Dating this western states stag handle two blade clasp knife

In 1911, H. N. Platts, was able to draw on his extensive friendships and family connections in the cutlery world to start Western States Cutlery and Manufacturing of Boulder Colorado. At first only a jobbing business, by 1920 construction and machinery purchases were underway to begin manufacture of knives. Through name changes--to Western States Cutlery Co. in 1953, then Western Cutlery Co. in 1956--and moves first across town and later to Longmont Colorado, the company stayed under the leadership of the Platt family until 1984. In that year, the company was sold to Coleman, becoming Coleman-Western. Eventually purchased by Camillus in 1991, Western continued until Camillus expired in 2007.
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Leo7504
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Dating this western states stag handle two blade clasp knife

Post by Leo7504 »

Does anyone have a better date than 1911-1950 on this knife? It is 9 inches open with the rainbow tang stamp. Haven’t seen many like it, this is much bigger than the 062.
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1967redrider
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Re: Dating this western states stag handle two blade clasp knife

Post by 1967redrider »

That's a Folding Hunter, great looking knife. ::tu::

Unfortunately the only thing I have to go by is a tang stamp chart in Price & Zalesky that says 1911-1950. ::shrug::
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!

You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
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tongueriver
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Re: Dating this western states stag handle two blade clasp knife

Post by tongueriver »

That type of folding hunter was not popular with some of the cutleries until the 1930s. I first see the pattern in the Western States catalog pages for 1931, pattern number 5206, in genuine buckhorn. The first decades of the 20th century saw the cokebottle folding hunter as a much more common item. Both patterns were in the 5.25 inch range. Normally, folding knives are described by their closed length, not with the blades open. Platts did not have his own knife factory in Boulder, Colorado until 1918. Before that he imported them from his relatives back East. I do not know how those early 1911 to 1918 knives would have been tang-stamped. Meanwhile, I would date your knife to the 1930s, and it is only a guess. The arched tang stamp would have been dropped some time in the 1940s. I suspect EARLY in the 1940s, but there again it is only my guess.
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Leo7504
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Re: Dating this western states stag handle two blade clasp knife

Post by Leo7504 »

Thanks redrider and toungueriver. Having those early catalogs from the knife companies sure provides a definitive timeline for these older knives. Much appreciated. I have about thirty of the older pre 1960 Western knives, mostly fixed blades, and I am very impressed with their quality and it seems the high carbon steel really holds an edge. Another great American knife maker.
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Leo7504
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Re: Dating this western states stag handle two blade clasp knife

Post by Leo7504 »

I noticed an older post from 2010 from someone who had a similar knife with a broken scale on one side. THawk posted pictures from the 1941 catalog of the 5206 and also the 5227 with buckhorn handles and the 6227 with bone stag handles. The 5206 had a lanyard hole and was a little thinner than the 5227. Case’s bonestag handles I believe are jigged bone so the buckhorn is likely deer antler? I also have an 062 and side by side the stag handle is a little thicker. Could this be a 5227?
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