quality at low cost but useful to 'test the water' before laying out cash on more prestigious makes.

Good luck, you need a traditional knife and why not drop by the Traditional Forum? A wealth of friendly info & scholarship is available there.