Western knives


They have what looks like a full tang with a stacked leather scale on them, but in reality the tang is split and the leather washers are really “H” shaped. It is a cool feature that Iz first enlightened me on.
 
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I have an old western shark that my uncles dad carried in the Korean War, one of my prized tools and a great, functional tool as well! Enjoy it, they're awesome knives.
 
Thanks fellas. Yeah the sheath has a cut on it not to worried think be a project sheath to make a new one.
WWone thanks for the info. I actually just noticed it was a full tang from the other pics he sent me.

Love to see some pics of your old knifes guys
 
Got this covered with corrosion, broken tip and very very dry handle and sheath. Blade was in rough shape, looked like someone tried to sharpen it on a concrete sidewalk. Nursed them back and cleaned up the knife and now it's a nice user that I will hold on to. I have already gutted and skinned one deer this year and it performed flawlessly. Nice knife there Easy, wanna trade something?:54:

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SmilinJoe said:
Got this covered with corrosion, broken tip and very very dry handle and sheath. Blade was in rough shape, looked like someone tried to sharpen it on a concrete sidewalk. Nursed them back and cleaned up the knife and now it's a nice user that I will hold on to. I have already gutted and skinned one deer this year and it performed flawlessly. Nice knife there Easy, wanna trade something?:54:

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Thanks Joe and nice try my friend already got an idea in the works for a custom sheath.
Nice old knife ya saved. What did you use on the leather?
 
Hi Easy,

Thank you for your kind words. It is indeed a Purdy lil' knife and it is very well made. It's a "three finger" knife or four fingers if you choke up on the blade. I forgot to mention that picture is "borrowed" from the Web but, I have the exact same knife in just as nice condition. I only wish I had a sheath for this neat lil' Western. Oooh, I got this knife at a Flea Market this past Summer for like.....three, four, five dollars! Once I get it sharpened, I think it'll be a handy lil' back up knife and/or a sweet little knife for "delicate" cutting.

Regards,
KAOS THE CAT
 
Easy_rider75 said:
Thanks Joe and nice try my friend already got an idea in the works for a custom sheath.
Nice old knife ya saved. What did you use on the leather?
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Just neatsfoot oil and Obenauf's Heavy duty LP. I am planning on making a sheath just like the old one, just gotta find the time.
 
I was lucky enough to get a hunting knife from both of my grandfathers and they where both westerns I've used them both and they are quality blades and handsome to boot.
 
Easy_rider75 said:
Just landed this knife today. I don't have it in hand yet these are his pics wondering what y'all can tell me about it. Done a quick google search I know they are quality old knives. Feel free to post your westerns here as well





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It's a circa '50's ~ '60's Western Bird & Trout knife, I have the same knife and sheath except mine has a jigged bone handle, I bought it new in '63, it's probably the most used knife I've ever owned time wise, it's been on every hunting, fishing, and family camping trip I've ever taken, I have quite a few customs and higher end knives, but my Western B&T knife would be the last one that I would ever part with, beside the memories built around that little knife, it's a great sportsmans knife all on it's own, you done well pilgrim.
 
Moe M. said:
It's a circa '50's ~ '60's Western Bird & Trout knife, I have the same knife and sheath except mine has a jigged bone handle, I bought it new in '63, it's probably the most used knife I've ever owned time wise, it's been on every hunting, fishing, and family camping trip I've ever taken, I have quite a few customs and higher end knives, but my Western B&T knife would be the last one that I would ever part with, beside the memories built around that little knife, it's a great sportsmans knife all on it's own, you done well pilgrim.
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Thanks Moe. Being a B and T knife makes it even a better deal for me wanted something for fishing so this is killer. You're the second to tell me the same age range glad I made the trade
 
Have 2 W49s, the beeg beeg Bowies. Not used a lot, but once a year when we clear around the deer stands...They rule. Rob at Simply Rugged resheathed both in grand style.

Wish I still had the W46-8, basically Western's rosewood handled take on the Marbles Ideal, in 8" trim.

Also would like another of the large clip blade and saw folder...932, maybe? Mine was given to a friend as an on-the-person survival knife for an Alaskan trip. Now he's a missionary in Mozambique, and the Western is still working south of the Equator.

Finally, Western made a good representation of their WWII "Shark Knife" in the 80s as the L77, I think. Like to have one of those.
 
I found an old Western L-66 on eBay a few years ago. I love it for a gp camping knife, less so for skinning (I prefer a drop point to its clip point). It currently resides at my parents house with my second set of gear (I got tired of dealing with TSA and the airlines' baggage charges and figured it was cheaper over time to just get two sets of gear). It holds a good edge, but I did get it and its leather sheath soaked last October, and it took a couple days to dry the sheath, and the blade took an immediate coat of oxidation. The sheath is not the original, but fits well enough since I usually carry my knives in my pack.

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Easy_rider75 said:
Thanks Moe. Being a B and T knife makes it even a better deal for me wanted something for fishing so this is killer. You're the second to tell me the same age range glad I made the trade
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Another interesting point about that knife is that the same model was marketed under two model names, The Western Bird & Trout knife and also known as The Western Narrow Hunter, both models were available with Jigged bone, stacked leather, and wooden handles.
The high carbon steel used in those old knives is among the best in the cutlery world, Western knives were so good that Camillus bought out Western Cutlery to make their knives better.
The knife you have in the used condition it's in (quite good) for it's age is selling on the vintage market for about $70.00 on average.

Mine, since new has processed a lot of deer, countless small game and upland birds, and more Trout and Bass than I could even guess at, and except for the patina of age is as good as new and ready for another fifty plus years of service.
 
Still in use for day trips,5 in. blade Western my Dad gave me in 59. Blade edge looks rough in pic (PJ coating on it) but is still perfect/sharp. I think it's the narrow Hunter-jigged bone.
 
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Moe M. said:
Another interesting point about that knife is that the same model was marketed under two model names, The Western Bird & Trout knife and also known as The Western Narrow Hunter, both models were available with Jigged bone, stacked leather, and wooden handles.
The high carbon steel used in those old knives is among the best in the cutlery world, Western knives were so good that Camillus bought out Western Cutlery to make their knives better.
The knife you have in the used condition it's in (quite good) for it's age is selling on the vintage market for about $70.00 on average.

Mine, since new has processed a lot of deer, countless small game and upland birds, and more Trout and Bass than I could even guess at, and except for the patina of age is as good as new and ready for another fifty plus years of service.
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Thanks for the info Moe. He told me he picked it up at the flea market for about 40 bucks roughly. A couple friends told me they had some fine steel on them. Definitely looking forward to getting it
 
Western knives was founded by a son-in-law of one of the Mr. Case... I can't recall all the details right now but he and his wife moved west and started a business after he worked at Case for some time.
I have a couple Western knive and am always open to a deal on one.
 
My grandfather gave me this knife when I was about 8, it has been through a lot of abuse. I started to restore it, took all the leather discs off and reshaped the blade. I need to get back to it...


Here it is with a temp cord handle next to a spare I bought for parts. Just ordered a third last night I found online for 20 bucks! It's in decent shape too. Now with two spares I should be able to piece mine back together. This thread re-motivated me to finish what I started, thanks!
 
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MJDavis, It feels very comfortable in the hand, and the shape gives it almost an organic feel. I've never used it for processing a deer though. I've got an old Buck I use for that. Guess I just never thought of using the Western for that.
 
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