WW2 Western Cutlery

[william matherly]

I have what I believe is a WW2 Western Cutlery fighting knife. It has the steel guard and pommel (not brass and aluminum) consistent with war material shortages. My uncle gave it to me years ago to carve a new handle for it. The original leather washers cracked and falling off. I pulled it out of a drawer last year bought some leather and put a new stacked washer handle on it. However I am having a hard time finding any info on it. The frame of the knife is much smaller than a K-Bar (blade 5 7/8", overall 10 1/8") The only WW2 westerns I find on the web are much larger 46-8's I think. Anyone know of this model? Sure would like the history on it.

 

[unwisefool]

Try to post some good pictures, that will probably help. What does Maryland's Eastern Shore have to do with the knife?

 

[william matherly]

So I'm a dumb ass. MES was suppose to be my reference name and and i have a pic to attach and can't figure out how to do it. I'll keep tryin, this is the first time i've ever been on a forum and my computer skills are suck putting it mildly.

 

[Retired UPS Driver]

So I'm a dumb ass. MES was suppose to be my reference name and and i have a pic to attach and can't figure out how to do it. I'll keep tryin, this is the first time i've ever been on a forum and my computer skills are suck putting it mildly.

Welcome to BladeForums W william matherly

Real easy instructions on how to add a picture for a non paid member (that’s you).

Written by member shane45-1911.

You need a pic hosting site to post images. Imgur is good and free. Upload your pics to Imgur, select your pic and click the button for "message boards and forums." Copy and paste that link here.

Edit to add:
You should go back and edit your thread title post to read WW2 Western Cutlery and erase that Maryland name stuff, you will get much more specific attention to your post that way.

 

[william matherly]

I have no issue buying a membership. Will that make it easier to attach a pic? All I do at work is save stuff on my desk top then hit attach.

 

[Retired UPS Driver]

I have no issue buying a membership. Will that make it easier to attach a pic? All I do at work is save stuff on my desk top then hit attach.

To answer you in the most basic of terms, yes, it would eliminate a couple steps, as with a paid membership you can directly attach your photo or photos (Max 10 per post at a time). Just make sure to keep it under 1mb in size, anything 999kb and lower you can directly attach.

Edit to add:
If you purchase a Gold membership, you are then also allowed to ask and talk about value + selling and other perks too.

 

[william matherly]

Here it is

 

[william matherly]

This is what I had to start with.

 

[Retired UPS Driver]

Here it is

This is what I had to start with.

Nice job on your paid membership W william matherly

Your pictures are showing fine, but get ready to show more when asked by other members for more details.
Also,
You should go back and edit your thread title post to read WW2 Western Cutlery and erase that Maryland name stuff, you will get much more specific attention to your post that way.

 

[william matherly]

Yep I figured a way to attach the pic's but I can't seem to get rid of that title. Heading out, will attempt that later.

 

[unwisefool]

Here it is

Looks like you did a nice job on the handle

 

[Boru13]

Yep I figured a way to attach the pic's but I can't seem to get rid of that title. Heading out, will attempt that later.

Edited the title for you, if that's not what you want let me know.

 

[william matherly]

Much obliged On the handle comment and Thanks for fixing my title. Like i said before. I am way behind the curve in the computer world.

 

[tltt]

Western G 46 - 6, it's a variation of the G or L-46 "Shark" Series. The G 2 = Government style flat pommel and the split tang instead of the L series birds head.

.

Found a drawing from Cole's book.

 

[eveled]

Don’t apologize. Lots of people have computer skills. Not many people could do such a nice job on a western handle job. It is called a bifurcated (fancy word for split) tang, and its a tough one to get right.

 

[GIRLYmann]

 

[william matherly]

You all Rock! I scratch my head for over a year and in one day most all my questions are answered. Good stuff. This knife will stay in the family as long as I have breath. Curious what a original unmodified one brings, and is this a rare piece? I have never been able to find pic's of one. Maybe just always lookin in the wrong place.

 

[AndrewH60]

Here it is

Very nice job

 

[jfk1110]

Great job on that leather handle!!!! Came out awesome!!!

 

[william matherly]

It's cool hearing from people who know what I was up against. That was only my second handle job. I redid my first for my brother. It was a WW2 K-Bar with a peened tang securing the pommel. Found a washer kit on line and went on from there. That was not the case with the Western. I could not find a washer kit. Headed North to Amish county and bought the leather cheap. Cut the washers out with a razor knife blade. Also the pommel was peened on like the K-Bar. After grinding it down to remove it I discovered one of the tang ends had rusted away to almost nothing. So I had to weld a steel tit on the tang and reshape. When put back together, I ended up spot welding the pommel to the tangs. There just wasn't enough material to peen. But as I think some of you, if not all have eluded to shaping the 2 handle halves to match was the trickiest part. Here's a pic after I stacked the washers with 2 ton epoxy between every layer. Note: I know my bench was a total mess. It is not at this time, hehe.