All About Pocket Knives

Posted: **Tue Apr 30, 2019 11:17 pm**

Hey thanks for the reply Doubble Z.

I just now, today realized I posted in a “Western Bowie” thread, in which this knife is not. I was up late and a bit groggy! LOL

So, how long do you believe this knife to be from stem to stern (end to end)? The condition looks rough. I’ve only seen the pics so far. Also, (I know it’s difficult to assess from only pics) but if you were to ‘take a stab’ at the value, what would it be.I have not ruled out buying it, but unsure what to offer.

Thanks again for any replies!

Oh, right after I sent the first message I found this...
(Isn’t that how it always goes though!)

Posted: **Wed May 01, 2019 2:14 am**

Value is hard to determine, especially just from pics. In general, the 48As will run from $20 to $80, depending on condition and who's looking for them at the time.

That one looks like it's been rode hard and put up wet. Probably will clean up well, but the sheath will always stay rough. I personally would not pay over $30 or $40 for it, but then I have a bunch of then already.

Posted: **Wed May 01, 2019 3:17 am**

Okay great. Thanks for the advice. I don’t have any of them, and was going to start with this one if I can get it for cheap.
It was posted at $150, which made me laugh. I initially was going to offer $20, and see how many swear words I can evoke from the fellow! LOL

People often think I’m lowballing them, but in reality I’m just offering what I think is a fair price, condition and all.

Thanks again ZZ.

Posted: **Mon Jun 29, 2020 4:25 pm**

Hello,
I realize this is an older thread but I was wondering if anyone was still following it? I have several W49’s and had a few questions.
Thanks,
Brian

Posted: **Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:16 pm**

These are a few I’m going to sell. I’ve collected W49’s for 20 years. I used to give them as gifts to good customers and vendors for something different. I’m keeping my 6 favorite and still have these 9 to let go. If anyone has any interest, I can get better and more specific pics for you. (I’m also selling a few of my Ames 1833 Dragoon Swords)
Thanks,
Brian

Posted: **Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:24 pm**

Welcome to AAPK. Nice looking knives from what I can see. There are some here who collect those and might be interested. To sell here on AAPK you need to first buy a premium membership. See details at the top right where it says “support AAPK”. Just click on that for info. Then you should list them in the Knife Commerce section.

Ken

Posted: **Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:36 pm**

Gotcha! Thank you!!

Posted: **Wed Jul 21, 2021 7:47 am**

Okay so after reading thee entire thread I still have seen no mention of the particular W49 Coleman Western bowie I recently purchased for $80 it is only marked on one side of the blade WESTERN W49 with a date code or letter M underneath and the sheath has a danger and leather thong also the snap also has coleman/western on it as well... I see that since the boss sold Cold Steel knives they've mass produced their version of this called a western bowie and they range for right around $80-90 new so I figured at the same price I'm able to own an original and it certainly has a weathered sheath and pitted blade from being stored in it so I do believe it to be a few years old at the very least lol any info could help thanks but even if I over paid I'm still very happy with my purchase as the knife has an unused factory edge on it still which is quite sharp and I'm guessing by the blade pitting it has to be a mid to high carbon content maybe? If need be I will dig it back out and try to post a pic or two...

Posted: **Thu Jul 22, 2021 2:14 am**

Rocketrider33 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 21, 2021 7:47 am Okay so after reading thee entire thread I still have seen no mention of the particular W49 Coleman Western bowie I recently purchased for $80 it is only marked on one side of the blade WESTERN W49 with a date code or letter M underneath and the sheath has a danger and leather thong also the snap also has coleman/western on it as well... I see that since the boss sold Cold Steel knives they've mass produced their version of this called a western bowie and they range for right around $80-90 new so I figured at the same price I'm able to own an original and it certainly has a weathered sheath and pitted blade from being stored in it so I do believe it to be a few years old at the very least lol any info could help thanks but even if I over paid I'm still very happy with my purchase as the knife has an unused factory edge on it still which is quite sharp and I'm guessing by the blade pitting it has to be a mid to high carbon content maybe? If need be I will dig it back out and try to post a pic or two...

Post number 9 covers these. Version 10 in my books. "M" means 1989. 1095CV steel.

Posted: **Thu Jul 22, 2021 10:43 pm**

Finally located my Coleman Western W49 M. Hard to believe such a large knife could come up missing.

Good to know it's 1095CV.

Posted: **Wed Jan 19, 2022 1:38 pm**

Good morning! New to the forum. I recently inherited a Western Bowie and was hoping to get some more information. Based on the contents of this thread, I believe I have a stainless steel version #1 (67-68). The blade has some rough spots from someone's attempts to sharpen and the condition of the sheath seems a bit too good to be true. Also, the pic is hard to see but it says "stainless steel" above "Bowie"

See pics below. Any additional info on value, version/model, etc. would be much appreciated!

Posted: **Wed Jan 19, 2022 6:50 pm**

Yes, this is an S649. Came out in late 1967, advertised as "NEW" in the 1968 catalog. Stainless steel blade (440A). Delrin handle. Correct sheath. Looks like someone tried to slim down the handle and/or round off the edges of the handle slabs.

Posted: **Wed Jan 19, 2022 11:33 pm**

Great, thanks for the info. I appreciate it. I assume the handle modifications have decreased the overall value, correct? Are these western s649 models rare?

Posted: **Thu Feb 17, 2022 9:12 am**

My western 49. I don't have the collectable one anymore unfortunately

Posted: **Wed Mar 23, 2022 3:33 am**

Few more pics of my M year

Posted: **Wed Mar 23, 2022 5:45 am**

Few more pics of my restored 49

Posted: **Wed Aug 24, 2022 9:55 pm**

I was gifted a W49 set of parts with a sheath.
Here is a couple of pics showing before and then after I assembled it.......

I think I need to read back thru the thread to figure out the approximate year of this hefty joker.... LOL.

Maybe you W49 Bowie collectors can shed some light on it.

As the story goes, the previous owner got it from a person who worked for Western Cutlery back in the day.

Posted: **Thu Aug 25, 2022 1:21 am**

Meridian_Mike wrote: ↑Wed Aug 24, 2022 9:55 pm I was gifted a W49 set of parts with a sheath.
Here is a couple of pics showing before and then after I assembled it.......

40DE83D7-4D06-4049-9761-A01072913016_1_105_c.jpeg

B82365A9-9800-4BE7-8CBE-6AFAEF6E88E1_1_105_c.jpeg

I think I need to read back thru the thread to figure out the approximate year of this hefty joker.... LOL.

Maybe you W49 Bowie collectors can shed some light on it.

As the story goes, the previous owner got it from a person who worked for Western Cutlery back in the day.

It is a Camillus version, 1993 is 1095, 1994 or later is SS. The "strap-over-guard" restraining strap type sheath is a Camillus sheath tell. The stamp is also a Camillus stamp - the USA and W49 are reversed from the Western/Western-Coleman era order and there is no date code letter.

Posted: **Thu Aug 25, 2022 2:55 pm**

zzyzzogeton wrote: ↑Thu Aug 25, 2022 1:21 am
It is a Camillus version, 1993 is 1095, 1994 or later is SS. The "strap-over-guard" restraining strap type sheath is a Camillus sheath tell. The stamp is also a Camillus stamp - the USA and W49 are reversed from the Western/Western-Coleman era order and there is no date code letter.

Thanks for the detailed info!

As I understand it, the person that gifted this knife to me (through my son) has other Western knife parts.
I might have to send word I am in interested in some other pieces if he is willing to part with them.

Posted: **Fri Dec 09, 2022 6:37 am**

I obtained my Western Bowie W49 a couple years ago when I bought some leather crafting tools at an estate sale. I put the knife away and only brought it out a couple days ago and decided I wanted to clean it up (it has rust and some pitting). I was thinking about polishing it up and possibly inlaying an enamel medallion from my Army unit I served in Somalia with in 1993.

I decided to see what I could find out about it and it seems that it isn’t just a Bowie it is a collectors item. I have the “WESTERN” , “U.S.A W49”, “M” one three separate lines see photo.

Now that I know it is a collectors Bowie maybe I won’t mess it up by customizing. I don’t know if it has any monetary value or not. Anyone have any ideas?

You can see that I have been working on one side already the other side I haven’t touched yet. I plan on getting it to a mirror finish to where it likely was when it was originally bought.

Posted: **Mon Dec 12, 2022 9:33 pm**

I have an interesting W49. I got this from a fellow who said his grandpa used to drink beer with Mr. Platts at the factory in Boulder. He acquired some rare Westerns doing this. This is supposedly a prototype!

Posted: **Mon Dec 12, 2022 10:54 pm**

Very unique piece of Western history.

Posted: **Tue Dec 13, 2022 12:07 am**

Thank you Zzyzz! I very much respect your opinion. I have some other “unique” Westerns that I acquired from the fellow. They are not W49s, so I won’t clutter this thread with them. I still have yet to find a first gen W49

Posted: **Sun Jan 22, 2023 9:28 pm**

it is very interesting as i get older the things i have had in my possession for many years. i was given this knife when i was @10 ( 40 years ago) i'm just trying to determine it approximate age. i have been googling images and have yet to find a sheath that is the same and wonder if that is a clue to the age of it.

Posted: **Mon Jan 23, 2023 12:35 am**

See post #3

All About Pocket Knives

The Western Bowie / W49 Identification Thread

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